Hell Bent

This is the conclusion of the novel. It covers the final descent into hell, the confrontation with Golgarot, and the aftermath. While these chapters close certain storylines, others are left open-ended for a subsequent book.

The only vision during the final return to hell belongs to Alex. It reveals the origin of the rabbit as Babbit Rabbit, whom Alex and Hellie jointly adopted. She blames herself for his death, and his presence reinforces her struggle to reconcile with her past actions. Specifically, her inactions. She does not regret the people she killed, but she does regret letting those she cares about be hurt or killed. These include Babbit Rabbit, Hellie, and Darlington. Her vision also adds a discordant note to her feelings regarding Hellie. Alex feels envy about the privileged life she never led, and she places some of the blame for their rabbit’s fate on her, thinking, “You shouldn’t have let them kill Babbit Rabbit […] I wouldn’t have let him die” (452). She desires to protect innocents from becoming collateral damage, and her position as part outsider—she is on scholarship while others are not—gives her a perspective the other entrenched Letheans do not have.

The appearance of hell continues to present symbolism in the forms it takes. Alex emerges in a sea of blood after her vision, which can be interpreted as representing the horrors and guilt that haunt her. When she regroups with the others, she finds hell remains as a copy of New Haven. However, it is no longer abandoned. Instead, it is full of life, and the library is a shining castle. This transformation reflects its shifting nature and the recurring idea that magic presents as an escape and a force for good but conceals darkness beneath the surface.

Alex’s joint solution to being trapped in hell by Golgarot and the looming issue of Eitan highlights both her resourcefulness and pragmatism to the point of hurting others. Her plan revolves around the clever use of her abilities and the exploitation of her adversaries’ weaknesses. Anselm/Golgarot, who believes he has the upper hand due to his supernatural powers and knowledge of the demonic realm, underestimates Alex. She also prepared for Eitan by taunting him over the call and leaving her phone with Mercy. Alex’s strategy pays off. She manages to temporarily incapacitate both Eitan and Golgarot, creating a window of opportunity for her and the others to escape. However, it also comes at the cost of Mercy’s trust. By the story’s conclusion, their relationship is broken.

The return to the mortal world is a dreary tableau. Snow and the destruction of the library’s stained glass set a somber tone. The characters succeed at stopping Anselm and the rest of their demons, but it comes at a cost. One of the characters’ grimmer tasks in the aftermath is the disposal of bodies in the Black Elm basement. Alex and Darlington utilize their supernatural abilities to incinerate the remains. The burning of the bodies serves as a symbolic cleansing, symbolizing their determination to rid themselves of the past and the horrors that haunt them. However, it also serves as a reminder of the moral complexities they must navigate. Turner also completes the transformation he underwent throughout the story from a detached observer to an active participant. Initially hesitant and skeptical of the group’s supernatural dealings, Turner now actively assists them. This highlights the bond between him and the others, particularly Alex.

The group’s discovery of what happened to Tripp introduces a new layer of ethical dilemmas. They must grapple with the moral choice of whether to kill him or find a way to help him. Tripp’s personality and memories appear intact, and his salt spirit remains with him despite his vampiric transformation. This hints at the possibility that, in some form, a person’s identity and essence endures no matter the damage to their physical selves. This reflects what happened to Darlington; while he is now a demon, he is still, in many ways, the same person as before.

Finally, the reveal of Michelle’s body in the trunk of the Mercedes upends what little peace they built following the Gauntlet. Rather than anger at Michelle working with Reiter, Alex feels responsible for her death. Bardugo uses this tragedy to build on the story’s open ending, with Alex vowing to punish Reiter for his actions. This declaration sets the stage for future conflicts between them and establishes him as a possible main antagonist moving forward in the series. The discovery of a demonic presence atop Harkness Tower hints at a full-scale demonic invasion into their world. The story ends on a cliffhanger, with Darlington and Alex recognizing the urgent need to find a way to seal the door between the worlds. This raises the stakes for the next story in the series.