The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Hell Bent Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on January 12th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 01/12
January 12th: Chapters 1-5
January 13th: Chapters 6-10
January 14th: Chapters 11-16
January 15th: Chapters 17-22

Week of 01/16
January 16th: Chapters 23-27
January 17th: Chapters 28-32
January 18th: Chapters 33-37
January 19th: Chapters 38-42
January 20th: Chapters 43-47

PARTICIPANTS
~ Edith
~ Jen
~ Leslie
~ Pani

@Hell Bent buddies
I don't know how many chapters there are, and over how many days you are reading it. So when you guys find that out I'll update the thread.

@Mina, thank you so much for your patience! Once the book is released we will get all the chapters in order, pinky promise!

Hey everybody, hope y'all have been well! I got my preorder in for Hell Bent and it looks like it's gonna be a big boi! So with that being said, I've got the following schedule so far. Feel free to make suggestions regarding the pace :)

12th: Chapters 1-5
13th: Chapters 6-10
14th: Chapters 11-16
15th: Chapters 17-22
16th: Chapters 23-27
17th: Chapters 28-32
18th: Chapters 33-37
19th: Chapters 38-42
20th: Chapters 43-47

Thanks for the schedule! My library book came through as an epub instead of a Kindle which is a bit frustrating. Hoping the Kindle version comes through soon but will sort it out because I'm super excited to start it!

Aw that sucks! Kindle supports epub now though, doesn't it? I think Amazon is getting rid of mobi files if I'm correct. but yes, same here! I just finished rereading Ninth House a few days ago and I'm crazy excited as well! I did my waiting! 12 years of it! ...in Azkaban! (lol sorry, I had to)

Ugh, I am so not tech savvy but I'm good to go for tomorrow. Super excited to jump in!

I got my book yesterday and am excited, too!

Sooooo, I got my hands on the book which I didn't expect, and I started it and had actual motivation to read, so I guess I'll be jumping in on this BR.

Woo-hoo!! I did a chapter last night. Probably joined the earlier re-read... but I'm sure I will catch up soon :)

Great to be back in the world!

Yay Mina! Glad to have you!

So, I haven't gotten too far into the book yet (only up to chapter 2), but some things of note for me so far:

(view spoiler)[ •It's a little jarring to see Alex being so diligent with things regarding Lethe. Kinda sad that the first ritual she oversees in the book, they automatically refer to her as Virgil.
•The little prologue??? omg that took me by surprise. I was soooo hooked on it. can't wait to see what the thing lurking upstairs is.
•Also, a mention of Eitan right off the bat?? I'd like to be proven wrong, but I don't see things boding well for my girl Alex if he's involved :( (hide spoiler)]

@Jen, if you need reminders Mina and I just finished rereading the first book so ask away!

I've only read up to chapter 4.

(view spoiler)[ I also loved the prologue and the way the story jumps straight into action. It really shows the danger and urgency of Alex's situation following the events of Ninth House. The risks are higher and the pacing is faster as well (hide spoiler)]

@Edith, thanks for the offer!!

Sorry, the week got a bit crazy. I'm kind of loving this but so much that I'm not sure that I will be able to maintain the schedule as it is hard to not keep reading. I just finished chapter 19.

The prologue was fun. I'm nervous as to who the 2 grays are that she meets. I totally forgot about the term "gray" and Alex's ability with the grays. I wish she would be a bit conservative in her using of them. I also forgot about Eitan but some of the flashbacks are helping.

Interesting impression of Anselm, will he play a bigger role later?

How's everyone doing?

I'm not really following the schedule, I read when I could and now that I look at the schedule and where I'm at.. It would appear that I'm about right, as I finished 21 chapters. Since it's late here, I'm going to comment on stuff tomorrow, when I skim through the read chapters to see what I want to comment because I didn't mark anything anywhere.

I just finished chapter 16 and this is just as twisty and enthralling as Ninth House. I am half tempted to just keep going but I have other books I am trying to read (because they are due in a couple days) so I will just keep to the schedule for now. I actually did something I haven’t done in years- I earmarked a page (page 119). Something tells me the four types of pilgrims will be important later.

It is a pretty fun read! So much going on and I wonder how it will all come together! I got to chapter 26 and hit a reasonable pause point. I do have another library book due an a few days so I will try to work on that one instead.

If I hadn't reread the first book earlier this month I would've been very convinced that there was some hint or even a peak in the part where Darlington is in the trapped in the circle and glowing. However, since that didn't happen I'm confused why does that sound so familiar. Also @Edith Alex remembered the bed scene with Darlington's claws :D I picked up on that good.

I love that Alex told Mercy about Leithe and all the shit that's going on, I like that the friendship progressed like that, that's something I was looking forward to since rereading Ninth House.

(view spoiler)[
* Raymond Walsh-Whiteley -.- Gaaah, like, it would be "nice" for him to be the murderer so that we get rid of him, BUT since Sandow was a murderer the chances are very low for this.

