Reviews

Devátý spolek by Leigh Bardugo

bogo_lode's review against another edition

4.0

Hell of a book, hell of an ending.

First 40% had me seriously considering quitting because the pacing was glacial and nothing seemed to be happening. But once it kicks off for real, it is enthralling stuff.

elephantegirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.5

libraratinglibros's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

allysonlee's review against another edition

3.0

Overall, I like the concept, setting and characters. There were too many near death situations for me.

krob1020's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

agadbois's review against another edition

3.0

I think the combination of the complex paranormal world and constantly changing mystery plots didn't work for me in audiobook format. It also at times felt needlessly cruel -- everything that happens to the main characters is the worst and most painful possible thing.

I'm 50/50 on whether or not I would pick up the next book from the library right now. Maybe I'll just reread Gideon the Ninth instead.

kristynsierra_'s review against another edition

3.75

I had previously started this and stopped last year, and then returned to it hoping for a spooky dark academia story for October. I got more than I bargained for. There was a lot of pretty intense body horror that was directly related to the magic system. it was a cool concept, but sometimes got a little too graphic for my taste. this was definitely in the vein of The Secret History, but with the addition of several self-serving secret societies who were willing to sacrifice anyone for their own gain. It was also a pretty dense story following several plots; a missing boy who was crucial to the society, a murdered girl from town who somehow became involved with these societies, a girl who sees ghosts, and a whole cast of the side characters with their own issues, too. Turns out, this is a series, and I do unfortunately want to know what happens next. It was a very well-done dark thriller/mystery in such a cool setting. I really liked the concept of the magic system, and am motivated to continue on with these characters because as dumb as they are, they are kind of endearing as well.

oceanic_rabbit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

buckeyebreezey's review against another edition

5.0

How curious as I come to write this review that I see "fantasy" as the genre.

This did not bring up fantasy for me at all. It takes place on the Yale campus - with secret societies and magic. It almost seemed more of a paranormal fiction. But it had me down a google rabbit hole on the Yale secret societies and their actual existence.

Ninth House has been on my TBT for almost two years. Probably longer. It was THE book that everyone was reading just before everything shut down for the pandemic and it took me this long to get around to reading it. I had heard everything to "THE BEST BOOK" to "overrated and pretentious."

While I do give it five stars, it definitely was not in the league of The Magicians or The Atlas Six for pretention. Seriously. Our main character here (Alex) is a fabulous example of what happens when you get dropped somewhere where you are a total fish out of water. Her "lowborn," California ways are definitely mentioned throughout the book and she does not come off as a Yale snob. (Her roomies definitely had shades of Rory Gilmore, however.)

An excellent book that kept me guessing all the way to the very end.

ed_musky'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? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0