The dark underbelly of elitism - Ninth House: Book Review #3
Fantasy meets dark academia
“That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you'd been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.”
-Leigh Bardugo, Ninth House
Ninth House provides sharp commentary on the cycle of drug abuse, inequality, patriarchy, and elitism. The book follows Alex at Yale University, embroiled in a murder mystery. By focusing on an ‘outsider’, the book shines a light on the dark underbelly of elitism, reminiscent of ‘The Secret History’ or ‘If we were villains’.
“I want to survive this world that keeps trying to destroy me.”
With a violent past, Alex has been given a second chance at life by Lethe - the ‘Ninth House’, an authority at Yale that looks over the activities of the rest of the secret societies which indulge in dark arts and magic. Their actions often impinge on the life of innocent bystanders failed by a system that only cares for the privileged few. It raises concerns about socio-political injustices, challenging us to consider who we disregard, who we place our faith in, and who we disappoint as a collective society.
“You couldn’t keep sidling up to death and dipping your toe in. Eventually it grabbed your ankle and tried to pull you under.”
Lethe’s offer to Alex to restart her life after a debilitating tragedy is not based on charity but her ability to see ghosts. The intricate depictions of the magic system and the aesthetic of academic pursuit serve as a detailed backdrop for discussions about the mysteries beyond our world. Living in survival mode and not being believed in hardens Alex - she is more than what meets the eye.
“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.”
As she decides to pursue the murder case of another girl on campus - one that Alex is able to relate to for being on the fringes of society, the themes of victim blaming, gaslighting, and abuse of power are brought to the forefront. Whether it is an attempt at her life or gendered violence, Alex is made to feel like she is at fault. The power of solidarity and female friendships is highlighted through her friend’s strong objection to such accusations, or Alex’s act of revenge against her friends’ attackers.
“Would it have mattered if she’d been someone else? If she’d been a social butterfly, they would have said she liked to drink away her pain. If she’d been a straight-A student, they would have said she’d been eaten alive by her perfectionism. There were always excuses for why girls died.”
Since the author has graduated from Yale University, her familiarity with the novel's background and setting shines through every page. A clarion call for accountability, Ninth House is a unique delight for dark academia and fantasy fans. I recommend it for rainy nights when you feel like exploring the folds of dark magic in a prestigious university.
“He could never shake the thought that he was seeing only one world when there might be many, that there were lost places, maybe even lost people who might come to life for him if he just squinted hard enough or found the right magic words. Books, with their promises of enchanted doorways and secret places, only made it worse.”
Rating- 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️
Year of publishing- 2019
Year of reading- 2023
Genre- Fantasy, Dark academia
Sequel- Hell Bent