Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
This much-anticipated sequel to Ninth House was a great book on which to round off my reading journey for 2023. Readers follow Alex Stern's journey into hell (quite literally), through the history and mystery of Yale. And similarly to Ninth House we also follow Alex's step to solve another murder steeped in the shadowy practices of the Ancient Houses of the Veil.
Throughout this, Bardugo introduces readers to a whole host of characters both old and new. The development of Alex and Dawes's friendship was a delight to read, as was a further insight into Mercy's character. We were also reintroduced to Tripp, an ex-Bonesman with a surprising amount of skeletons in his closet. I really liked the glimpses of Tripp's character that we got in Ninth House, and it was great fun to read more about him (and Alex's interactions with him) in Hell Bent. And readers also get to learn more about the dedicated detective Turner, who even steps out of his high-end suit into jeans and a shirt for the odd scene.
And of course, the reason for Alex's descent into hell. Darlington. Witty, charming, a character soaked in poetry and history. After Alex, he is easily my favourite character in this series. He casts a long shadow throughout the events of this book.
There were a great many twists in this plot that was always fast-paced. Some of which I called and had a great time seeing develop. Others, I did not expect but were equally thrilling. It is a testament to Bardugo's skill that she can create such fascinating characters and a detailed plot that kept me on my toes for nearly five hundred pages. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in magic, history or the supernatural, although if you don't like the gory scenes maybe skip the odd page (I promise there are not too many!).
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