Ninth House

4/5 stars

Alex Stern is an unlikely student of Yale University, but she has an important job. To oversee the activities of the eight secret societies. Her ability to see ghosts may be why she was chosen for the job, but it brings her troubles too. The sole survivor of a multiple homicide and now a member of an elite society… Alex is thrown into a world full of danger and mystery.

Ninth House was a really thrilling fantasy that captured my attention immediately. I wouldn’t consider it a light read. In fact, it was more graphic and disturbing than I had anticipated. I often took breaks from reading because the material could be uncomfortable. Despite this, Bardugo kept drawing me back in with the paranormal world she built.

As with almost all fantasy novels, there was a lot of information to take in. Names and code names, different houses, different worlds, and a lot of plot. It was paced nicely and the twists were good. I didn’t think there were any areas that needed more explanation or resolution.

Overall, this was a really solid read that appeased my need for both fantasy and the occult. The hype is well deserved, but be aware that you may need to put this book down a bit more often to digest everything.