Ninth House (Ninth House Series, 1)

I couldn't put this one down. I'm very familiar with New Haven CT., and Yale, so none of these dark groups surprised me. The suspense and drama hold the reader to the last page. While I doubt some of the darker magic exists, I don't doubt what certain people will try for more power. The writing is so well done, it leaves even me wondering what goes on behind the walls in those beautiful buildings and the city itself.

If you would have asked for a rating within the first quarter of this book it would have been a solid two stars: an interesting premise and the potential for a good story but so many freaking unnecessary words! Luckily I persevered past thirty percent by way of sheer stubbornness because the rest of the story was fantastic. LB miraculously loses most of the overabundant detailing of the founding of buildings as well as the lives of the founders of said building and a ton of other stuff I can’t remember that lent nothing truly important to the story itself and actually started telling the story! As a result, that meager two stars has catapulted back up to five because I’m very excited for the next installment.

I love Alex, Galaxy, very much. I understand growing up in a tough world and having things fall apart on you. Alex is a fighter and a survivor, and while her regular classes at Yale may be a bit difficult, she handles her "extracurricular" lessons very well...until things fall apart again. What will Alex and Darlington do? This story is impossible to put down, and keeps you in suspense the entire ride through. I love that is is set in the real world, because this makes the entire story more real. Wonderful as a first Leigh Bardugo book, or to read after Bardugo's Grishaverse books.

NINTH HOUSE is the first book I have read by author Leigh Bardugo, and I have already purchased several other novels by her, based on the writing style alone. She captured my attention from the first page, and managed to give enough "new" information for me to process all throughout this story. The result was a novel that I hated to put down at any place.

"Rich or poor, all are equal in death . . . "

Alex (Galaxy) Stern is a young woman that spent her life trying to hide away from the fact that she was very . . . different. She was able to see ghosts ("Grays") from the day she was born. A curse that kept her from blending in and living a "normal" life, until the day she got an offer from Yale.

Alex would get a free ride, contingent upon her joining their secretive Lethe House, where she would help monitor supernatural events and experiments in private societies on campus.

"The greatest gift Lethe had given Alex . . . was the knowledge, the certainty that the things she saw were real and always had been . . . "

Bardugo has constructed a complex and thrilling novel involving dynamic characters, supernatural phenomena, mysterious histories, secret societies, and danger threaded all throughout. The societies and their "origins" were so well detailed that each and every event felt entirely plausible in the setting.

". . . This town is a peculiar one. The Veil is thinner here . . . "

There wasn't just one main character that stood out here. I found that many of them were so individual in their behaviors and beliefs that they were equally as important to me as Alex was.

". . . He didn't know how precious a normal life could be, how easy it was to drift away from average . . . "

As the events began, I felt as if I were learning along with Alex--a student, myself--permitted entrance into possibly THE most exclusive and wondrous of societies. The stark change from the world she left behind, to the one she now sought to integrate into, was astronomical. Her character's sarcastic wit and ability to make quick decisions helped blend this transition into something the reader could go along with.

"Maybe good things were the same as the bad things. Sometimes you just had to let them happen."

I really enjoyed how Bardugo painted the demeanor of the privileged college students, verses those that lived in the towns just outside of Yale's domain. The differences were illustrated in casual comments, the clothing worn, professors who had students working as hired help--all to create the sense of inequality better than words alone ever could.

". . . there was a big difference between things being fair and things being set right."

Then, there was the magical "world" that was Lethe--where they were tasked with overseeing the elaborate rituals involving the supernatural, mixed with the needs and desires of the rich and powerful--all done in secrecy from the main body of the common population. THIS is the area that had me hooked on every sentence penned.

". . . That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you'd been before life took away your belief in the possible . . . "

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with my first novel from Leigh Bardugo. Her writing style kept my attention from first to last page, giving just enough information at a time to keep you begging for more. The world she created was complex, and yet believable--with the elite of Yale in contrast to the world surrounding the University, you could believe that some of these people were able to pierce the "barrier" for their own gain.

". . . needed to believe that there was something more to the world than living and dying . . . "

Add in some dynamic, three dimensional characters, and you have a book that covers all the major bases. I plan on reading some of the author's earlier novels, and will eagerly be awaiting her next.

Highly recommended!

