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Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I can’t remember the last time I wanted to step into a book so much, be part of a world so desperately. Even with all the danger, with the pain and darkness and death, it’s a place that feels like possibility…
A hero is not Alex Stern. She has been more than happy to reciprocate life’s severe Fuck You with interest in the shape of a very specific talent/curse. Getting a free ride to Yale is the kind of turnaround that is so improbable that she could never have imagined it. However, just like everything else in her life, what seems to be a significant stride ahead actually implies that sh*t is going to get a whole lot worse. Because she is now responsible for watching over a group of spoiled, wealthy children who are supported by influential people and who are not used to being told what to do. She must determine how much risk she is ready to take on when things go terribly, fatally wrong in order to put things right and perhaps even play the hero.
Leigh Bardugo had received a lot of positive reviews from other readers, but as I don’t typically read YA, I hadn’t read anything else by her. This then materialised. It checked all the boxes, too. Adult. Dark themes and information. secret organisations. The occult A horrible multiple homicide is magically survived by the main character. Nobody I know would be able to resist that. I couldn’t, for sure. What a catchy phrase. Before you ever get to all the juicy details within, that is. It’s safe to assume that everything is there for a fantastic story. Oh my my, did it ever deliver. The book is amazing.
Not only is it a serious contender for my Book of the Year, it’s jumped straight onto my favourites of all time list.
It seemed to be written specifically for me. Everyone should know about it, in my opinion. You can’t help but be drawn to Alex since he is a survivor through and through. I’ve been trying to compare her to someone, but all I can think of is a mix of Faith and Mia Corvere. Her eccentric and captivating self in full force. She has a difficult past that typically results in someone being put in jail or a grave, as well as a significant amount of attitude. It was a pure joy to watch her manoeuvre Yale and offer her unique brand of education to its students.
Even though this book is quite gloomy, it also has humour. Real life is infused with ghosts and magic, lending it a gloomy charm and a terrifying reality, like a world just outside your field of vision. If you rapidly turn your head, you could get a glimpse. Alternatively, if you don’t flee quickly enough, it might grab you. Just a suggestion of what can happen next is given in the waning seconds, and I’ll be first in line. In fact, I’ll be throwing everybody who arrives before me aside with little (or no) regret. I’ll be rereading this in the interim and wondering what the hell will happen to a particular character—who shall not be named, but whoa—seriously. What. The. Hell.
Leigh Bardugo, you got me hooked.
The Review
Ninth House
9 Score
This book is fantastic. The ending is perfection, and that hardly ever happens. It seems slow at the beginning and you may be confused, but keep reading - it picks up at 35% and doesn’t stop. I hope this is a series because I cannot get enough of Alex, Darlington, and Dawes. Don’t think twice about buying this. Just one click it and give yourself time to read because you won’t be able to put it down.
PROS
- Excellent Adult Fantasy.
- Gritty but strikes a good balance.
- Darlington is everything.
- Good dark academia novel.
CONS
- Couldn't get interested enough to finish it.
- Not fantasy - Nonsense.
- All hype, NO substance!
- Wasn't able to get into it.
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