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Ninth House

Book 1 in the series:Alex Stern

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In 'Ninth House' by Leigh Bardugo, the story revolves around Galaxy Alex Stern, a survivor dealing with a traumatic past who is recruited to oversee the mystical activities of the secret societies at Yale. As part of House Leathe, the ninth house, Alex becomes entangled in a web of dark secrets, disappearances, and murder on campus. The book delves into themes of trauma, magic, violence, and the power dynamics within the elite circles of Yale, creating a world where the supernatural intertwines with the everyday struggles of its characters. The writing style is described as dark, compelling, and filled with vivid descriptions that transport readers to the atmospheric setting of Yale University.

Characters:

Characters include a troubled protagonist who sees ghosts, a mentor embodying privilege, and diverse supporting figures, all exploring resilience and trauma.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is dark, atmospheric, and descriptive, balancing humor with horror while employing varied pacing that enhances the storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intertwines academic politics, murder, and magic, centering on a character with the ability to see ghosts who investigates a murder linked to Yale's secret societies.

Setting:

The setting is Yale University, rich in academic culture and supernatural elements, focusing on secret societies and their dark practices.

Pacing:

The pacing initially struggles with slow world-building but accelerates in the second half, delivering gripping tension and action.
By the time Alex managed to get the blood out of her good wool coat, it was too warm to wear it. Spring had come on grudgingly; pale blue mornings failed to deepen, turning instead to moist, sullen af...

Notes:

Ninth House is set at Yale University, known for its secret societies, which often seem mysterious and influential.
The oldest Yale secret society featured in the book is Skull and Bones, famous for its powerful alumni.
The protagonist, Alex Stern, has a traumatic past, being the only survivor of a multiple homicide.
Alex has the unique ability to see ghosts, referred to in the book as 'greys'.
The secret societies at Yale practice different types of magic, including divination and glamours.
Lethe, the ninth house, was created to oversee the activities of the other eight secret societies and prevent dangerous outcomes from their rituals.
The magic in the book is often tied to locations with historical significance, like the Yale campus.
Alex is not your typical Ivy League student; she did not finish high school and struggles with her past involving drugs and crime.
The book blends elements of paranormal horror with mystery, often revealing darker themes around privilege and power.
The narrative shifts between different timelines, gradually unveiling character backstories and plot elements.
The writing is characterized as both atmospheric and dense, with detailed descriptions of the setting and events.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic violence, sexual assault, trauma, substance abuse, and themes of death.

From The Publisher:

Ninth House is the mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo, a tale of power, privilege, dark magic, and murder set among the Ivy League elite.

Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

Ratings (226)

Incredible (47)
Loved It (77)
Liked It (45)
It Was OK (27)
Did Not Like (22)
Hated It (8)

Reader Stats (650):

Read It (232)
Currently Reading (11)
Want To Read (323)
Did Not Finish (16)
Not Interested (68)

8 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 week

Don't think I've read Leigh Bardugo before but this book didn't exactly made me wanna read more books by her. But might try later

 
Liked It
1 month

I liked the private school setting, he secret societies, and magical elements.

 
Incredible
3 months

So well written! This clearly took a lot of time, research, and effort to create. I don’t often like books with a time skip every chapter, but it makes sense here and keeps the tension driving. Full of symbolism and a writing style that takes itself seriously, but allows for lighter moments.

 
Incredible
5 months

I love Leigh Bardugo's books so much! I read the book and immediately sink into the world.

 
Incredible
6 months

I could have done without all the sexual assault--and boy, was there *a lot* of sexual assault--but at least it was relevant to the story, both in terms of theme and plot.

Otherwise, I loved this. Bardugo's prose is beautiful. The characters feel fully-formed, and they're all much, much, much smarter than I am. Alex is funny and likeable as a protagonist. The worldbuilding is incredible and completely unique. Many of the twists and turns caught be off guard, but were all foreshadowed well enough that they make perfect sense. Very quick read, and I enjoyed (almost, see note above re: sexual assault) every minute.

I was satisfied with the ending, but there are a couple of key questions left unresolved and I can't wait for the sequel.

 
Loved It
6 months

Wife suggested I read it since I enjoyed The Starless Sea. I did. Fun read.

 
Hated It
8 months

Leigh didn't explain the story or her universe at all. You just have to learn to understand whatever's happening, and even after 400 pages, I still find myself very confused. There's a rape scene that is totally unnecessary and doesn't add up to the story at all. It didn't have the dark academia style and it's just uninteresting to me.

 
Liked It
9 months

Plot

 

About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (coming soon to Netflix). With over 3 million copies sold worldwide, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, King of Scars-with more to come. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and short stories that have appeared in The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles.

 
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