ninth house is a hot mess | one star review [CC]

[CC] I started with 45 minutes of FEELINGS so hopefully I've edited this book review down into something still understandable.
Books Mentioned:
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads: / ninth-house
Channels Mentioned:
Deboki: / okidokiboki
Jocelyn: / @yogiwithabook
Want to hear me talk about more media? Check out Snark Squad Pod: / snarksquad
All Book Depository links are affiliate links!
▶︎ Editing Services: www.mynameismarines.com/services/
▶︎ Review Policy: www.mynameismarines.com/review...
▶︎ Contact: www.mynameismarines.com/contac...
▶︎▶︎ If this content was valuable to you, here are some additional ways to support me! This helps me continue to produce videos and I really appreciate it. Plus, supporting things you like is COOL.
ko-fi: ko-fi.com/mynameismarines
patreon: / mynameismarines
book depository: www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid... ◀︎◀︎
---
/ mynameismarines
/ mynameismarines
snarksquad.com
snarksquad.com/pod
Song: Scenes from the Zoo by Jahzzar
Channel art and end screen made by the wonderfully talented Nicole Sweeney: / sweeneysays

[@theothermorgan]

Women weren't admitted to Yale until 1969. As up the ass of the university as Bardugo appears to be about Yale, you'd think an important fact like that wouldn't have escaped her notice. But women are responsible for the evil that happens there in her book from time immemorial? That's pretty sickening.

[@VickiWeavil]

All these "popular" books that don't really "start" until after hundreds of pages... What is that all about? Most people trying to get a publishing deal would have their manuscript thrown in the trash if nothing happens in the first FIVE pages.

[@fallingforfiction8507]

I didn't really like Ninth House, but tbh I think that is a little unfair. These normed expectations are not a guarantee for a good book or really do anything to weed out the bad ones - in fact, personally, I really dislike a rushed story and this tendency to dive right in rather than set a mood and introduce us to the world is one of the reasons why I actually started to prefer the classics because they don't bend and shape their entire story according to some publishing idea cookie cutter.

[@israaalkatip9881]

Before I watch.. I don't really know the book and I most likely won't read it, but I really like you and I want to listen to you talk.

[@mynameismarines]

This is too nice, I can't.

[@yapdog]

Agreed. Sometimes, I actually listen to her (and Sam) while I code.

[@danielleivy8180]

@@yapdog Also listening while I code.... :D

[@yapdog]

@@danielleivy8180 Coolness😎! What kind of programming? Webdev?

[@danielleivy8180]

@@yapdog Yep, today it's webdev. Next project is computer vision out in the wild. 😄

[@laurenbrown2150]

Wow wow wow! I so appreciate your thoughtful commentary about this book and the way race and class was handled. Not only does it help me look at other books with a more critical lens but it also helps me evaluate my own writing. Thank you and feel free to keep yelling 😉

[@cassianladue9493]

I really like your background in this video! Something about it really grabs me. I think it’s just simple, yet still fun and pretty because the books are colorful and beautiful. Also I’m always here for your one-star reviews. Idk why but I just love them 😂😍🥰

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you! A little, low key goal of mine is to use more of my apartment and switch up the recording background a little. The shelves will be back, but a little variety seems like a fun way to get myself a bit out of the box.

[@BEATRIIIZOLAAA]

The most eloquent KZbinr out there. Your review videos are always my favourite 🥰

[@mynameismarines]

This is too nice, thank you! 💖

[@lyreandcampfire]

Finally, someone that does a good, lengthy, well thought review! I'm still going to read this book lol, but it's so nice to find a Booktuber who says they don't like a book and goes the extra mile to share all their thoughts on it (and in a calm manner too!). I love it! New subscriber, for sure 🤗

[@okidokiboki]

lol i've been waiting for this, very happy to relive the magic of the emails in video form. I don't know if I have suggestions for books that tackle these themes better, but that's mostly because 9th house has sent me into a tailspin of reassessing every book that I used to think of in those terms and trying to figure out whether they actually do live up to their attempted messaging (also I filmed a very short discussion of 9th house for a tag that i still need to edit, and I think my bloopers are very similar)

[@mynameismarines]

I know. This happens to me all the time. It's like a certain experience of a piece of media opens my eyes to certain issues and if they are really flagrant, I start wondering if I missed these things elsewhere! And the answer is almost certainly YES because this is learning and growing and being a human but also AHHHHH. Please edit, would like to see Ninth House frustration.

[@moustik31]

Videos like these are why I always try to have BIPOC reviews of mainstream popular books. If I dont, I feel lonely, isolated and excluded in my impressions and ratings. It really sounds, like Leigh Bardugo didnt do her research in a time where internet would have made it VERY easy to do. And as always, you are very gifted with words and help me better understand my own feelings.

[@Bibliofilth]

I genuinely kept forgetting about Alex's background and personal history while reading because it has 0 impact on her at all. In fact all of the characters really just feel like they're skimming the surface of their own lives. I wonder if that's another reason why Darlington is so popular with fans, because he's the only thing that Alex seems to have any passion for. She just seems to be existing and randomly deciding to get involved in things. Ultimately Alex's issues with the societies have nothing to do with the systemic abuse of power or exploitation of other people, instead it's just when they kind of get in her way and she finds them annoying. I made it to page 350 before DNF'ing and I was so bored out of my mind because it was just Alex passionlessly recounting things that had happened to her like she was reading a Wikipedia article. Scratch that, it was like her reading the table of contents of a Wikipedia article every 5 pages, until she finally read the full article more than halfway through the book.

[@Jessly88]

I was really bored around page 70. This review made me feel a lot better for setting it aside. Unfortunately, I don't think this book is for me either.

[@mynameismarines]

Everyone told me it was gonna get better but you were right to set it aside if you were bored at page 70. Spoiler: IT DOESN'T GET BETTER.

[@jaimeerindy4573]

"Bardugo brings this stuff up and then somehow manages to not talk about these things". YES. I feel like this can sum up the whole book. I think this book is almost entirely focused on the wrong things. Whether it's plot, characters, social issues -- all of them miss terribly because Bardugo is more concerned with telling her murder mystery, which was boring to start with and even worse when it ends. Ya I really didn't like this book.

