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Title: Ninth House, Hell Bent
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, thriller, horror-ish
Length: Duology
Rating: 4/5
Looking for a dark academia autumn read? I got you! One of the recent books I’ve finished was Ninth House and Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. Yes, the author of the hit duology Six of Crows. This book is set in the dark academic walls of Yale, a place with many secrets. Want to read more of my autumn recs?
“Mors irrumat omnia. Death fucks us all.” -Leigh Bardugo, Ninth House
Summary
Alex Stern is one of the last people you'd expect to find at prestigious Yale College. A high school dropout and former junkie, she was also involved in the mysterious murder of her friends. But Alex possesses a rare ability that earns her a spot at Yale: she can see Grays—ghosts. This talent makes her the new Dante in Lethe.
Lethe is an organization that oversees the ancient eight secret societies at Yale. These societies engage in magical and mysterious rituals to achieve various goals—from predicting Oscar winners to opening portals to Spain or communicating with the dead. Alex's job is to control the societies and keep the Grays at bay during these rituals.
One fateful night, Alex's mentor Darlington vanishes into a mysterious portal. As if that weren't enough, a dead body soon turns up. Can Alex solve the crime and rescue Darlington, or will she drown in the depths of Yale's secrets?
“If you were going to hell together, murder seemed like a good place to start.” -Leigh Bardugo, Ninth House
Thoughts & My rating
I absolutely adored the first book, giving it a solid 5/5 stars. The dark academia atmosphere and autumnal ambiance were perfectly crafted, creating an immersive reading experience that felt tailor-made for this time of year. The story structure, with its dual timelines, kept me very engaged and on the edge of my seat throughout. I found myself completely captivated by Alex's character; her sharp wit and biting sarcasm added a fun bit of humour to the story, making her an incredibly compelling main character. This book was the rightful winner of the 2019 Goodreads choice award in the Fantasy category. And the sequel was the 2023 winner!
Unfortunately, the second book didn't quite live up to the high bar set by its first. While the first half started strong, maintaining the quality and intrigue of the original, the second portion of the book seemed to lose its footing. As a result, the overall experience felt slightly disjointed, leading me to rate the second book a 3.5/5. Despite this dip in the story, the series as a whole remains an intriguing and worthwhile read for fans of dark academia and supernatural mysteries. Interested in my dark mooded books recs? Click here
“Take me back. Make me into someone who has never been done harm. Go as far as you can. Make me brand-new. No bruises. No scars.” -Leigh Bardugo, Ninth House
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