“But would it have mattered if she’d been someone else? If she’d been a social butterfly, they would have said she liked to drink away her pain. If she’d been a straight-A student, they would have said she’d been eaten alive by her perfectionism. There were always excuses for why girls d**d.”

Leigh Bardugo’s latest book Ninth House is by every measure a success, and it’s easy to see why.

In Ninth House, Alex Stern begins her new life as a student at Yale University. But with her background, and her ability, she’s not like the other students. In Ninth House we explore, through Alex, a blend of the real and the unreal as she learns about Yale’s exclusive clubs and their influence, their dealings with magic and ritual and power.

I really wanted to like this book, having loved the first in Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, but I was aware that a lot of the split reviews hinged on the voice and pacing Bardugo chose for Ninth House. I didn’t know what to expect, and when I first started it I really couldn’t get past the first few pages. However, after walking away for a month, I came back to it and thoroughly enjoyed it in a “cover to cover” kind of way.

Overall, I think it’s an excellent example of the kind of skilled writing Bardugo is bringing to the fantasy genre. You see, like Alex from the book Bardugo went to Yale, studying English, and it’s clear that she learned her lessons well. She successfully avoids a lot of the tropes that popular fantasy writers can fall into. In another author this might read (so to speak) as maturity of voice, but in Bardugo it’s something else. I had this feeling when reading Six of Crows, but in Ninth Gate it was never more than a few page turns away from my awareness.

Bardugo’s writing is clean. It’s straightforward and poetic together in an excellent balance; it’s clear and evocative and all the things a fantasy writer might aim for (I assume, not being one myself). But Bardugo’s writing is almost clinically clean. Formulaically clean. And I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that I was reading a paint-by-numbers masterpiece. Perhaps, I think, she learned her lessons at Yale too well.

“The night of the Manuscript party, Darlington spent the early-evening hours with the windows of Black Elm lit, handing out candy, jack-o’-lanterns lining the driveway. He loved this part of Halloween, the ritual of it, the tide of happy strangers arriving on his shores, hands outstretched. Most times Black Elm felt like a dark island, one that had somehow ceased to appear on any chart. Not on Halloween night.”

I did also struggle against the need to roll my eyes, hearing again and again just how pleased Bardugo is with herself for attending Yale. Yes, it’s a great accomplishment. Yes, Yale is the perfect setting for this story, and her experience there makes her uniquely qualified to tell this story well. But there was just a tidbit too much smug self-importance shining through in those early chapters for my taste. Not enough to turn me off by any means. Just enough for me to have left some small snarky comments in the margins.

Even so, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. In fact, I’m fairly sure it’ll be my first reread of 2020. I liked it so well I’m so bummed to find that the sequel isn’t expected until 2021 (and is untitled). Because I’m not done with this story. I’m not done with the world, or the characters, or the narratives that we only got a glimpse of during the course of this book. Simply: I’m hooked.

Many people (most of them fans of Bardugo’s earlier work) complained that Ninth House had pacing issues, particularly a slow start in the first half. With those folks I strongly disagree. Bardugo chose a different pacing style for this book than I’ve seen from her before and it suited this narrative perfectly, allowing the story to unfold organically as we experience it along a disjointed timeline, and allowing moments in the story to illuminate the characters and setting gracefully.

When it comes to the characters, setting, and plot, I have nothing to say but good things. She’s a skilled author who knows her craft, and in Ninth House multiple complex characters play important roles in interwoven plots without pulling the reader’s attention from the whole. And on top of it all is woven an incredibly unique magical system and just tons and tons of ghosts.

She did an excellent job introducing and then twisting the familiar concept of secret societies full of students and backed by powerful alums up to no good in the shadows. I’ll admit – that trope’s been my jam since Gilmore Girls was on the air, but Bardugo really accomplished something fascinating with that starting point, creating something exciting and darkly fascinating, horrific and just slightly too believable.

I love, too, that she’s not afraid to leave things unanswered. Yes, there will be a second book. But Bardugo didn’t sprinkle a couple of questions near the end to motivate a sequel. She left multiple things unanswered about characters, plot, motivation, and the structure of the world simply because doing so makes the story feel more alive, less contrived than witnessed.

