'Ninth House,' the first book, follows a college freshman who gets caught up in the occult activities of Yale's secret societies.

Random House has acquired the next two novels from Six of Crows author Leigh Bardugo, the publisher has announced.

The new series centers on Alex Stern, a 20-year-old California high school dropout with a criminal past who is mysteriously offered a second chance as a Yale University freshman. Ninth House, the first book, follows Stern’s freshman year, where she is charged with monitoring Yale’s secret societies, who engage in sinister occult activities.

In a statement, Bardugo, who is a Yale graduate, said, "This story has been haunting me since I first set foot in New Haven almost 20 years ago. I love writing for young adults and I intend to keep doing it, but there are different places I want to go with this novel. It isn't a coming-of-age story. Alex has lived a lot of lives before we meet her."

Added Random House editor Noah Eaker: “I devoured Six of Crows when it published last year and knew I had to work with Leigh. She is one of the most gifted plotters and world-builders around. It’s amazing to see her storytelling skills unleashed in this world, which is basically our own yet with a brilliant and frightening fantastical overlay.”

Bardugo’s previous two books, Crooked Kingdom and Six of Crows, both reached No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising) is in development at DreamWorks with David Heyman and Heyday Films producing.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that the final offer was in the seven-figure range and was made on the basis of a less than 30-page proposal for the new series.

Bardugo is represented by Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media. Eaker is represented Random House.