Kaitlyn‘s review of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Fantasy published by Flatiron Books 8 Oct 19
During the first few chapters, I checked three times to make sure I was reading the first book in the series. You’re just thrown right into the thick of it, but it works so well. Once I confirmed I was reading the first book, I let the confusion run rampant and had a good time.
Dark academia fantasy is such a great genre. I love the magical realism of the occult mixed in with the dark secret societies of Yale. My only knowledge of Yale comes from Rory Gilmore, but I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this world.
I haven’t been drawn into a mystery this much in a while. The fantastical elements, real-world depictions and dark, dangerous vibes make this such an addicting story.
*I don’t normally include trigger warnings in my reviews, but this is a book that definitely needs it. There’s an extensive list of triggers, specifically multiple rape scenes, including graphic rape of a child. Please proceed with caution.*
Grade: A
Summary:
Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless “tombs” are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.
No excerpt available.
