Ninth House
2019 fantasy novel by Leigh Bardugo
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Ninth House is a dark fantasy horror novel written by author Leigh Bardugo, published by Flatiron Books in October 2019. The novel follows Galaxy "Alex" Stern, a 20-year-old high school dropout and trauma survivor who can see ghosts, is surprisingly offered a full ride to Yale. Recruited into Lethe, the ninth house, she must monitor the eight secret societies that practice dangerous occult magic.[1][2]
- Lauren Fortgang
- Michael David Axtell
| |
| Author | Leigh Bardugo |
|---|---|
| Audio read by |
|
| Cover artist | Keith Hayes |
| Language | English |
| Series | Alex Stern |
Release number | 1 |
| 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.[3]
Background
The 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.
Synopsis
Reception
Award-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
| Year | Publication | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Amazon | Amazon's Best Books of 2019 List | 18 | [7] |
| Book Riot | The best books of 2019 | N/a | [8] | |
| NPR | NPR's Favorite Books of 2019 | N/a | [9] | |
| Parade | The 25 Best Books of 2019 | N/a | [10] | |
| Paste | The 19 Best Novels of 2019 | 9 | [11] | |
| The Top 19 Best Audiobooks of 2019 | N/a | [12] | ||
| Time | The 100 Must Read Books of 2019 | N/a | [13] | |
| Tor | The Best Books of 2019 | N/a | [14] | |
| USA Today | Best books of 2019 | N/a | [15] | |
| Vox | Best of 2019: the 15 best books we read this year | N/a | [16] | |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Shirley Jackson Award | Novel | Nominated | [17] |
| 2020 | Audie Award | Fantasy | Shortlisted | [18] |
| Dragon Awards | Fantasy Novel | Nominated | [19] | |
| Goodreads Choice Awards | Fantasy | Won | [20] | |
| Locus Award | Fantasy Novel | Finalist | [21] |
Adaptation
On 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.[22]