Ninth House is a dark fantasy horror novel written by author Leigh Bardugo, published by Flatiron Books in October 2019.
 | |
| Author | Leigh Bardugo |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Lauren Fortgang, Michael David Axtell |
| Cover artist | Keith Hayes |
| Language | English |
| Series | Alex Stern |
Release number | 2 |
| Genre | |
| Set in | Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut |
| Publisher | Flatiron Books |
Publication date | October 8, 2019 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 458 |
| ISBN | 1250313074 |
| OCLC | 1114274185 |
| LC Class | PS3602.A775325 N56 2019 |
| Followed by | Hell Bent |
The first in a series, Ninth House was followed by a sequel titled Hell Bent, which was published in January 2023.[1]
Premise
editThe novel follows unlikely Yale University freshman 20-year-old Galaxy "Alex" Stern, a high school drop out and homicide survivor who can see ghosts, called "Grays". Alex is mysteriously offered a full ride to university following her trauma despite her background and lack of qualifications. She attempts to navigate her new life at the Ivy League while tasked by her benefactor with monitoring the eight Houses of the Veil, secret societies that harbor dark occult magic and power, as a member of Lethe, the ninth house.[2][3]
Background
editThe novel is Bardugo's first adult novel and, beyond the fantasy elements, is largely inspired by her time at Yale University.[4] Bardugo first became inspired upon discovering the tombs of Yale's secret societies as she walked down New Haven's Grove Street during her freshman year. When her friend sent her pictures from their time at Yale years later, Bardugo was struck with memories, both pleasant and unpleasant, which inspired her to explore trauma for this novel but also companionship through it.[5] The "ninth house" in the novel is based on the Anderson Mansion, the real-life New Haven headquarters of the Yale secret society Shabtai.
Reception
editAward-winning horror author Stephen King called Ninth House "the best fantasy novel I've read in years, because it's about real people. Bardugo's imaginative reach is brilliant, and this story―full of shocks and twists―is impossible to put down." It also received endorsements from fellow authors Lev Grossman, Kelly Link, Joe Hill, and Charlaine Harris.[6]
Accolades
edit| Year | Publication | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Amazon | Amazon's Best Books of 2019 List | 18 | [7] |
| Book Riot | The best books of 2019 | — | [8] | |
| NPR | NPR's Favorite Books of 2019 | — | [9] | |
| Parade | The 25 Best Books of 2019 | — | [10] | |
| Paste | The 19 Best Novels of 2019 | 9 | [11] | |
| The Top 19 Best Audiobooks of 2019 | — | [12] | ||
| Time | The 100 Must Read Books of 2019 | — | [13] | |
| Tor | The Best Books of 2019 | — | [14] | |
| USA Today | Best books of 2019 | — | [15] | |
| Vox | Best of 2019: the 15 best books we read this year | — | [16] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Audie Award | Fantasy | Shortlisted | [17] |
| Dragon Awards | Fantasy Novel | Shortlisted | [18] | |
| Goodreads Choice Awards | Fantasy | Won | [19] | |
| Locus Award | Fantasy Novel | Nominated | [20] |
Controversy
editThe book has been banned in Escambia County, Florida,[21] and Frisco Independent School District, Texas.[22][23]
Adaptation
editOn October 10, 2019, two days after the novel's release, it was announced Amazon Studios would adapt Ninth House as a TV series. Leigh Bardugo is set to executive produce the project alongside Pouya Shahbazian.[24]
References
edit- ^ Romano, Nick (12 December 2022). "Hell Bent? Hell yes! Read a chapter from Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House sequel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Grady, Constance (October 11, 2019). "Leigh Bardugo turns Yale into a haunted, haunting fantasy world in Ninth House". Vox. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Sheehan, Jason (October 6, 2019). "'Ninth House' Keeps Watch Over Bloody Mysteries". NPR. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Lindem, Vicki (October 8, 2019). "Stephen King Calls 'Ninth House' "the Best Fantasy I've Read in Years"". Book Bub. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ Romanoff, Zan (October 9, 2019). "Leigh Bardugo Wants 'Ninth House' To "F*ck You Up A Little"". Bustle. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ "Ninth House: Leigh Bardugo, Flatiron Books". Macmillan. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Natale, Nicol (November 15, 2019). "Amazon's Best Books of 2019 List is Here—and Some are on Sale". Prevention. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "the best books of 2019". Book Riot. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "NPR's Favorite Books of 2019". Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Ashley (11 December 2019). "We're Calling It Right Now—These Are the 25 Best Books of 2019". Parade. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Jackson et all, Frannie. "The 19 Best Novels of 2019". Paste. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Gunderson, Alexis (December 9, 2019). "The Top 19 Best Audiobooks of 2019". Paste. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "Must Read Books of 2019". Time. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Alex (18 November 2019). "Reviewers' Choice: The Best Books of 2019". Tor. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ "Best books of 2019: What USA TODAY's critics loved reading". December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Grady, Constance (December 6, 2019). "Best of 2019: the 15 best books we read this year". Vox. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Audie Awards Finalists Named". Publishers Weekly. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ "Dragon Awards 2020". sfadb. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ K.W. Colyard (December 10, 2019). "The 19 Books That Won Goodreads This Year". Bustle. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ https://pen.org/escambia-county-florida-banned-books-list/
- ^ https://pen.org/book-bans/2023-banned-book-list/
- ^ https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/list-of-texas-banned-books-shows-state-has-most-in-us-17480532
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 10, 2019). "Grishaverse Author's 'Ninth House' Novel To Be Developed As TV Series By Amazon Studios". Deadline. Retrieved November 1, 2019.