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A review by baknata
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From beginning to end, this book was enthralling. It wasn't at all what I expected and each new twist left me speechless. The twists in the book were set up well and looking back on the story, you can see how the author sets them up even though they are unexpected on the first read. The beginning of the story did a great job introducing the world and the characters while still remaining interesting. I liked the way the author incorporated different POVs and times a lot. Usually, that kind of thing bothers me, but Bardugo knows exactly when to switch POVs so the information adds to the story while not jarring the reader from the main plot. The end left me quite literally on the edge of my seat. I am a huge fan of stories that incorporate magic and fantasy into our reality, especially those that do it well. This book has a great blend of facts and fiction that makes it feel like it could be real. This makes immersion into the text very easy. I cannot wait for the next book to explore more of the world and continue the great story that is set up at the end of this one.
As for the characters in the book, I found them to be very well written. The main character, Alex (short for Galaxy which I LOVE as a name), is a complex character with a dark past that we learn more and more about as the story goes on. She finds herself in a completely foreign place to what she is used to, the secret societies of Yale. What brings her there is her unique gift of being able to see "grays" which are basically ghosts. The flashbacks and multiple POVs allow us to learn about Alex as the plot develops and we find out how she came to where she is now and the implications her past has on her current circumstances. There is a host of side characters, both loveable and not, that are also written very well. Overall, I found that the characters made realistic choices in their situations. To highlight one, another more prominent character is Daniel Arlington, Darlington. He comes from the high-class world that is common for the societies. He is smart, sophisticated, and has an intense fascination with New Haven. He is Alex's mentor in the society who introduces her to her duties and the history of the societies. I really enjoyed the contrast of the two characters and how their faults and fascinations played off one another. The flashbacks give us insight into Darlington's past too, as well as show how his relationship with Alex developed. Bardugo did an excellent job with making a complex character, who is one way to the world and a different way inside. I love Darlington and a lot of that is because of the great character writing. One thing that was interesting about this book was the fact that you never know which characters are good and which are bad. Just by the sinister nature of the societies and how they get their power, everyone involved has to be just a little twisted, and it's so intriguing finding out which characters are far more twisted than you could've expected.
One thing that must be said is that this book is super dark, like much more than expected. While this didn't stop me from liking the book, it must be said that it is not for everyone. At one point I was literally like, another assault? How much assault can one book have? Not to mention Burdugo uses a lot of descriptive language, which really brings the book alive. This is great, except for those who don't want to hear realistic details of someone being assaulted. I would highly recommend reading the TWs and considering if you can handle the content before starting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary fantasy, magical realism, mystery, and complex characters
As for the characters in the book, I found them to be very well written. The main character, Alex (short for Galaxy which I LOVE as a name), is a complex character with a dark past that we learn more and more about as the story goes on. She finds herself in a completely foreign place to what she is used to, the secret societies of Yale. What brings her there is her unique gift of being able to see "grays" which are basically ghosts. The flashbacks and multiple POVs allow us to learn about Alex as the plot develops and we find out how she came to where she is now and the implications her past has on her current circumstances. There is a host of side characters, both loveable and not, that are also written very well. Overall, I found that the characters made realistic choices in their situations. To highlight one, another more prominent character is Daniel Arlington, Darlington. He comes from the high-class world that is common for the societies. He is smart, sophisticated, and has an intense fascination with New Haven. He is Alex's mentor in the society who introduces her to her duties and the history of the societies. I really enjoyed the contrast of the two characters and how their faults and fascinations played off one another. The flashbacks give us insight into Darlington's past too, as well as show how his relationship with Alex developed. Bardugo did an excellent job with making a complex character, who is one way to the world and a different way inside. I love Darlington and a lot of that is because of the great character writing. One thing that was interesting about this book was the fact that you never know which characters are good and which are bad. Just by the sinister nature of the societies and how they get their power, everyone involved has to be just a little twisted, and it's so intriguing finding out which characters are far more twisted than you could've expected.
One thing that must be said is that this book is super dark, like much more than expected. While this didn't stop me from liking the book, it must be said that it is not for everyone. At one point I was literally like, another assault? How much assault can one book have? Not to mention Burdugo uses a lot of descriptive language, which really brings the book alive. This is great, except for those who don't want to hear realistic details of someone being assaulted. I would highly recommend reading the TWs and considering if you can handle the content before starting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary fantasy, magical realism, mystery, and complex characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Excrement