Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.
Introduction
Everyone has that one author whose books they avidly collect. The author for whom they would brave the cold rain to secure an advanced signed copy – or perhaps that’s just me? In my case, Leigh Bardugo fits this role for me. I had the incredible chance to meet her, and yes, I must admit, it felt like a small part of me died from excitement. Ninth House marked a striking departure from her previous works, making it an exceptional standout in her bibliography. This distinction held true until the recent release of the sequel, Hellbent, which has once again redefined her oeuvre. Returning to the hallowed halls of Yale University alongside Alex Stern, I prepared to plunge into the depths of Hellbent. Let’s discuss my thoughts on my recent reread.
“I let you die. To save myself, I let you die.
That is the danger in keeping company with survivors.”
Overview
Alex Stern is a student at Yale who is part of an organization called the Lethe, also known as the Ninth House. This secretive organization wields authority over the university’s eight ancient and arcane magic-infused secret societies. Chosen for her remarkable ability to perceive and interact with ghosts, known as Grays, Alex navigates these tombs in order to uncover what’s going on behind the crypts. Guiding her within Lethe is Darlington, her mentor who has recently vanished.
The narrative commences with the unsettling murder of a local girl named Tara. As Alex delves into the circumstances surrounding Tara’s demise, she begins to suspect the involvement of the campus societies, even though Detective Turner’s initial focus lands on Tara’s boyfriend, Lance. Dean Sandow, overseeing Lethe’s operations, urges Alex to step back, yet her determination for truth remains unwavering. In her pursuit, she finds an ally in Dawes, an assistant within Lethe.
Driven by a sense of responsibility echoing her mentor’s principles, Alex can’t dismiss the case. The urgency to uncover the truth takes center stage as an intricate web of investigation unfurls, propelling Alex to decode the mystery shrouding Tara’s untimely death.
“All you children playing with fire, looking surprised when the house burns down”
Trigger Warnings
Content warnings in the realm of fantasy literature often tread a curious path, yet I find it necessary to illuminate aspects that could serve as potential triggers for fellow readers. As this book has an extensive list I will be linking a full list to check here. https://booktriggerwarnings.com/Ninth_House_by_Leigh_Bardugo
Be advised that these warnings should be taken with care as I am not a licensed therapist, and in no way could I identify everything. The following is what stuck out to me and others and may contain spoilers.
Violence/ Death/ Murder
Blood, Choking, a Sexual assault scene involving a minor, multiple murder scenes involving women, and a violent fight scene in which Alex is powerless to man.
Drug Use/ Dealing/ Overdose
Prolific use of drugs, dealing, and a resulting overdose in the story
Bullying
Mentions of bullying of Alex as a child.
Grief
Intense grief is mentioned and prolific throughout the novel from Alex’s past and present.
Surgery/ Dissection
Multiple mentions of dissection of living and dead individuals throughout the book. These scenes can be fairly graphic be advised.
Tropes in the Story:
- Emotional scars
- Magic
- Class Differences
- Dark
- Second Chance
- Slow Burn
“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.”
Thoughts
Having perused Ninth House not only once, but twice before, a question lingers: What compels me to repeatedly delve into this narrative? What magnetic force draws me back to the confines of Yale University alongside Alex? I think it’s partly because Bardugo’s writing has emergences of new nuances with each read. Undoubtedly, it embraces darkness, an almost overwhelming abyss. Its obscurity often leaves me pondering how such a narrative secured a spot within mainstream publishing. However, Bardugo walks that tightrope without taking it too far. She throws us into these mind-bending places, the kind that might be someone else’s harsh reality, and then she hits us with Alex – a kickass heroine who has had enough of being pushed around. While I can’t say that I have been in all the situations Alex has been in, I can say that I feel a profound connection to the character. Witnessing her evolution into a resilient protagonist throughout the course of the book is undeniably inspiring.
In the intricate tapestry of Bardugo’s characters, Galaxy Stern emerges as one of the most profound and multifaceted. A title once reserved for Kaz Brekker, Stern’s character carries the weight of intricate layers. Enduring a harrowing past and wielding the power to commune with the Grays, she forges mechanisms to confront her trauma. Bardugo’s meticulous research into trauma responses is palpable within this work, as Alex’s authenticity often blurs the lines between fiction and reality.
Conclusion
Bardugo’s books always have some of the most complicated yet approachable worlds in which you can immerse yourself. Ninth House exemplifies this tradition. From the vast campus of Yale, to the overarching story of a murder and the mysterious nine houses in which Yale sprang up, the story is woven in a way that you never find yourself asking more. Each piece of the puzzle is presented to you with background on the history of Yale, making this complex work bite-sized and manageable.
In summation, if an affinity for the darker shades of literature, and the vibes of dark academia are your home, Ninth House beckons as an essential read. That being said, Ninth House possesses that rare quality of catering to a diverse readership and should not be overlooked by the average consumer. I believe there is a little bit of Galaxy in all of us.
Bonus Content
Ninth House has some of my favorite quotes out of any text and here are just a few.
“I want to survive this world that keeps trying to destroy me.”
“Peace was like any high. It couldn’t last. It was an illusion, something that could be interrupted in a moment and lost forever.”
“I am a daughter of Lethe, and the wolves are at the door.”
“You couldn’t keep sidling up to death and dipping your toe in. Eventually it grabbed your ankle and tried to pull you under.”
“She’s sealed herself away from the world of the living, for the sake of being free of the dead.”
