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, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.
Going into this one, i was 100% certain i would adore it. It has everything i would love ; Academic setting, paranormal elements, magic, murder, mysteries, and all this under Leigh Bardugo’s writing. GIVE ME IT.
But for a little while there, i was unsure if i’d even finish it. The book starts off very, very slow. Nothing much happens and usually, i could forgive that if i’m enjoying the character’s company. Sadly, i feel nothing for them. I did like Dawes and Tunner enough, i wish we knew more about them. Darlington was fine, but he didn’t really stood out to me. And for Alex, well, she was alright. I do like a flawed character and a good redemption arc. I can see her grow and get to explore more of her relationship with the others. None of the characters were awful in anyway, i just didn’t click with them as much as I expected.
I kept pushing, and when the plot started picking up, i was hooked. It took me a while, but we got there and i really did love the second half of this book. I think the mystery was intriguing and i really was curious to see where it was going. The story is very dark, and deals with some heavy themes (sexual assault + sexual assault of a child), so be safe if those are triggers for you. I truly believe that biggest problem with this one was pacing, but the ending left me wanting more, so i’ll definitely be picking up the sequel soon. I’m excited to see were things will go with some of the plotlines that are still unresolved.
I think this series has alot more to give, and so much to explore. It really could become of favorite if the sequel is has good as the second half of this on.
Ninth House : 3.5/5
Sarah in Zombieland 
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