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longwing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
snarktastic's review against another edition
3.5
I...do not understand this book. I enjoyed the vibes, mostly. I enjoyed some of the characters. I tried this book on both audio and Kindle and I still do not understand the magic system or world, not for lack of skill from the author (IMHO). I don't think I'll be continuing with the series, but I feel like I'm missing out by not getting it.
ashlislibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trisseret's review against another edition
3.0
Un muy buen inicio de daga que te deja con más preguntas que respuestas. Se siente bastante introductorio, así que queda ver hacia donde va.
aeturnum's review against another edition
3.0
Excellent Vibes Are Not Enough
A vivid and inventive world undone by a directionless plot.
Gideon, an orphan raised by one of nine houses of necomanric practice, tells her story of a call from the immoral god / emperor to the houses for new Lyctors (immortal hands of the emperor) to rise. Though Gideon hates her house and everyone in it, she agrees to go as a representative because it might give her a chance to escape.
Both excellent world building a decent character work is undone by a plot that is disinterested in both. Is the first house home to an uncontrollable dark necromantic energy? How are the Lyctor trials intended to proceed? What is the nature of the enigmatic keepers of the first house? You'll never find out because, at the 11th hour, a surprise villain with a surprise motivation is revealed. None of the inter-house politics that the book spends most of its length detailing matters in the least. Instead, it turns out that some Very Smart necromancers happen to Figure it All Out and become Lyctors. It's not out of keeping with the excellent world building, but it takes our heroes and our reader by surprise. The changes in Gideon's relationships feel hollow and unearned and the revelations about her past feel unexamined.
It is a shame because both the 11th hour villain and Gideon have worthwhile stories. The world they all live in is alive in death and fascinating, but it all gets lost when the author doesn't take proper care. No time to attend to the thaumaturgic details while talking about Gideon and Harrow's relationship, no time to attend to Gideon and Harrow's relationship while dealing with the surprise villain, etc.
All that said I do not think you will regret you time with the book. I do not regret mine. However, the ending is as pat and predictable as can be. I suspect you can predict its wide outlines (though not its details) after reading the back of the jacket.
A vivid and inventive world undone by a directionless plot.
Gideon, an orphan raised by one of nine houses of necomanric practice, tells her story of a call from the immoral god / emperor to the houses for new Lyctors (immortal hands of the emperor) to rise. Though Gideon hates her house and everyone in it, she agrees to go as a representative because it might give her a chance to escape.
Both excellent world building a decent character work is undone by a plot that is disinterested in both. Is the first house home to an uncontrollable dark necromantic energy? How are the Lyctor trials intended to proceed? What is the nature of the enigmatic keepers of the first house? You'll never find out because, at the 11th hour, a surprise villain with a surprise motivation is revealed. None of the inter-house politics that the book spends most of its length detailing matters in the least. Instead, it turns out that some Very Smart necromancers happen to Figure it All Out and become Lyctors. It's not out of keeping with the excellent world building, but it takes our heroes and our reader by surprise. The changes in Gideon's relationships feel hollow and unearned and the revelations about her past feel unexamined.
It is a shame because both the 11th hour villain and Gideon have worthwhile stories. The world they all live in is alive in death and fascinating, but it all gets lost when the author doesn't take proper care. No time to attend to the thaumaturgic details while talking about Gideon and Harrow's relationship, no time to attend to Gideon and Harrow's relationship while dealing with the surprise villain, etc.
All that said I do not think you will regret you time with the book. I do not regret mine. However, the ending is as pat and predictable as can be. I suspect you can predict its wide outlines (though not its details) after reading the back of the jacket.
spektriva's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dembury's review against another edition
5.0
Closer to 4/4.5 but I'm rounding up because it was a genuinely wild and fun story! "Gideon the Ninth" is like Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" but set in space and the characters are all necromancers and cavaliers, so that really just set the stage for a good time. I grew to love multiple characters, especially Gideon and Harrowhawk, who steal the show. Seriously, the relationship between Gideon and Harrow just GUTTED me at points and I was losing my mind during certain scenes. Also, I really liked the setting: I'm a sucker for an abandoned palace/house plot point and I think this one was well executed.
On the flip side, the cast of characters is HUGE and they aren't introduced in a very easy to follow way. I kept having to flip back to the character list (thank goodness there was one) and remember who was who. Also, some characters are referred to by multiple names; Gideon alone is call Gideon, Griddle, Nav, Cav, etc. and it's even more difficult when this happens with side characters the reader doesn't know very well yet. There are two characters whose names start with "P" and I constantly mixed them up until about 3/4 into the book.
The other main thing I think needed revision were the descriptions/explanations of certain magical things. There is a necromancy science that seems to underlie the magic system, which is cool, but there is so much talk of it that just went right over my head. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what they MIGHT be talking about. I just felt lost when the characters were trying to figure out the Big Mystery because I didn't (and kind of still don't?) understand what was at stake.
Finally, the worldbuilding is very thin and needs work, BUT because the novel was so contained to really one area this didn't bother me too much. The first 30 or so pages of the novel I struggled with because a lot was thrown in my face at once, but as the plot settled down it was okay.
On the whole: a super fun read that was never what I thought it was going to be, and I was downright shocked at times. I hope the sequel goes through some better revision, and Muir is able to smooth over some clunkier bits of writing, but I'm definitely planning on reading it.
On the flip side, the cast of characters is HUGE and they aren't introduced in a very easy to follow way. I kept having to flip back to the character list (thank goodness there was one) and remember who was who. Also, some characters are referred to by multiple names; Gideon alone is call Gideon, Griddle, Nav, Cav, etc. and it's even more difficult when this happens with side characters the reader doesn't know very well yet. There are two characters whose names start with "P" and I constantly mixed them up until about 3/4 into the book.
The other main thing I think needed revision were the descriptions/explanations of certain magical things. There is a necromancy science that seems to underlie the magic system, which is cool, but there is so much talk of it that just went right over my head. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what they MIGHT be talking about. I just felt lost when the characters were trying to figure out the Big Mystery because I didn't (and kind of still don't?) understand what was at stake.
Finally, the worldbuilding is very thin and needs work, BUT because the novel was so contained to really one area this didn't bother me too much. The first 30 or so pages of the novel I struggled with because a lot was thrown in my face at once, but as the plot settled down it was okay.
On the whole: a super fun read that was never what I thought it was going to be, and I was downright shocked at times. I hope the sequel goes through some better revision, and Muir is able to smooth over some clunkier bits of writing, but I'm definitely planning on reading it.
rainberrymyg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
madimoss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5