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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
cannot get over the fact that the main character's name is galaxy like is this 2014 wattpad fanfiction
also besties did we really need an in-depth discussion of her many, many traumas because i don't think i need to read exactly how a ghost r*ped her, thanks?? traumas being used for shock value just isn't it
also besties did we really need an in-depth discussion of her many, many traumas because i don't think i need to read exactly how a ghost r*ped her, thanks?? traumas being used for shock value just isn't it
I'll be completely honest about this book. I picked it up thinking that it could satisfy and enhance my Dark Academia book vibe that I have been having (I do have to recommend Secret History really quickly, if you're into that), so I thought this was right up my alley.
As I started on the book I felt somewhat hopeful. The murder mystery, the tragic past, and not to forget the fact that for the most part this book is based on real places and secret societies that exist (for all my fellow European readers I think it's quite interesting to read a book on Yale this way), so I was eager to get this party started. As I read it I was pretty hooked because of Leigh Bardugo's usual writing style (the queen earned her crown) and how the book started out.
So in the beginning we start off mild and kind of get to know the characters. But pretty soon you will realize that a shit load of information is being dumped on you. Now for me personally, I just think that after a second read-through I'll understand the story way better, but I can understand that Leigh may have overestimated the readers that have no personal experience with Yale or the secret societies.
The magic also took a bit of time to wrap my head around, considering there are all the rituals, different societies for different types of magic, the rules and boundaries, the house itself. I'm not gonna lie, all of this was a bit overwhelming in the beginning. But slowly and surely I did manage to fit the pieces together and make sense of what was going on when I was about 40% into the book.
Other than the big amount of information and bit of a build-up I do have to admit I fell in love with this one. I liked Alex and how she was portrayed, I liked how her relationships evaluated (Dawes has a soft spot in my heart), and how despite of her survival instincts she won't let shit slide when it comes to injustices served to herself and those around her.
The mystery was incredibly solid and strung together almost like a spiderweb. Multiple different motives and intertwining deals and promises made for a complex but very well thought out outcome. Personally I only really caught up to the specifics of what was happening at the end. I had my own supersitions of course, but even then I could not have imagined the full truth that was revealed at the end.
I absolutely loved this book and it world that opened up for me. I also think that Leigh couldn't have written it better, and I love all her other work and I can't wait to get started on Hell-Bent.
As I started on the book I felt somewhat hopeful. The murder mystery, the tragic past, and not to forget the fact that for the most part this book is based on real places and secret societies that exist (for all my fellow European readers I think it's quite interesting to read a book on Yale this way), so I was eager to get this party started. As I read it I was pretty hooked because of Leigh Bardugo's usual writing style (the queen earned her crown) and how the book started out.
So in the beginning we start off mild and kind of get to know the characters. But pretty soon you will realize that a shit load of information is being dumped on you. Now for me personally, I just think that after a second read-through I'll understand the story way better, but I can understand that Leigh may have overestimated the readers that have no personal experience with Yale or the secret societies.
The magic also took a bit of time to wrap my head around, considering there are all the rituals, different societies for different types of magic, the rules and boundaries, the house itself. I'm not gonna lie, all of this was a bit overwhelming in the beginning. But slowly and surely I did manage to fit the pieces together and make sense of what was going on when I was about 40% into the book.
Other than the big amount of information and bit of a build-up I do have to admit I fell in love with this one. I liked Alex and how she was portrayed, I liked how her relationships evaluated (Dawes has a soft spot in my heart), and how despite of her survival instincts she won't let shit slide when it comes to injustices served to herself and those around her.
The mystery was incredibly solid and strung together almost like a spiderweb. Multiple different motives and intertwining deals and promises made for a complex but very well thought out outcome. Personally I only really caught up to the specifics of what was happening at the end. I had my own supersitions of course, but even then I could not have imagined the full truth that was revealed at the end.
I absolutely loved this book and it world that opened up for me. I also think that Leigh couldn't have written it better, and I love all her other work and I can't wait to get started on Hell-Bent.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
dark
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Overall a good book and world. Hard to put down once you’ve dived in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
There needs to be trigger warnings for this book
adventurous
dark
mysterious
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
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
Told through a dual point-of-view and a somewhat braided timeline, Ninth House explores a murder mystery entwined with ivy league secret societies and magical realism. Bardugo creates a world rich with lore and fascinating morally grey characters one can't help but to root for (even when one might not agree with their choices).
If considering the audiobook, both narrators are fantastic and really bring the voice of the characters to life. With its dark and twisty plot, Ninth House has become an autumn staple for me, but it is not for the faint of heart. Be sure to check the content warnings as they are numerous and often quite graphic.
Tropes: Badass Bookworm, Black & Gray Morality, Blessed With Suck, Dark Secret,Dragged Off To Hell, Dysfunction Junction, Fantastic Noir, I See Dead People, Ritual Magic, Street Smarts, Trauma Conga Line, Too Clever By Half, & Magic School
Spice: Explicit Open DoorThe most explicit scenes are forwardly or implied sexual assault. There are multiple instances of explicit sexual content that are not strictly sex scenes. For example, Alex mentions a male character putting a hand up her shirt to feel her breast. When Darlington has an erection (due to a side effect of being drugged) while sleeping next to her, Alex tells him to "wake up and fuck her or knock it off."
If considering the audiobook, both narrators are fantastic and really bring the voice of the characters to life. With its dark and twisty plot, Ninth House has become an autumn staple for me, but it is not for the faint of heart. Be sure to check the content warnings as they are numerous and often quite graphic.
Tropes: Badass Bookworm, Black & Gray Morality, Blessed With Suck, Dark Secret,
Spice: Explicit Open Door
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Trafficking, Alcohol
Minor: Confinement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Vomit, Abandonment
On Sexual Content: The most explicit scenes are forwardly or implied sexual assault. There are multiple instances of explicit sexual content that are not strictly sex scenes. For example, Alex mentions a male character putting a hand up her shirt to feel her breast. When Darlington has an erection (due to a side effect of being drugged) while sleeping next to her, Alex tells him to "wake up and fuck her or knock it off."