Book of the Month: “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo
PHOTO: “Ninth House” follows Alex Stern through a world of uncertainty with shady drug dealers and boyfriends.
By Sarah Griffiths,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
March is here and, with it, the start of college decision releases. This month’s “Book of the Month” dives into the college experience with a twist. “Ninth House” is a 2019 dark fantasy adult novel by Leigh Bardugo, recommended by avid reader senior Gabriela Moreno.
The novel is centered around Alex Stern, a high school dropout from Los Angeles, in a world of shady drug dealers and boyfriends. After surviving an unsolved multiple homicide, she is offered a full ride to Yale in order to join Yale’s ninth secret society, Lethe.
In New Haven, Alex is surrounded by high-ranking politicians, Wall Street money makers and Hollywood’s greatest, but soon finds out there is something more sinister and paranormal at play.
Lethe oversees the other secret societies that deal with arcane magic, especially Greys, or ghosts. Alex has the unique ability to see Greys and finds herself in the middle of two unsolved murders.
Moreno enjoyed the dark lessons about morality.
“One theme from Ninth House is that death is unavoidable and a natural part of life,” Moreno said.
Although slow in the middle, the book picks up speed near the end. Morenos favorite character is Daniel Arlington, Alex’s mentor at Lethe.
“He has a reputation for being an intelligent gentleman, and he is well read, and well versed in 6 languages and many instruments.”
Moreno enjoyed learning about Yale’s secret societies, in particular, Yale’s first secret society, “Skull and Bones” (est. 1832), which George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush were both part of.
“I would recommend this book to everyone! Bardugo takes a supernatural twist on Yale’s 8 ‘tombs,’ or secret societies and keeps the mystery alive,” Moreno said.