* What are your thoughts on Michelle? On one hand I'm annoyed she won't help Alex and Dawes because she was Darlington's Mentor, but on the other hand... if she was in the same situation as Alex, being on a scholarship or whatever, she would try her best to succeed not make friends with her Dante... so yeah, her not caring that much kinda makes sense. But there's also the thing where she said she was going back home, but went the morning after...after the murder. Does she have any motive to do so?

* A fucking vampire??? Like 🤯🤯🤯 I'm just 🤯

* Any thoughts on the Wheelwalker? I have to say that I'm a bit annoyed/disappointed that half-way through the book and it hasn't really been talked about, it was mentioned once or twice and that was it. Darlington/demon knows something about it, but...will he share that with Alex, or us? (hide spoiler)]

Love that Darlington, naked, glowing and with horns, in a glowing circle seems familiar. :)

Also love that Mercy is now in the circle. I like the genius offs that she has with Dawes. She is great and it has to be empowering in a way.

(view spoiler)[ * Hate RWW and is misogyny. He probably isn't the killer but I'm anticipating him going down with the shenanigans.

* Michelle is looking pretty suspect to me. Darlington was her Dante and while she has had it rough, I'm not sure that it makes sense that it would lead her to doing nothing.

* Yeah, that was an odd detour and I wonder how he will factor back in. Would he have personally been there for the creation of the gauntlet and have inside info? When will the Eitan stuff stop?

*The Wheelwalker thing reminds me of Mercy Thompson in Patricia Briggs' series. I'm sure that it will be important and come up eventually. I anticipate we won't know the power that she has until it happens. Assuming it is linked to her fast healing? (hide spoiler)]

@Jen

🤣 But it DOES familiar.

(view spoiler)[ 😲 I haven't thought about that, that the vamp could've been there. That's a good idea. As for Eitan.. I hope the vamp get's pissed enough with him to just kill him.

Oh, yeah.. it reminds me of Mercy T. now that you say it. I mean we should get more info because it's an important mysterious part about Alex, just I hope it's more than mentioning it, and leaving it for the next book.. do we know, is there a next book? I assume there'll be because this is a good universe to just end it now. (hide spoiler)]

I was also wondering while writing my spoiler if there will be a third or more book in the series? Anyone know? Trying to manage my expectations... Do we expect another cliffhanger ending?

I've finally caught up to chapter 21.... accidentally spoiled the Linus Reiter part for myself lol. There's so much going on!
(view spoiler)[ *I agree with you all, the shit that RWW spews out is flat out horrible. I'm hoping for something horrible to happen to him in turn haha.
*Linus Reiter: it's kinda refreshing though see another supernatural character introduced. I'm hoping he'll be back? or at the very least we get to see if he takes Eitan down. Also! It's kinda interesting to see that Alex isn't totally invincible when she summons a gray's strength.
*Michelle--definitely suspicious. didn't like that she doesn't want to help out. At the very least she could help them prepare for the ritual even if she herself isn't willing to participate. but that would be too easy I guess. (hide spoiler)]

I read it's supposed to be a trilogy and one short story. Amazon also bought the rights to it in 2019 when Ninth House first came out, so we should expect a TV show adaptation here in the near future!

Thanks Edith! Very helpful!

😂 I too spoiled myself for Linus. I saw something and was ?? 🤔 okaaaay, that seems somehow out of place here, maybe it's a metaphor or something.

Okay, I read up to Part 2 and OMG. Will pause again and read my other book.

(view spoiler)[ The murder scenes were fantastic. Who knew they had it in them? Awful that they got interrupted and came back with them. The feeding sounds awful. They need to fix things somehow.

The ram is totally Anselm (my theory) and Michelle is helping him. She is totally suspect. Anselm's timing was too good in disturging the ritual and he is just as knowledgeable about New Haven history. Poor Andy Lambert.

I'm not loving the Linus storyline. It just seems a random distraction.

I can't wait to read more and find out how it all ends!!! (hide spoiler)]

The Descent (view spoiler)[
I thought we were switching between POVs, but Alex actually lived through those killer memories. Wait, the others lived through the memories too...they are going to be close now 😂

Yay, we saw the real Darlington, but I have to say that I'm a bit annoyed that the saving mission failed.

Oh, did Dawes say to her about Wheelers? So maybe she saw something in the books, but since Alex didn't tell her about it 🤷 how would she know what info to share with her.

What are your thoughts on the cover, the rabbit? At first I thought it's somehow connected to Dawes because in her memory we saw that her parents called her Bunny...but then Hellie, and Alex mention some rabbit...

