Alex Stern is a fantastic protagonist—morally gray, traumatized, and exactly the kind of messy heroine that makes dark academia shine. I was absolutely invested in her, but let’s be honest, she sometimes felt like she was brooding just for the sake of it. Darlington, meanwhile, had “charismatic academic heartthrob” potential but was mostly MIA, so his charm had to work overtime in flashbacks. The supporting cast? Dawes had the social skills of a houseplant, and Turner was just there to be annoyed by everything. Some of the secret society members were so indistinct they might as well have been background furniture. Still, they served their purpose, and the core relationships had enough weight to make up for the forgettable side characters.

Dark academia at its finest. Yale’s secret societies, sinister magic, ghosts lurking in the corners—it’s all deliciously eerie, and Bardugo makes sure you feel the weight of centuries-old institutions doing shady things behind closed doors. However, she also clearly loves Yale, and sometimes the setting descriptions veer into “Let me tell you about this gorgeous Gothic tower for five paragraphs” territory. A little self-indulgent? Yes. But did it work? Also yes. The book practically oozes atmosphere, even if some of it is just an excuse for Bardugo to flex her knowledge of New Haven.

Bardugo knows how to write a book that feels expensive. Her prose is sleek, intelligent, and just the right amount of lyrical without going full “thesaurus attack.” Dialogue? Snappy. Descriptions? Often beautiful, though occasionally teetering on too much. The alternating timelines were an interesting choice, but sometimes they interrupted the flow rather than enhancing it. Still, I’d read just about anything she writes, because even when she’s being extra, she makes it work.

Murder, magic, and Ivy League elitism—what’s not to love? Well… the pacing, for one. The first half meanders like a lost freshman trying to find their lecture hall, and then suddenly the second half sprints toward the finish line. The murder mystery is intriguing, but it often plays second fiddle to Alex wandering around Yale questioning her life choices. The ending felt less like a conclusion and more like a “tune in next time” sign-off, which is annoying but effective because, yeah, I will be tuning in next time.

Despite the slow build-up, once I was in, I was in. The occult rituals, the secret societies, the “is Alex about to get murdered in this scene?” energy—there’s plenty here to keep you hooked. The middle of the book had a few lulls, but by the time the supernatural elements really kicked in, it was impossible to put down. There’s a constant sense of something being slightly off, and that tension is what keeps the pages turning, even when the pacing stumbles.

The worldbuilding is fascinating, but the magic system is a little hand-wavy at times. Like, how does half of this work? Don’t worry about it. Some of the secret society rules feel arbitrary, and Alex’s unique ability is never fully explained beyond “she can just do that.” The character relationships, on the other hand, are solid. Alex and Darlington’s academic enemies-to-maybe-something-more dynamic is fantastic even though he’s not even there most of the time. Alex and Dawes’ reluctant partnership was a pleasant surprise. The antagonists? Eh. Functional but not particularly memorable.

Even with its flaws, I had a blast with Ninth House. It’s moody, violent, atmospheric, and full of just the right amount of cynicism. Does it have pacing issues? Yes. Do some characters need more development? Absolutely. Did I still devour it like a secret society member hoarding occult knowledge? You bet. The flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying the hell out of this book, and I’ll be first in line for the sequel.

Ninth House is a great mix of supernatural intrigue, dark academia, and murder mystery, wrapped in a gorgeous but slightly bloated package. It stumbles a bit with pacing and underdeveloped side characters, but its atmosphere, strong protagonist, and sharp writing more than make up for it. A must-read for fans of dark academia—just be prepared for a slow start before things really get interesting.