Books Like Hell Bent

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Lauren Fortgang narrates Leigh Bardugo's dark academia sequel with the same sharp, world-weary intelligence she brought to Alex Stern in Ninth House — the 16-hour runtime gives the Yale underworld heist enough room to develop its conspiratorial logic, and Fortgang keeps the tonal balance between urban fantasy thriller and genuine magical stakes without leaning too far into either. Michael David Axtell handles additional voices with the same register. Four picks return to Fortgang's across Bardugo's other work, and the rest cluster in the award-winning, highly-rated fantasy space with similar runtimes.

10 books for fans of Hell Bent

  1. 1
    Crooked Kingdom cover

    Crooked Kingdom

    Six of Crows • Book 2

    by Leigh Bardugo

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    Betrayed and broken after their heist, Kaz's crew faces enemies from all sides while planning their most impossible con yet. Bardugo's finale delivers emotional payoffs and explosive action sequences.

    4.57 Goodreads (779.9K ratings)
  2. 2
    Six of Crows cover

    Six of Crows

    Six of Crows • Book 1

    by Leigh Bardugo

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    Seventeen-year-old crime boss Kaz Brekker recruits five dangerous outcasts for a heist that could make them rich—or get them killed in Ketterdam's magic-soaked underworld.

    4.46 Goodreads (1.2M ratings)
  3. 3
    Ruin and Rising cover

    Ruin and Rising

    Shadow and Bone • Book 3

    by Leigh Bardugo

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    Hiding in underground caverns, a weakened Sun Summoner must choose between zealots who worship her as a saint and a broken nation under shadow rule. Bardugo sticks the landing on her complex magic system.

    3.97 Goodreads (595.9K ratings)
  4. 4
    Shadow and Bone cover

    Shadow and Bone

    Shadow and Bone • Book 1

    by Leigh Bardugo

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    When cartographer Alina Starkov manifests rare light-summoning powers crossing the monster-infested Shadow Fold, she becomes both Ravka's salvation and its most valuable prisoner.

    3.91 Goodreads (1.1M ratings)
  5. 5
    Demon in the Wood cover

    Demon in the Wood

    Grishaverse

    by Leigh Bardugo, Dani Pendergast

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    Before the Shadow Fold and Ravka's Second Army, the future Darkling was just a boy fleeing with his mother — the rarest and most feared Grisha alive.

    4.09 Goodreads (51.7K ratings)
  6. 6
    Wintersteel cover

    Wintersteel

    Cradle • Book 8

    by Will Wight

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    As the final rounds of the Uncrowned King tournament unfold, competing Monarchs scheme for advantage while an ancient Dreadgod prepares to rise from the depths and reshape the world.

    4.68 Goodreads (33.0K ratings)
  7. 7
    Reaper cover

    Reaper

    Cradle • Book 10

    by Will Wight

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    Wight pushes his magic system to its limits as Lindon delves into Soulsmithing secrets while Monarchs scheme above and cosmic forces battle in realms beyond imagination.

    4.66 Goodreads (30.0K ratings)
  8. 8
    Waybound cover

    Waybound

    Cradle • Book 12

    by Will Wight

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    Lindon's journey from powerless Unsouled to cosmic warrior reaches its climax as he battles Dreadgods and rival Monarchs for Cradle's future—series finale delivered.

    4.62 Goodreads (23.6K ratings)
  9. 9
    Skin Game cover

    Skin Game

    The Dresden Files • Book 15

    by Jim Butcher

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    Mab trades Harry's services to pay off a debt, forcing him to assist Nicodemus and the Denarians in an impossible heist targeting Hades' vault. Butcher combines Ocean's Eleven plotting with Dresden Files mythology while exploring Harry's complicated relationship with power and compromise.

    4.56 Goodreads (93.2K ratings)
  10. 10
    The Gate of the Feral Gods cover

    The Gate of the Feral Gods

    Dungeon Crawler Carl • Book 4

    by Matt Dinniman

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    Four castles, fifteen days, and warrior gnomes in a floating fortress—what could go wrong? Dinniman amps up both danger and comedy as Carl faces his most challenging dungeon level yet.

    4.55 Goodreads (125.6K ratings)