#Dawes x Tripp

[vavuska]

#vavuskapakage #Vavuskabooks #galaxy stern #darlington #daniel arlington #pamela dawes #Dawes #tripp helmuth #Tripp #alex x darlington #Dawes x Tripp #Tripp x Dawes #leigh bardugo #hell bent leigh bardugo #ninth house #Ninth house Leigh bardugo #horror books #fantasy books #2023 books #alex stern #bookblr #book memes #hell bent

[msbrightsides]

So we all agree that Alex’s mom definitely knows shit she’s not supposed to right? Mira said “there is a reason I named you Galaxy” As Alex has consistent imagery of herself covered in stars in dreams and in hell. So did she dream about Alex with midnight eyes and stars on her skin when she was pregnant, naive to the premonition? Or did she know what Alex’s father was, whom I’m personally suspecting was a demon, and named her that in his honor? Leigh Bardugo hasn’t told us how Wheelwalkers have come to be and there’s no way it’s an accident. It would explain why her dad hightailed it out of Estrea’s sight: she always knew the truth and she could see through the bullshit.

#ninth house #hell bent #leigh bardugo #alex stern #darlington #alex x darlington #darlingstern #pamela dawes #mercy zhao #abel turner #tripp helmuth #Mira stern #estrea stern

[beautifulblazeangel]

"Shit, Dawes," said Tripp, grinning as if Spenser and every other bad thing had been forgotten, "can you please just come stay in my loft and make me fat?"

Dawes rolled her eyes, but Alex could tell she was pleased.

The way Tripp just loves Dawes's cooking is just sending me because now I'm shipping them when I know its probably never going to happen.

"Come on," she said to Tripp. "We'll get you to Il Bastone and I'll see what I can find to feed you."

"Oh man, thank you. Thank you."

Now every interaction they have I'm just like 👀

"Dawes, get Tripp to Il Bastone -- and don't let him eat you."

#ninth house #hellbent #leigh bargudo #tripp helmuth #dawes #love language #is food #my ship is sailing #Tripp and dawes #tripp x dawes #i will sink with my ship #pamela dawes #hellbent leigh bardugo

[sophielovesbooks]

People were asking for more book content, so here are my (spoilery!) and complex thoughts on Hell Bent!

...

First of all, I had a lot of fun reading this book. When rating it, I briefly considered giving it only like 3.5 stars. Then I was like: Hey, I had a great time overall, so it deserves 4 stars for sure.

So the first positive is that it was entertaining. The second big positive for me is still Alex's character. To me, she is one of the most interesting MCs I've encountered in a while. I realised that she is somewhat similar to my MC in my current WIP (though I doubt my character was truly inspired by her because I had read Ninth House in 2018 and didn't start planning my novel until June 2022, so I don't think there was much of a direct influence). I was fascinated to find out more about her backstory.

Some moments, just like in Ninth House, were truly heartbreaking, particularly the moment where she thought she had found Hellie again. Also the recurring theme of how it should have been Hellie who made it out and Alex who died. Oof. Loved that.

Moments between Alex and her mum were also really well written and impactful.

But now on to the things I didn't like. For one, the fact that getting to hell took up so many pages only for the reader to find out that Alex could have easily done it on, like, the first page. That was... annoying.

A big disappointment to me were the scenes of getting into and being in hell. Having just reread Ninth House, I was expecting something super emotional here. Also I believe Dawes mentioned they would have to be buried alive? I was intrigued, was looking forward to a terrifying description of what that feels like. And I feel cheated because I don't believe I got that? Then being in hell... I was imagining more emotion, like the characters reliving the absolute worst they have been through? (Though the short stories about the murders were great, especially Tripp's!)

My perhaps biggest issue were the unclear stakes but that's something that almost always annoys me in fantasy. Internal bleeding that almost killed you? Seems pretty serious. But wait, what's that, you can bathe in goat's milk (?) and be instantly better? Convenient. Especially when considering that this cure-all had never been mentioned before??

So yeah, to me it feels like this constant moving of the goal posts or something? The characters badly need X. Oh, wait, no, they can replace it with Y instead. X is deadly! Oh, but not if you have Y, don't worry.

I just hate that. In addition to that: The magic in general felt a bit... ridiculous to me at times? I want to say... childish? Magic potions and so on? I don't know, it's just not for me. Seems a bit silly, if you know what I mean. My biggest gripe here was Tripp at the end. That felt ridiculous and honestly so YA to me? Yeah. Not a fan of that particular twist.

People's emotions (for example Mercy's) weren't always realistic to me. If there was a chance I could die doing ANYTHING I would be right out of there. And I feel like that'd be the natural reaction. I would NOT willingly go to hell for probably anybody. So I personally would have preferred if Turner and Tripp had been coerced into it.

