You nailed it exactly. I really appreciated spending time in a world with someone who had been through a lot of trauma and come out of it both empowered and still injured. Trauma doesn't make you stronger but it can show you how strong you're able to be. Alex demonstrated that so so well. I'm also eh about Darlington 👍
I love hearing your take on this one! I was in the "love it" camp, but I can definitely see why people didn't like it or fell in the middle on this one.
I had no idea Ninth House is the first of a series! For some reason I was convinced it's a standalone, haha. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I want to read it because all of the trigger warnings do make me a little apprehensive. I do love your review, though, and it's definitely made me a bit more intrigued!
Loved the review! I actually finished Ninth House for the first time a couple months ago and was pretty obsessed lol. The interesting thing is that I started it last year when it came out and got very far into it before I ended up DNFing, and back then I didn’t hate it but I just wasn’t feeling it. I think this time around I was more in the mindset for it, and it might have even helped that I knew what to expect for most of it. I think one aspect that really got me this time was the supportive female friendships in it-I mean, I do wish more of the side characters were fleshed out, but I was struck by how relieved I was that not one of Alex’s female friends (Dawes included) ended up getting in her way or turning on her, which I feel like I’m too used to happening in books with a female protagonist. Aside from that I kind of just dug the whole atmosphere of the book. I’m looking forward to watching your vlog for some more spoilers takes!
This was such an in depth review! I’ll definitely be picking it up now because even though you didn’t give it the highest of ratings I’m really interested to see how the story progresses
I agree with pretty much everything you said here. I gave it 5 stars though. I loved it. The slowness in the beginning didn't bother me anymore once I got to the end, because I feel like it all had a purpose. Definitely incredibly intriguing! I can't wait for the next book!
What was that Stephen King quote? “You don’t get scared of monsters; you get scared for people.” I think that has something to with us being a bit more comfortable with Alex. She has a handle on her situation and that helps us experience the world without the sheer terror that could have come along with it.
I really enjoyed Ninth House. I have only read 1 other book by Bardugo though, Shadow and Bone, and didn't love it so I went in with lower expectations. I am quite excited for the next book but it'll probably take forever to come out lol
Thanks for this video Sam, I’ve been wanting to get this book, especially since it’s now in paperback and from your videos we have similar taste in books.
This wasn't as creepy as I wanted it to be 😅 other people may disagree, but I wanted MORE magic, and I wasn't a fan of the "murder mystery" but it was fair!
I did audiobook and it made Alex unlikable for me. The voice for her was petulant and I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. At the end, it seemed a bit anticlimactic. I didn't like it enough to care about anything in future books. To each their own, it wasn't one I'd recommend to friends.
Hi 😁 um I commented on a video the other day about Where Dreams Descend and just wanted to let you know that I sent you a DM on Twitter about it 😇 love your videos!!! 😍
I genuinely don't get the concept of trigger warnings for novels. Its not like film where you can't really stop the process when you start getting triggered by something, with books the second you feel off about a segment of it, you can put it down and skip a few pages.
some people want to skip a book entirely if it has that content. plus with this book especially, it's really not avoidable. it's a central part of the plot. so if that triggers someone, they really can't read this book. if you don't need trigger warnings, that's cool, then they aren't for you.
Darlington definitely reads as just yet another classic pretty white dude, but did I fall for it? Maybe. I think for me the issue for me is the characters, no one is ever really fleshed out well aside from Alex which makes everyone who does things feel like machinations of LB from above rather than something I could really fell these characters doing based upon who we’d come to understand them to be. I also thought the jumping point for the story was really weak, it never feels like Alex has a reason to care other than we need her to so a story can exist. Other than that the plot is super interesting and I’m interested to see where it goes.
How much of the book is composed of sexual violence? That’s typically a red flag for me as I really really hate “assault for character growth” tropes. That being said, a ton of positive reviews don’t even mention sexual assault so I’m wondering how large a role that content plays into the story?
omg I'm shocked they don't mention it because it's a major part of the story. I wouldn't say its "assault for character growth", more about background on how Alex's life has been since being able to see ghosts. There is on page rape in two separate parts of the book.
No such thing as triggers that is a worth for this new soft PC society that we live in today in reality we all have lived through very horrible ish in life the strong move on the weak get on drugs cry to shrinks and die as junkies
You nailed it exactly. I really appreciated spending time in a world with someone who had been through a lot of trauma and come out of it both empowered and still injured. Trauma doesn't make you stronger but it can show you how strong you're able to be. Alex demonstrated that so so well.
I'm also eh about Darlington 👍
yeah, I really liked the mundanity of the villains in this book. They weren't trying to take over the world they just wanted very regular things.
I love hearing your take on this one! I was in the "love it" camp, but I can definitely see why people didn't like it or fell in the middle on this one.
This was a really well done review! Once I get through the Grishaverse books I definitely want to try Ninth House.
I had no idea Ninth House is the first of a series! For some reason I was convinced it's a standalone, haha. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I want to read it because all of the trigger warnings do make me a little apprehensive. I do love your review, though, and it's definitely made me a bit more intrigued!
Loved the review! I actually finished Ninth House for the first time a couple months ago and was pretty obsessed lol. The interesting thing is that I started it last year when it came out and got very far into it before I ended up DNFing, and back then I didn’t hate it but I just wasn’t feeling it. I think this time around I was more in the mindset for it, and it might have even helped that I knew what to expect for most of it. I think one aspect that really got me this time was the supportive female friendships in it-I mean, I do wish more of the side characters were fleshed out, but I was struck by how relieved I was that not one of Alex’s female friends (Dawes included) ended up getting in her way or turning on her, which I feel like I’m too used to happening in books with a female protagonist. Aside from that I kind of just dug the whole atmosphere of the book. I’m looking forward to watching your vlog for some more spoilers takes!
This was such an in depth review! I’ll definitely be picking it up now because even though you didn’t give it the highest of ratings I’m really interested to see how the story progresses
I agree with pretty much everything you said here. I gave it 5 stars though. I loved it. The slowness in the beginning didn't bother me anymore once I got to the end, because I feel like it all had a purpose. Definitely incredibly intriguing! I can't wait for the next book!
Love the review. This book was one of my faves of 2020. I know it got dark but Leigh made it work so well.
Omg the blue and black cover is breathtaking
What was that Stephen King quote? “You don’t get scared of monsters; you get scared for people.” I think that has something to with us being a bit more comfortable with Alex. She has a handle on her situation and that helps us experience the world without the sheer terror that could have come along with it.
yes agreed!
I really enjoyed Ninth House. I have only read 1 other book by Bardugo though, Shadow and Bone, and didn't love it so I went in with lower expectations. I am quite excited for the next book but it'll probably take forever to come out lol
Thanks for this video Sam, I’ve been wanting to get this book, especially since it’s now in paperback and from your videos we have similar taste in books.
This wasn't as creepy as I wanted it to be 😅 other people may disagree, but I wanted MORE magic, and I wasn't a fan of the "murder mystery" but it was fair!
I'm mid way through and I'm on the fence still, I agree it takes a while to get going. Always love your reviews thanks!
I just got this book a couple days ago and can’t wait to get to it! Definitely want to read it while I’m still in a decent mindset!
I liked this book. I creeped me out. But it also kinda remind me of Buffy.
I can see that!
Magic society sounds interesting! Could you please review the AllatRa book? There’re some interesting things disclosed on magic
I did audiobook and it made Alex unlikable for me. The voice for her was petulant and I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. At the end, it seemed a bit anticlimactic. I didn't like it enough to care about anything in future books. To each their own, it wasn't one I'd recommend to friends.
Hi 😁 um I commented on a video the other day about Where Dreams Descend and just wanted to let you know that I sent you a DM on Twitter about it 😇 love your videos!!! 😍
I'm so glad you decided to give Ninth House a chance and enjoyed it. I absolutely love this book and need book 2 asap. I gave it a 5 star rating
is there romance? no spoiler plz
@@Lin-jt7zz no there isn't really a romance in Ninth House
@@nicoleeverett1696 thanks, i really needed that
@@Lin-jt7zz there are hints of some that may come to light in the next book but no romance as a side plot in book 1
Paused at 30 seconds and was searching for it on Goodreads 😂
Say no more Sam!
I genuinely don't get the concept of trigger warnings for novels. Its not like film where you can't really stop the process when you start getting triggered by something, with books the second you feel off about a segment of it, you can put it down and skip a few pages.
some people want to skip a book entirely if it has that content. plus with this book especially, it's really not avoidable. it's a central part of the plot. so if that triggers someone, they really can't read this book. if you don't need trigger warnings, that's cool, then they aren't for you.
Is that the mass paperback edition?
Darlington definitely reads as just yet another classic pretty white dude, but did I fall for it? Maybe. I think for me the issue for me is the characters, no one is ever really fleshed out well aside from Alex which makes everyone who does things feel like machinations of LB from above rather than something I could really fell these characters doing based upon who we’d come to understand them to be. I also thought the jumping point for the story was really weak, it never feels like Alex has a reason to care other than we need her to so a story can exist. Other than that the plot is super interesting and I’m interested to see where it goes.
Great review!
How much of the book is composed of sexual violence? That’s typically a red flag for me as I really really hate “assault for character growth” tropes. That being said, a ton of positive reviews don’t even mention sexual assault so I’m wondering how large a role that content plays into the story?
omg I'm shocked they don't mention it because it's a major part of the story. I wouldn't say its "assault for character growth", more about background on how Alex's life has been since being able to see ghosts. There is on page rape in two separate parts of the book.
No such thing as triggers that is a worth for this new soft PC society that we live in today in reality we all have lived through very horrible ish in life the strong move on the weak get on drugs cry to shrinks and die as junkies
"spoiler free"... tells me all of the "triggers" :P
triggers aren't spoilers my guy
Hi Sam, is the sexual assault on page? I usually cannot handle that
Yes, it is, sorry!
Yes and it’s graphic
So excited for you reading these books, this one, and Gideon :) nice to know that you enjoy them, too 👍🏻