Review: Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo

It was kind of a trip reading this with the backdrop of the Cornell seven. It takes place at a different Ivy League school, Yale and it’s not about fraternities by secret society but still feels the same. It still has the same wealth, privilege and protect the power at all cost to it. When we pick up the story, Alex is back from hell with Darlington’s soul but she left the door open and demons are coming through. They have to figure out to close it but in true fashion, they discover that they were not the first to go through the gauntlet. The last time did not end as planned and was buried to protect those in power. To make things even more complicated. The head of Lethe has found out that Alex is a wheel walker and wants her to open a line for him for his own needs. I do like how Alex is morally ambiguous. She is not above bloody her hands if she needs to. If it means she has to murder someone, she is going to do so to protect her friends and herself. She may have been accepted to Yale due to her abilities but that doesn’t mean she isn’t smart. She has an intelligence that many of the people at Yale do not. Street smarts and a true understanding of how the world really works. This is true group effort. Darlington, who is still half demon, has gone from the brains to the brawn of the operations. Dawes comes in with her mastery of magic and knowledge of magical items. Turner, brings his detective skills. Even Tripp and Mercy play a part. The support they give each other throughout the book is really touching and think is the real reason, they were able to succeed when the previous people did not. They are not doing this for power but for survival. This was a very good series. Not the easiest read as is to touch on some sensitive topics and does not shy away from violence but I think it’s necessary. For once, the powerful privilege didn’t out right win and that’s enough.

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