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Ninth House

By: Leigh Bardugo
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang, Michael David Axtell
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Publisher's summary

From the author of Shadow and Bone, now a hit NETFLIX series.

The smash New York Times bestseller from Leigh Bardugo, a mesmerizing tale of power, privilege, and dark magic set among the Ivy League elite. This program includes a bonus conversation with the author.

"The best fantasy novel I’ve read in years, because it’s about real people.... Impossible to put down."—Stephen King

"Bardugo’s latest is a must-listen, introducing a haunting, Yale-based occult world populated with gloriously complicated characters.... A win-win-win, honestly."—Paste, best audiobooks of 2019

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. In fact, by age twenty, 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 prestigious universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. Their eight windowless “tombs” are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street’s biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2019 Leigh Bardugo (P)2019 Macmillan Audio
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Critic reviews

2019, Goodreads Choice Awards, Winner

2019, NPR Best Book of the Year, Long-listed

2019, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2019, NYPL Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2020, Locus Awards, Short-listed

"Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House rocked my world. I could not get enough of sinewy, ghost-haunted Alex Stern, a heroine for the ages. With a bruised heart and bleeding knuckles, she risks death and damnation—again and again—for the people she cares about. I was cheering her on the whole way: from the first brilliant sentence of this book to the last. More, please, Ms. Bardugo." (Joe Hill, New York Times best-selling author of NOS4A2)

"Ninth House is the best thing I’ve read in a long time. There’s so much magic here that you'll begin to feel it seeping into the room around you as you read, and characters so real you ’ll practically hear their voices in your ear. Leigh Bardugo has written a book so delicious, so twisty, and so immersive I wouldn’t blame you for taking the day off to finish it." (Kelly Link, author of Magic for Beginners and Get in Trouble)

Featured Article: Get Lost in the Drama and Intrigue of Dark Academia


Both an aesthetic and a subgenre of fiction, dark academia explores morally gray characters with impious or evil intentions set against the backdrop of beautiful, hallowed, and unsettling boarding schools and university campuses. The dark academia subgenre encompasses everything from murder mysteries to horror and fantasy, so there's a little something in it for everyone. From angst-filled fiction to brooding novels, we've rounded up the very best listens.

What listeners say about Ninth House

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This book reminded me why I love reading

I picked this book up on a bit of a whim...and I was absolutely blown away. I was *riveted* by the conceit, the characters, the plot. Everything. Even as an avid reader, I had gone a long time without reading a book that kept me up into the wee hours of the morning and made me grumpy when I couldn't listen to it, and then again when I finished it because I was sad it was over. I had never read any Leigh Bardugo before Ninth House, but now I'm working my way through her entire body of work. She *never* disappoints. Even if occult fantasy isn't entirely your thing, I promise that you'll get completely wrapped up in Bardugo's impeccable talent for storytelling. Lauren Fortgang is also a phenomenal reader, perfectly suited for this book. Definitely check it out!

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6 people found this helpful

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Outstanding

I have not read the original Grishaverse trilogy. I was introduced to Bardugo through the Six of Crows duology. I read a lot of fantasy, sci-fi, and murder mysteries. For me, this book was a perfect blend of murder mystery and fantasy. I did not find the timeline of the story confusing as some other listeners apparently have. I thought Ms Fortang did a fantastic job with the narration.

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3 people found this helpful

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Absolutely loved!

Wow. I can’t say enough about this. I loved the world building, the characters, the magic, the mystery, and the way Leigh SLAYS her first adult novel. I can’t wait for the second book!

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3 people found this helpful

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LOVE

I agree that the beginning of the book is somewhat confusing , and a little hard to get into , BUT STICK WITH IT! it gets sooo good. I felt completely enchanted by this book. It’s dark, it’s well written. I loved the characters and I can’t wait for the sequel!

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1 person found this helpful

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Slow but good

This book starts out SUPER SLOW. It eventually picks up and gets better and better. I am happy I did not stop reading it, as it turned out to be a really good book!

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such a different book for the author

this book was such an incredible read and listen! the story takes you places you dont expect and now I cant wait for the sequel!

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Delightful

I love fantasy, especially modern dark fantasy, but struggle to find that outside of a "young adult" category. This book really filled that void for me. It starts off with such an intensely interesting chapter that I bought it immediately after reading 3 pages at a Barnes and Noble. It's very good at toeing the line of fantasy just enough to make it fun and entertaining but still felt firmly rooted in a realistic world. The main character is flawed and relatable. The plot was a delightful mystery that intensified as you read and built a really fascinating world. It deals with typical college issues but that fantasy element allows it to take an interesting turn. If you read a lot of fantasy as a teen and struggled to find something at a more adult level, then I highly recommend this read.

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Very good!

The book starts bit heavy and then sinks to the opposite side of speed, but comes out very thrilling 'Harry Potter as an undergrad' type of a story. The setting and the magical universe has some flaws but not big enough to break the suspension of disbelief.

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A fun and exhausting ride

Now this is a fun New world to be introduced into. This book reminds me of early Charlaine Harris books where you were exhausted but couldn't wait until the next one.

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Spooky and timely read

Great story that keeps you enthralled. The narration was also great and dramatic at the right time.

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