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sofiagreenhill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
I would’ve given this book a full five stars if not for the beginning. It was a slog to get through the first five chapters, but it picked up from there. It was jarring to get dropped so deep into action at the start and struggle to get a sense of what was going on.
I’ve read a lot of reviews with harsh words about the violence against women. I feel like this book handles some of that tension well. Alex’s own trauma seems genuine compared to the life she’s lived. The violence against students seemed at times too much, and would’ve benefited if some of it was cut. It seemed like there was not a single woman in the story that hadn’t had experiences of violence and abuse.
I didn’t expect to like Darlington so much, but I’m looking forward to reading more about him. I feel like it was a great move to remove him for the majority of the book.
All in all the books a great read if you can manage to get through the beginning. The world building is superb, the characters complex and although the plot was a bit convoluted at times it’s a good read even if you’re not super into fantasy.
I’ve read a lot of reviews with harsh words about the violence against women. I feel like this book handles some of that tension well. Alex’s own trauma seems genuine compared to the life she’s lived. The violence against students seemed at times too much, and would’ve benefited if some of it was cut. It seemed like there was not a single woman in the story that hadn’t had experiences of violence and abuse.
I didn’t expect to like Darlington so much, but I’m looking forward to reading more about him. I feel like it was a great move to remove him for the majority of the book.
All in all the books a great read if you can manage to get through the beginning. The world building is superb, the characters complex and although the plot was a bit convoluted at times it’s a good read even if you’re not super into fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
peachyybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Addiction and Blood
aloe_v's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
In three words: ghostly murder mystery.
I thought this was good but a very slow read. It would've gotten a better rating if I'd been hooked, but unfortunately it took two weeks and some willpower to get through, despite liking it?
Would advise readers to be aware of the content warnings. I was glad I saw another review saying what happened at 26%. TW:rape - about two pages (on digital), she's 12, its a man who is a ghost . Very uncomfortable, skimmed through that bit. There are a few other bits with similar themes, so worth being aware.
I thought this was good but a very slow read. It would've gotten a better rating if I'd been hooked, but unfortunately it took two weeks and some willpower to get through, despite liking it?
Would advise readers to be aware of the content warnings. I was glad I saw another review saying what happened at 26%. TW:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
alyxbeau's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I am clearly not the target audience for this book, but I stuck through it anyways even though I should have DNFd this one and almost did on multiple occasions.
I will put the reamainder of my review in spoiler tags to avoid people glancing at trigger warnings, but it will also contain actual spoilers.
There was an absolutely massive amount of sexual assult covered in this book, and in graphic detail. There is a minor in an abusive and sexual relationship with an adult, rape, and drugging with substances to allow seeming consensual acts recorded on a phone. There is gory and detailed descriptions of pried open bodies as well. Honestly, those first pages after the initial chapter should have been enough for me to quit then and there, but I didn't. I thought it might get better after about 25 percent of the book, but the sexual descriptions of uncomfortable situations just got more frequent from that point on.
At first I didn't think sny of it was for the shock factor. It seemed like the experiences our main character went through were described to us to explain her total fear at being touched by a ghost again after being raped as a middle schooler by one. But then her reaction to humans doing the same to her or trying to do the same to her, we're not as intense. They should have been. This is why I think it is all there for the shock factor now, and not included to show why her reaction was intense. Her reaction was intense only once. The trauma forgotten after that first incident at Yale.
This book is not for me. I stayed to solve the mystery of Darlington and got no satisfactory answer. I will not be continuing the series except to read a synopses of books 2 and 3, MAYBE.
I will put the reamainder of my review in spoiler tags to avoid people glancing at trigger warnings, but it will also contain actual spoilers.
At first I didn't think sny of it was for the shock factor. It seemed like the experiences our main character went through were described to us to explain her total fear at being touched by a ghost again after being raped as a middle schooler by one. But then her reaction to humans doing the same to her or trying to do the same to her, we're not as intense. They should have been. This is why I think it is all there for the shock factor now, and not included to show why her reaction was intense. Her reaction was intense only once. The trauma forgotten after that first incident at Yale.
