A review by booksonmars
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

a stunning sequel. an expansion on the characters from the first book which i really enjoyed, particularly learning more about turner, as well as alex's relationship with mercy and dawes. leigh bardugo uses the presence in absence tool better than anyone else for this series; darlington haunts the pages, the main characters, and eventually the reader too. there's just more: more character work, more discoveries on the secret societies and lethe's interactions with them, more on new haven and how magic and history steeps its past. one motif in this book how each character is grappling with a fairytale ideal of magic in comparison to the grim reality of the way it interacts with the world, and observing each character come to terms with this was interesting to read. a bit of a lacklustre ending after a rather tension packed four hundred pages, but i'm really looking forward to the next one, particularly because we get to see darlington's relationship in real time to the people around him, and the power play between him and ale. 

in alex stern we trust!!