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cre8withcait's review
- 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 against another edition
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 against another edition
- 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 against another edition
- 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 against another edition
- 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 against another edition
- 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
hippievamp's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Addiction, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Addiction
lauskireads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
folkofthebook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Mors irrumat omnia. Death fucks us all.
i INHALED this book, omg. this was a VAST change of pace from shadow & bone and i much preferred it. it was very reminiscent to vicious but more complicated with it's worldbuilding and lore and a stronger theme of sexism and corruption in academia and society.
“I let you die. To save myself, I let you die.
That is the danger in keeping company with survivors.”
i LOVE alex, she's a fighter, a survivor. she is grit and teeth and isn't afraid to bite. it was really cool to see sephardic jewish rep and seeing ladino used in magic. darlington is naively pretentious but unavoidably loveable. this is yet another case of i don't know who i want to be or be with more lol. let the bi panic ensue.
“All you children playing with fire, looking surprised when the house burns down”
i would say the first maybe 10-20% or so was slow for me. not bad but i didn't feel driven until a certain point was hit - and then it took off from there. bardugo's creativity in constructing the houses of lethe and crafting how certain magics fit in with them, intermingled with an undercurrent of demonology and other deathlore, and the weaving of race/class/gender politics within a town and society that is very much built for a specific demographic to come out on top was masterful. i also, despite the sometimes grim scenarios, found myself still huffing in a laugh at the dry humor that tended to come from alex.
“I want to survive this world that keeps trying to destroy me.”
i'm excited to jump into book 2 asap!
Time to go to hell
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Addiction, Classism, Drug use, and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
callmeamelia's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Addiction