Reviews

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

kennahxc's review

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

aecullum's review

4.0

The beginning of this book was slow-going and whether or not it’s because it didn’t interest/confused me or because I didn’t sit down to read more than a chapter or two at a time, I don’t know. But once I sat down and really read I was hooked at page 157. Everything about this book was stunning from the fantastical world to the drug world that Alex grew up in. I’ll tell you what though, it gave me some BIZARRE dreams.

nkhmelnitckaia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

kimreads14's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a re-read for me. I needed to read it again because I first read it back in March 2021 and needed a refresher ahead of reading Hell Bent. 🤗

On my first read I had given this book 5⭐️, but upon reading this again I’m lowering it down to 4⭐️

🚨You NEED to check the TWs for this one. I appreciate that Bardugo went all in when it comes to the adult content in this. 

Even if I was reading this for the second time I still was surprised at times with how things went. Bardugo really crafted an interesting world of magic and some interesting characters. 

Yet, I think that what Ninth House lacked was that little something that originally made me fall in love with Six of Crows. While Alex had that “gritty” vibe, it just fell flat at times. Alex, who could have been so much more. While Bardugo kept poking at Alex’s potential, it just never materialised. 😕

I’m hoping that Hell Bent keeps Darlington POVs as I found them refreshing. I’m also really hoping to see way more of Dawes in the next book. 

Overall a great book ☺️, and it did help make me excited about Bardugo’s work again after the big F that The Familiar was for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, Rape, Vomit, Classism, Blood, Violence, Trafficking, Drug use, and Drug abuse

dementedwhale's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hessensitive's review

I can’t finish this book. It’s just idek, not entertaining to read. I’m not enjoying the processes of reading it which is sad bc the mc is hilariously witty, the story is compelling, I like the mystery but I just can’t get into it. 

tmm4150's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Although this book is 450 pages long I flew through it. I would think about it all day and grab it as soon as I got home. The writing is beautiful in points. I haven’t highlighted a novel I was reading since college, but I had to highlight some parts in this one because I just loved them. I am looking forward to starting the sequel.

margaretwaltemath09's review

i was not getting into it and wanted to read something else. it was kinda boring for me right now.

nightwithbooks's review against another edition

I am happy I finished...

anouk_k05's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0