[@bookshelfhoney]

You're so insightful and you inspire me to read more! Also your voice is lovely ❤️

[@Anna-th6wr]

Thank you for making me not feel like a crazy person for how bad I thought this book was! I could not agree more with your sentiments.

[@meltotheany]

me on repeat forever: this community doesn't deserve you. i love this review so much, marines. 💖xx

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for this, and for sharing on Insta, and for being your amazing-self 🥰

[@RedtsunamiTed]

I missed this video of your when it came out by can I just say something? You have a GREAT voice. I listen to you on headphones and you are so smooth sounding. Thank you for that!

[@thelitaddict]

I absolutely love your reviews! They’re so in-depth and eloquent and really make me think more about why I like or dislike something in a book. Great video!

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear I get my points across clearly. Thank you for watching!

[@amykruse6887]

You voiced so much of what I was thinking while reading this book. I won't likely pick up Bardugo again.

[@y.m.2504]

i havent read the book but this review taught me SO MUCH about reading (critically?) and how to ask myself questions to try to find out what stories might be saying + how to look at books from different angles. thank you, you brilliant mind!

[@mynameismarines]

This is such a big compliment! THANK YOU. I'm so happy that you felt this was useful. 😭

[@RachelRae]

I DNF’d this book pretty quickly. I wasn’t invested in the story and the magic system seemed super corny. Your points though! Glad I didn’t finish this. Great analysis!

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you! I know it's kind of obvious, but I think you did the right thing DNF'ing lol. I found that all the stuff I didn't like about it at the beginning of the book were true for the duration.

[@sometimessemhar]

So I just finished the book today and had a lot of good and confused feelings for it. A real mixed bag lol. Watching this really helped me clarify what I was feeling and even helped me realize some plot issues I hadnt noticed since it's my first time reading a book catogorized as "adult" as well. Thank you! Keep doing what you do!!

[@nootnewt9323]

I also met her on tour for Ninth House and was so disappointed with how uninterested I was. Maybe she just lucked out with six of crows because I thought the grisha trilogy wasn’t that great, it was fine and readable but I don’t think it’s worth the hype. I do however adore six of crows. THAT should have been an adult book.

[@mynameismarines]

That should've been an adult book!!!! I truly don't understand why those characters were the ages they were but alas.

[@gerchiaolifant5176]

I didn't want to watch this because the book was on my tbr pile but I'm so glad I did. Thank you for the wonderfully informative review. You're so eloquent.

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you! I hope I didn't ruin anything for you lol. :)

[@gerchiaolifant5176]

@@mynameismarines oh God no, you didn't. Leigh Bardugo has been hit and miss for me too. I haven't even read the second book of Six of Crows. I only continue giving the books a chance because of my serious F.O.M.O. So it's all good. I'll probably still give a chance though, just to glean my own thoughts lol.

[@mynameismarines]

@@gerchiaolifant5176 omg, I was replying to other comments and literally said that I still think about finishing S&B because of FOMO. It's so real. And my brain thinks "maybe it gets much better because everyone likes it?" And I feel that. Especially with a book that lots and lots of people love, there is always a chance that you will too!

[@beverlybean3597]

Ah thank you for your review and putting into words what I couldn't! This is a book group book so I really thought I could/should finish it. Then I said to myself, what the heck I'm reading spoilers and watching reviews cause I just don't think this is gonna get better. And it really really isn't going to get better haha. Not planning to finish this book and am stopping right around page 200.

[@saran5307]

Just finished this book and you perfectly articulated and validated ALL of my feelings on it. Bless.

[@Sad.Purple.unicorn]

I agree with you👏🏼 I loved Six of Crows but I’m really struggling to read this one

[@ChiannaNycole]

Six of Crows should have been her first adult novel. I have zero intrest in books about secret socities, I'll pass on this.

[@mynameismarines]

YES. Honestly, there was no reason those characters should've been 17, or whatever. And there was no reason that Alex should've been 20. I had a whole additional rant about how this book being "adult" was weird to be because while it was graphic, the themes and characters all still felt YA.

[@higgitusfiggitus9501]

I'll read Ninth House if I stumble upon it at the right time - at this point I've lost the desire to seek it out. I enjoyed the characters in Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom more so than the plot or writing style and was incredibly bored by the Grisha trilogy. The chances of me enjoying this one seem pretty low. Some really good talking points in this review; thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for watching! I would definitely say that this didn't have the gang of friends, found family vibe that Six of Crows had.

[@starxmon]

OKAY I'M SO READY FOR THIS

[@BooksOnStereo]

Great video and the points that you made are so insightful.

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for watching!

[@birdyjo]

It's three rape narratives in this book (Spoiler and TW): In the past, her best friend Hallie dies from being raped and Alex's answer is to slaughter. As this book is marketed as a standalone (which it isn't but anyway) the message it seems to give is that revenge cures trauma. I nodded the whole way through this review. Also, I remember I kept telling people "I'm reading this book without a plot and I'm more than halfway through". Since I'm new to Bardugo, the hype around her is baffling to me.

[@jasminv8653]

For as much praise as she gets for her style and inclusiveness for her YA novels, even the Six of Crows duology that was hyped up to infinity was a big disappointment. The pacing was horrible - every other chapter ending with an unresolved cliffhanger, every other stuck in flashbacks that seem more fleshed out than the actual present day plot. And it had the backstories of all three of its major female characters (2/3 of whom are teenagers) tied to a brothel while the male characters got much more variety in theirs. If it was a story about the girls' struggles and the issues surrounding the ties between crime and brothels in a town as was described, sure. But to use it as window dressing? Based on what you say, seems that sexual oppression is the only worthwhile tragedy for women in Bardugo's worlds.

[@birdyjo]

@@jasminv8653 I since burned through the Six of Crows duology and I did enjoy it. It's trash, sure, but it's my trash now. Still, I was extremely frustrated with it and every single one of your criticism is spot on. I saw it too, it would just feel hypocritical to say I hated it when I did enjoy it to some extend, CK spoilers incoming: I was so disappointed by Inej's storyline for many, many reasons but her open ending where she chooses revenge just doesn't align with the character Bardugo built up until then? We only ever see her reflect on her PTSD but in the current storyline, she's kind of over it and she's serene and calm but she still hangs on to her revenge fantasy to hunt slavers? Inej is too picture perfect for my taste. I'm glad Amita Suman portrayed her with more anger in the show. But yes, yes, yes to everything you said!

[@sheik4988]

Omg I’m glad I found you! I loved your book reviews and the way you speak and I switched accounts and I didn’t remember the name of your channel and I was looking for you for months and bam! Here you are (^_^)

[@mynameismarines]

HERE I AM! lol Thank you for watching.

[@salmaa.6363]

Hi Marines! I really appreciate your review. I hesitate to read this book, knowing that I did not enjoyed the Six of Crows duology, which is considered as her masterpiece so far. Not a fan of her writing style...I guess that I could try a few chapters for myself? Keep going with the good content 😀!

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for watching! Yes, I feel like this is one where if you try the first couple of chapters and you don't like it, nothing really changes later on that could win you over. It stays pretty the same in style and tone.

[@maryanne1830]

I love your reviews! You hit on the head so many pet peeves I have with books and characters! Just wondering what is this "human poop thing" you mentioned?

[@mynameismarines]

Well basically the main character used magic to punish a rapist by making him eat human poop.

[@maryanne1830]

@@mynameismarines ohhhhhh.... cool xD

[@kelleymarie22]

I just couldn't get past the implausibility of a newly sober,(and recently hospitalized?) high school dropout as a believable Ivy League freshman. That doesn't pass muster for all the reasons you listed and more...🤦

[@briquellecollier6188]

Yo I haven’t watched this yet but I really like the book. So curious to hear your thoughts. I listened to the audiobook. So maybe 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@briquellecollier6188]

Ok so you made me realize that I’m not a critical or close reader of YA Fantasy. It’s easy escapism and I think I’m ok with that. Considering that I mainly consume this genre via audiobook while cleaning, working or planning. Thank you for creating content where you hold writers socially and literally accountable. Your reviews should be entitled, “What you should have been thinking while reading this book.” Sigh 😣

[@smileycindy]

Thank you for this review. I had just started this book and just 20 pages in, started doubting that I would like it, so I was compelled to look for reviews before investing further time in. You articulated why you disliked the book very well and I can tell that I should DNF it to avoid going through the same frustrations, as it feels like I would resent the exact same things you did about the story.

[@danielleyarbrough8274]

Oh my goodness this was a book club read for me back in July. I was the only one who wasn't feeling this book. Also the only one who didn't finish it. So glad I'm not the only one who didn't like this book🤦🏾

[@PaolaMancera]

I LOVE THE END TO THIS VIDEO I AM DYING 😂😂😂. Also love how you’re so vocal and coherent about your feelings and thoughts!!! God, teach me how to be like you! As for the book to recommend, idk if this is the kind of book you’re looking for but The education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera is one that deals with aaaaaall of the issues you talked about and it’s own voices for biracial Puerto Rican rep :)

[@mynameismarines]

Had to include a few bloops. There were so many. And THANK YOU! I have one of Lilliam Rivera's books on my Kindle unread. Gotta get to it in 2020!

[@bridgetgibbons]

Alex also had an unclear personality. I understand that she’s in a new world but I didn’t really get a very good idea of who she was outside of the things that happened to her.

[@mynameismarines]

She was often reacting in whatever way the story required! Felt really flat.

[@juliac.a.]

Thank you so much with this review, mynameismarines! 🌸 I've just finished the book and it left me feeling weird. You review really helped me putting name to the issues my brain was trying to process 😊. On the one hand, I like the society/houses aspect of the book -I am not from America and I've never heard of this kind of uni societies in my country, so I find it very interesting-. But, on the other hand, (*SPOILER AHEAD*) I feel that all the abuse scenes had non (or very weird) consequences, like it was saying "it is what it is, let's jump to another point". Thanks again for the video! I hope you are having a lovely day! 🥰

[@leadinglady]

I’m still on hold for this book at my library and I just know it’s going to be one of those books I’ll be happy to have not spent money on. Like you, Leigh Bardugo and I have a rocky relationship. Great review!

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you! And BLESS the library, saving us from money not well spent.

[@BeautifullyBookishBethany]

I really appreciate hearing your perspective on this. Some of the things you talk about I hadn't considered, particularly this issue of having a non-white character "take the place" of someone at Yale. And I think your feelings about the rest of it are valid, though I want to say a little bit about why I liked it as much as I did. Darlington definitely wasn't it for me and I think it's creepy that people were into that scene. 1) In terms of style, I personally liked all the descriptions of Yale etc. I think it's totally valid not to and I feel like I'm probably in the minority, but it is what it is. I did listen to this on audio which I think probably benefited my experience with the book. 2) You might be right that she didn't entirely think through using magic for oppression and sexual assault, but I want to suggest an alternative reading. For me (and I think maybe for other people) the use of magic creates an emotional buffer that makes it possible for me to read and process this kind of trauma. If this was written straight, without magic, I couldn't stomach it and would find it to be too triggering. As it is, you get this blended horror of the real and the fantastic with distance that maybe allows for more parsing of why these things are so wrong and how they are intertwined with power and privilege. 3) While I understand the frustration that victims are suddenly okay after revenge, that wasn't the way that I read it. Maybe I'm wrong, but I read it as intentionally demonstrating the ways that campus culture tends to (or at least, has tended to in the past) brush over rape and sexual assault as not a big deal, and the way that victims would feel pressure to act like it's less of a long-lasting traumatic experience than it really is. At least in this case, there is some measure of re-taking power for revenge in a way that often is impossible in real life, which to me feels somewhat cathartic. 4) I can see your point about having a woman as one of the villains, but in reading it I really liked what that character served to demonstrate, even if it could have been executed more smoothly. I felt like the point of that ending was to talk about how middle-class white feminism isn't enough and has often steamrolled over women of color and the lower classes in their pursuit of power and equality. I thought it was interesting to have a big bad that believes it is justified, in areas that other people would also see it as justified, but demonstrate how it's actually harmful and inadequate. Sorry, I know this is long, but I saw your Goodreads review awhile back and have been thinking about this and wanted to find a time to chat with you about it! Again, I really appreciate the perspective and this certainly isn't a perfect book, but I wanted to offer why it resonated with me. I definitely think there are people loving it for very wrong reasons, but that seems to be par for the course (like fan art involving Jude and Carden that is similarly creepy).

[@mynameismarines]

Hey Bethany! I appreciate your thoughtful comment. Someone else mentioned in the comments also enjoying the book and some of the ways they interpreted the messages I talked about. I think as readers, we approach a text with our baggage and that informs how we consume, but also the connections we make and the gaps we fill in. And that's totally okay! The Knife of Never Letting Go is a book like that for me, where I can see all of the points people make in criticism, but I just get so much out of the text, specifically because of the way I interpret/fill in the gaps. So to your points: 1- Yep, this is just a style thing. It is definitely more aggressive when you read vs listen. Her sentences are unwieldy, and that's fine when you are hearing it? We don't speak in perfect grammar. Most of us are in the middle of one run on sentence or another when we are speaking. Reading, though, sometimes I genuinely would get lost in the construction of her sentences. I noticed the difference because in order to actually finish, I had to switch from physical book to audiobook. I love flowery and descriptive writing, generally, but I like those descriptions to both add something to the text and actually be descriptions? Like I want the language to show something to me. Bardugo's brand of description was often just listing things: here's the quad, here's the buildings, here are the students, they are wearing peacoat, and also she described a lot of eyes and faces as moons for some reason. Just... not my style. 2- As I said, I think that you can use magic in this way, to highlight the real world implications of the topics she's speaking of. Magic in books does indeed create that buffer so that people can process differently. The point I made in the video is that to me, it isn't enough to consider how you can create that buffer with magic. It isn't enough to ask how magic adds to wealth, privilege and power. She needed to also ask how adding magic CHANGES those things. What does adding magic make different? What are the cracks that adding that fictional element opens and is anything falling through them? To me, the answer of all the things that fell through the cracks was A LOT and it made it a supremely unenjoyable experience. 3- I don't thin if it wanted to at all say anything about reactions to rape on campus it did that successfully. That's filling in a lot of gaps because IIRC, we go super quickly from Alex finds out, Alex takes revenge, roommate is show as better now. I totally get the kind of satisfaction in a revenge plot for a rape victim, however, that doesn't negate my point: fiction tends to take the narrative of rapes out of victim's hands and place them into other people's. It isn't about what that women went through. We are all just feasting on the revenge, that wasn't even her's, and that because of Bardugo's shortcut to that conclusion and insensitivity to the larger picture, made it more read like if you get revenge, you will feel better. In my own personal experience, and again everyone can say their own truth, that feels wickedly simplistic and further feeds into tropes of using women's rapes to further other's storylines in a way I cannot forgive. 4- Someone else also mentioned the idea that middle class women are complicit in upholding systems of misogyny, and that is true! I think, however, that Bardugo's message is still muddled. My point was that by making the woman the supreme villain, you don't have her upholding a system of misogyny. *You have her inventing it.* It reminded me of a quote from Lindy West's "The Witches Are Coming": “I think we can all agree that this fully checks out and that indeed it is men who are the true victims of witch hunts. Which they invented. To kill women.” Women didn't invent misogyny so to me, this was yet another eye-roll plot development someone didn't think completely through . I'm glad you didn't have a bad experience with this, because truly, it was painful for me. Someone should have fun.

[@BeautifullyBookishBethany]

@@mynameismarines Thank you for the thoughtful response! I'm sorry this was a painful book for you and I think you're right, we definitely do bring different things to a text and I can see where you're coming from.

[@Chaoticchaos732]

I've never read this book mostly because of the mc's name was GALAXY

[@rukbat3]

I haven't read it myself, but from the way thisstoryaintover was talking about The Gilded Wolves in her latest video, that one might be more up your alley. :)

[@mynameismarines]

I've been curious about that one because I feel like half my friends loved it and half my friends thought it was confusing and weird! I'll have to add it to my tbr. :)

[@yogiwithabook]

thank you for making this video! i love getting to hear all of your thoughts on books that don't work. the more i think about the privilege conversations the more angry i get about what we *could* have had here. i'm so disappointed but i also don't want to think about it anymore haha i don't know if it handles all of these topics, but definitely hits on privilege, class, and abuse, and that is: the bone people by keri hulme. it's a book i hardly ever rec because it is so dark and difficult and there are some things that made me feel as a reader almost complicit in some of the horrible things happening. but it's a beautifully written story from a maori author.

[@mynameismarines]

After I wrote my GR review I was like I'M DONE. I also didn't want to think about it anymore. But then I had to do mention it in my December wrap-up and it ended up being too many feelings for a wrap up so I was like DAMMIT. THIS IS HAPPENING, HUH? Maybe now I can be at peace. And I agree! Maybe the most upsetting thing is that it has the potential to do a really spectacular thing. The pieces were there, but squandered. And thank you for the rec! I hadn't heard of this one ever, but I'll list it for a time I'm in the right head space to read something darker. Thank you for helping me work through all these feelings and for being so smart and for sharing questionable fan art. You the real MVP.

[@stubbornlybookish5555]

I hated my experience reading this, and I never expected to actively hate something by Leigh Bardugo. Terrible from start to finish and boy can I relate to getting mad when seeing it raved about, and put on 'best of' lists.

[@mynameismarines]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience, too! But also: I CAN RELATE.

[@ThatsSoPoe]

I'd suggest anything by Rivers Solomon for dealing with race, class, privilege, etc (including sexual assault). An Unkindness of Ghosts was particularly good! For something more light hearted but still meaningful, Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert addresses race, class, and disability in a super sweet love story.

[@mynameismarines]

Yes, I read The Deep in 2019 and it's on my list of favorite books of the year (coming soon)! It was my first Solomon book, but it definitely made me want to pick up their other books. I also finished Chloe Brown in December! The chronic pain rep was so good.

[@pinpilinpaux]

I haven't watched the video yet, I know there are spoilers, but you're not the first person to say this book is bad and I trust you guys so I probably won't read it. I'll use my time in other books, I guess :P

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

Your review is good. I lived in New Haven about 2 blocks from Yale. I think the author really missed out on capturing the real feel of that city...even the real feel of Yale. Cuz Yale/New Haven is a unique place

[@roberson2603]

I haven't read the book and despite your review I will give it a chance. I most likely will try and get the book from the library. If I like the book I will buy it. Your analysis is well presented, and you support your position with examples. Thank you for the honest review. I only follow booktubers like Rachael Rae, Left on Read (Jourdan) and yourself because you guys are brave enough to give unfavorable reviews. I am so not interested in watching booktubers who only give favorable reviews. Keep being brave and I will keep watching.

[@currentreadswithcourt6682]

I'm so glad you made this review - I've heard comments here and there about Ninth House, but nothing nearly to this level, this was so thorough and well-explained. Huge yikes + definitely my final push to never read Ninth House. You might want to check out The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon - it features Korean American leads of various class backgrounds at a predominantly rich small liberal arts school in New England and deals with rape/sexual assault on college campuses as well as Christian faith, political radicalization, and grief pretty heavily, but with a lot more thoughtful criticism than most 'dark academia' I've seen.

[@SpookiestAlice]

God I'd written out a reply this morning but youtube refreshed. ANYWAY though It really baffles me that she doesn't even touch on race in New Haven. You can't really...separate issues of class from race. Like, in general you can't but it's a VERY serious issue in that area. It feels like she just wanted to write about her alma mater without really knowing much about the surrounding area, which is a total shame (but generally unsurprising with Yale kids, as mean as that is to say) While I don't plan on really diving into those themes, at least Ninth House did give me more drive to set more of my stories in the New Haven area (since I grew up in Hamden) or fictional places inspired by it. The area is pretty lovely

[@BookieCharm]

I've been waiting for this review and thank you!! I'm sorry that you want to be done with this book so much but it keeps coming up. I get that. I wasn't interested in this book at all after hearing how badly it handles and uses rape and neglects centering the victim. It's really irresponsible and I'm glad you dove into those issues.

[@mynameismarines]

Oh, it's all good! Everyone has the right to put it on their best of list, I just have a lot of book feelings lol. Thank you for watching!

[@Marxnchill]

This is a damn good analysis. I’m definitely rating it poorly too, now even lower. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Very enlightening.

[@nc9804]

I 100% agree with every single thought you had about this book. I DNF'D it at the 3/4 mark. I decided I had wasted enough of my time.

[@mynameismarines]

I think I would've just kept it DNF had it not been for the hope of it getting better later (it does not) and the motivation of sharing aaaalll of my feelings on youtube. So thanks for watching.

[@ollyfirth4641]

I really dont understand the critisism that Alex has no motivations thoughout the story? Where could Alex go, her life was over before she arrived at Yale, no family, no friends, no education, no prospects. Why would you ever leave Yale to go back to that. This is before you even consider that Yale is the first time shes ever been acknowledged for being able to see ghosts, the reason her life was shit before was the trauma of seeing dead people everywhere. Also! Alex is deeply motivated to find the murderer of Tara as it reflects her own life and experiences. Also Also she can't leave why Darlington is off in Spain. How is all of this not enough motivation for somebody to stay? Alex taking on the trope and role of a undeserving minority was adressed clearly multiple times within the book also. Darlington was predjudiced and angry at her appointment, and its revealed later on that the reason for Alex's selection was to scapegoat her for the calamity of Darlington dying. I'm not exactly sure what you wanted from Bardugo in regards to the 'cultural' and 'educational' gaps in Alex's knowledge. theres the whole theme of 'What do you want out of Yale?' to which Alex as an undeducated poor girl says to survive? Theres the clearly layered comments about clothes alex not understanding what cashmere is, Alex breaking social conventions in how she speaks to the houses. I feel like if she leant any further into this, there would be no other space in the novel. I dont even want to comment on the last couple points... You dont like the fact that Darlington is a good character and that a female character is evil?

[@mynameismarines]

Not sure if this was your intention but this comment is weirdly combative, particularly in response to me sharing my own opinion of a work. I also question if the defensiveness caused you to not really listen to like anything I said in the video. For instance, I explicitly said that I understood Alex's motivations to accept the position at Yale, and that I understood it was very personal, but that TO ME, it felt like Alex put up with a lot more than I would and that it highlighted to me the weakness of the mystery plot and how Alex idles for so much of the story and then would just ~realize~ something. The macro motivations were there-- why investigate the murder, why go to Yale, etc-- but the micro motivations, the day to day movements, her decision making was weak to me. Also, the fact that Yale had a reason for giving a spot to Alex doesn't in fact negate the fact that Bardugo plays into this trope. Alex is a brown woman who is underserving of her spot at Yale. That, combined with all the other racist tropes and stereotypes this character plays into, was really uncomfortable to me and more weak storytelling. Again, in the video, I acknowledged that Bardugo makes some attempts to capture the gap in knowledge or experience Alex would experience, but expressed that to me, a woman of color, a first generation American who was also the first person in my family to attend college, it didn't do enough to authentically capture what that gap really is. If you felt it did enough, happy for you, but that wasn't my experience. I literally say at the end that I thought it was funny, considering the message this is cheaply trying to address about misogyny, that the character that engendered the most sympathy was in fact an upper middle class white man. My point, which you missed along with so many others, was that the underlying commentary Bardugo was trying to make, often felt at odds with what she actually showed us or what people took away from it. If this worked for you, again, happy for you. Not sure why this video seemed to upset you though.

[@ollyfirth4641]

​@@mynameismarines I just disagreed with a lot of what you said, I appoloigise if it has come across as rude. All ratings and opinions are obviously personal and unique to an individiual, I just have very clearly differing opinions. I liked the book for what it was and what it advertised itself to be, a dark fantasy mystery with a commentary on privilege and classism, I think it would be a worse book if it included more complexity and depth on your issues

[@mynameismarines]

And I thought it was over written and a poorly paced and thought out mystery and that much of its commentary was shallow, problematic or confused. I didn’t need it to be a thesis level exploration, but it was in fact so bad to me, if made the story unenjoyable. If including more thought or complexity in terms of the themes it brought up already would make this a worse book, I don’t think that speaks highly about this book in the first place.

[@IsabelleShae]

note on assault scenes, especially r*pe, it is so often used as a plot point to establish an imbalance of power, instead of using storytelling, like building out dialogue. It's easy to write a short, bad assault scene. It gets your point across. This person is taking the power from the other, irrevocably and in "the most damaging way." But it is really hard to write a story with villains that make one's skin crawl without using an assault to illustrate it. A few of recommendations for people in this type genre: The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz, When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole.

[@measchueax]

Thank you for your review… I was wondering why I felt so disconnected from the story ( mind you I’m like five chapters in atp) . I thought it was me for a second..

[@josephfernandez8015]

I gave up after the MC seeming acceptance of human sacrifice. I can’t continue reading a book with a MC that I completely detest. Also I completely agree with you on your point about how these rich powerful people do all the bad shit that they do in the real world, except here they do it with magic, as if the magic makes it what... better? more fun to read about?

[@coffee8599]

Yes! I was "eh" about Shadow and Bone. Six of Crows is better, but I don't think it is as amazing as everyone says. Ninth House... ugh. I couldn't stand Alex. Her personality was so unpleasant and rude. Her back story was supposed to excuse everything and make you feel empathetic, but I just didn't. The massive info dumps really messed up the pacing for me. I also didn't understand what was going on for like the first 100 pages or so. So much felt uneccessary. I wanted to learn so much more about the magic system (which was barely explained) and 0% about Hellie.

[@maryreadspoetry]

I yelled "EXAAACTLY" multiple times during your review 😅 Thank you❤

[@SweeneySays]

I love your media rage so much. I had heard some of these opinions as you were having them BUT ALSO this was very classic "you" content because at the start of the video you're clearly like "ok, let's just calmly talk about this book" and then the more you talk/think about this book the more you're like WOW NO! NO. and anyway I love your face. That is all.

[@mynameismarines]

LOVE YOU. Also, I wish I were recording my reaction when you made me a angry gif. Finally, thank you for letting me have random feelings about a book at you. And then you even watch the video! I have the best friend.

[@sandygholstonbooktubetv845]

I am so on the fence with buying this book.

[@Coco-kx5kf]

I’m really sorry that this book was a bust for you. After the first Grisha book, I decided that Bardugo was no good and just stayed clear of her books. Don’t know if you’ve already read this, but City of Brass by SA Chakraborty does the race/class + magic conversation exceptionally well. The second book is equally awesome. The third is coming out in Feb.

[@stubbornlybookish5555]

I LOVE The City of Brass, it was my favourite book of 2019, and hard agree about the themes in it being exceptionally well handled. (unfortunately though the publication date was moved to June 30th)

[@BookChats]

I am so glad you liked Bone Gap. I don't know if it excels at race and class and misogyny issues, but if you haven't heard of Ruby's newest - Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All - I would dearly love more people to read it so we can discuss. It does involve both ghosts (largely benign, not scary to me) and Catholic run orphanages in the 1930s/1940s (Potentially triggering to ppl with bad nun experiences??) So... Fair warning? (Hit me up if you need the full list of content warnings) The other book I thought of even though it doesn't really fit your requirements (I am very bad at this game) is Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros. I think it covers misogyny and some cultural and class things, but it's a coming of age story and involves almost no magic and only one ghost (a narrator. Both of these books are narrated by ghosts, actually) Anyway, please read then so you can drop even more wisdom on my timeline

[@mynameismarines]

Bone Gap did such a great job specifically talking about beauty and how that ties to misogyny, baked into this weird little book about family and belonging and place. I already started Thirteen Doorways! I was reading it in the beginning of December, but had to take a break from books that were stressful because I was stressed at work. But I intend on getting back to it early in 2020. I've only ever read The House on Mango Street by Cisnero, so thank you for this ghost narrated book as well. ;)

[@BookChats]

@@mynameismarines Caramelo is one of those books that I wasn't sure I liked while reading it but then I discussed it with my book club and realized I had never read something that more subtly captured what it feels like to transition from child to male-gaze burdened teen. I hope you appreciate both of them

[@sirJenr]

I'm reading the nonfiction book Just Mercy at the moment which deals with class and race in a way that is both infuriating (because of the content) but so good from an educational and sympathetic lens (because its handled so well). Ninth House really sounds like a hot mess and from the start I was worried about how these issues would be handled and even people who have praised it have said things that ring alarm bells for me. So I'm really glad this review exists, even though it must have been a roller coaster of emotions to film, and I vow never to touch that book. Yikes.

[@mynameismarines]

I want to read Just Mercy because of the adaptation! I know it will be a heavy, but good book, once I get around to reading it. And truly, the real roller coaster of emotions was in all the footage of me making more weird noises the more I got upset while talking about this book. ;)

[@sirJenr]

@@mynameismarines I finished the book today and it was 5 stars for me. One of, if not the best, nonfiction books I've read. Crazy story but so well told.

[@KD-CD]

@@mynameismarines I read Just Mercy my freshmen year of high-school the aspects of Black Joy we see really balances it out. I know I'm a year late but I hope you've gotten around to and hopefully under the raccoon joke

[@o_o-lj1ym]

I agree with a lot of this. One thing I wanted to say was that in real life power is mostly invisible. So that’s what there is fantasy magic. It’s a physical manifestation of the power.

[@missdragon5892]

I left a comment on here a few days ago, which I have since deleted because I wanted to take some time to reflect on my opinions.

[@---ut6fk]

I mean Bardugo’s parents were lawyers and she went to fucking YALE. What does she know about being poor? (I don’t dislike her btw, just a thought)

[@mynameismarines]

She went to YALE. I just... I felt like the gaps in understanding the things she was trying to represent were beating me over the head.

[@mrdhilton]

I'm glad I found your channel.

