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xreginax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Sexual violence
cdebnath'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Trafficking
em_1920's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, and Alcohol
merbears's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Racism, Rape, Excrement, and Vomit
bellascheider's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I absolutely loved Alex, which I know is an unpopular opinion, but I tend to fall in love with morally grey bad assess with dark pasts. I loved Darlington, which, considering we didn’t see much of him, means the author did a fantastic job conveying her characters.
Now the bad: I literally had to read the first 40 pages twice. Reading the back of the book, I assumed we were going to start with Alex’s journey in CA and follow her to Yale. Instead, we were tossed right into the story. Not just the story, the END of the story. There was so much new terminology that the main character already knew and I obviously didn’t. Usually we learn with the character but the audience doesn’t get that luxury and has to piece it together themselves. Now that the book is over, I do appreciate the extra mystery of having to put the timeline together, and figure out the way the societies operate. However, I know that to some people it could be too frustrating to finish.
In addition to it being confusing in the beginning, the story unfolded pretty slowly until a little after half way. But, considering the author intended for the series to be a long one, it makes sense why she took a lot of time to build the world.
I loved the concept of Ninth House, and it really scratched the itch of needing a thriller/dark fiction/horror novel. However, the speed and confusion took it down a couple notches. I’m excited to start Hellbent, and now that I know what’s going on, it’ll be much easier to follow. I got high hopes!
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit
chamaeleontis'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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cre8withcait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
emptzuu's review against another edition
4.0
Her transition to adult fiction with "Ninth House" was unexpected yet vital to my reading repertoire. From the outset, I found myself utterly engrossed in its dark academia setting, rich with murder, mystery, and ghosts—a perfect match for my literary tastes. The complexity of protagonist Alex, with her facade of being a good girl, added depth and intrigue to the narrative.
However, "Ninth House" isn't flawless. The book faces pacing issues, possibly stemming from the challenge of transitioning to adult fiction. The non-linear storytelling, while attempting to weave past and present together, occasionally becomes convoluted, especially with the addition of flashbacks. It feels as though Bardugo, unbound by the constraints of YA, attempted to incorporate a wide range of themes and elements, resulting in an experimental narrative that occasionally feels overstuffed. The ambitious scope of the series, initially planned as a 12-book saga, may have contributed to rushed sections, attempting to cover too much within a 500-page novel and overwhelming readers with information.
The perspective shifts, particularly to Darlington, occasionally feel redundant and slow the pacing, detracting from the narrative flow. While Bardugo handled multiple perspectives adeptly in "Six of Crows," the limited dual perspectives in "Ninth House" struggle to effectively advance the story.
Certain aspects of the narrative feel forced, particularly in the realm of horror and drama. It prompts questions about the authenticity of certain scenes—are they crafted for shock value or integral to the plot's development? The crime mystery plotline, especially in the final 150 pages, felt predictable and clichéd, lacking the satisfaction of a well-crafted conclusion.
Nevertheless, Bardugo effectively builds the world and its mechanisms. Her storytelling prowess shines through, leaving readers with a thought-provoking and immersive experience. The book may require slower reading to fully appreciate, but its depth and detail ultimately pay off. The extensive thought, detail, and research invested in crafting this story and its world are impossible to overlook. It's been a while since a book has left me feeling this way. Bring on the journey to hell!
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content