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A review by wright_rendon_reads
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
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
Secret magic societies and ghosts? This book was my first venture into the Dark Academia genre and I have some thoughts.
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really liked and cared for Alex. She's sassy, tough, and has been through a lot. I enjoyed her character arch and the flashbacks helped flesh her out since the book takes place over a short period. She's a bit of a Mary Sue, and I know we're in a reality with magic but she does dodge death a few too many times. Darlington and Dawes were great side characters and I look forward to seeing them more.
Plot and Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I might be a little skewed on this one since I picked it up as school started and I got sick in the middle of reading it. It definitely wasn't a page turner but the mystery and investigations kept me coming back and reading 30-50 pages in a sitting.
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nine secret magic societies at Yale hidden in plain sight? Sign me up. I found the index in the back to be helpful especially since some of the names are similar. I liked the magic in this book and look forward to more in the second.
Themes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Part of what drew me to the Dark Academia genre was the fact that it critiques academia. This book definitely tackles privilege and fraternity culture throughout.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was enjoyable and I want to read the sequel. It definitely is weird at times and would not recommend for everyone.
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really liked and cared for Alex. She's sassy, tough, and has been through a lot. I enjoyed her character arch and the flashbacks helped flesh her out since the book takes place over a short period. She's a bit of a Mary Sue, and I know we're in a reality with magic but she does dodge death a few too many times. Darlington and Dawes were great side characters and I look forward to seeing them more.
Plot and Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I might be a little skewed on this one since I picked it up as school started and I got sick in the middle of reading it. It definitely wasn't a page turner but the mystery and investigations kept me coming back and reading 30-50 pages in a sitting.
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nine secret magic societies at Yale hidden in plain sight? Sign me up. I found the index in the back to be helpful especially since some of the names are similar. I liked the magic in this book and look forward to more in the second.
Themes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Part of what drew me to the Dark Academia genre was the fact that it critiques academia. This book definitely tackles privilege and fraternity culture throughout.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was enjoyable and I want to read the sequel. It definitely is weird at times and would not recommend for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail