The Ninth House is a dark adult fantasy novel by Leigh Bardugo, set at Yale University, against the backdrop of secret societies indulging in forbidden occult magic. It tells the story of Alex Stern, one problem-ridden, gifted young woman who can see ghosts and gets recruited to monitor the supernatural activities of the societies. Eerie rituals and great dangers hide secrets; Alex uncovers a sinister conspiracy targeting her and everyone around her. The dark academia then meets complex character arcs and grapples with themes of power, privilege, and survival to make it, all in all, a haunting story for the reader.

Ninth House book cover
AuthorLeigh Bardugo
Publication dateOctober 8, 2019
Goodreads Rating4,01
Page count461 pages
GenresFantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Adult, Magic, Contemporary

Ninth House Summary

The novel tells the story of Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a girl with a traumatic and tortured past. By the time she is 20 years old, Alex has experienced more pain than most in her lifetime: dropping out of school, falling into drug addiction, and being the only survivor of a massacre. What sets her apart, however, is her strange and rare ability to see Grays-ghosts that haunt the living world. A gift, or a curse, that makes her a perfect recruit for Lethe House, the mysterious ninth secret society at Yale University.

Lethe governs the mystical rites of Yale’s most powerful secret societies: Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and many more. These societies are immensely powerful in their use of the occult in divining trends in the stock market, calling spirits, and practicing necromancy. The line between magic-as-research and magic-as-magic blurs very thin, not rarely with a terrible price.

Lethe gives Alex another chance: she gets a scholarship at Yale and is charged to monitor the societies to make sure their rituals do not interrupt the natural order. Her mentor is Daniel Arlington, who goes by Darlington, the refined, charming “Golden Boy” of Lethe, and deeply dedicated to the cause of the organization. But their partnership is cut short when Darlington mysteriously disappears during a botched magical investigation, leaving Alex to navigate the dangerous world of the societies on her own.

As Alex struggles to keep up with Yale’s academic pressures, her responsibilities with Lethe grow darker. When a town girl named Tara Hutchins is found brutally murdered near campus, Alex begins to suspect that one of the societies may be involved. Determined to uncover the truth, Alex dives deeper into the sinister underworld of magic, power, and privilege at Yale.

As the investigation unfolds, Alex’s past is slowly revealed, along with the trauma that has made her and the reasons for her survival of the massacre that took so many lives. Her connection to the Grays makes her both strong and vulnerable as she uncovers secrets not just about the societies, but about Lethe itself.

It culminates in a series of shocking twists, each one revealing a little more about the true nature of Yale’s magic and the dark forces that Alex will be confronting-not just to protect others but to survive herself. Along the way, the story explores privilege, trauma, power, and corruption-creating a darkly atmospheric, thought-provoking tale.

The Ninth House is the first book in the series, a sequel of which is Hell Bent; it consequently follows Alex on her journey into the heart of Lethe, revealing even darker secrets.

Ninth House Characters

Here’s a list of the main characters in Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo:

Main Characters

  1. Galaxy “Alex” Stern: The protagonist, a 20-year-old with a troubled past and the rare ability to see Grays (ghosts). Recruited into Lethe House as a way to escape her traumatic life and make use of her unique gift.
  2. Daniel Arlington (“Darlington”): Alex’s mentor in Lethe House, known as the “Gentleman of Lethe.” Charming, intelligent, and deeply devoted to Lethe’s mission, but he mysteriously disappears during a mission, leaving Alex to fend for herself.
  3. Dawes (Pamela Dawes): Lethe House’s quiet and diligent research assistant. She becomes one of Alex’s key allies and helps her unravel the mysteries of the societies and the murder.
  4. Tara Hutchins: A town girl whose brutal murder becomes a central mystery in the story. Alex is determined to find out if the secret societies were involved in her death.
  5. Detective Abel Turner: A police detective assigned to work with Lethe House to keep the secret societies in check. Skeptical and often frustrated with Alex’s methods.

Secret Societies and Their Members

  1. Blake Keely: A member of one of the secret societies. Privileged and entitled, he becomes a source of conflict for Alex.
  2. Professor Sandow: The head of Lethe House and Alex’s supervisor. A seemingly supportive figure, but his motives and actions are shrouded in ambiguity.

The Supernatural

  1. Grays: Ghosts that Alex can see. They are a constant presence in her life, often dangerous but sometimes helpful.
  2. Eitan Harel: A dangerous Gray with a connection to Alex’s past, embodying her deepest fears and unresolved trauma.

Alex’s Past

  1. Hellie: Alex’s best friend from her life before Yale. Their relationship and shared trauma play a pivotal role in Alex’s character development.

Others

  1. Len: Alex’s ex-boyfriend, who is tied to her difficult past and represents her struggles before joining Lethe.
  1. Michelle Alameddine: A member of one of the societies. Her interactions with Alex shed light on the society’s inner workings.

These characters, along with the atmospheric setting of Yale and its elite secret societies, create a compelling and layered narrative. Each character has secrets and complexities that add to the story’s dark and gripping tone.

Ninth House Review

Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House is a deep dive into the dark and haunting world of secret societies, magic, and human costs for power. It’s her first foray into adult fiction, and Bardugo really brings out a story that is gritty, atmospheric, and unrelenting-clearly making its mark in both dark fantasy and dark academia.

Plot & Pacing

The story follows Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a complicated, flawed protagonist whose rare ability to see ghosts gets her into Yale and puts her in the position of overseeing the university’s occult secret societies. At the center of the book is a core mystery-a murder that may or may not be related to these societies-unraveling at a deliberate pace, layering intrigue and tension into a shocking climax. However, some readers might find parts of it a bit slower in pace; but that is easily compensated by the immense world-building and development of the characters.

World-Building

Bardugo’s Yale is at once real-world and eerie, melding real academia with deeply immersive magical underbelly. Secret societies feel real: with their grand histories, pecking orders, and life-threatening rituals. By way of blending in with the mundane-supernatural mix, the world will feel at once lived in and plausibly disturbing.

Characters

Alex Stern is an outstanding protagonist-she’s raw and fierce, yet really human. Her traumatic past and the fight to adjust with Yale’s snobbish culture make her so relatable and endearing. Darlington is her mentor and just as likable-a perfect foil to Alex’s grittiness, polished and principled. The supporting characters like Dawes and Detective Turner add great depth to the story, and the antagonists and Grays keep up the tension well.

Themes

Ninth House doesn’t sidestep traumatic situations, privilege, and systemic corruption. Bardugo weaves such subjects into the narrative with ease. It does critique class elitism at Ivy League schools and the manner of conducting power at the expense of the most vulnerable.

Writing Style

Bardugo’s writing is evocative, full of atmosphere, which perfectly fits the general dark and haunting tone of the story. She describes rituals, ghosts, and settings so well that it feels like readers are part of the tale’s darker sides. Smooth shifts between Alex’s present and past add more to her character and the mystery at the core of events.

What Works

  • Well-integrated world of academia and the supernatural.
  • Well-rounded, complex, seriously flawed characters-especially Alex Stern.
  • A real page-turner of a mystery with twists to keep you guessing. Some heavy themes are explored, such as trauma and privilege.

What Might Not Work for Everyone

  • The pacing is slow, particularly in the first half, as Bardugo sets up her world and its rules.
  • The darker content-including depictions of violence and trauma-may be too much for some readers.
  • The heavy world-building may be overwhelming to readers who are not used to dark academia or fantasy genres.

Verdict

Ninth House is a dark, gripping, and thought-provoking read that fans of dark academia, fantasy, and mystery alike will devour. Not an easy read due to the heavy themes and intricate plot, it’s rewarding for those who appreciate richly layered storytelling. Bardugo has created a world and characters that linger long after the final page.
Ideal for readers who love atmospheric settings, morally complex characters, and a touch of the macabre.

Ninth House Trigger Warnings

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo includes the following trigger warnings:

  • Sexual Assault: Depictions of sexual violence and harassment.
  • Drug Addiction: Alex’s struggles with substance abuse and addiction.
  • Violence and Gore: Graphic scenes of murder, mutilation, and rituals.
  • Death and Trauma: Includes mass murder, PTSD, and psychological struggles.
  • Child Abuse: Implied abuse in Alex’s backstory.
  • Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts: Brief mentions.
  • Occult Practices: Dark magic, necromancy, and ghostly encounters.
  • Sexism and Elitism: Themes of systemic privilege and discrimination.

This is a dark, intense book—approach with care if these themes may be distressing.

Is Ninth House Spicy?

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo isn’t traditionally “spicy” in the romantic sense—it’s not a romance-focused novel, and there aren’t explicit or steamy love scenes. Instead, the book leans heavily on its dark fantasy, mystery, and thriller elements, with themes of trauma, power, and survival.

Ninth House Age Rating

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is best suited for mature readers, typically 16+ or 18+, depending on sensitivity to content.

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