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A review by alibookedup
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Just finished my 2023 re-read before I started Hell Bent and I can say I enjoyed this book more the second time around. I think the first time I rushed through the story and didn’t take time to really appreciate the layers of Bardugo’s writings. I was constantly comparing it to SOC, her book I had just finished at the time, but I can see how unfair that was. Ninth House is its own entity. It’s dark and tough to chew and I have more appreciation for books like that than I did 3 years ago.
I love Alex Stern. She’s that morally driven yet morally grey character that we learn to love. She’s a jackal, a viper, just scrabbling to survive. Until she’s more than that. Her story is sinewy and raw, but you cannot help but see the good and the strength in her too. I loved experiencing all her crazy decisions and knowing that in all her craziness she got the job done. She’s a strong female character, nay a BADASS, and one that doesn’t have to be perfect. I love that.
I also LOVE the occult murder mystery vibe. It’s something so fresh than anything I’ve read or yet to read. I love the Diary of Lethe because it makes the book seem historical within all the ghosts and rituals and sacrifices. The occult magic is also so cool and the Eight Houses are so unique with their powers. It’s the dark academia everyone wants to read.
Really Bardugo did such a good job with her first adult fiction and I really see that now that I’m older and feel like I can understand the book more.
I can’t wait to start Hell Bent next.
I love Alex Stern. She’s that morally driven yet morally grey character that we learn to love. She’s a jackal, a viper, just scrabbling to survive. Until she’s more than that. Her story is sinewy and raw, but you cannot help but see the good and the strength in her too. I loved experiencing all her crazy decisions and knowing that in all her craziness she got the job done. She’s a strong female character, nay a BADASS, and one that doesn’t have to be perfect. I love that.
I also LOVE the occult murder mystery vibe. It’s something so fresh than anything I’ve read or yet to read. I love the Diary of Lethe because it makes the book seem historical within all the ghosts and rituals and sacrifices. The occult magic is also so cool and the Eight Houses are so unique with their powers. It’s the dark academia everyone wants to read.
Really Bardugo did such a good job with her first adult fiction and I really see that now that I’m older and feel like I can understand the book more.
I can’t wait to start Hell Bent next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Murder