Leigh Bardugo's usually known for her young adult books, but this new adult one was a good first foray into the genre. I'm determined to read more new adult books in 2021, and for the genre to get the recognition it needs so that fantasy written by women isn't miscategorised as YA (I'm looking at you ACOTAR series).
Ninth House is a fantasy filled with magic, murder and intrigue. Alex Stern is given a place to study at Yale in return for her forming part of a secret society that ensures that the other secret societies at the college keep in line. Alex can see the dead, which makes her an ideal candidate to make sure the magic isn't being misused, but she's plagued by her past and the mysterious absence of her mentor. She's trying to keep everyone in line whilst not quite knowing how to, and it all might end in disaster.
Although I found this a slow one to get into, I did enjoy it. I loved the mystery surrounding Alex's past, Darlington's absence (death? disappearance? kidnapping?), the magic being misused and how deep the corruption at Yale may go. The book comes with big trigger warnings for graphic sexual assault of a child, and the main scene in particular is one of the bits that I felt let down by the book in. The whole thing felt like an unnecessary plot device used to show that Alex has had a troubled past, and as foreshadowing for incidents that happen later in the book.
I gave this four stars and would recommend it if you're a fan of dark fantasy novels. If Bardugo makes this into a series I'd definitely read the next book to see where it goes.
No comments:
Post a Comment