Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

302 reviews

annemoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Infidelity and Fire/Fire injury

katsmeowbrown'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

quinnpjd930's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

inessiuc's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

I love Leigh Bardugo, but this disappointed me with how predictable and weirdly paced it was. I also didn't like the fact that the only things making this book "adult" were how gratuitous the use of violence of all kinds was. the characters read way too YA for me - and aren't really interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

mandimoon's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.5

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo has been One of the best books I've read in a long time!

🖤Paranormal
🖤Mystery 
🖤Magic
🖤Great writing
🖤Wonderful character development 
 4.5/5 ⭐️ ONLY because the 1st few chapters were a little too slow for me,  however the juicy plot and the twist and turns make up for it.

Starting Hell Bent next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Murder

All trigger content was written well to help further the plot and character development

mollyelyn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

Brilliantly executed, wonderfully dark. Starts slow, but oh my gosh the twists had me reeling. Those last 100 pages or so were so captivating, i couldn’t put it down! I grew to love the characters and deeply feel for them. Leigh Bardugo has an excellent way of crafting complex, twisted protagonists who are certainly not good people (in any sense of the word) but are just so very human

(except when they’re not)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Excrement, and Vomit

jai_98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is a masterpiece that pulls readers into a world steeped in dark secrets, intrigue, and the chilling blend of magic and reality. This book deserves every bit of praise it receives, as it takes readers on a thrilling and thought-provoking journey that leaves an indelible mark on one's soul and is a great contender to be my favourite read of 2023. 

Bardugo's exceptional storytelling skills are on full display, delivering a narrative that is both highly imaginative and intricately crafted. From the very first page, I found myself utterly captivated by the gripping plot and the unique blend of occult elements with the elite academic setting. The Yale University backdrop serves as the perfect juxtaposition, blending the prestigious veneer with the shadows lurking beneath its hallowed halls. 

The protagonist, Galaxy "Alex" Stern, instantly commands attention with her sharp wit, resilience, and dark past. Bardugo’s characterization is exemplary; each character is vividly brought to life, with their flaws and virtues carefully woven into the fabric of the story. The interplay between the characters and their complex relationships never fails to captivate, as alliances shift, secrets unravel, and loyalties are put to the ultimate test. The world-building in Ninth House is nothing short of astonishing. Bardugo effortlessly combines the magical underbelly of New Haven with Yale's legendary secret societies, creating a rich tapestry of hidden realms, intricate rituals, and dangerous secrets. The way these elements are seamlessly integrated into the modern world is remarkable, adding a sense of magic and mystery to the otherwise mundane. 

Bardugo's prose is as enchanting as ever, dripping with atmospheric descriptions that transport readers to the dimly lit corridors and ancient libraries of Yale. Her writing style is masterful, rich with detail and precision, effectively immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of the story. Furthermore, Ninth House delves into important themes like power, privilege, and the consequences of unchecked authority, presenting a dark mirror to our society. Bardugo explores these topics with depth and nuance, sparking thought-provoking discussions long after the final page has been turned. 

In conclusion, Ninth House is a truly remarkable and unforgettable novel. It grabs hold of your imagination and refuses to let go. Leigh Bardugo's mastery shines through with each turn of the page, solidifying her place as one of the most talented writers in the genre. I wholeheartedly recommend Ninth House to anyone seeking a thrilling, dark, and intellectually stimulating reading experience. Buckle up and prepare to be transported into a world where magic and reality collide in the most enticing and extraordinary ways. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

aqc19's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

madinhoa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

_cece_'s review against another edition

4.5

Ninth house is another beautiful entry in Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy catalog. With an emphasis on secret societies, magic and more paranormal/supernatural entities, this novel showcased a new side of dark academia that benefits from its elaborate world-building and writing. 

Note: This novel is SLOW at the beginning, but like a thriller would do, the world-building unravels with each page turned and read. Alternating timelines introduces new characters that are beloved at the start and grey characters that seem to unravel as the novel unfolds bringing more mystery to the already mysterious storyline. Ninth house has a bit of everything, including a murder mystery that grounds the novel even more alongside its location in Yale University. 

Overall, I singlehandly devoured the first two books in this trilogy. It was the perfect blend of genre that enjoy reading and couldn’t ask for a better author to write it. 

Also, this story has many content warnings but on the top of my head, SA is very present in this novel and among other things that are in the same realm so please try and find a full list of these warnings on social media sites so that you understand exactly what you are getting into before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder