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Ninth House

Alex Stern #1 / 4
by Leigh Bardugo
Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo
  ★ 8.38 / 8
1★2★3★4★5★16★27★18★19★310★

The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

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. By age twenty, in fact, 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 elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, ranging from Jodie Foster to George W. Bush. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more supernatural than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

NINTH HOUSE is the long-awaited adult debut by the beloved author of SHADOW AND BONE and CROOKED KINGDOM. Leigh Bardugo will take her place alongside Lev Grossman, Deborah Harkness, and Neil Gaiman as one of the finest practitioners of literary fantasy writing today.

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Standard Shelves
Updated 04/09/2025
Category: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Release date: October 1, 2019

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Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo is a name that echoes through the fantasy world, a master of weaving dark, intricate tales filled with unforgettable characters, high-stakes drama, and worlds where magic is both a gift and a curse. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Los Angeles, Leigh’s journey to becoming one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary fantasy is as fascinating as the worlds she creates. With a background in journalism and a love for storytelling that began at an early age, she has always been captivated by the idea of bending reality, crafting new worlds, and exploring the complexities of human nature—traits that have shaped her unique writing style.

Read more ...

Bardugo’s breakout came with Shadow and Bone, the first book in her Grisha Verse, a series that introduced readers to the captivating, tumultuous world of Ravka and its tangled magic system. The series, which includes Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising, catapulted her into the spotlight, earning praise for its deeply layered characters, morally ambiguous heroes, and a world rich with political intrigue. Yet, what sets Bardugo apart is her ability to explore the grey areas of good and evil. Her protagonists aren’t perfect—they’re flawed, complex, and grappling with their own desires, fears, and weaknesses. And in Bardugo’s world, even the darkest of characters are given room to grow and evolve.

Her follow-up Six of Crows and its sequel Crooked Kingdom took a daring step into the realm of heist fantasy, introducing a ragtag group of outcasts and thieves. These books offered an even deeper dive into character development and elevated Bardugo’s storytelling to new heights, blending action, loyalty, betrayal, and heartache into an unforgettable reading experience. Fans of her work rave about her ability to craft complex plots that keep them on the edge of their seats, all while never losing sight of the emotional core of her characters.

But Bardugo’s creative reach doesn’t stop with her Grisha Verse. Her work extends into the realms of adult fiction with Ninth House, a dark, gothic tale that mixes academia, the occult, and the supernatural. The book explores themes of power, privilege, and self-discovery, pushing boundaries in new and compelling ways. This shift marks her versatility as a writer, ready to push her audience in new directions while still holding true to her roots of lush, evocative storytelling.

Leigh Bardugo’s influence on modern fantasy is undeniable. With a knack for creating worlds that feel real, and characters that feel like friends or foes, her books have earned her a devoted fanbase around the world. Her writing, always layered and nuanced, offers a sense of depth and realism that resonates deeply with readers. When not writing, she’s an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the literary world, ensuring that her stories reflect a wide range of experiences and voices.

One thing is certain: whether in a magical kingdom or a darkened university, Bardugo’s stories are ones that stay with you long after the final page is turned. She has a gift for crafting tales that balance the fantastical with the deeply human, making her a standout voice in the realm of modern fantasy literature.

Alex Stern

In the Alex Stern series, the boundary between life and death is thinner than you think—and for Alex, it’s a line she’s learned to walk.

Set in a world where the supernatural lurks just beneath the surface, Leigh Bardugo’s Alex Stern novels weave a gripping narrative of magic, mystery, and the complicated morality of a universe brimming with secrets. At the heart of the series is Alex, a flawed and fierce young woman with a gift she never asked for: the ability to see ghosts. This extraordinary power thrusts her into a world of hidden societies and arcane secrets, where the line between right and wrong is constantly shifting.

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Bardugo’s world-building in Alex Stern is as lush and atmospheric as it is haunting. From the hallowed halls of Yale to the shadowy corners of the occult, every setting is rich with history and danger. But it's the complex characters that truly bring the story to life. Alex, with her troubled past and her complex relationships, isn’t just a survivor—she’s someone you can’t help but root for, even as she navigates a world that demands impossible choices.

The Alex Stern series is part urban fantasy, part dark academia, and part psychological thriller—seamlessly blending all these elements into a tale that never lets you breathe easy. Bardugo explores themes of power, identity, and the haunting effects of trauma, all while keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn.

If you crave a story that mixes the supernatural with the psychological, the eerie with the emotional, Alex Stern offers a journey that is as darkly mesmerizing as it is unforgettable.


Alex Stern consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Ninth House (Alex Stern #1)
  ★ 8.38 / 8
Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)
  ★ 8.66 / 3
Alex Stern Book 3 (Alex Stern #3)
  ⧗ 9.50 / 20
Alex Stern Book 4 (Alex Stern #4)
  ⧗ 8.00 / 1


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