Ninth House

Written by Leigh Bardugo

Narrated by Lauren Fortgang and Michael David Axtell

From the author of Shadow and Bone, now a hit NETFLIX series.

The smash New York Times bestseller from Leigh Bardugo, a mesmerizing tale of power, privilege, and dark magic set among the Ivy League elite. This program includes a bonus conversation with the author.

"The best fantasy novel I’ve read in years, because it’s about real people.... Impossible to put down." —Stephen King

"Bardugo’s latest is a must-listen, introducing a haunting, Yale-based occult world populated with gloriously complicated characters.... A win-win-win, honestly." —Paste, best audiobooks of 2019

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless “tombs” are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living. A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Oct 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781250230911

Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Familiar, The Invisible Parade, and the Ninth House trilogy. She is also the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology— and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.

Reviews for Ninth House

[Sammi Meisenheimer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book!! The end is so good! I was so sad the second book wasn't out! Talk about a cliff hanger

[Lindsay Hayhurst · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was on the edge of my seat this entire book. I hope a second installment is created!

[Carly Romenesko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good story, good character building. Interested to hear the 2nd book

[KC Cruz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book!!! Can't wait to see where else she take this book has to be another part to it.

[Bre0498 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have finished the book and although I have decided that I liked it a lot, I feel that I still haven't fully processed it, and the thing is that when I started reading it, I didn't know what to expect. So when the rituals and all the not-so-good magic began, I was really surprised. The thing is, in this book we see that magic is cruel and can be filled with darkness and cruelty. However, I am already hooked and I can't wait to read the next book. (Translated from Spanish)

[ClaudiaLo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a young adult fantasy novel; I found it quite long, even though it doesn't reach 500 pages. It's very well-crafted regarding details, the setting, and the characters, but the central story is simple and it felt quite predictable, just like the main character, who is very cliché. By the end, it seems the fantasy has a rather noticeable "boost," and honestly, that's what I liked the least. It ends setting the stage for the next book in the series, which I'm not sure if I want to read. (Translated from Spanish)

[CaoticaPaula · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Horrible, truly horrible.
Bad to say the least.
I couldn't get past 150 pages... And believe me, I tried. It’s really hard for me to leave a book unfinished, but I was just too bored.
The chapters are too long and practically nothing happens in them, so there’s way too much filler.
The basic story is good (or seems good from what little I could gather), but the execution leaves much to be desired (not to mention the horrible editing of the book... or lack thereof, it seems).
I don't care what happens to any of the characters, they mean very little to me... And when that happens with a book, for me, it’s lost.
Each character has a name, a diminutive, a nickname, and a moniker, so in the end, you never quite know which character is being referenced, as there are three or four ways to call them and they seem randomly chosen.
It even tells you the color and length of the underarm hair of the brother of the friend of the neighbor of the teacher (exaggeration), but it does a poor job of world-building and temporal-spatial placement, which makes you feel constantly lost, and at the same time, your head collapses with so much information and totally unnecessary details.
This is the first thing I've read by the author and, I’m sorry to say, it has taken away my desire to read anything else by her. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lecturasdeunsiurell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

At first, I found it difficult to get into the story because everything seemed very chaotic and I couldn't quite understand it, but after the first few chapters, I couldn't stop reading. The way it is structured and the jumps between chapters are easy to follow once you get your bearings.
I liked the characters, especially Darlington, the evolution he undergoes and how he sees his beliefs wobble with the arrival of Alex (at least that's the impression I got).
The book has it all: magic, conspiracies, secret societies, murders, and even a bit of romance. (Translated from Spanish)

[Ann - Into My Books · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We are introduced to the character of Alex Stern, a girl who is a victim of society, who, after an accident, is offered a unique opportunity to go to Yale University. She accepts without hesitation, but the question of why she was chosen keeps haunting her mind.

The beginning is slow and a bit confusing, bombarding you with many names and a lot of information to explain the magic of New Haven and its eight houses. It takes time to pick up, but when it does, you can’t put it down.

We will discover a different university, full of magic in every corner, and above all, ghosts.

Alex Stern is a worthy protagonist; she follows her impulses and doesn’t take time to process what she wants to do as she dives headfirst into it. We will learn about her past through time jumps and better understand why she is the way she is.

There is barely any romance; it hints at what could be in the future (and hopefully will be), but it is not of great importance compared to the rest of the story.

It is clear that this is a more mature novel because it addresses more serious themes, including drug addiction, prostitution, sexual abuse, and physical and verbal violence. I would like to warn about this, as there are certain topics that not everyone can read about.

