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A review by maricasement
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
During my first read, I absolutely tore through this book. I read it basically in one go (it was the holidays) and was reeling by the end. Leigh Bardugo managed to expertly construct a magic system and show it to us in an organic manner through the book. There is a murder, a disappearance, a mystery in the main character's past and much to uncover that leaves you wanting more at every part of the narrative.
The story isn't told in chronological order, but Bardugo is careful to indicate the time period at the start of each chapter. If there are any flashbacks, she is also very clear as to how they relate to the revealed timeline so far. Even with this care, it was hard to understand what was happening at the beginning of the story and when each part had actually occurred. It does take some getting used to, but once I identified the two main timelines and how they related to each other and to the first chapter, it wasn't too hard to keep up with it.
I really enjoyed the characters and found Alex rather refreshing. Her perspective and how it lends itself to this "dark academia" narrative was really cool, too.
Speaking of "dark", Bardugo truly embraced the "adult" label here and delved into some heavy topics. If anyone is thinking of reading this, they should definitely read the content warnings before.
During my second read (in preparation for Hell Bent) I had a similar impression. It was good to re-read the book a bit more calmly and absorb a few more bits of information that hadn't registered properly when I first read it. I like how the mystery unravels and then is sewn into place.
Another theme I was able to focus a bit more on was that of female friendship (spoilers below)
This is a running thread through the book: from the start Alex is interested in solving Tara's murder because she reminds her of Hellie, who she wasn't able to help until she'd actually lost her life. Dawes defends Alex and supports here against Sandow and Turner and takes care of her when she is sick. Alex defends her roommate Mercy, and doesn't forget to "help" all the other girls Blake abused. (I place "help" in inverted commas here because she actually hasn't supported them in any other way than ensuring their videos are deleted and Blake is humiliated.) Mercy also seeks to help Alex when she is unwell.
But Leigh isn't afraid to call women out on their failings and when they are unable to support each other. When Hellie lies to Alex and runs back to the party, when Alex neglects Mercy which leads to her being abused by Blake, when Alex's childhood friend gossips about her. And of course, the most crucial example of it: when Daisy decides to take so many women's lives just she could continue living, just out of greed.
Revenge is another theme here: revenge on those who have caused suffering. Hellie and Alex take lives at Ground Zero, payment for their abuse. Alex embarrasses Blake publicly. Alex tries to find Tara's and Daisy's killers in an attempt to exact some sort of revenge (which they got, in some ways).
One thing I will say is that there is little exploration of the actual mental and emotional long-term effects of abuse and the trauma these women have gone through. There are hints of it here and there, but Alex just seems to have moved on from being abused at 12, nothing is mentioned about what it was like having sex with Len for the first time, how it would have affected her. The same goes for Mercy. Revenge on Blake seems to make hers feel better and soon later they are going out again. She is uncomfortable in public, but it doesn't linger, it doesn't seem to be something that is still on her mind after the fact. Dawes merely goes home to get over killing a man.
The two instances where characters reflect more on the effects of their trauma are when Alex finally revisits the murders she committed and let's North in to help her and when Daisy mentions her death and all the terrible things she has done to "cope" with it.
As a whole, though, this is a story that does its best to exalt female friendship while it criticises the patriarchal and elitist institution which is Yale (as well as other famous universities).
The story isn't told in chronological order, but Bardugo is careful to indicate the time period at the start of each chapter. If there are any flashbacks, she is also very clear as to how they relate to the revealed timeline so far. Even with this care, it was hard to understand what was happening at the beginning of the story and when each part had actually occurred. It does take some getting used to, but once I identified the two main timelines and how they related to each other and to the first chapter, it wasn't too hard to keep up with it.
I really enjoyed the characters and found Alex rather refreshing. Her perspective and how it lends itself to this "dark academia" narrative was really cool, too.
Speaking of "dark", Bardugo truly embraced the "adult" label here and delved into some heavy topics. If anyone is thinking of reading this, they should definitely read the content warnings before.
During my second read (in preparation for Hell Bent) I had a similar impression. It was good to re-read the book a bit more calmly and absorb a few more bits of information that hadn't registered properly when I first read it. I like how the mystery unravels and then is sewn into place.
Another theme I was able to focus a bit more on was that of female friendship (spoilers below)
But Leigh isn't afraid to call women out on their failings and when they are unable to support each other. When Hellie lies to Alex and runs back to the party, when Alex neglects Mercy which leads to her being abused by Blake, when Alex's childhood friend gossips about her. And of course, the most crucial example of it: when Daisy decides to take so many women's lives just she could continue living, just out of greed.
Revenge is another theme here: revenge on those who have caused suffering. Hellie and Alex take lives at Ground Zero, payment for their abuse. Alex embarrasses Blake publicly. Alex tries to find Tara's and Daisy's killers in an attempt to exact some sort of revenge (which they got, in some ways).
One thing I will say is that there is little exploration of the actual mental and emotional long-term effects of abuse and the trauma these women have gone through. There are hints of it here and there, but Alex just seems to have moved on from being abused at 12, nothing is mentioned about what it was like having sex with Len for the first time, how it would have affected her. The same goes for Mercy. Revenge on Blake seems to make hers feel better and soon later they are going out again. She is uncomfortable in public, but it doesn't linger, it doesn't seem to be something that is still on her mind after the fact. Dawes merely goes home to get over killing a man.
The two instances where characters reflect more on the effects of their trauma are when Alex finally revisits the murders she committed and let's North in to help her and when Daisy mentions her death and all the terrible things she has done to "cope" with it.
As a whole, though, this is a story that does its best to exalt female friendship while it criticises the patriarchal and elitist institution which is Yale (as well as other famous universities).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Murder, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Pedophilia, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Drug use, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Addiction, and Toxic relationship