Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent isn’t just a sequel—it’s an exorcism of fear, a battle hymn, and a razor-sharp expansion of the universe first carved open in Ninth House. While Ninth House introduced us to the elite and eerie underbelly of Yale’s secret societies, Hell Bent plunges us deeper, through hidden doors and infernal realms, fueled by the desperate pulse of loyalty and loss. If the first novel was about surviving the darkness, this one is about storming into it and dragging your people back from it—willing or not.
With her now-signature blend of haunted academia, esoteric lore, and unapologetic grit, Bardugo crafts a high-stakes narrative where magic is both salvation and corruption. And at its heart, Galaxy “Alex” Stern remains one of the most compelling heroines in contemporary fantasy: broken but not brittle, bold yet afraid, human despite everything she has seen.
The Plot: Rescue Missions and Razor’s Edge Rituals
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo picks up in the immediate aftermath of Ninth House. Alex is not just a reluctant student of Lethe House anymore—she’s its determined defector. With Darlington lost to the underworld after the events of the first book, Alex refuses to let him stay dead. Denied institutional support, Alex partners with Dawes, the ever-loyal Oculus, and a growing cast of morally questionable allies to attempt the unthinkable: breach Hell and retrieve Darlington’s soul.
But nothing in Bardugo’s Yale is simple. As Alex digs through forbidden archives and forgotten tombs, she stumbles upon threads of a deeper conspiracy—one stitched into the very foundation of the university and soaked in blood. Faculty members begin dying in grotesque ways, and Alex’s own grip on her ghostly powers begins to twist. The stakes escalate until Alex must face not only demonic horrors but also the darkest corners of her own past.
Key narrative themes:
- Redemption through risk: Alex’s reckless loyalty to Darlington evolves into a meditation on guilt and absolution.
- Knowledge as both weapon and trap: The deeper the characters delve into occult academia, the more power—and danger—they uncover.
- Found family and chosen bonds: Dawes, Turner, and even new allies like Tripp and Mercy become vital to Alex’s journey.
Characters: Ghosts of the Past, Flesh and Blood of the Present
Galaxy “Alex” Stern
Alex is as raw, cutting, and compelling as ever. Bardugo doesn’t soften her edges; instead, she lets them slice deeper. Alex continues to see Grays—the dead who linger—but now must navigate what it means to interact with them more intimately. Her evolution from passive observer to determined necromancer is nothing short of arresting. She is bruised by trauma, guilt-ridden, and unrelentingly brave.
Pamela Dawes
The quiet strength of Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. Dawes becomes more than just a researcher—she’s the heartbeat of this ragtag team. Her moral compass, bookish vulnerability, and intellectual firepower balance Alex’s instincts and impulses. Bardugo finally gives her the narrative space she deserves.
Daniel “Darlington” Arlington
The “gentleman of Lethe” is more myth than man through most of the book—until he isn’t. His time in Hell is as much about spiritual dismemberment as it is about physical torment. When he does return, it’s not as a white knight, but as something darker and far more interesting.
Supporting Cast
- Tripp Helmuth offers needed levity, evolving from frat-boy caricature to a surprising anchor.
- Turner, the skeptical detective, remains the voice of reason in the chaos.
- Mercy and Lauren, Alex’s roommates, bring emotional grounding and occasional humor.
Even the dead are vividly characterized. The Grays in Hell Bent aren’t just spectral background noise—they’re testaments to memory, regret, and unfinished lives. They play integral, often chilling roles.
Writing Style: Bardugo at Her Most Viscous and Visionary
Leigh Bardugo’s prose in Hell Bent is lusher, denser, and more haunting than in Ninth House. She doubles down on sensory immersion: the must of old books, the crunch of broken bone, the acrid sweetness of ritual smoke. Sentences coil like spells. Some slice. Some lull. All pulse with menace.
Bardugo balances gore with grace. Her magic systems remain mysterious but not impenetrable, rooted in historical footnotes and real Yale geography. Her chapters are taut, often ending with cliffhangers that deepen character tension as much as plot. Yet, she never sacrifices clarity for cleverness.
This is literary fantasy with teeth—and heart.
Themes and Symbolism: From Academia to Afterlife
- Power and Corruption: The very institutions meant to protect knowledge—the university, Lethe House—are shown to be complicit in cover-ups, blood rituals, and soul trafficking. Power here is never pure.
- Grief and Memory: The dead don’t rest. Neither does trauma. The line between honoring the past and being haunted by it is razor-thin.
- Hell as Metaphor: Bardugo’s underworld is richly metaphorical—both a literal realm and a psychological one. Alex’s descent is as much an inner reckoning as it is a rescue mission.
- Monsters Within and Without: The book questions what makes someone monstrous—heritage, decisions, or survival? Darlington’s transformation pushes this question to its limits.
Strengths of Hell Bent
- Stronger pacing than Ninth House: The action and intrigue escalate with a rhythm that never feels rushed.
- Deeper world-building: Bardugo expands the mythos of Lethe and the secret societies with clever historical blending.
- Sharper character arcs: Everyone, especially Dawes and Darlington, gets fuller emotional development.
- A jaw-dropping hellscape: Bardugo’s version of Hell is unique, psychological, and brimming with symbolic architecture.
- Emotional payoffs: The relationships—platonic, romantic, and everything between—hit with sincerity and nuance.
Critiques: Shadows Beneath the Magic
Despite the brilliance, Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo isn’t flawless:
- Complexity overload: At times, the book juggles too many mysteries and magical rules. Readers who aren’t already familiar with Ninth House might feel adrift.
- Underutilized threats: Certain antagonists—particularly those linked to Yale’s bureaucracy—feel introduced only to fizzle out.
- The ending, while emotionally satisfying, flirts with too-clean resolution: For a book so soaked in blood and consequence, the final pages lean slightly toward convenience.
These aren’t deal-breakers but temper the otherwise soaring experience.
Series Connection: From Ninth House to Hell Bent
This duology (so far) works best as a continuous experience:
- Ninth House laid the groundwork—introducing us to Lethe, the secret societies, Alex’s trauma, and Darlington’s mysterious charm.
- Hell Bent delivers the payoff—confronting past ghosts, rescuing lost souls, and raising the stakes beyond any Ivy League ritual.
Together, they form a cohesive arc of darkness, defiance, and reluctant heroism.
If there is a Book 3, one suspects it will deal with what comes after Hell. Because Bardugo doesn’t just write stories—she writes hauntings.
Similar Books and Author’s Legacy
Leigh Bardugo’s earlier work, especially the Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology, showcased her gift for character dynamics and world-building. But the Alex Stern series is where her literary talents evolve into something more mature, more meditative.
Readers who enjoy:
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
- The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
- …will find Hell Bent a worthy addition to their shelves.
Final Verdict – A Haunting, Heady Triumph
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo is not merely a sequel. It’s a reckoning. With pain, with privilege, with the past. Bardugo uses fantasy to examine what it means to return for the people we’ve lost—and who we become in the process. While not perfect in its plotting, its emotional and thematic weight more than compensate.
This book dares to say: You can descend into hell for someone, and still return changed, scarred—but not shattered. And that? That’s the real magic.
Recommended for:
- Fans of dark academia with moral complexity
- Readers who like their fantasy layered and literary
- Anyone who’s ever tried to save someone, even when it might damn them
Have you read both Ninth House and Hell Bent? Which character arc resonated with you the most?