All in all, I truly, deeply enjoyed reading Ninth House. It was everything I’d hoped it would be, and I hate that I have to wait at least a baker’s dozen months before I can read the sequel. There’s enough world here to support a lengthy series, it seems to me. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

It is no secret that I gravitate toward dark aesthetic. While it may not be what my brand exudes, it is a personal favorite of mine. Dark and moody aesthetics influence everything from my makeup choices, to my wardrobe, and even my Lightroom presets. Needless to say, I was immensely excited about Ninth House the minute I heard Leigh talk about it.

Overall, this book did not let me down. It is widely different from the Shadow and Bone trilogy as well as the Six of Crows duology. It is adult, gritty, and somewhat depressing, but most of all it is real. While there are obviously paranormal and magical elements – it is set in the real world, our world. It deals with real issues that are affecting people today including drug addiction, abusive relationships, mental illness, and rape and is not for the faint of heart.

The Plot We meet Alex (or Galaxy) Stern as she struggles her way through her first year at Yale. She is not educationally qualified to be attending an Ivy League school, but has gotten wrapped in the seedy underground of the secret societies that take place at Yale. See, Alex has something that makes her unlike anyone else, she can see and interact with ghosts (or Grays as they are known in this world).

Because of her talent, she was recruited by Lethe House, which is the organization that monitors and regulates the paranormal activity of the other eight houses of Yale. The other houses each dabble in different types of magic to further their agenda. In fact, the book opens with Alex attending a ritual that involves members of one of the societies analyzing the insides of a kidnapped hospital patient so they can predict the future of the NY Stock Exchange and NASDAQ markets. This is only one instance of this ritual, which seems to happen routinely for the last several decades and can have different outcomes like improving the ranking of member’s book on the NY Times Best Sellers list or making a mediocre pop song rise on the chart.

However, something during this particular ritual is… off. We learn that Grays routinely attend these rituals and are drawn to anything that makes them feel more alive like pain, emotions, sex, and the like. They are usually complacent mostly because no one can see them except Alex and as long as someone does not form a connection with them, they are harmless. However, something goes wrong and the Grays get upset and begin beating on their otherworldly barrier. They become completely agitated and Alex is concerned that they will become violent. Thankfully, after a minute, the chaos stops.

Shaken, Alex leaves after the ritual is completed – but finds that sometime during the night (rituals always happen on Thursdays) that a New Haven resident was murdered. Something about the death does not sit well with Alex and while she cannot prove society involvement, she thinks there is more to meet the eye.

As she investigates the death, we get flashbacks to her bleak previous life, before Lethe, and her induction into the society by her mentor Darlington (who disappeared before the start of the book). Could Darlington’s disappearance be tied to the murder of the New Haven resident? Alex intends to find out, all while trying to maintain her job as the resident mediator for the societies and Yale as well as get by as a student and maintain at least passing grades.

The Review

Ninth House was an incredibly engrossing read. While I find myself being fairly good at being able to predict what will happen by the end of the novel, this one I was not successful at. It reads as a mystery and one I was not successful at solving.

I thought Alex was a very different character, since I usually stay away from reading contemporary fiction she came across as much more ‘real’ than I am used to reading and I enjoyed the change. However, because it was so real, it is a fairly depressing book. Dealing with so many terrible things that happened in her life leads her to be fairly downtrodden.

I do not consider myself to be easily triggered, and I do not think I was ‘triggered’ from this book as much as I was just depressed during certain parts. This book explicitly describes rape, drug use, physical abuse, and death. It is not a book that should be for the faint of heart and you need to go into reading this with a clear mind and understanding of what this book entails. Some parts are graphic and hard to read, others are entrancing, but none of it is particularly up lifting.

I have seen some reviews complaining that it was boring read – let me make this clear... This is part one of a long series. Leigh herself has said she hopes to write five or six novels in the Alex Stern series, and honestly this book reads like book one of a long series to me. It sets the groundwork, and the lore that I am sure will be important in the following books. Does that maybe bog some people down, yes, but if you look at it from the perspective of it being one of five or six books it makes sense. Maybe, if you are someone who does not appreciate so much backstory, wait until one or two more come out so you can power read through several at a time.

I do think this book is absolutely worth the read. It is creepy and dark and the perfect October read. We end on a little bit of a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens to these characters as there are SO many questions left unanswered.

