Dead Beat Review (Alex Stern, #3)

Hello, all!

Let's chat about Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo. You can read my review of the previous book here!

Pub Date: 9-15-26
Adult - Fantasy

Alex may have survived hell and rescued Darlington, but she left the door open behind her, and now demons are plaguing the streets of New Haven. Alex, Darlington, Turner, and Dawes have been spending their time tracking down and dispelling as many demons as they can, but it's only the beginning. Soon, the gates to the underworld will be open completely, and Golgarot will unleash war upon the world.

To have a chance at survival, Alex and her allies dig through the histories of Yale's secret societies, while facing a deadly vampire and, worst of all, the corrupt Lethe board. Their investigations also lead them to the truth about Alex's bloodline and the source of her power, adding another enemy to their ever-growing list. But for the first time in her life, Alex has people on her side, and she doesn't have to face the darkness alone. Everyone has a part to play in the coming war, and Alex refuses to go down without a fight.

This was one of my most anticipated releases for the year, and it did not disappoint. Alex has been such a compelling character from the start, and watching her growth over the course of the series has been a highlight. You read stories about heroes that are good and kind, and Alex is the complete opposite of that. She's brash, aggressive, and not above getting her hands dirty, but she's loyal and would rather put herself in danger than those she cares about. We also finally learned more about her powers and where they come from, which I found so interesting. I enjoyed all the interactions between our main characters, and I love the little family they formed. I also loved the development of the romance between Alex and Darlington. They complement each other so well. Bardugo saved all the action for this last book, and I was stressed wondering how the gang would pull off a win. I'm sad to see the series come to a close, but I loved how everything wrapped up.

Rating: 4/5

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