This is Leigh Bardugo’s first adult fantasy book. As you may be able to imagine, I was very excited to read Ninth House, however, I must admit, that it is not a favourite of mine of Bardugo’s or of the fantasy genre in general.
This is a crime/murder- mystery with an emphasis on the occult. Alex, whose real name is Galaxy, is a recovering addict with a very intense back story. She finds herself working in Lethe House at Yale, with the job of sorta being in charge of making sure the Big Houses (Skull and Bones being one of them) behave themselves as they dabble in the arcane. The reason Alex finds herself in this position is because she has the amazing ability of seeing Grays, or ghosts.
It really is an interesting and exciting tale. I was trying to figure out if perhaps “seeing ghosts” was a metaphor for a real world problem. Alex started using drugs at age 12 to deal with the stress of her sight, which can easily be compared to a person dealing with depression, mental illness or abuse, turning to drugs at a young age to self-medicate or escape. I found myself relating somewhat to her past, but I was unable to relate to her present and current status.
I really did enjoy this book, though. At first, it was a little heavy for me but after I reached a point, it quickly became a page turner. So, I want to recommend it, but I do want to point out that there ARE some triggering parts to it concerning her past that deal with sexual assault. So, BE WARNED. But, I wound up really loving the ending. And I think I may have to read the next book in the series!
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!
Book Oracle 