"Ninth House" by Leigh Bardugo is not just a dark tale but a captivating journey into the enigmatic world of secret societies and magic. This intriguing narrative earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

The main characters, particularly Alex Stern, are compelling and complex figures who add a profound depth to the story. Alex reminded me of a morally grey blend between Veronica Mars and Buffy Summers, two of my favorite female characters.

The novel's dark themes are not just balanced but beautifully contrasted by its exploration of speaking out, finding one's voice, and female empowerment. These elements add multiple layers to the narrative, making the long, drawn-out mystery filled with plot twists a thrilling experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with a dark atmosphere that sets the tone perfectly. While the beginning is a bit slow, it sets the stage for the intricate hierarchy and system of the secret societies, which becomes crucial to understanding the story.

The dual timelines, told through the perspectives of Alex and Darlington, add depth to the plot and make the twists more impactful. However, the book's length can be daunting, especially at the beginning. It takes some time to fully grasp the world and its complexities, but it's a thrilling ride once the story takes off.

Overall, "Ninth House" is a gripping, dark academia story that is well worth the read despite its initial slow start.

Yale’s secret societies perform various occult activities in order to predict the future or perform glamours. Their alumni and networks rely on the occult to remain powerful figures in business and politics. Occult activities come at a price, however, and the societies need to be kept in check to make sure that Yale University itself doesn’t get caught and punished. Yale needs good press after all. That’s where Alex Stern comes in. Alex is recruited by Lethe, the organization that watches over the secret societies and makes sure they aren’t abusing their privilege. Why was Alex recruited for this task you ask? After all, she isn’t a typical Yale student– a high school drop-out, drug abuser, and no connections whatsoever. I’ll leave it to the book itself to tell you why, it’s quickly mentioned in the first chapter or so.

I love the setting and paranormal worldbuilding of this book. The occult is very ingrained into our present day, which almost gives it the feeling that these things are actually real and possible. (Yes, I know it’s not in the end, but how sad). It’s a little spooky and very eerie and at times even horrifying. Yale’s secret societies are dark things that Yale depends on to stay the elite college that it is. All that power must come at a price. But whose price is it? This book is very much a check in privilege. It’s anger at the very rich who seem to be able to control it all and get away with everything. This anger is expressed through Alex as she is an outsider, or ordinary person, looking in. Alex has had a very hard past that is not through a fault of her own, and has had to fight her way to where she is now. She doesn’t take her viewpoint for granted or choose to suck up to the Yale elite, but instead will speak for the common people.

The book is told from alternating timelines. It goes from present, the early Spring semester of Alex’s freshmen year, to the fall where she first started at Yale and working for Lethe. I really enjoyed this alternate way of telling the story as it added a mystery– one of the characters is missing in the present and the past builds up to what caused that. Additionally, since I mainly liked this book for the occult parts, it’s more interesting to be thrown into the present where Alex kind of knows whats going on, and then get an explanation in the past.

Alex is definitely a strong female character and you’ll learn why she is the way she is while reading. She has a tough and dark past, and it’s admirable how she fights through. The overall darkness of the novel truly means this book is for adults and not the traditional YA audience that Ms. Bardugo writes for. There are many reviews with trigger warnings out there already (and I personally am not the best at identifying all of them), so do your research if you think a dark adult novel may be too much for you.

This book has a lot of good qualities to it, so why am I not rating this higher? It’s just very slow going, and not much happens for a good portion of the book. Some of that is more focusing on Alex’s drive and daily life at Yale, others is just minor worldbuilding for the societies . They’re important but not necessarily the most interesting, or at least delivered in a very interesting way. I think it’s also a fault that I read a lot of YA and have read Ms. Bardugo’s own YA novels. YA books are generally very fast and pull you into the story quickly and keep you there. I wasn’t rushing to find out what happens. My expectations may have been too high. I don’t hate slow burn books, mind you, but this one isn’t really meant to be slow burn, if that makes any sense at all. I’m also not a huge murder mystery reader, and a major plot point of this book is Alex investigating one.

I think as a first adult novel for Ms. Bardugo, it’s a good book, and I’ll likely continue the series to see where it goes. I do really enjoy the paranormal elements involved and exploring the dark side to an elite college.