Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Ninth House

4.5/5 stars

This was just....man this was weird. I loved it....but it was a RIDE.

This was both everything and nothing I expected. It was a fantastic dark academia and nailed the horror fantasy vibe....but I definitely did not expect most of the twists and turns and how horrific and dark it got.

The whole concept of secret societies actually existing at one of the most elite Ivy League university's...the power the completely destroy or control or alter reality in the hands of the richest, most entitled children....it was the perfect setting for the dark and twisted story presented. It was just so unexpected but it all fit together so well that I am simply baffled.

It was so well written and unlike anything I've ever read and experienced, I just loved it. I need some time before continuing with Hell Bent, but this was really truly great.

Content Warnings

kimreads14's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a re-read for me. I needed to read it again because I first read it back in March 2021 and needed a refresher ahead of reading Hell Bent. 🤗

On my first read I had given this book 5⭐️, but upon reading this again I’m lowering it down to 4⭐️

🚨You NEED to check the TWs for this one. I appreciate that Bardugo went all in when it comes to the adult content in this.

Even if I was reading this for the second time I still was surprised at times with how things went. Bardugo really crafted an interesting world of magic and some interesting characters.

Yet, I think that what Ninth House lacked was that little something that originally made me fall in love with Six of Crows. While Alex had that “gritty” vibe, it just fell flat at times. Alex, who could have been so much more. While Bardugo kept poking at Alex’s potential, it just never materialised. 😕

I’m hoping that Hell Bent keeps Darlington POVs as I found them refreshing. I’m also really hoping to see way more of Dawes in the next book.

Overall a great book ☺️, and it did help make me excited about Bardugo’s work again after the big F that The Familiar was for me.

Content Warnings

abee_3_c's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Ms Bardugo's fantastic world building!
Intricate plot and twists!!
Many many layers of "whodunit" and "what's going on"!!!
Loveable characters that I would spend an eternity reading about!!!!
Leigh took me to hell with this book and I enjoyed it!!!!!

Content Warnings

gremlin_98's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Galaxy ‘Alex’ Stern is a woman cloaked in darkness and tragedy.
It would seem almost as if her life was doomed to end in heartbreak & lonely.

Learning about the Houses, the magic and Alex made this a fascinating tell. I will not lie though. I do suggest looking up trigger warnings because if you're not in the right headspace I can imagine that some of the topics discussed and scenes that play out could really mess with someone.
I’ll also point out that the timeline in how the story played out could be confusing, but I was able to just go with it and I didn’t feel too lost as it all came to a close.

Thank you past me for picking up Hell Bent the same day so I am able to live in this world a little longer. I just hope the story continues in the way I’m hoping & it doesn’t focus on things I rather skip

Content Warnings

_laurenslittlelibrary_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

Content Warnings

neslinde's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Alex Stern is an amazing character, the plot of this book is crazy
there’s no mistake for me on that book
morally grey character, found family trope, big character development all of this in a perfect dark academia universe

Content Warnings

tony_hart's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

linkwoodpub's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

More...