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Leigh Bardugo’s “Ninth House” is a dark academia novel filled with secrets, violence, and institutional rot, which offers a grittier departure from the young adult fantasy worlds she is best known for. The novel follows Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a traumatized first-year student at Yale University who is tasked with monitoring the university’s secret societies, groups that practice different types of arcane magic under the guise of tradition and prestige.
“Ninth House” is Bardugo’s first adult fantasy novel. A Yale graduate and member of the Wolf’s Head secret society, Bardugo’s acclaim began with her viral young adult series’ “Shadow and Bone” and “Six of Crows,” two separate series both set in the same fantasy world known as the Grishaverse. Netflix adapted “Shadow and Bone” into a television series in 2021, which combined the storylines in “Shadow and Bone” and “Six of Crows” into a wonderful two-season show.
Unlike the romanticized versions of dark academia that dominate the genre, “Ninth House” is unflinching in its brutality, similar to “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang. Bardugo takes a peek under the veil of academia, revealing elitism, misogyny, and exploitation beneath these secret societies. The magic system, which relies heavily on blood, ghosts, and power imbalances, feels intentionally grotesque, which made me often squirm. Anyone squeamish, this is not the book for you.
Initially, Alex is not a very likable protagonist, but she is a compelling one. Her cynicism and self-preservation make her feel authentic, particularly given her traumatic past. Alex is unique in this fictional world because she has the horrible ability to see ghosts, known in the book as “Grays,” whom she does not have a good history with. While some of her internal monologue feels repetitive, like her distrust of authority, it reinforces her character’s central tension: surviving in a system not built for someone like her.
Darlington, Alex’s mentor, provides a balance to the novel’s darkness, and Alex herself. His belief in order and rules contrasts with Alex’s lived experiences, and their dynamic was compelling to read. Aside from Darlington, some of the supporting cast remain underdeveloped, functioning more as symbols of power than fully fleshed-out characters.
I find the atmosphere of the world to be one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Bardugo’s Yale is oppressive and decaying, where magic rituals feel less mystical and more transactional. As a college student, I enjoy the way Bardugo stripped Yale of any aestheticism, exposing power imbalances and corruption that can linger in academia. I personally would love to believe any issues in our institutions are caused by rich, arrogant, magical societies who have been abusing the university system for decades. But alas, we do not live in Bardugo’s world.
Overall, “Ninth House” is perfect for readers who enjoy a magical mystery, dark academia, and a gritty book. The novel is not beautiful, and it doesn’t intend to be. I especially recommend this book to other college students who enjoy the fantasy genre.
If you enjoyed the university setting or magical realism, a young adult novel quite similar to “Ninth House” is “Legendborn” by Tracy Deonn. While investigating her mother’s death, 16-year-old Bree Matthews discovers a secret magical society of Arthurian descendants on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Legenborn holds multiple awards and critical acclaim, including the 2021 Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award for New Talent.
If you want more Bardugo, her famed “Six of Crows” duology is a perfect place to start. “Six of Crows” is a fantasy heist novel that follows a ragtag group of outcasts and criminals, each with a magical talent, through Ketterdam, a corrupt city that feels a little like Vegas with magic.
Rating: 4.5/5 Spinnaker Sails
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