Two minor things: This second book, to me, was missing the murder mystery vibes of the first one. And I don't get why everyone is so obsessed with Darlington. (There, I said it. Sue me.)

And finally: I LOVED the theme of Alex being a survivor and as a result a bit of a shitty person. But I didn't like the fact that it was spelled out like that and repeated so many times. Amazing character trait and amazing theme, but please be more subtle about it.

As you can probably see, fantasy truly isn't my genre (13-year-old me is weeping; it used to be my fave). Alex is a great character and Leigh Bardugo a fantastic writer, though! For me personally, I believe that if these books were simply about Alex trying to make it at Yale given her past - and perhaps becoming involved in some sort of solidly plotted murder mystery - they would be among my absolute faves. But alas... vampires, half-demons and wheelwalkers. ..

#hell bent #ninth house #leigh bardugo #book review #booklr #reading #i realise this is sort of negative and i am so sorry #as i said i gave it 4 stars bc i wanted to be fair since i WAS entertained while reading #but yeah #i did find many things to criticise

[choose-your-own-url]

whatre all youre playchoices ships?

I feel like some of them are pretty obvious (and some I never talk about), but boom, here they all are (bolded are my most passionate ships):

High School Story: MC x Maria, Emma x Luis, Mia x Sydney

The Royal Romance: MC x Hana, Kiara x Penelope, Drake x Liam

The Freshman/ The Sophomore: MC x Becca, Tyler x Abbie, Madison x Tripp, Kaitlyn x Annisa, James x Reyna

Rules of Engagement: MC x William, Chaz x Violet, Jess x Mira, Nicole x Audrey, Alex x Elena (I love them all so much), Santiago x Isabella

#LoveHacks: MC x Leah, Cole x Amir, Cole x Ben, Horatio x Tara, Sereena x Aiyana, Felix x Isabel, TJ x Martin

Hero: MC x Eva, Dax x Poppy, MC x Officer Dawes (shh ignore it)

The Crown & The Flame: Kenna x Val, Dom x Will, Raydan x Aurynn

Endless Summer: MC x Estela, MC x Quinn, Jake x Sean

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: MC x Eleanor

Most Wanted: Dave x Sam, Sam x Alyssa

(I also used to ship MC x Kaitlyn (TF), Aleister x Grace (ES), and MC x Sereena (LH), but those times have passed.)

#ask #anon

[msbrightsides]

Hell Bent spoilers:

Does anyone else think about that scene where Alex pretends Darlington just got back from Spain in front of the new Praetor? How she cried and flew into his arms and he was almost too surprised to hug her back? How that was the only time they’ve ever hugged? How Alex felt how warm his hand was on the small of her back? Bc as much as the other scenes are great, that’s the one I keep coming back to

#ninth house #hell bent spoilers #hell bent #alex stern series #alex stern #galaxy stern #alex x darlington #darlington×alex #darlington #darlingstern #pamela dawes #abel turner #mercy zhao #tripp helmuth

[msbrightsides]

There’s something significant about the fact that all the known Wheelwalkers are women, right? That can’t just be a coincidence.

#ninth house #hell bent spoilers #hell bent #alex stern #galaxy stern #alex x darlington #darlington #darlingstern #pamela dawes #abel turner #tripp helmuth #leigh bardugo

[msbrightsides]

Am I the only one who’s pissed that the Leigh Bardugo event at Yale is already full after not even 30 minutes? I can’t even get on the waitlist for the talk even though I’m going to BE IN New Haven. A placeI planned to TRAVEL TO for this event!!! I know all the Yale kids must’ve filled it up and that’s so frustrating honestly. I get it but also what the fuck.

#i needed to rant #leigh bardugo #leigh bardugo books #ninth house #hell bent #alex stern series #alex stern #alex x darlington #darlington×alex #darlington #daniel arlington #pamela dawes #abel turner #tripp helmuth #mercy zhao #galaxy stern #galaxy demon

[vavuska]

Dawes only smiled. “Come on,” she said to Tripp. “We’ll get you to Il Bastone and I’ll see what I can find to feed you.”

“Oh man, thank you. Thank you.”

“But you’re going to have to change,” Alex said.

“Of course. I know I haven’t been the most responsible member of the team, but I believe in transformative growth—”

“Clothes, Tripp. You’re going to have to change your clothes.”

“Shit, man! Absolutely. What did I say? You’re all right, Alex.” He put up his hand for a fist bump. “I just really want to eat you.”

Alex nudged her knuckles against his. “I know, buddy.”

Leigh Bardugo, “Hell Bent”

Discover more on my GoodReads: [X]

#vavuskapakage #Vavuskabooks #hell bent leigh bardugo #leigh bardugo #galaxy stern #alex stern #darlington #Dowes #pamela dawes #dawes #Tripp #tripp helmuth #book quotes #book #bookblr #2023 books #horror books #fantasy books #urban fantasy