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for watching!

[@theaverrainecyclemorgansmi5388]

I was colossally bired and only got about 2 chapters in. Good to know I didn't miss a bunch of stuff that would have infuriated me as it did you.

[@MuhanRouge]

I've seen so many mixed reviews of this book - this is now the DEFINITIVE review for me! Also I super appreciate a 1-star review with "spoilers" - knowing how this book fails the WOC protagonist, issues of race/class etc I feel I have a super good grasp on what it is and can confidently say that I should skip it. So glad I found your channel!

[@ALovelyJaunt]

I haven't read the book and it's pretty likely that I won't.... but there is little I enjoy more than a salty review from Mari! An instant watch every time!

[@mynameismarines]

[@dylanhicks4771]

I recommend Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie for imperialist and class narratives.

[@BostonBookBitty]

Wait. That scene inspired fan art? YIKES.

[@taraestelleadelizzi9975]

As a writer, this book did not stick the landing. Good story, I was able to finish. However the read became more of an examination of how it could have been executed better.

[@WildeBookGarden]

oh I am READY (also I agree that this background is so pretty!) I REALLY do not like that prologue trope. Honestly I don't like most prologues, but those fake-tension ones are the worst of the bunch in my opinion haha when I'm struggling through a book I do the opposite and look up 1 star reviews to validate my angry feelings 😂 I think your way is probably much healthier! I feel like I covered most of my feelings in the MARATHON comment I left on your wrap up stream, so I'm just gonna say that I am so impressed by how thoughtful even your angry reviews are. I have zero interest in this book--I'm mad at seeing it on so many "best of" lists and I haven't even read it! (I always skip it when I'm watching favorites videos and it's on there...) some recs: I'm sure Jocelyn has already told you about this one, but Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri! I think she did an amazing job of adding magic in a way that enhanced her commentary on race, class, and privilege rather than detracting from it, especially in book 2: there's a big focus on how the MC can pass as a member of the more privileged class/ethnicity and how despite the advantages it sometimes gives her, it leaves her feeling distanced from her heritage and from her mother and sister who are more "recognizable" members of the oppressed class -for a contemporary setting, The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed. It deals with sexual assault and rape culture and has a strong focus on intersectional feminism (I do want to mention there's a couple of transphobic comments that the reader is not supposed to agree with, but they're made by a character who we are supposed to like and those weren't really explicitly challenged.) Other than that I think the book is phenomenal and it has a diverse main cast that as I recall--I read the book a few years ago at this point--doesn't feel like it slips into tokenism. -Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali. Deals specifically with Islamophobia and also with racism and the way activism can combat those, also handles topics like grief and chronic illness. This is one that deals with a lot of heavy material that is balanced out by a really heartwarming and engaging romance (and some amazing friend groups!) Fantastic review, Marines!

[@ravent3016]

I just read this for the first time (hadn't fallen to the hype for thsi or the Grishaverse), and I enjoyed it as a dark fantasy October read, as a mystery with paranormal elements. I didn't like Alex much for most of the story; she is an antihero, not a heroic character. I also didn't like the time changes in the narrative; I find that style annoying in general. I agree that the rapes were glossed over. I read that as Alex's trauma desensitizing her to that sort of violence. I don't think any of her roommates were important to Alex personally, although the drugged rape of her roomie did make Alex angry, she didn't actually offer any sort of emotional support because she isn't capable of that. Part of her trauma, I think. And there was no "justice" from the system/authorities/PTB at any point. The police detective was the closest, and he really only cared about the victim. I am now reading the Grishaverse and like it better than Ninth House so far. I haven't seen the Netflix series.

[@Alexandra-ms9jj]

I dont understand how people can wait ¼ to ½ of reading a book for it to start picking up (dont even get me started on "it gets good at book 3" series). It really shouldn't take a super long time to exposit and settle into the story. At least in my opinion

[@ravensandblots]

I pretty much dropped everything when I saw this video come up!! Awesome video! Wasn’t planning on reading it and now I’m glad of that!!

[@mynameismarines]

Thank you for watching and yeah, can't say I think you are missing much by skipping this one!

[@torivega9245]

Thank you for this review.I think you might enjoy Vic James's The gilded cage, which really explores the way magic makes society elite basically unbeatable

[@mynameismarines]

Oh thank you so much for the recommendation! I put a hold at my library.

[@torivega9245]

@@mynameismarines I hope you like it, this whole trilogy was a pleasant surprise for me and restored my faith in YA more or less)

[@MuniraHoosain]

I'm really glad there's someone else who found Shadow and Bone incredibly generic. I'm kind of still curious about reading this because I'm in a college/university/post graduation/early 20s kick!

[@mynameismarines]

People love S&B so much that I've always been curious to go back and reread and finish, but I think that may just be FOMO. Because truly, it was so blaaaand.

[@haleyhughes-darley9202]

I'm really glad I watched this review because I was super excited by the creepy secret society plot idea but I was a little wary because I tried reading Shadow and Bone and thought it was really not very good

[@mynameismarines]

Yeaaaah... I am always wary of telling people not to read something, especially when I'm in the minority of opinions, but if you didn't like S&B, I think there is a bigger chance this will also flop for you.

[@haleyhughes-darley9202]

Well and frankly I don't need what sounds like is a mess of racism and weak feminism. No ty!

[@mynameismarines]

@@haleyhughes-darley9202 In that case: SKIP.

