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rmkhen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
dumaurier's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Vomit, Sexual assault, Murder, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug abuse
Minor: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The ending came out of nowhere with little to no setup for the reveals. As a mystery novel, this is terrible.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Rape, Addiction, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Medical trauma
Minor: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Cancer, Car accident, Classism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Murder
scarlettskyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Torture, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, and Misogyny
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
<i>Ninth House</i> was totally unlike any other Bardugo books I’ve read, and not entirely in a good way. While I am okay with some violence, the gore in this book was too much for me, not to mention sexual assault (definitely check out the trigger warnings before you pick this up!). I’m also generally not a big fan of heavy themes of drugs and addiction. But there were some good points, namely, the main characters. Darlington, Dawes, Turner and even Alex made me love them despite their (many) flaws. I also liked that it was continually pointed out that no one should have the kind of power that exists in this world, especially not a bunch of college students. Most YA/NA brushes over that, but it felt especially necessary to acknowledge here. I like a lot of the magical systems Bardugo created: the rites and rules for ghosts were super interesting.
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the general vibe of the ending):
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Death, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Minor: Stalking and Suicidal thoughts
linesiunderline's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Perhaps I’ll start by saying that it’s the book I almost gave away multiple times since I bought it a couple of years back. “Why did I buy this? This is not my kind of book?” But… I would turn to the first page and read the opening lines and think, “Hmm… I like her writing,” and skip it back on the shelf. And so it went, for over a year.
What finally pulled me in? A great review from a reader I trust, and the audiobook. The narration is amazing.
What you might like about this one:
• atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere
• world building that creates an alternative Yale universe that is pretty accessible to someone who doesn’t typically read this genre
• vivid characterization - smart memorable cast of characters
• spookiness that can turn to for real scariness on a dime
• sharp writing, and even some humour
What might put you off:
• ALL the trigger warnings, like pretty much every trigger warning you can think of - it’s one dark book
• there were some moments where I got a little lost, but that could’ve been the shifting timelines on audio
• Alex is super damaged (understandably so) and as a result she makes decisions at times that make her difficult to like - so if you need to like a MC, this might be a hard read for you
All this to say, I was entirely wrapped up in this book and it was a perfect October read for me. It transported me and creeped me out and has strong writing and stellar atmosphere. And if there was a second one in the series I’d already be reading it.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Rape
brigiddolan's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence