I don’t often read graphic novels and was surprised by how much I loved this unique concept!

Though a quick read, this memoir covers a myriad of pressing topics. As a first generation American born to East Indian immigrants, she highlights her experiences with racism, colorism, sexism, microaggressions, the 2016 election and related anxiety, and raising a biracial child who tends to ask a lot of difficult big-picture questions.

Given the format of conversational vignettes, this book doesn’t cover these specific issues with very great depth, but that didn’t take away from its overall quality for me. I still loved it and I think this style of storytelling was effective in both highlighting key moments in her life and the ubiquitous way in which racism seeps into everyday experiences living as a person of color in the U.S. 

 The Ninth House is a story full of darkness, magic, and mystery that twists and turns till the very end.

Overall, I liked this book! There are lots of twists in the plot and I didn’t see the ending coming. It was a little darker than I was expecting though. I’m a fan of the show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and it kind of reminded me of that in book form with its witchy tropes. This book is different from others in that it doesn’t take place at a school specifically designed for witchcraft but rather imagines a world where secret magical organizations are incorporated into Ivy League life, which I appreciated as a spin on a classic set up.

This may be due to the fact that I don’t read much fantasy, but I did find it hard at times to remember all the house names/what they were known for and magical terms. The way it jumps around in time also confused me at first, but I got used to it and it was much easier to follow as the book went on.

If you are a fan of the fantasy genre and like dark moments, I think you’d enjoy this book! I also think this book would make a stunning screen adaptation.