The Review

The story centers around Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a young woman gifted with the ability to see ghosts, known as Greys, even without magical assistance. Following a traumatic event, Alex is offered a full scholarship to Yale, a chance to escape her troubled past. However, this golden opportunity comes at a price – she is recruited into Lethe House, a society responsible for overseeing the occult activities of Yale’s Ancient Eight, serving as their new Dante. Thus, Alex finds herself thrust into a world she had long tried to avoid.

The narrative unfolds through two timelines, alternating between the present winter, where Alex investigates a student’s murder and the mysterious disappearance of her mentor, “Darlington” (Daniel Arlington), and the past spring, revealing the events leading to her induction into Lethe House. I must admit, it took me about a third of the way through the book to realize it had a non-linear timeline—embarrassing, I know. It didn’t help that the pacing was slow to develop in the beginning, causing my attention to wain every now-and-then.

Bardugo’s personal experience as a member of Wolf’s Head during her time at Yale shines through the narrative, manifesting as a strong sense of nostalgia for New Haven. Though she insists they didn’t perform any rituals during her time, her vivid descriptions breathe life into the campus and its surroundings, successfully capturing the dark and eerie atmosphere that immerses readers in the underbelly of Yale. The meticulous attention to detail and rich descriptions make the setting feel like a character in itself.

Talking about characters, Alex is a captivating blend of strength, vulnerability, and resilience. Initially, her troubled past and sharp edges make her less likable in comparison to the privileged Yale students. However, as her story unfolds, she evolves into an anti-hero we can’t help but root for. Her friendships, particularly with her roommates, underscore the importance of a strong support system, while her connection with the Grey, North, creates an intriguing and unlikely friendship that I hope to see further explored in the next installment. Darlington, on the other hand, stole my heart, and I was devastated by his disappearance and the loss of his point of view.

As a debut in the realm of adult fantasy, “Ninth House” showcases Bardugo’s prowess without the constraints of the YA genre. It is a spellbinding dark academia mystery that skillfully combines magic, secrets, and intricate world-building. Bardugo excels at creating morally complex characters, and it remains an alluring and immersive read for those willing to delve into the darker side of academia and magic. However, it is worth noting that “Ninth House” delves into dark themes and includes explicit and gruesome scenes that may be unsettling for some readers. Bardugo’s ability to infuse realism into a fantastical world is commendable, but it also demands a certain level of emotional resilience from readers.

Overall, “Ninth House” receives a solid 4 out of 5 stars from me! I am considering purchasing a physical copy to reread and capture any nuances I might have missed during the audiobook experience.

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Short Review (AKA TLDR)

“Ninth House” had been on my TBR list for a while, and with the release of its sequel, “Hell Bent,” I finally decided to give it a try. Opting for the audiobook on Libby, I delved into the mysterious world of Yale’s Ancient Eight, the secret societies with immense power and influence. The story follows Alex Stern, a young woman with the unique ability to see ghosts, who is offered a scholarship to Yale after a traumatic event. However, this opportunity comes at a price – she is recruited into Lethe House, a society overseeing the occult activities of the Ancient Eight. The narrative alternates between present and past, and though it took me a while to realize its non-linear timeline through the audiobook, the vivid descriptions and dark atmosphere drew me into the underbelly of Yale.

The characters, particularly Alex, with her blend of strength and vulnerability, were compelling. Her friendships and unlikely bond with North added depth to the story. Darlington, her mentor, stole my heart, and his disappearance left me devastated. As a debut into adult fantasy, “Ninth House” showcased Bardugo’s prowess with its spellbinding dark academia mystery, but it may not have surpassed the soaring expectations set by her earlier works. Nevertheless, the book remains an alluring and immersive read, combining magic, secrets, and intricate world-building. However, it delves into dark themes and contains explicit scenes, demanding emotional resilience from readers. Overall, “Ninth House” receives a solid 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I’m considering purchasing a physical copy for a reread.