Ninth House opens with a touch of the ending, as Galaxy “Alex” Stern, the sole survivor of a multiple homicide, lays in the hospital. She had dropped out of high school into a world of shady boyfriends, drugs, and worse and was thought to have thrown her life away. Then, she became the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class with a catch that she isn’t sure she fully understands. She arrives in New Haven and is tasked by one of her mysterious benefactors with monitoring Yale’s secret societies, which might just be a lot more sinister than anyone could have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do believe it requires a specific taste in fantasy. The plot is a slow burn to the very much epic ending. It is funny and interesting, but there is a certain patience to be had if you are to be interested by this book.
On a different note, this book is extremely dark, and I will list a couple trigger warnings but I suggest looking further into it if any of these may bother you. Some trigger warnings include: graphic sexual assault, murder, gore, and drug abuse/overdose. Needless to say, this book may not be for everyone. That being said, if you enjoy a dark magical mystery centered around places and things we think we know well, I highly suggest this novel. Its elements of fantasy are well-pieced and explored in a very compelling way.
I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.