Reviews with content warning for Dysphoria - Nona the Ninth

Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

12 reviews

k_aro's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I took the longest to finish Nona the Ninth, not really out of Nona's failings or anything, I just couldn't get into the grove of having a whole bunch of narratives at once at the same time as an entire new cast of characters/new world. I also think it's the book that's easiest for me to tackle in The Locked Tomb series, both having a better grasp of the writing style/world as well as being structured a little more accessibly.

Off the bat, Nona's internal narrative is much more loving and caring than Gideon and Harrow, which is to say I spent so much more of GtN and HtN actively being confused and annoyed by the various characters, where in Nona they're a lot more understandable. NtN really does pull out to look at what the TLT-verse looks like outside of the Houses (and to a certain degree that life outside of them are in fact so fruitful and lively, which is something I just couldn't really imagine previously).

Ianthe is worse than ever, which is a compliment because I love how terrible she is. Muir really excels at the most horrifying relationships, experienced through shreds of narrative. I agree that NtN really feels like a prologue, but frankly a prologue to what I could not say; this seems to be a running TLT joke where each book is just more confusing and more disorienting than the last. Truly, I could not imagine what Alecto will do.

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bluestjuice's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Oh my goodness. Sometimes a book just crawls inside your consciousness in the best way, you know? This is like that - this isn't the book I was expecting, and I had no idea what was going on through the first third and even less idea through the second third - but godsdamn, I was unquestioningly committed and on board for the entire ride.

Nona is so, incredibly, real. This is one of Muir's great talents - despite writing a series that is utterly over-the-top space melodrama with gothic elements and skeletons and necromantic flourishes all over everything, they nevertheless create people that feel and act utterly peopley. Many authors can't convincingly write youthful characters even in ordinary circumstances; Muir portrays Nona's uncomprehending childishness in a way that is genuine and feels both true to the experience of the young without being the least bit saccharine. I loved Nona, entirely, and her protagonism resonated with me vigorously despite the twisty, adult, machination-y web of deceit and plotting that surrounded her nearly every step of the way.

This is the third book in the series, which I have waited for a long time, and which I should clearly have bothered to do a re-read of previous to this because the lore here is deep and the references are layered in as thickly as Griddle's skull makeup back in Gideon the Ninth. On the other hand, having now skidded out the other side (I'm not kidding: I read the last 100 pages in a rare frenzy of you don't understand I cannot put this down until I know what happens), I have a burning desire to go re-read everything through again, to line up pieces and notice all the many things I'm sure I missed or didn't realize the significance of at the moment they were deployed.

Anyway, I don't even feel qualified to review this really because my emotions are leaking out all over the place and I don't know what to say to explain how enjoyable I find this series and this installment. In all its infuriating circuitous mystery. I can't believe I have to keep waiting to find out what happens next.

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black_rainbow's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

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iane_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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traa's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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lisa_m's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious tense slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was so good! I loved Gideon the Ninth and I wasn't completely happy with Harrow the Ninth. Nona blew me away! I was extremely confused in the beginning but I just loved Nona's POV. It was same world we kind of knew already but from such a different and unique child like perspective which was super interesting to read about.
I need the next book soo badly!!! The ending just confused me but also I feel like this is the first time I kind of understand what is happening. I feel like every new book in this series is so unique and you're going to be confused in the beginning no matter what. So I definitely need to reread the first three books before reading Alecto. I do hope we get some final answers in that book though.

Since the first book Palamedes and Camilla have been my favourite characters. I obviously loved Gideon and the others as well but Camilla and Palamedes just have a truly special place in my heart. I am so happy that we got to know a bit more in this book. All of their emotional moments in this book just ruined me! I was so close to crying multiple times because of them. I just want to have a relationship like theirs someday. It is so beautiful. I'm really interested to learn more about Paul. I don't think I could ever like him as much as P&C but who knows.

I also really enjoyed Johns backstory. It was so interesting to read about. I still don't like him but it gave me so much more information about him and his story and motifs. Also it made me even more excited for Alecto.

What I did not understand though was Nonas 'death'? Was she Harrow + the Body in a weird mix that got a new consciousness? That was at least the way I explained it to myself. Maybe we will get more information about that in the next book as well :)

The Locked Tomb series is definitely one of my all time favourite series and I'm pretty sure I will have to reread it at some point just to fully appreciate it and understand what is going on. :)

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