Hell Bent

How does the novel explore the concept of mortality and immortality through the characters’ experiences, beliefs, and interactions with the supernatural world?

Analyze the role of family dynamics and heritage in shaping the characters’ allegiances and conflicts, particularly for Alex and Daniel Arlington V (Darlington).

Ninth House contains esoteric references to the afterlife, but in Hell Bent Leigh Bardugo uses more deliberate references to Abrahamic beliefs and the Bible. How do these allusions explore or complicate the novel’s themes?

How do the characters’ supernatural abilities affect their relationships, interpersonal dynamics, and journeys of self-discovery and growth?

Death is a constant presence throughout the story. The murderers must temporarily die during the Gauntlet ritual to enter hell, and Michelle Alameddine agrees to work for Reiter for the promise of eternal life. How does the book explore the moral consequences of mortality and immortality?

The characters initially assumed the demon that took Darlington was one of greed, but the demons they encounter instead focus on regret and despair. Why might this be the case?

How does the literal and emotional manipulation by the demons affect the characters’ agency throughout the book?

Knowledge, or the absence of it, has severe consequences throughout Hell Bent, particularly Lethe’s secrets regarding the Gauntlet. How does knowledge affect the perspective of the characters and their interactions with each other?