[@BabyMango]

I’m 20 pages in and can’t bring myself to read anymore. It’s horrible. I’m came to KZbin to see if it gets better, but am glad I don’t have to waste my time now lol

[@mynameismarines]

It takes another like 150 pages before it takes off 😭😭😭

[@BabyMango]

@@mynameismarines 🎶ain’t nobody got time fa dat🎶

[@SheJohns21]

I’m not even to page 100 and I got the audio book to help me get through it. I’m going to DNF it 😭

[@WhereintheworldisLeahJane]

You hit upon something that I have been mulling over and over, trying to figure out why she made the choice she did: Why is it the woman is the ultimate villain? Was she trying to make a comment on how white women (and wealthy white women to add another intersection) enable men to do what they do? That is to say, that they seek to preserve their position and don't mind that in doing so they enable terrible things. But, as you say, given that she's the ultimate source of the power it doesn't serve that idea fully and kind of muddies it. Also the assault of her friend felt like such a weird pit stop primarily used to enable. Alex to get a clue to the ultimate plot (which I found to be a frustrating moment). Like you said, we don't spend any time with her friend at all. These things can be fixed without affecting the overall structure of the book but some of the other tropes you mention are part of the foundation of the book so I can see why you would rate it 1 star. The foundation of the themes, characters, etc were built around was flawed. I hadn't thought while reading it about the implication of having magic=power, and not grappling with how power in real life leads to these same things. I found I was more willing to just think of it as a way to take a step back from the real world while still demonstrating how interconnected groups who have privilege can get what they want with little to less effort and through harming others-- in a very literal way at some points. I think you're right that it could have been strengthened by showing how it was used more effectively in addition to real world power structures. I'm realizing I may have filled in a lot of the gaps in this while reading by from my own experience with college and making inferences about the text that may not have always been warranted. Thank you for a thoughtful review.

[@mynameismarines]

As I was questioning why the ultimate bad was a woman, I also thought about that idea of how white women in particular uphold misogynistic structures because of what they feel they ultimately gain by doing so. But to get there, I feel like I was filling in gaps for Bardugo. And also as much as that can be true that as women we internalize misogyny, we didn't invent misogyny and we don't benefit the most from misogyny so to have an ultimate *shakes fist at women* felt BLECH to me. YES. The whole thing with the final rape was in service to Alex, her development and the plot. It was textbook rape as a method to progress something rather than actually thoughtfully handling a rape and its fallout. It occurs to me now that there were some other weird SA-elements to Alex's backstory in California and the death of her best friend, so for this story to be so saturated with SA and for the final one to be A CLUE... Jesus, help me. I use the good reads method of star rating so that 1 star = I did not like it and 2 stars = it was okay. I tend to lean toward 2 stars if there are 1-2 things that I can name as positives, but coming out of this book I didn't have any positives? I had so many issues with craft, plot, pace, characterizations on top of my issues with the message... Yep. 1 star. Thank you for watching and for your thoughtful comment! I've definitely been there where I've been able to seamlessly fill in gaps for a story and have a positive experience of something other people did not. I think we all have difference capacities for building bridges when it comes to fiction!

[@gizmothewizmo]

I know I am way late to this, but I just finished the book and wanted to hear other people's opinions. I personally liked the writing style, but the handling of Alex as a WOC felt off to me. Everytime her appearance was mentioned it seemed to be followed by a comparison to white women's features. Her trauma was also casually brushed aside except in the chapter where she does her first ritual with Darlington. And Darlington was some attempt to be a white man overcoming his bigotry I guess but it felt false. I think the best handled character was Dawes/Oculus and frankly I would have preferred the narrative used her instead of Darlington as the alternate voice we hear from.

[@Ash_W04]

I literally just bought it and started reading it today 😭😭

[@Ash_W04]

Okay, I've continued to read it and so far I like the way the setting feels but the story a little boring and it seems like we're just expected to know what the magic terminology is? Idk but I love the setting so I'll prob finish it

[@mynameismarines]

@@Ash_W04 Hopefully it goes better for you than it did for me! The setting was definitely the best part.

[@sam_pvmind]

Coming from your Goodreads review :)

[@TxjiIsHimFr]

Same here!

[@Cedrus1952]

I loved the book...hoping for a sequel!

[@Junior6288]

Considering the sequel just won Good Reads 2023, I was like, well maybe I need to check this out. Thanks to this review, nah, no thanks. I have way to many other books I’d rather TBR. Thanks for the review!!

[@dantepoe4721]

I thought the book was awesome just awesome cant wait for the sequel I give it a 4/5

[@israaalkatip9881]

I know a book that had a LOT of rape in it, it was a book you recommended on one of your videos. The Enchanted I really liked the first few lines of the book and nothing else. Everyone in the book was raped at one point, and I remember that the wheel that turned a lot of the plots in the book was rape also. The only thing I learned is how much Rene Denfeld is afraid of /hate it, it felt like she wanted to get it out of her system. I didn't enjoy reading the book at all, despite thinking that she generally handled the matter well.

[@mynameismarines]

It's been almost 6 years since I read The Enchanted and I honestly didn't even remember there was rape in it. It's reached the point that I probably wouldn't continue recommending it, primarily because I don't remember it enough! I'm curious if I went back to it, with this many more years living and experience reviewing books, if I would still find the same value in it I did originally. But yes, to your point, there are times when things are done well, but can still be things we don't want to experience or we don't have the capacity or willingness to consume. Thanks for watching!

[@israaalkatip9881]

@@mynameismarines I'm glade I read it, I don't read widely in fiction. and I like your recommendations because they are varied and wide, I just remember being very drained reading the book. Thank you for the great videos !! looking forward to see more in the future!

[@leeah8419]

This was a DNF for me, for a better representation of race, prejudice and misogyny I recommend The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

[@mynameismarines]

Maybe I'll just

[@nootnewt9323]

I would do even better and recommend Queen of the Conquered because it’s actually written by a woman of color.

[@mynameismarines]

@@nootnewt9323 I have this on my tbr! It was sent to me by the publisher so I'll have to check it out, hopefully soon.

[@leeah8419]

@@nootnewt9323 I will check it out, thanks! :)

[@nova3406]

This is so crazy cos I had almost the exact opposite experience

[@runawaysky]

I'm glad I found you because I've only seen people fawning over this awful book with no understanding of how disturbing it is

[@LaurenZimmerRen]

i didn't realize it was a murder mystery until about 40% into the book...

[@mynameismarines]

I was shocked when I found out. All that time and this book was a MURDER MYSTERY.

[@alexthewarg]

OMG thanks so much for this video, I agree 100% with everything you said about this AWFUL book I used to get so tired explaning why I hated Ninth House so much, now I can just send them your video! The absolute thrashy way she handled e**** assault in the book makes me sick, for real You're awesome, by the way, just subscribed.