The Ninth Life is an interesting enough novel that deals with plenty of issues regarding sexuality, life, death, and the complexities of being a human.
A Story of Reincarnation
By Taylor B. Barton
The Ninth Life follows Caesar, a cat who wishes to be reincarnated as a human to be with the girl he has grown to love. He gets his wish, going into the body of Austin, a boy with a troubled life. Barton did an excellent job of developing the novel’s tension, delving into the complexities of what it means to be a human.
Caesar has so much to learn to be a human and the range of complex emotions that come with it. Caesar struggles with the relationship Austin had with his roommate and his feelings for Ophelia.
There are some issues with the dynamics mainly because the relationship Austin had with Cooper was both unstable and toxic. There are mentions of previous abuse between the two, a mutually abusive relationship that Caesar has no intention of repeating. It does make the reader slightly uncomfortable to see Caesar navigate the turbulent relationship Austin had with Cooper.
Dynamic Shift
While some parts of the novel may make the reading uncomfortable, the relationships grow and develop healthily. The novel deals with sexuality, physical abuse, and drug usage, and these topics create tension between the characters.
The challenging issues also allow the reader to see the struggles in life that some people face. It is not far fetched to fall into drug dealing or the like, and the way Barton handles the drug usage is mature and realistic. Barton takes the tough subjects and allows the reader to connect to the story and connect to that tension. Yes, it does still make the dynamics frustrating and uncomfortable, but life is like that. Life is not always clean or perfect, but Barton brings it to life and gives the story its realism to ground the reader.
Final Thoughts
The Ninth Life is not a novel without issues. However, it humanly deals with real issues. This novel offers readers a look at humanity, a look at the complexities of emotions, of love. The Ninth Life is not a novel all will love or even life, but it is thought-provoking at the end of the day.
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Product Details:
| Pub Date: Unknown (Current Status Cancelled) | Page Count: 336pp | Age Range: 16 & Over |
| ISBN: 978-1-3351-4588-8 | Publisher: Rights Reverted to Author (Previously Inkyard Press) | List Price: $18.99 |
The Ninth Life