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dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Abandonment, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Mental illness, Pedophilia
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is awesome. It's so wonderfully structured and intense. I loved it. It was such an intense read. I really loved Alex. Bardugo created such an in-depth character whom I was sometimes frustrated by, but was often really in love with. Alex has such a determination that is admirable and annoying, making the other characters seem real in their reactions to her.
I also really loved the plot. There were so many twists and turns, and the end especially had me on the edge of my seat. I could not stop reading at the end. There were so many points where all I could think of was the book and I couldn't sleep at night because I was dreaming of it. Bardugo did a wonderful job of foreshadowing without making it too obvious, and this helped the characters come alive even more, like the reveal that Belbalm was Daisy. I knew that she was incredibly important, but I didn't fully realize who she was until the end. I also knew that Darlington had to be alive, but not that he was a demon. The Gentleman demon was a bit surprising, but makes sense since he euthanized his grandfather.
The worldbuilding was also incredible. It felt real and alive, and I also liked how Bardugo confronted how unequal access to quality education is, and how things like mental illness impact every aspect of life. One of the things I loved about Alex is that Bardugo is very clear that, while Alex is the main character and special because of her abilities, she is also a person who could be anybody. Bardugo brought a view of drug use and mental illness that is very compassionate. While there are villains in Alex's story, she is very clear about who are the real victims and that while the villains are horrible, there are other people who have put them in that position.
I also really loved the plot. There were so many twists and turns, and the end especially had me on the edge of my seat. I could not stop reading at the end. There were so many points where all I could think of was the book and I couldn't sleep at night because I was dreaming of it. Bardugo did a wonderful job of foreshadowing without making it too obvious, and this helped the characters come alive even more, like
The worldbuilding was also incredible. It felt real and alive, and I also liked how Bardugo confronted how unequal access to quality education is, and how things like mental illness impact every aspect of life. One of the things I loved about Alex is that Bardugo is very clear that, while Alex is the main character and special because of her abilities, she is also a person who could be anybody. Bardugo brought a view of drug use and mental illness that is very compassionate. While there are villains in Alex's story, she is very clear about who are the real victims and that while the villains are horrible, there are other people who have put them in that position.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Can’t give it five stars because spirit thread. But DAMN this book. This SERIES. I’m obsessed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Nothing feels romanticized or tokenized.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't like horror but I love this book. The horrors here have contemporary relevance, tackling abuse of women and the insidious evils of capitalism, the v!olence inherent in the system, and the entrenched nature of power imbalances in America. But it gives us just enough magic to make this book seem escapist, a team of heroes with just enough hope at the end that you think we all really might make it through this in the end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 8
Alex Stern is a sharp-edged knife of a protagonist, and I loved how unapologetically damaged she is—but sometimes she felt like she was more trauma response than character. I got the why of her, but not always the who. She’s captivating, sure, but inconsistent in ways that didn’t always feel intentional. Darlington has all the makings of a cult favorite—refined, tortured, speaks in footnotes—but he spends half the book off-page, which made me care slightly less than I wanted to. The side cast had promise (I would die for Dawes, but I also wish she had more than six lines of dialogue), but most of them existed to orbit Alex’s angst. I cared, but I didn’t cry.
Alex Stern is a sharp-edged knife of a protagonist, and I loved how unapologetically damaged she is—but sometimes she felt like she was more trauma response than character. I got the why of her, but not always the who. She’s captivating, sure, but inconsistent in ways that didn’t always feel intentional. Darlington has all the makings of a cult favorite—refined, tortured, speaks in footnotes—but he spends half the book off-page, which made me care slightly less than I wanted to. The side cast had promise (I would die for Dawes, but I also wish she had more than six lines of dialogue), but most of them existed to orbit Alex’s angst. I cared, but I didn’t cry.
