A review by lily_eames
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

This book is perfect for lovers of the dark academia aesthetic in an ivy league setting. It crosses genres effortlessly, including fantasy, thriller, and mystery. Though the plot is distinctly magical, the main character’s backstory is rooted in painful realism and the author makes subtle connections to class, race, and gender struggles throughout the novel (it’s a battle for feminism but with ghosts, and if you’ve seen “Last Night In Soho” you’ve got the right idea). The world building is impeccably done, but in order to understand the plot you have to REALLY pay attention (I definitely got lost in some parts, thus the deduction of .25 stars). It is also VERY slow paced and comes out at about 500 pages, so it is definitely a time investment, but totally worth it in my humble opinion. I would’ve also loved a little more romance, though I would wager that there will be more of it in the sequel. For my fellow romance lovers, keep an eye out for an excellent scene that distinctly reminds me of Holly Black’s “The Cruel Prince.” Let me just finish by saying I absolutely loved this book, but it is heavy. Don’t be fooled by Leigh Bardugo’s YA history—this book is as dark as they come. See content warnings for more info. 
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