Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

695 reviews

bwwilhelm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Self harm

Okay, the list of content warnings makes this look horrific. And it is, in a way. It's a book about terrible people doing terrible things. But they get what's coming to them. It's worth it, promise 🧡

sarahcelia's review against another edition

1.0

I don’t mind an “I see dead people” story, especially when dark magic and secret societies are involved. Ninth House was way too much for me in terms of cursing, sexual assault, sexual content, etc. I read far longer than I should have because the premise of the book is so compelling. And for a little while the content that bothered me just seemed to distract from the narrative, not overshadow it. But it quickly built up to eclipsing the story for me. 

Leigh Bardugo is an excellent writer. Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are new favorites from my reading list this year. But Ninth House was absolutely not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

sangsmiles's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

spworley's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Excrement

adrianthewriter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

If there was going to be a book to get me reading again, I'm glad it was this one. It ticked every box. Bardugo is an excellent writer, and I can't wait to read more of her work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Drug use

liv_graceish's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, and Classism

emily_therese_4's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

If I could rate this book 6 stars I would. I love this book with all my heart, it made me feel all the emotions and I’m so so excited to read book 2

Update: reread October 2024

This is and will always be my comfort book. These characters feeling like family to me and this world feels like finally coming home after a long day. It’s like my own fucked up culty version of Harry Potter and I eat it up EVERY DANG TIME.

PLEASE check the triggers before reading this. It is full of trauma and heartbreak, but also really cool shit and an incredible setting.

This book has all of the things I love in it. Dark academia, murder mystery, complex characters, a unique world and plot. Brilliant banter. 

If I wasn’t crying I was laughing. My heart breaks for Alex and all the things she is put through during this book and her life. I can relate to her. She’s a freaking badass who’s been dealt a shit hand but STILL never ceases to stand up for the people she cares about. She is an incredible character and her tenacity is enviable. 

Also the way I feel so immersed in this book is like no other. The deeper meanings, the descriptive language, the utter perfection that is this fucking plot. I will never stop loving it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

freshbatchofbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

bookdrag0n's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

raisinreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

wanted to do a quick reread before finally reading hell bent. imo, of the recently released dark academia novels, this is one of the best. bardugo creates an interesting world with a compelling plot. i also think the way the plot & the intricacies of the novel unfold comes across very naturally, just the right amount of letting people be confused before slowly unveiling the mysteries & magic system etc. 

 none of the characters in her stories have held up to the cast of six of crows, but that is a high (and gay) bar to meet, so it's understandable.

this book discusses sexual assault/rape. it is not described in graphic detail, but it is briefly described and comes up multiple times throughout the novel, so i would keep that in mind if the topic is a trigger.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence