Ninth House

Here's the book club pick for August, and I found it to be much better than the last two picks ([b:Planetfall 24237785 Planetfall (Planetfall, #1) Emma Newman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424627926l/24237785.SX50.jpg 43823353], [b:Fourth Wing 61431922 Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) Rebecca Yarros https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666994927l/61431922.SY75.jpg 96945623]). Ninth House is a masterfully written piece of Dark Academia/Urban Fantasy, it's also a multilayered ode or dirge to Yale- I'm not sure exactly how to take it. If you like that spooky girl shit this will be right up your alley, and if you like the Dresden Files well congrats because this is very similar (with less misogyny and a tighter plot to boot). Also right at the top here's your mature content warning: This book has some pretty visceral scenes of sexual violence/rape/date rape, it's not in there for no reason but it will make your skin crawl.Ninth House is set in the modern day and is about Galaxy “Alex” Stern, a girl who possesses the ability to see ghosts and is granted a full scholarship to attend Yale and become the Dante of Lethe. her job? To monitor the activities of its secret societies. You heard it right, Yale is Hogwarts, the secret societies that pump out modern-day elites? Magic. Definitely not nepotism or the hidden mechanisms of an Oligarchy.I found the pacing to be excellent, there's a good mix of suspenseful fast-paced sections and slower contemplative passages that Bardugo uses to fill us in on the workings of Lethe and Yale. I loved those quick sections they have that “just one more page” quality that all the best books have. On the other hand, the slow sections do kind of drag as we get the intricate details of the magical world and secret societies. While these moments might slow down the overall narrative pace, they contribute to a richer understanding of the characters and the complex dynamics at play. I can see other readers disagreeing on pacing, particularly if they are more invested in the action and suspense.I didn't get a ton out of the prose or the writing for this one, it read neutral to me. I guess atmospheric is a good word to describe the vibe here, Bardugo pays careful attention to the world-building and tries her best to fill the air with mystery. I think I'd have been more impressed if I'd read this before I read The Dresden Files.I think I would have put this book down if it had just been a 1:1 Yale is Hogwarts kind of a story, but thankfully it isn't. Ninth House is a very complex, very aware kind of story; it trades in magic and mystery but it's careful to include a particular focus on power, privilege, and the weight of one's actions. The best books reflect the real world in their subject matter and Ninth House does a great job on that front. The world of secret societies serves as a metaphor for the unchecked privilege and entitlement that can permeate certain (cough Elite cough) spheres of society. The members of these societies often come from privileged backgrounds, and their actions are shielded from consequences due to their status. In the real world, the secret societies at Yale wield immense influence and authority, creating a microcosm where power struggles are often concealed beneath a veneer of tradition and exclusivity. I don't think the layman knows just how much power originates from Yale, take a look at how many Yale grads wind up running the country. This dynamic is paralleled in the magical world, where different characters possess varying degrees of supernatural power, leading to questions about control, exploitation, and responsibility. I really resonated with this lens that the Ninth House views its world through, it asks all the right questions and it's enormously satisfying to see someone holding the elites responsible (even if it's just fiction). The story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the importance of critically examining the systems and structures that govern society.I can't pinpoint exactly what kept this from earning 5 stars for me. I found myself reading this book and enjoying it but constantly waiting for it to lock me in the way [b:Babel: An Arcane History 57945316 Babel An Arcane History R.F. Kuang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677361825l/57945316.SY75.jpg 90789229] did, but I made it to the back cover without ever fully connecting with this story. From my perspective Dark Academia is a touchy subject, it's been done to perfection so many times that a new entry in the genre has a very hard time distinguishing itself. As much as I loved Alex taking the privileged students of Yale to task, the college setting didn't do much for me; I think that the unique elements of this book would resonate with a slightly younger audience. TL;DR: Yale is Hogwarts, and Harry is an ex-junkie who sees ghosts. If you've ever wanted to cave Jared Kushner's skull in with a marble bust and you liked the Dresden Files this might be exactly what you are looking for.