It is a story very focused on a single objective; in fact, it completes the circle. It could be a standalone book if it weren't for the second plot that is more concealed, but it receives just the right amount of importance.

For me, it is a brilliant start to a series, and it has all the potential to continue shining with subsequent publications. And let’s remember that it already has an adaptation, which will be produced by Prime Video. (Translated from Spanish)

[sjleo24 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Ninth House could be described as a supernatural thriller with a touch of fantasy and dark magic. It has a plot that requires some patience due to the little action at the beginning, but it contains interesting plot twists. It is a novel that is not for everyone.

I quite liked the setting; Yale University could be seen as a perfect backdrop for this type of dark magic and murder plot. Additionally, this story has tough moments and touches on sensitive topics such as drugs and sexual violence.

The romance in this story is non-existent. It is true that one might deduce that a possible romantic relationship could appear, but it is not the main plot of this book, which is good for Leigh Bardugo for not centering the story around a relationship.

If you expect something similar to what the author created with the Grishaverse, this book is not for you. It deals with sensitive themes, investigations, and is a book more focused on adult readers. (Translated from Spanish)

[Alymichi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ostia with Leigh Bardugo!! What a change after her Grishaverse! ???

I am really amazed by her first adult fantasy and mystery book (the first in the Alex Stern trilogy).

A story of dark magic, used by the elite of Yale University, or rather by its eight secret societies! With a somewhat peculiar protagonist who has led a tough life and whom the university takes in to keep those eight societies at bay.

At first, I was quite lost and confused; at times I got bored because it starts off very slowly, explaining and detailing everything perfectly so you can delve into this new world, but then everything becomes super interesting and it's hard to put down. Although I admit it has really "creepy," raw, super intense themes that are difficult to digest, which may cause readers to pause for a bit to clear their minds, as it could be quite challenging for those who are too sensitive to certain topics.
Besides that, all the characters are perfect, the setting is sensational, and the story is amazing!

I loved it, and I can't wait for the second one to come out so I can dive into it! ? (Translated from Spanish)

[DaniaSol · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"All of you kids playing with fire, looking surprised when the house catches fire."

I thought the writer's idea of mixing the real and the fantastic was very good, resulting in a surreal story that introduces the reader to the mythical university of Yale and its emblematic secret societies, full of mystery where they carry out hidden, sinister, and dangerous activities. For a long time, I wanted to read a book by Leigh Bardugo, and finally with Ninth House, I got the opportunity and enjoyed it a lot. At first, the story seemed confusing to me; I found it difficult to adapt to what was being narrated. But little by little, I became excited about each event involving the protagonist, Galaxy Stern, known as Alex, a very mature character who gets involved in violent and supernatural situations, making the novel considered paranormal and adult. It starts out slow but then envelops you in suspense, wanting to discover what is really happening with the plot and how it will be resolved. By the end, I was able to understand the complexity of the story and how each part came together to create a narrative that makes a lot of sense despite the mysticism. It's worth giving it a chance; there is a lot of real information perceived in the setting, which I found fascinating. (Translated from Spanish)

[Kleiner Blondine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is the first book I read by this author and it has completely exceeded my expectations.

At first, I was a bit lost because the author introduces many concepts and "history" to fully understand the world she has created. During the explanation of the Houses of the Veil, it is a bit confusing, but as you progress through the story, everything flows and you become completely immersed in the reading.

The protagonist, Alex (Galaxy), seems very original to me both for her personality and her troubled past that unfolds throughout the book.

Darlington and Dawes are characters that it is impossible not to develop some affection for. Both are intelligent, sensible, and trustworthy. They help the protagonist in everything.

I loved the book. It has some scenes that are quite sinister and even murky but succeed in maintaining the intrigue of why certain situations happen.

I didn't expect the ending at all, and I am left wanting to discover what will happen in the next book.

"I was too old to believe in magic, but I needed to believe there was something more in the world than life and death." (Translated from Spanish)

[FraseandoLibros · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have had this book for some time now and I was very eager to read it.

And I must admit that I don’t know if it was because of the reading in English that I found it a bit heavy to get hooked on (I have read few books in another language), or if it was simply the way it is written.

As far as I know, it is the first book of a new series by Leigh, and I feel that she tried to have us get to know the entire world in which it is set all at once. Many places, societies, and history packed into 450 pages, and much of it ends up being irrelevant to the plot.
Putting that aside, the moments of action and interest where the characters must move forward are very intriguing and dark, which at times sent chills down my spine.

The story in general has promise. For me, the reading of the conflicting situations was interesting and engaging, and I am already looking forward to reading more about this urban fantasy, just hoping that the next one does not contain so many explanations. (Translated from Spanish)