Atmosphere/Setting: 10
The setting is where this book puts everyone else in the dirt. Bardugo takes Yale and cracks it open like a cursed Fabergé egg—secret societies, haunted libraries, ritual sacrifice beneath a glowing amber cube—it’s pure gothic indulgence. Everything from the architecture to the smell of old stone and magic-soaked parchment is dripping with dark academia vibes. The world feels lived in, layered, and ever so slightly decaying. I could smell the candle wax and blood. Honestly, Bardugo could write a travel guide to New Haven and I’d read it twice.
The setting is where this book puts everyone else in the dirt. Bardugo takes Yale and cracks it open like a cursed Fabergé egg—secret societies, haunted libraries, ritual sacrifice beneath a glowing amber cube—it’s pure gothic indulgence. Everything from the architecture to the smell of old stone and magic-soaked parchment is dripping with dark academia vibes. The world feels lived in, layered, and ever so slightly decaying. I could smell the candle wax and blood. Honestly, Bardugo could write a travel guide to New Haven and I’d read it twice.
Writing Style: 8
Bardugo’s prose is polished and punchy, equal parts elegant and grimy, and when it’s good, it sings. There are moments that hit like a spell—just the right image, the perfect rhythm—but then she’ll throw in a line so overwrought it feels like it tripped over its own metaphor. The nonlinear structure sometimes muddled the tension instead of enhancing it, and I found myself flipping back a few too many times. Still, the voice is confident and distinct, and I’d absolutely read Bardugo in any genre—even if she’s writing about haunted IRS audits.
Bardugo’s prose is polished and punchy, equal parts elegant and grimy, and when it’s good, it sings. There are moments that hit like a spell—just the right image, the perfect rhythm—but then she’ll throw in a line so overwrought it feels like it tripped over its own metaphor. The nonlinear structure sometimes muddled the tension instead of enhancing it, and I found myself flipping back a few too many times. Still, the voice is confident and distinct, and I’d absolutely read Bardugo in any genre—even if she’s writing about haunted IRS audits.
Plot: 7
On paper, it’s a killer setup: ghosts, secret societies, and a murder mystery wrapped in a dark academic bow. In execution, it stumbles. The mystery of Tara Hutchins starts off compelling but loses steam under the weight of flashbacks, side quests, and Lethe bureaucracy. It’s less whodunit, more “wait, what page are we on?” There are twists, but none that made me scream into the void. The pacing falters—stretches of deep, atmospheric brooding punctuated by bursts of really good action—and I wish the ending had stuck the landing harder. Still, it held together enough to keep me invested.
On paper, it’s a killer setup: ghosts, secret societies, and a murder mystery wrapped in a dark academic bow. In execution, it stumbles. The mystery of Tara Hutchins starts off compelling but loses steam under the weight of flashbacks, side quests, and Lethe bureaucracy. It’s less whodunit, more “wait, what page are we on?” There are twists, but none that made me scream into the void. The pacing falters—stretches of deep, atmospheric brooding punctuated by bursts of really good action—and I wish the ending had stuck the landing harder. Still, it held together enough to keep me invested.
Intrigue: 8
This book had its claws in me. Even when I was mildly annoyed or rolling my eyes at a drawn-out flashback, I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know what happened to Darlington, what Alex was hiding, what the hell those spirit hounds were doing off-leash. Bardugo knows how to build suspense, even if she occasionally undercuts it with time jumps and exposition. I wasn’t glued to the page 100% of the time, but I was thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. That counts.
This book had its claws in me. Even when I was mildly annoyed or rolling my eyes at a drawn-out flashback, I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know what happened to Darlington, what Alex was hiding, what the hell those spirit hounds were doing off-leash. Bardugo knows how to build suspense, even if she occasionally undercuts it with time jumps and exposition. I wasn’t glued to the page 100% of the time, but I was thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. That counts.
Logic/Relationships: 6.5
Here’s where things get squishy. The magic system is vibes-based at best—like, maybe if you chant in Dutch and bleed on a scroll, capitalism will give you stock tips? And the Grays can touch Alex… or not… or maybe if it’s Tuesday and the moon’s in retrograde. It’s murky. Relationships are similarly uneven. Alex and Darlington have sizzling potential, but again, he’s missing for half the book. Her roommates are just cardboard cutouts with cute boots. And Lethe? Allegedly a secret watchdog organization, but mostly just useless and vaguely ominous. The world feels cool, but it falls apart if you poke too hard.
