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Cover of Ninth House

Fantasy · Horror

Ninth House

by Leigh Bardugo

4.1 out of 5, from 1,134 ratings from Hardcover readers

A young woman with a history of trauma is offered a place at Yale on the condition that she monitors the university's secret societies, whose rituals involve real, dangerous magic. When a girl is found dead, she has to work out what happened.

Facts last checked 2026-10-16

First published
2019
Pace
Slow
Length
Long
Pages
480
Format
Book 1 of 3 in Ninth House
Borrow free with Libby Compare prices Save to my shelf

Read this if you want a grim, adult dark-academia fantasy with a gripping mystery and a fiercely damaged heroine.

Skip this if you are sensitive to sexual violence and drug abuse, which are both depicted frankly.

The feel

Content warnings

  • Sexual assault
  • Violence
  • Addiction
  • Death
  • Gore

Also reported by Hardcover readers:

  • Rape
  • Murder
  • Drug abuse
  • Drug use
  • Excrement
  • Blood
  • Injury/Injury detail
  • Sexual violence

Quick answers about Ninth House

What is Ninth House about?
A young woman with a history of trauma is offered a place at Yale on the condition that she monitors the university's secret societies, whose rituals involve real, dangerous magic. When a girl is found dead, she has to work out what happened.
Who should read Ninth House?
Read it if you want a grim, adult dark-academia fantasy with a gripping mystery and a fiercely damaged heroine. Skip it if you are sensitive to sexual violence and drug abuse, which are both depicted frankly.
How long and how fast is Ninth House?
It is a slow-paced, long read of about 480 pages, first published in 2019.
Does Ninth House have content warnings?
Content we flag: Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Death, Gore.
Can I borrow Ninth House for free?
Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Ninth House; the borrow button above searches it for you.
What should I read after Ninth House?
Readers who liked it often move on to The Secret History, Six of Crows, House of Earth and Blood.

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