Hell bent (November 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Dia & Bopeep, Anushka

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Hell Bent Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on October
th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week 11/08
November 8: 1-2
November 9: 3-5
November 10: 6-8

Week 11/11
November 11: 9-11
November 12: 12-15
November 13: 16-18
November 14: 19-22
November 15: 23-24
November 16: 25-26
November 17: 27-28

Week 11/18
November 18: 29-30
November 19: 31-32
November 20: 33-35
November 21: 36-38
November 22: 39-42
November 23: 43-45

PARTICIPANTS
~ Bopeep
~ Anushka
~ Dia

[Dia]

Here's the actual schedule. I think there was a mix up hehhe

October 15: 1-2
October 16: 3-5
October 17: 6-8
October 18: 9-11
October 19: 12-15
October 20: 16-18

October 21: 19-22
October 22: 23-24
October 23: 25-26
October 24: 27-28
October 25: 29-30
October 26: 31-32
October 27: 33-35

October 28: 36-38
October 29: 39-42
October 30: 43-45

[Bopeep]

Before starting this I would LOVE a summary for Ninth House.
I stalked your BR, but you didn't really descibre the scenes haha What I remember so far:
(view spoiler)[
-Darlington is trapped on the demon realm (as a demon???)
-An a**hole r*ped Alex's friend, and she took a pretty revenge <3
-There was some magic drug in the campus, but finally she knew who did it??
-Alex could see ghosts??
-There was an 80s ghost that helped her, through water ??
-A female professor was the same as Alex and was a bad guy.
(hide spoiler)]

Edit: I've found a summary and I've forgot almost everything, but I'm so hyped to read Hell Bent ;v;

[Anushka]

Hey I recently finished Ninth House and would love to read it with you guys. It looks like y'all haven't yet started? Is this going to be pushed to November instead?

[Bopeep]

I've read chapter 4 today, hope I will read one more~

The prologue was so creepy. Omg. I have no idea what was going on but he'll, I wouldn't like to be in Alex's place.

I love this book, the spooky themes and how Alex sees it. I love how Barduugo wrote it too ❤️
But sometimes I have problems to know when she's remembering or when she's in the present :/ Guess I'll adapt soon!

[Anushka]

Hey how far along are you now?

[Bopeep]

Hello! I've read a lot today, M on chapter 22 and aiming to get to 28 tomorrow.

Have you started yet? Do you like it? :D (I will always and forever love Alex haha)

[Bopeep]

I've read chapter 28q and I feel... Disappointed. They keep going in circles, it seems that anything relevant has happened yet... (no spoilers haha)

[Anushka]

I've barely started. I had to unfortunately work on the long weekend this time around but yes, I too will forever love Alex, lol.

[Anushka]

Also, I don't mind spoilers so do let me know which chapter we can have Darlington back please? I might read faster to reach that moment. Ah.

[Bopeep]

They had contact with Darlington around chapter 5 or 6 I think? And again at 28. But he still isn't back. And I'm frustrated because I WANT HIM BACK TOO.

So maybe you'll have to read faster to finish the book at this rate lol

Both Alex and Dawes are focused on that, but there are two other plots: two murders (again) and Alex going back to her past. Plus the creepy prologue. I'm intrigued by that last one, though I'm having an idea of what could have happened...

[Anushka]

Ahhh. I was afraid this might be the case. At this point, Darlington is like the click bait version of this book. Haha. But yeah, I'll catch up soon. Dawes grew on me and Alex is always a hoot!

[Anushka]

I'm also doing a PhD so Dawes and her endless dissertation woes are oh so relatable to me. Lol.

[Bopeep]

OMG I couldn't describe it better. Yes, Darlington in the click bait for this book haha
(I want to read more of him)

Good luck with that PhD!

[Anushka]

Hey. I got some hours in today. I'm at Chapter 18. And you didn't tell me we get a version of Darlington, you sneaky one.
Wow I was so surprised and happy.
But man, those horns?!?!!!! They caught me off guard and ahm so did a few other things iykwim.
Hahahahah things are soooo unexpected and more fun than the first one I see

But Tripp being a murderer? I don't see it

[Anushka]

What if it turns out to be a mistake after all. There has to be a catch

[Anushka]

What if the real killer had left and they're thinking Tripp can participate in the ritual but he actually cannot? Agh I guess we'll find out

[Bopeep]

Hohoho I didn't want to spoil the surprise!

I thought the same about Tripp! Because it was like... How?
But he is a murderer... By omission (idk how to explain haha you will see!)

[Bopeep]

Chapter 36.
Thats the chapter.

[Anushka]

I'm at 26 as of now and Halloween is almost here! I'm so giddy with excitement and dread. Lots and lots of dread.

[Anushka]

Alex and team failed on their first attempt and excursion to hell and I'm sooo sad. I was so angry when they were interrupted by Anselm. Aghdjnkd. And they all were followed by demons to the real world wow. I don't know why I was so surprised at that. Of course there were bound to be complications. *sigh*
Let's hope they get Darlington in the second attempt.

P.s. It was intriguing to see everyone's memories of their murders. Really caught me by surprise. I'm beginning to find Tripp endearing, who'd have thought? Haha.

[Anushka]

Bopeep wrote: "Chapter 36.
Thats the chapter."

CAN'T WAITTTT

[Anushka]

I finished and wow. Like ... really. Just wow. The last one third of this book blew my mind out of the water. out of the world. off the charts. Darlington, our gentlemen demon is back from hell with powers that I can't wait to see in the next book. And he is duty bound or sworn or in some way tied to Alex and I'm so giddy about that. The twist in this one was just as crazy as the real villain being belbalm in the first one. And I can't wait to see how the good vampire Tripp and the bad vamp are shown differently in the next one. So much to look forward to. ajcbdkdoebdi. I can't wait.

[Bopeep]

YEEEAAASHHH

I'm so ruious about Alex and Darlingtons relationship now. She's his pupil but also his master, so they somehow feel submission and omination to each other (or something about this).

And what about Michelle? Did you get suspicious of her? I think she was just avoiding the girls to live her life, didn't expect her to be a liar and a spy.

About Tripp, I'm so curious too! How will he deal with being a vampire? Who will "help" him?

[Anushka]

Yeah. I never suspected Michelle. Not to this extent. The fact that she lied about going to meet her boyfriend and then not leaving the city till the next morning raised a little bit of alarm bells but nowhere close to this.