by Leigh Bardugo
I’m not usually a rereader, but I bought Hell Bent a year ago, the second in the Alex Stern trilogy (I believe there is a third book coming) by Leigh Bardugo. When I read it, I soon realized I needed to remember details from the first book, Ninth House, to appreciate it properly. I remember absolutely LOVING Ninth House. One of my favourite genres is dark academia. Who doesn’t love old libraries, secret societies, symbols, rites, and history?
Our main character is Galaxy (Alex) Stern, a young woman who experiences a horrific event that places her in the hospital. There, she meets Dean Sandow, head of Lethe House, a secret society at Yale. Dean Sandow offers her a full scholarship in exchange for one thing: she uses her “gift” to help Lethe House or the Ninth House that helps regulate the other Eight. Alex’s gift, you see, is that she can see ghosts or “greys”, and sometimes greys can interfere with certain rituals.
In her new environment, Alex encounters a diverse group of individuals; some are ‘interesting’ members of the various Houses, possessing knowledge in the mystical arts, while others are ‘normal’ people like her roommates. Balancing these two drastically different lives proves to be a challenge, but Alex begins to form a family of sorts and grows incredibly close to a handsome man named Daniel Arlington or ‘Darlington’ The plot, filled with suspense and mystery, is fast-paced, a little gory, and incredibly imaginative, with sprinkles of humour. Ninth House concludes with a thrilling twist, as Alex and her companions embark on a perilous journey to hell to rescue one of their own.
Now, I’ll tread carefully with my opinion of Hell Bent, as I don’t want to spoil anything. I found Hell Bent just as captivating as Ninth House. In this second novel, we delve deeper into our characters’ lives and the origins of the various Houses at Yale. We witness Alex’s journey of self-discovery and see her grow more confident in her own history and identity. She becomes brave enough to forge authentic relationships with those who share the realities of her life, a development that is both heartwarming and relatable.
I can only dream of having an imagination like Leigh Bardugo. I haven’t read anything else of hers…she has a new novel out this month called The Familiar that seems to be calling my name. I LOVED BOTH of these books.
Ink And Spine 