Ninth House
The global sensation from the creator of Shadow and Bone
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4.4 • 140 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
'Impossible to put down' STEPHEN KING
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THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER FOR BEST FANTASY OF 2019
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF OCTOBER 2019
A 2020 LOCUS AWARD FINALIST
IN DEVELOPMENT FOR TELEVISION WITH AMAZON STUDIOS
BY THE BESTSELLING CREATOR OF THE GRISHAVERSE
AND THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES SHADOW AND BONE
STEP INTO THE WORLD OF NINTH HOUSE
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Galaxy 'Alex' Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. A dropout and the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved crime, Alex was hoping for a fresh start. But a free ride to one of the world's most prestigious universities was bound to come with a catch.
Alex has been tasked with monitoring the mysterious activities of Yale's secret societies - well-known haunts of the rich and powerful. Now there's a dead girl on campus and Alex seems to be the only person who won't accept the neat answer the police and campus administration have come up with for her murder.
Because Alex knows the secret societies are far more sinister and extraordinary than anyone ever imagined. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And sometimes they prey on the living . . .
'One of the best fantasy novels I've read in years' LEV GROSSMAN
'Ninth House rocked my world' JOE HILL
'I wouldn't blame you for taking the day off to finish it' KELLY LINK
'Mesmerising' CHARLAINE HARRIS
'Compulsively readable' KIRKUS
'Atmospheric' BOOKLIST
'The fantasy novel of the year' THE I
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Leigh Bardugo’s first novel for adults is set in a fictional version of Yale, where secret societies gain their influence not just from money and privilege but from occult powers. Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a tough girl who barely survived her childhood, is recruited into this world of ghost-summoning and deadly pacts by an enigmatic figure who offers her a deal: Sneak in as a spy and we’ll pay your way through school. Bardugo, the bestselling author of two young-adult fantasy series, is a Yale graduate, which explains why this spooky, fast-paced story feels so authentic (what Ivy League secrets does she know?!) A tantalising blend of fantasy, mystery and horror, The Ninth House is a very fun read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bardugo's excellent first fantasy novel for adults (following her highly regarded Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone YA series) introduces an antihero who is just the right person to take on rising dangers in an elitist society. Galaxy "Alex" Stern's early life was wrecked by her unusual ability to see "Grays" earthbound ghosts but that same ability gains her admission into one of the magic-based houses at Yale. As she struggles to adjust to college life, she's forced to confront evil powers swirling under the thin veneers of tradition and ritual. When a young woman is killed, Alex becomes determined to find the murderer, even if it means dodging attempts on her life and striking eldritch bargains. Alex is the story's gritty, rock-solid heart. While other characters refuse to admit what's happening, too insulated by their own privilege or distracted by banal needs such as funding, Bardugo gives Alex a thoroughly engaging mix of rough edge, courage, and cynicism, all of which are required to get things done. Much of the book's white-knuckled tension comes from the increasingly horrific flashbacks revealing Alex's past, which is still very present in her mind. Fantasy readers, particularly those who love ghosts, will hungrily devour this novel.
