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em_1920's review
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Rape, Addiction, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Vomit, Body horror, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
merbears's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
Minor: Excrement, Rape, Vomit, Addiction, and Racism
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
- 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: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Child death, Cursing, Sexism, Violence, Rape, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Excrement, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
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: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Body horror, Rape, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence
emptzuu's review
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: Gore, Blood, Murder, Death, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual content
bellepierson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Addiction, Death, Murder, Sexual violence, and Violence
theebster's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Minor: Medical content
dirtin_me_shoes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Addiction and Drug use
Moderate: Gore, Rape, and Murder
chasinggrace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Violence