laurenmidna's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I came into it expecting something like Six of Crows, but what I got was so different, it would be easy to forget that the author is the same. All of Bardugo's books are richly detailed, the kind where you lose yourself in the world and forget that magic isn't real here. Ninth House is dark, serious, and not for the squeamish. It was brutal and violent, with mysteries from the very beginning to end, and not all of them wrapped up neatly by the last page. I want to know more.
I want to be a fly on the wall for these characters. I loved Darlington. I related to Alex too hard to love her.
The only thing I did not love about this book was the pacing. There were long chapters of tension and build up, detective work. And then suddenly there was action, back to back to back, so much happening all at once that I felt it was hard to catch my breath. But it was still all so good. I couldn't put this book down.
All I want is to know when the next one is coming out!
I want to be a fly on the wall for these characters. I loved Darlington. I related to Alex too hard to love her.
The only thing I did not love about this book was the pacing. There were long chapters of tension and build up, detective work. And then suddenly there was action, back to back to back, so much happening all at once that I felt it was hard to catch my breath. But it was still all so good. I couldn't put this book down.
All I want is to know when the next one is coming out!
lornamckween's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kalinovak17's review against another edition
4.0
Very different from what I normally read. There were some twists that I wasn’t expecting.
jisnthome's review against another edition
1.0
I tried so hard to actually like this book, I really did. The cover was intriguing, and the description really drew me in. I mean, who doesn't like secrets and a spooky atmosphere? However, in my opinion, the actual writing was lacking--mainly in dialogue. It's missing that conversation between characters that really brings them and their relationships to life, instead leaving them flat and impersonal. To me, it leaves a lot to be desired.
bookymac95's review against another edition
5.0
I started this book a few days ago but forgot to put it here but I absolutely loved it. Can’t wait for the next books for this series. :)
bethreadswhat's review against another edition
5.0
This is a dark academia book that’s a mix of Harry Potter, murder (& various other things that could be a TW) as well as being set at Ivy League school Yale. To me this was somewhat of a bit more difficult read for me but once I do a reread, I believe I’ll understand it better. But I like Leigh’s writing.
carlyroth10's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
Here's where I'm at: this book had so much potential. It was all right there - the darkness, the magic, the dark academia, the mystery - it just was not executed in the correct way and that is the most annoying thing in the world.
I think the story needed to be told chronologically from the moment Alex ends up at Yale to perhaps Darlington being eaten by the demon and had the murder mystery be an Alex x Darlington duo throughout. I'm not an anti-feminist okay? Go girl power and Alex is a badass, but because of the weird organization of the book, Darlington's character and his relationship with Alex was underdeveloped. Due to this, I don't have the emotional attachment to the whole Darlington rescue to where I feel compelled to read the next one right away. Like am I reading it for the romance between Darlington and Alex that may not even exist? Am I reading it for the friendship between Dawes and Alex? I guess we will see with the next one. I just wish an editor had told her to change the format, make the book shorter, and simply make more books in the series, but alas here we are, a tad disappointed.
I know this review was negative, and I really do think my rating is deserved, but the only thing I will say is that I did enjoy reading the book. I really loved the premise and Alex, but the thing that holds me back is the nagging in the back of my head saying "This could have been so much better". Also, to [a:Leigh Bardugo|4575289|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534446099p2/4575289.jpg] 's credit, it was much better than [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339533695l/10194157._SX50_.jpg|15093325] , however to her discredit, it's a big step back from her phenomenal [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651710803l/23437156._SY75_.jpg|42077459].
Here's where I'm at: this book had so much potential. It was all right there - the darkness, the magic, the dark academia, the mystery - it just was not executed in the correct way and that is the most annoying thing in the world.
I think the story needed to be told chronologically from the moment Alex ends up at Yale to perhaps Darlington being eaten by the demon and had the murder mystery be an Alex x Darlington duo throughout. I'm not an anti-feminist okay? Go girl power and Alex is a badass, but because of the weird organization of the book, Darlington's character and his relationship with Alex was underdeveloped. Due to this, I don't have the emotional attachment to the whole Darlington rescue to where I feel compelled to read the next one right away. Like am I reading it for the romance between Darlington and Alex that may not even exist? Am I reading it for the friendship between Dawes and Alex? I guess we will see with the next one. I just wish an editor had told her to change the format, make the book shorter, and simply make more books in the series, but alas here we are, a tad disappointed.
I know this review was negative, and I really do think my rating is deserved, but the only thing I will say is that I did enjoy reading the book. I really loved the premise and Alex, but the thing that holds me back is the nagging in the back of my head saying "This could have been so much better". Also, to [a:Leigh Bardugo|4575289|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534446099p2/4575289.jpg] 's credit, it was much better than [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1339533695l/10194157._SX50_.jpg|15093325] , however to her discredit, it's a big step back from her phenomenal [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651710803l/23437156._SY75_.jpg|42077459].
dramxarama's review against another edition
1.0
I'm sorry I really hate putting a one star on Leigh's book but what was that...
80% of this book felt unnecessary, I have trouble understanding the pacing of it, the plot? non existent except with a poor plot twist 50pages before the end that didn't connect well with the rest of the book, like why all that writing before to blurt out that ending? I can't make sense of anything lmao. the secret societes are barely scratched at, the magic is like??? no sense there. I didn't like Alex much, her story wasn't fleshed well enough at the beginning to make me care. Darlington is the basic perfect character but at least I felt a little something something reading is chapter, maybe because there were less descriptions of Yale and all that in them and more character definition, idk. all in all, I connected more with the bridegroom than with our MC so.
and way too much TW just for the shock of it, like why...
80% of this book felt unnecessary, I have trouble understanding the pacing of it, the plot? non existent except with a poor plot twist 50pages before the end that didn't connect well with the rest of the book, like why all that writing before to blurt out that ending? I can't make sense of anything lmao. the secret societes are barely scratched at, the magic is like??? no sense there. I didn't like Alex much, her story wasn't fleshed well enough at the beginning to make me care. Darlington is the basic perfect character but at least I felt a little something something reading is chapter, maybe because there were less descriptions of Yale and all that in them and more character definition, idk. all in all, I connected more with the bridegroom than with our MC so.
and way too much TW just for the shock of it, like why...
itsbilliam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the beginning of this book is sooooo slow. however, the minute you hit the middle mark the whole
time shifts and it’s impossible to put down.
time shifts and it’s impossible to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
lisaalessandra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25