Book Synopsis:
Galaxy ‘Alex’ Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. A dropout and the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved crime, Alex was hoping for a fresh start. But a free ride to one of the world’s most prestigious universities was bound to come with a catch.
Alex has been tasked with monitoring the mysterious activities of Yale’s secret societies – well-known haunts of the rich and powerful. Now there’s a dead girl on campus and Alex seems to be the only person who won’t accept the neat answer the police and campus administration have come up with for her murder.
Because Alex knows the secret societies are far more sinister and extraordinary than anyone ever imagined. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And sometimes they prey on the living . . .
My Review:
Ninth House is a dark, gripping read which I absolutely loved!
Firstly I must admit to being slightly sceptical when I started this book about whether it would live up to its massive hype but it definitely does. In fact I’d happily rate it as one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Alex is a fantastic main character who I enjoyed following throughout the book. I wasn’t to sure of her to begin with as she seemed quite prickly but I really warmed to her as the book went on. She’s a girl who’s had a rough start to life and I liked watching her gain her confidence in her new role and find her place in life. She’s a very strong, brave lady and I loved that she didn’t let anything stand in her way.
The world the author has created is brilliant and one I loved spending time in. The idea of a magic being so close to the real world but still hidden was instantly intriguing to me. I also liked how the magic had been divided into different houses and the description of the different things those houses could do with that magic. The inclusion of ghosts or ‘greys’ in the story was also very interesting and gave the book a supernatural feel to it . I loved how they helped tell the story of the town’s history and how they helped Alex in her investigation.
I was immediately drawn into the story and into the wonderful world Alex finds herself in. The story is told in two timelines one following Alex as she tries to solve a murder and the other flashing back to her first days of her new role at Yale. I liked the way the author did this as it meant the reader gradually discovers more about Alex and what’s going on seemingly alongside Alex which I thought very clever. The plot was very fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I felt very sad to finish the book and leave Leith House behind. I am now very impatient for the sequel which comes out in a few weeks.
About The Author:
Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.
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