And there are a lot of appearances of white rabbits while they are in hell there must be something about it.. the only thing that comes to mind is Alice in wonderland .. following something without a real plan, into an unknown world.
(hide spoiler)]

-Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[
Well, shit 😬 they are out of Leithe.. things got more complicated, but also them getting kicked out isn't so surprising 😅😂

Was a bit shocked when Hellie-thing appeared, and for a second I thought...okay, since we relived through her memories, maaaaaybe when they came back she too came back somehow..

But since ch29 ended the way it did... I'm thinking that thing that got out could be the thing that killed that couple in the prologue... Which conflicts with the idea I had before - that the prologue killer was Darlington demon because the murder was in Elm house's basement, rigth? And Dawes told Alex that the circle doesn't look good.

What if the circle wasn't keeping Darlington in between the worlds and he can't cross because he's in hell, but the circle is the only thing keeping him out of the world? 🤔 (hide spoiler)]

The Descent (view spoiler)[ Can you imagine sharing your worst moment along with internal monologue and feelings with others? Totally awkward.

I was also struck with by the appearance of the white rabbit in each story. Turner wiped the gun with the fur of the rabbit. Alex called it Babbit Rabbit, was it in Ninth House? Not sure entirely how it all relates with the "hell"-ish stories.

Wasn't Dawes just saying that her flame was making a wheel? I want to know the mystery of the wheelwalker! (hide spoiler)]

Diving back in today. It has been kind of fun savoring it. I have no idea as to how it will all end but I do know I will be sad when it does. I enjoy this world and the characters.

I have to finish some papers, but I'm definitely planning on finishing the book tonight.

Finished it. I don't know how to feel about it.. I guess by the time we all finish the book and start talking about it without spoilers I'll gather my overall thoughts.

(view spoiler)[
* Surprised, but also not surprised how the first part of the book ended. I wasn't expecting Darlington demon to be playing them, but also.. he's a demon... But then there's of course the thing that Anslem was pulling all the strings.

* I felt like the first descent was more intense than the second one.. it was okay, but... I don't know. Maybe I should've stayed up late last night to finish it while I had momentum.

* I found the creation of the salt protection animals/tree interesting, and I liked that part very much. However, I'm wondering... where's Darlington's protection. They pulled a Cosmo shaped protector, but Alex never gave it to Darlington.

* What are your thoughts on the cover now that we know the whole story about Babbit Rabbit?
I find it weak. The first cover with the snakes made sense to me; Alex had snake tattoos. But the rabbit story kinda came out of nowhere for me, and it didn't hold much water for me (is there a saying like that, or maybe it's just a Serbian thing). It was good to pull Alex from the hell hallucination or whatever it was, and not to be so enamored with Hellie.. but.. eh.

* Oh, another thing that was a thorn in my eye. Alex's mother. Her character doesn't feel consistent to me. When she appeared at the end of Ninth House and was all caring about Alex I was ??? what is going on, because she didn't really give us positive information on her mother. It could be because she was using that Mira's efforts were seen as bad, and not caring for her, and it didn't give a good image of her in my head. And then boom, we get to see a caring mother at the end of the book, and even here in some parts. I don't know. What are your thoughts on this, do you even have them? (hide spoiler)]

I’ve had to stop reading because life got in the way, but I’m hoping to get a good chunk of it done soon. It seems like there’s mixed feelings so far though 🤔

I like it just.. I expected a bit more. Don't know what that more is 😂 but it felt like it lacked something for me for it to be an extraordinary read.

Also finished last night. Really enjoyed as well but have similar feeling on the end. It was almost like making up problems to have a plan for Book 3.

In response to Mina's spoiler after finishing:

(view spoiler)[
*Also surprised but not surprised by Darlington remaining a demon. I guess there needs to be some kind of repercussion of spending a year in hell? but staying a demon is kind of more difficult than a study bug or annoying accent coming back from a study abroad...:) It is interesting that Darlington prided himself on control and being cerebral and now he is impulse and appetite. Not sure about him being Alex's "servant" now. That could be an awkward imbalance. The glimpses of each person's "heaven" was fascinating.

*Agree, the first was scary, sharing personal hells and the attacking wolves, all stick, but it was interesting that the demon tried to bribe them with best case scenarios. Those could be more difficult but definitely less intense for a reader.

*I LOVE the salt protection animals and thought the same thing about the Cosmo the cat protection for Darlington! She should have shared before the second descent.

*The rabbit is an odd detail. I don't quite get it. I guess it is the first living being that she got "killed" but still weird. I'm glad that she generated some anger toward Hellie for it. Not sure I'm quite getting the symbolism.

*Agree that the mom is also another odd add on detail. I guess she was required to keep the Eitan leverage but it does seem a bit inconsistent. Speaking of Eitan is going to be pissed when Alex meets him again. Will be a very angry demon. I'm sad that his descent messed things up with Mercy. It was clever but a lot to ask of her.

*So are Alex and Darlington going to be demon hunting crusaders? They need to sort out that hell portal asap.

Also "hold water" or "doesn't hold water" is definitely a saying in English.

(hide spoiler)]