Here’s where things get squishy. The magic system is vibes-based at best—like, maybe if you chant in Dutch and bleed on a scroll, capitalism will give you stock tips? And the Grays can touch Alex… or not… or maybe if it’s Tuesday and the moon’s in retrograde. It’s murky. Relationships are similarly uneven. Alex and Darlington have sizzling potential, but again, he’s missing for half the book. Her roommates are just cardboard cutouts with cute boots. And Lethe? Allegedly a secret watchdog organization, but mostly just useless and vaguely ominous. The world feels cool, but it falls apart if you poke too hard.
Enjoyment: 8
Did I have a good time? Yes. Did I also sigh heavily when the timeline jumped again and Alex started trauma-eating another sandwich? Also yes. This book was a moody, messy thrill ride, like sneaking into an Ivy League tomb full of ghosts and bad decisions. It didn’t deliver everything it promised, but it delivered enough: great atmosphere, big stakes, morally grey magic, and a main character I wanted to fight for (and occasionally fight). I’ll absolutely read the sequel—hopefully with less exposition and more ghost-stabbing.
Did I have a good time? Yes. Did I also sigh heavily when the timeline jumped again and Alex started trauma-eating another sandwich? Also yes. This book was a moody, messy thrill ride, like sneaking into an Ivy League tomb full of ghosts and bad decisions. It didn’t deliver everything it promised, but it delivered enough: great atmosphere, big stakes, morally grey magic, and a main character I wanted to fight for (and occasionally fight). I’ll absolutely read the sequel—hopefully with less exposition and more ghost-stabbing.
Overall Score: 7.9/10
Ninth House is ambitious, occasionally convoluted, and deeply atmospheric. It doesn’t always stick the landing, but it’s one hell of a leap. Think of it as Yale fanfiction written by a pissed-off witch with a minor in Latin and a grudge against the Ivy League. I respect the chaos.
Ninth House is ambitious, occasionally convoluted, and deeply atmospheric. It doesn’t always stick the landing, but it’s one hell of a leap. Think of it as Yale fanfiction written by a pissed-off witch with a minor in Latin and a grudge against the Ivy League. I respect the chaos.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism
Ninth House is a dark, atmospheric novel that does not shy away from difficult topics. It features trauma, abuse, addiction, and violence woven into its narrative, making it a heavy read at times. Readers sensitive to these themes should proceed with caution.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder
What a difficult book to rate this has to be a 2.5.stars which in itself is an odd rating but this was an odd book which I kinda love hated.
I was determined to finish this due to hype and wanting to hit a GR challenge so I forced myself with this.
Downsides
The first few chapters are utter shite. Written obstentatiously with incredibly difficult language serving no purpose other than vanity writing made me want to dnf. There was far too much (and this persisted book-wide but was prevalent in the initial chapters) bits of concept, partial ideas or bits of story that made no sense and alluded to an explanation being offered to make it fall into place but then this explanation was not offered with random 4th wall esque breaking so you are reading without understanding whaat you are reading - a frustrating and confounding narrative that irritated rather than titillated. The editing of this book was shocking so much made no sense and the narrative in reverse annoyed me. Post-book we had a list of socities explained THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE START. I read 25% of the book and it still took me googling andnreading wikis and spoilers to understand wtf was going on and what Lethe was. The "then" narrative added nothing. Thats poor writing.
Upsides
Having said all of that, I loved Alex as a character she was truly bad ass so raw so developed and so likable. The societies were interesting, the plot very twist and kept me guessing and at the 50 - 60% mark I started enjoying this.
The ending felt stunted but set the staage for book 2 and I cant tell if im desparate to know what happens next or couldnt care less.
A bit of a mindfuck of a book to be honest so here's my weird review and rating.