Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

It's interesting to me, the timing of when I read this book. As we enter the season for Halloween, I recommend this read with all its macabre details. Many chapters were utterly thrilling, terrifying, and grotesque. Some chapters really stabbed into my emotions. Because of that, it's difficult to love this book. But I liked reading it so much that pulling through those emotions was worth the pain of finishing it.

Lethe: the Ninth House and the Ancient Eight of the Veil represent the secret societies of Yale University. They delve into topics of the education and learning of the supernatural, including keeping that part of Yale financially afloat. Alex Stern is nowhere near Yale material. A high school dropout she has experienced the seedier parts of life. After being involved in a heinous crime with her ability to see ghosts, she is plucked from that old life and is now among the Ivy League population for that special ability. A murder occurs during a secret society ritual, and Alex is tasked to investigate whether Lethe caused it. Although the authorities confirmed otherwise, there is more afoot, and not all is as seems. We follow Alex into another world as she pulls through dangerous and harrowing situations inside and outside the veil. In this thrilling, dark adventure through college life and the supernatural, she heads into horrific means to find the truth in this mystery of power and corruption. 

Leigh Bardugo generates a rich world-building narrative. However, in this story's case, she was blessed with a world already been built, setting the stage to tell her mystery. Leigh Bardugo immerses readers with descriptive detail. I can hear the flesh curdle when I read on about the "victima". On the flip side, the story has a way of going back and forth between the timelines. I had to backtrack some pages to review some context in the later chapters. Although it was a challenge going back and forth, I don't feel it is a factor in hating the book. With ghosts and essential characters who aren't present in the story, you're going to need a lot of historical context. Plus, at the heart of it, it's a mystery. If the writing didn't whirl you into a sort of who-done-it confusion, one might think the mystery has been ill-executed. One of the things that kept me hooked on the book is the characters. There are no bland characters in this book. Among the characters that guide Alex, is Darlington. Despite his academic and somewhat disconcerting personality, he is essential. In Alex's simple terms, he is a snob. He reminded me of people in real life. He is that person you hate at work but you need him around because he has a skillset you don't have. Then there is Dawes. She is soft-spoken and gentle but executes her will with fierce logic. She is my favorite.

Leigh Bardugo is popular for her Young Adult writing in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. For the Ninth House, don't be expecting a YA read. This is 100% adult material. The characters carry themselves with adult confidence and determination that is not focused on within a YA story. There is excessive drug use and partygoing in this story that the youth are often protected and discouraged from engaging in, not to mention explicit blood and violence. Besides a rousing story, I wondered if there was a goal in shedding light on some things. There are characters who sit in positions of power and I completely question their ethics. There was one unsuspecting character to whom I rooted for, given the tragedy laid upon her. But after what transpired, I was glad she experienced that.

Overall, I hope you'll enjoy this great read. Although it is not the kind of writing Leigh Bardugo is popular with, you must admit. Whether it's Young Adult or Adult, she is one heck of a bewitching storyteller.

Click on BIO to learn more about Leigh Bardugo.