Ninth House By Leigh Bardugo

Ever find something so great, so fulfilling, that you can’t help but kick yourself for not getting into it sooner? Yeah, that’s me with Leigh Bardugo’s, Ninth House. 

I’ve been seeing Leigh Bardugo’s work around for years now—stacked on tables at Barnes & Noble, presented in the Recommended section on Goodreads, popping up in the search results for “adult fantasy mystery books.” Yet I never took the time to actually read any of her work. That is, until I received my very first Kindle as a birthday gift, and Ninth House found its way into the ‘Based on Your Reading’ section. For weeks I’d been itching to start a new fantasy mystery— something cozy and a bit spooky that would fit the feel of the ongoing autumn weeks. I looked into it a bit, and pretty quickly, the book summary, as well as the author blurb by the master of horror himself, Stephen King (classifying the book as unable to be put down), really solidified this pick for me.

The book is centered around a girl named Galaxy “Alex” Stern (sick name by the way), a young woman with a rough past and the rare ability to see ghosts, who is suddenly offered the opportunity of a lifetime upon waking up in the hospital after a traumatizing incident: to attend Yale University on a full ride— with the task of monitoring the university’s secret societies. As you could imagine with the occult, things prove to be even more ominous than they seem, particularly after the unexpected death of a young local woman.  

A few weeks later (yes yes I know, I like to take my time), and I’m so happy to confirm it did not disappoint. True to King’s quote, I was unable to put it down and, true to my plan, found myself contently posted up on my sofa with a fall-scented candle by my side and a cup of tea, breezing through each chapter. 

The writing style was the first thing that drew me in. Sharp and immersive, I felt like I could almost visualize the campus buildings as I read, could smell the crisp fall air, and hear the eerie shrieks of the ghosts she encounters. 

The dialogue was very natural and witty, the mystery intriguing, the characters very solid and likeable. Especially Darlington. 

I also loved Leigh’s exploration of themes like trauma, power, and privilege, and how effortlessly they were sewn into the story’s undercurrent. 

It wasn’t over-the-top terrifying horror, but there were definitely some parts that made my skin crawl, especially the freaky behaviors of some of the ghosts. Overall it was very fun to read, and in case you didn’t get the hint before, I’m LIVID with myself for not picking this up sooner. Ready to start the second book in the series, Hell Bent, as I write this.