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A review by gretchenplz
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.0
Before I go any further, please check the TWs before picking this book up — There are graphic descriptions of sexual assault, child molestation, and rape, as well as domestic violence, racism, drug abuse, overdose, non-consensual drugging, and relationships between a minor and an adult.
I overall really enjoyed this book, which was unexpected, since I DNF'd the second book in the Six of Crows duology. I thought the story was really unique and layered expertly.
My main quarrel is with Leigh's tendency (this is why I DNF'd Crooked Kingdom) to tell you rather than show you. What I mean by that is that there is very little dialogue and more paragraphs and paragraphs of text that are hard to focus on and make progress slow. I also was VERY concerned during the first 60 or so pages of this book, because we are thrown right in with NO context, and you just have to read and try to retain the information for when it is finally explained (it is finally explained, I promise). There are a lot of terms that you have to wrangle and a lot of characters to keep up with, but it is worth it to push through.
I loved the characters (Alex is my gf, I really hope we get more of Darlington in Hell Bent because I have a huge crush on him just from the Manuscript Party scene, Dawes is my other gf, North is my pining bb) and I thought the plot was really good. Dark academia, secret societies, a murder mystery, ghosts?! It's full of good stuff.
Can't wait to read Hell Bent!
I overall really enjoyed this book, which was unexpected, since I DNF'd the second book in the Six of Crows duology. I thought the story was really unique and layered expertly.
My main quarrel is with Leigh's tendency (this is why I DNF'd Crooked Kingdom) to tell you rather than show you. What I mean by that is that there is very little dialogue and more paragraphs and paragraphs of text that are hard to focus on and make progress slow. I also was VERY concerned during the first 60 or so pages of this book, because we are thrown right in with NO context, and you just have to read and try to retain the information for when it is finally explained (it is finally explained, I promise). There are a lot of terms that you have to wrangle and a lot of characters to keep up with, but it is worth it to push through.
I loved the characters (Alex is my gf, I really hope we get more of Darlington in Hell Bent because I have a huge crush on him just from the Manuscript Party scene, Dawes is my other gf, North is my pining bb) and I thought the plot was really good. Dark academia, secret societies, a murder mystery, ghosts?! It's full of good stuff.
Can't wait to read Hell Bent!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Sexual assault, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Vomit
Minor: Racism