June 2022 Group Read #1 - Ninth House

[Trista]

I’m about 100 pages in and I’m having a difficult time staying engaged so far. I think part of it is the skipping around of the narrative timeline. And the other thing is, that I don’t particularly enjoy characters who are just trying to get by doing the bare minimum. It’s boring to me to read about and it’s difficult to be invested in characters who don’t feel like trying very hard when presented with cool new challenges. I hope my feelings change soon. I’ve had high hopes that I’d like this book!

[Char]

There's a lot of info here, I'm about 35% in to the audio and I'm enjoying it so far, even though it's slow going. I do like how the tale is being presented, even though it's not linear.

Question to those of you actually reading instead of listening-is it Leafy? Leathy? What is the name of their house?

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "There's a lot of info here, I'm about 35% in to the audio and I'm enjoying it so far, even though it's slow going. I do like how the tale is being presented, even though it's not linear.

Question ..."

Lethe

[Char]

Thank you! LOL

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "Thank you! LOL"

LOL! I just started re-reading this one this morning. :)

[Jason]

100 pages in, really slow.... A great idea here but, really not grabbing me.

[Michael]

Trista wrote: "I’m about 100 pages in and I’m having a difficult time staying engaged so far. I think part of it is the skipping around of the narrative timeline. And the other thing is, that I don’t particularly..."
I know what you mean. I have difficulty staying engaged with a book if I don't empathize with any of the characters. And, initially I didn't like any character in Ninth House. But it was interesting enough to keep going, plus it helped that I was listening to the audiobook while traveling. I finally warmed up to Alex (but just a little bit) and started to worry for her. That was enough to get me through to the end.

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚]

Hello! I’m on page 170 and it’s kinda picking up for me… so far the book is good just very slow ….. I feel like the book will pick up closer to 300 pages. I agree with other comments I do get a Harry Potter vibe to this

[Trista]

I’m on page 266 and I’ll admit, some stuff happened and I like Alex more now. Also, I’m really starting to get into the plot. But is it just me or are the constant flashbacks jarring? I’ll be reading something and getting really into what’s happening until a flashback happens out of nowhere, completely pulling me out of the drama. And sometimes when the flashback is over, I have to reorient myself and try to remember what the heck was happening!

[Lisa]

I’m finally starting this. 20 pages in and I have no idea what in the blue hell is going on here.

[Kimberly]

Trista wrote: "I’m on page 266 and I’ll admit, some stuff happened and I like Alex more now. Also, I’m really starting to get into the plot. But is it just me or are the constant flashbacks jarring? I’ll be readi..."

I'm rereading this, and the flashbacks are NOT helping this time around...

[Trista]

I finished the book! Here’s my review. No spoilers!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rachel]

just finished this morning! hate to say that it just wasn't for me. really like the premise, but the execution wasn't great, imho.

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚]

Hello! Still reading the book ! This one of these rare moments where I have a social life and I’m out and about lol
I’m on page 277 and I have to say I like Alex all the more. I feel like because she suffered from traumatic events while being young plus the latest one she experienced she has an edge to her which I like. Dealing with Alex you don’t know which way she may go plus she has street smarts too which puts her a step above of the book smart / educated characters in the story.

[Latasha]

I borrowed this from the library and will spend my 12 hours in hell tomorrow, listening to it. (Hell=work)

[Lisa]

Trista wrote: "I finished the book! Here’s my review. No spoilers!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Your review gave me hope - I'm at 100 pages and struggling with this one for many of the reasons you gave. The flashbacks are not helping my understanding of a pretty bizarre plot, and Alex is completely uninteresting to me at this point. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, and this all seems pretty ridiculous to me so far. Stock market prognostication through entrails...ohhhhhkay. I'm inclined to keep with it in order to read something outside my usual zone, particularly as it sounds like I might be at the threshold of the book improving.

[Tiffany]

I’m a little late to the party, but I’m in.

[Latasha]

I downloaded We Sold our Souks as back up. In case I can’t get into this one. I was listening to Black Sabbath yesterday so that took me there, naturally.

[Krystal]

Here's a link to my review if anyone is interested! I really enjoyed it - I loved the darkness to it, to be honest!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jason]

I would say the first 3rd of this book was v slow, but it has started to pick up in the 2nd 3rd and to be honest its a little dark, starting to warm to Alex.

[Char]

I'm listening on audio and I'm at 66%. Haven't had much chance to listen this week as I'm on vacation and either floating with a real book or out having fun with friends I haven't seen much of lately.

That said, I'm bored with it. Alex and Turner have grown on me, so I'm going to try to stick it out and see what happens.

[Latasha]

I’m on chapter 4. So far, so good.

[Katy]

I liked this one. I didn't know where it was going, but there was a lot of world building. All the elements leading to the ending were there, along with a few red herrings.

[Latasha]

I’m on chapter 8. I’m a little lost. What happen to the dude she’s saying is in Spain?

[Trista]

Latasha wrote: "I’m on chapter 8. I’m a little lost. What happen to the dude she’s saying is in Spain?"

It’s kind of a mystery that you’ll find out about later. (view spoiler)[ Essentially, he fell into a portal and other stuff happened, but I’ll spare you the inception spoiler within a spoiler. (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

Ok. I thought I zoned out and missed what happened.

[Char]

Ha! I did the same thing!

[Latasha]

If I don’t finish this today, I’ll doubt if I finish it. I guess it’s time jumps or flashbacks but I’ll be into the story and woops! I’m lost again. It has been a bad couple of days at work so I’m not blaming it all on the book.

[Latasha]

I’m on chapter 21.

[Krystal]

Latasha wrote: "If I don’t finish this today, I’ll doubt if I finish it. I guess it’s time jumps or flashbacks but I’ll be into the story and woops! I’m lost again. It has been a bad couple of days at work so I’m ..."

Are you listening or reading? I feel like this would definitely be a confusing one on audio!

[Latasha]

I’m listening.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I’m listening."

I have the physical copy, and kept going back (the first time I read) to recheck things.

[Latasha]

I doubt I’ll keep listening. Elektra is next on my list and I’d rather just move on to that one.

[Katy]

I finished it. I liked it. Intense world-building, jumps around a bit, but it all comes together.

Latasha, I would stick with it.

[Latasha]

😬 I’ll think about and decide Monday.

[Lisa]

My interest level increased yesterday when I hit the end of Chapter 6 and Chapter 7. Finally, some insight into our main character, and what makes her tick. I had no sense of her up until this point, and was not really rooting for her at all. I'm mildly hopeful again.

[Krystal]

Latasha wrote: "I doubt I’ll keep listening. Elektra is next on my list and I’d rather just move on to that one."

Oooh that one looks really good, too! I usually find if a book is taking a lot of effort and I've got an exciting one waiting I definitely have less patience for it lol. Life is too short to struggle through books!

[Phrique]

I’m about a 3rd of the way through, definitely needed something scary or some action. Many have said it picks up after so I’m hopeful. I was really questioning if I just can’t *do* fantasy or it was just this book.

[Jason]

Starts slow, 1st third not quite a struggle but nearly, picks up 2nd third and keeps you reading, last third is quite good and a nice finish. Almost 3.5 stars but solid 3 stars for me, done enough to consider the next book.

[Kimberly]

Finished my re-read. I still love the concept, and especially the last half or so. However, I did notice more of the slow start at the beginning this time around. I've already preordered the next book because I love the main characters involved, but not as "spectacular" as I remember thinking the first time.

[Latasha]

It sure is Krystal!

[Char]

I have about another hour to go before I finish. I'm not sure if I will finish today, depending on how much free time I have.

I'll be honest, I'm not crazy about this book.

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "I have about another hour to go before I finish. I'm not sure if I will finish today, depending on how much free time I have.

I'll be honest, I'm not crazy about this book."

Ironically, my re-read wasn't as "spectacular" as I thought it was the first time I read it.....

[Char]

I ended up finishing yesterday. I thought this was just okay. I did like that the pacing finally picked up towards the end, but geez, it sure was slow going up to that point. I don't think I'll read the next one.

[Latasha]

I’m not going to finish it. I returned it to the library.

[evangelos]

I'm at page 200, almost halfway through. I wish I could have read faster, but the beginning took me a few times to get started. But now it seems I get more into the plot. I think so far, it's interesting, the setting and society. The characters not so much, I like Alex as main character ok, but they all seem to just move along with the plot at least at first. Seems more like an adventure/fantasy now with ghosts. Hopefully there's some gore or true horrific stuff in the second half. I'll try to finish before the weekend.

[Aaron]

Ninth House

Good afternoon Afficianados. I finished Ninth House on the 11th and started a partial re-read immediately after. On the second go-round, the first three-fifths of the book worked a lot better in terms of my understanding of plot points. I had forgotten or mentally discarded a lot of the first 60% or so by the time I finished, which I felt pointed to a deficiency in world building for this story. There was a torrent of exposition to keep track of; regarding exposition, I liked the Index of Houses and Thaumaturgy. The street map of New Haven was nice too. Overall, I'm interested in Hell Bent; I like religious themes in horror so have hopes for a trip to Hell. I'd like it better on Kindle Unlimited, lol. Have a nice day.

[Ash]

Ugh, I'm still on chapter 20. I feel like this is taking so long to read. At the very least, I am having an easier time following the story than I was in the beginning. It's coming together. So, that's something, I guess.

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!)]

Abit (very) late to the party but I really want to start this after my current read (The Exorcist)! Probably won’t finish it until the end of June but looking forward to discussing with you all! 🖤

[Kimberly]

Sarah wrote: "Abit (very) late to the party but I really want to start this after my current read (The Exorcist)! Probably won’t finish it until the end of June but looking forward to discussing with you all! 🖤"

It's never too late! The thread will still be open for discussion.