REVIEW: Ninth House (Leigh Bardugo)

Book: Ninth House

Author: Leigh Bardugo.

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: 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 comes with a catch. She has been tasked with Yale's secret societies. Now there's a dead girl on campus and Alex is the only person willing to look deeper. Because 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.

[⚠️CW: rape, violence, drugs] 

I knew from the premise that this book would be right up my street and I love Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse novels. For the first 100-150 pages, I was a tad confused. Leigh drops us right in the middle of things so you feel like you've missed a couple of chapters of world building. It's a bit overwhelming at first, but you very much get used to it. In a way, it helps you relate to Alex as she's very much been dropped into the world of magic at Yale and is struggling to keep up. I loved Alex's character. She's fiesty and strong, but also human. She loathes the elitism within Yale and she stands up for other female characters. As with her other books, Bardugo's world building is impeccable. There is very much a dark undertone, making it the perfect October read. I wasn't anticipating that reveal at the end. I'm super excited for the next book now!