This book is not for me. I stayed to solve the mystery of Darlington and got no satisfactory answer. I will not be continuing the series except to read a synopses of books 2 and 3, MAYBE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
msteinman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Excrement
Minor: Vomit
kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fantastic adult debut by Leigh Bardugo, I was genuinely impressed. It was a bit of a rocky start with the time jumps but about 80 pages in it definitely came into its own. Great magic system in the contemporary world, great mysteries surrounding the characters, and the plot twists were brilliant.
The concept for this book is well thought-out: Alex is a young girl plagued by ghosts, both metaphorical and literal, who finds herself with a free pass to one of the most prestigious universities as a result of her gift, and also where finds herself in the midst of at least 3 murder mysteries. However, at times the chapters were too long, paragraphs too clunky or generally too wordy. Her roommate characters were also super forgettable and definitely plot devices.
I would highly recommend checking your trigger warnings for this because there are some heavy topics and triggering scenes in here if you are unprepared.
The concept for this book is well thought-out: Alex is a young girl plagued by ghosts, both metaphorical and literal, who finds herself with a free pass to one of the most prestigious universities as a result of her gift, and also where finds herself in the midst of at least 3 murder mysteries. However, at times the chapters were too long, paragraphs too clunky or generally too wordy. Her roommate characters were also super forgettable and definitely plot devices.
I would highly recommend checking your trigger warnings for this because there are some heavy topics and triggering scenes in here if you are unprepared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
panic_at_the_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I highly enjoyed the take on ghosts and the afterlife in this book. It's a take I haven't seen that much. I also love how the tension was slowly build up and how in the end loose stories merged together into one. The very ending of the book even made me want to pick up the next book.
The characters felt realistic for they weren't described as the perfect heroes we often see in books. The mystery was revealed slow enough, meaning I was kept on edge throughout the whole story.
Some things did feel a bit too convenient for the story. For example;the mom buying the main chraracter a dress while this character never wears a dress and then a little bit later she needs to wear a dress so she can filter into an event...
I do think the plot twists were well found. Some truly came as a surprise which is really nice when reading a mystery. Not the biggest fan of mysteries where you know from the first few chapters what's up... Which was not the case in Ninth House.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of darker mysteries in an academical setting with paranormal touches.
The characters felt realistic for they weren't described as the perfect heroes we often see in books. The mystery was revealed slow enough, meaning I was kept on edge throughout the whole story.
Some things did feel a bit too convenient for the story. For example;
I do think the plot twists were well found. Some truly came as a surprise which is really nice when reading a mystery. Not the biggest fan of mysteries where you know from the first few chapters what's up... Which was not the case in Ninth House.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of darker mysteries in an academical setting with paranormal touches.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
isabellemay14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.75
This book was such a fun mix of fantasy (dark academia and supernatural vibes) and murder mystery (multiple). There were various major plots unfolding from various perspectives/timepoints in a way that kept you so engaged and wanting to keep unfolding the secrets hidden in plain sight at Yale University. The obvious research and planning that went into fleshing out the Ancient Eight Houses of the Veil created such an immersive reading experience. Such a well written and enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Death, Blood, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alexschrade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.25
Took me a while to get into the story, but once I did it was exceptional. Couldn't set the book down. I am madly in love with Alex and honestly couldn't have expected the plot twist. Amazing writing style as well. Beware though, it was very graphic at times, so definitely not for the faint of heart in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
alexijai98's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Heed trigger warnings!
Bardugo’s venture into adult fantasy was a good read! Weirdly predictable in the end, but still enjoyable. I’ll be reading Hellbent!
Bardugo’s venture into adult fantasy was a good read! Weirdly predictable in the end, but still enjoyable. I’ll be reading Hellbent!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail