Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Alex Stern Series)

Ninth House

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: Alex Stern

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism

Format: Physical via Page 1 Books subscription

Publish Date: October 2021

Read: April 2022

Favorite Quote: That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you’d been before life took away your belief in the possible.

Story Synopsis: We meet Alex at Yale University. She’s not your typical East Coast prepster; Alex is a twenty-year-old freshman who received a full scholarship to Yale because she can see ghosts. While in hospital after being the sole survivor of a drug-related massacre, Alex is visited by Dean Sandow. Sandow grants Alex her scholarship on the condition that she works with Lethe House – the overseers of the eight secret societies at Yale who practice magic.

Once at Yale, Alex’s mentor, Darlington, goes missing. The societies try to find him, but Alex decides to go rogue and investigate on her own. She finds secrets buried within secrets in the eight society houses and uncovers magical herbs, glamour magic, and shapeshifters. All the while, and despite explicit instructions, Alex interacts with The Bridegroom, a local New Haven ghost who has a keen interest in her. When things take a turn, Alex must figure out who deserves her trust and how far she’s willing to go to keep this new life that was given to her.

Why does this book beguile? Ninth House was the April book selection from Page 1 Books. Having already read two books by Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, I knew I was in for a treat. I loved Ninth House – I couldn’t put it down. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It has elements of mystery, thriller, fantasy, and coming-of-age novel all rolled into one story. Since the story is set in a real place (New Haven, CT at Yale University), the story feels like it could be real and happening right now. As expected, Bardugo does an excellent job of creating characters you want to see succeed and storylines you believe could happen.

Rating: 5/5

Link*: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

If you like this, read*: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Book Club Reading Guide: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo