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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*AUDIOBOOK*
This rating is extremely personal. As in this was *my personal experience* reading this book. I know so many people love this book, and I can see that it is well-written. I also loved Gideon and Harrow and how they played off of each other. However, I just feel like this book didn't know what it wanted to be. So much of it felt scattered, and it really dragged through the "trial" portion of the story. There were some moments where I was highly engaged and others where I just could not care less (or had very little idea what was going on). The story itself was just an okay experience for me so...unfortuantely it's a 3 1/2 star read.
This rating is extremely personal. As in this was *my personal experience* reading this book. I know so many people love this book, and I can see that it is well-written. I also loved Gideon and Harrow and how they played off of each other. However, I just feel like this book didn't know what it wanted to be. So much of it felt scattered, and it really dragged through the "trial" portion of the story. There were some moments where I was highly engaged and others where I just could not care less (or had very little idea what was going on). The story itself was just an okay experience for me so...unfortuantely it's a 3 1/2 star read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It only took me 3 tries - but I finally get the Gideon hype. I’m not sure if it was a format issue (the first two tries were either audiobook and ebook) - or because I’m in the mood for mystery/fantasy lately - but I freaking finally love this book. I love these characters and how they both grow on you, and devastate you. All you will know is pain - but it’s so worth it. I can’t wait to dive into the next book.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun and entertaining romp that blends worldbuilding about necromancers in space with a thrilling murder mystery. Our hero Gideon Nav is relentlessly quippy; while at first she dreams of leaving behind the dreary monastery-tomb of the Ninth House, she is soon strongarmed into assisting the ascendant necromancer of the House with a series of deadly trials.
At the end of these trials waits immortality, or so it's said. At least, for those who can survive until the end... Gideon is a fighter, but she's also been alone for most of her life. And her necromancer's chilly personality doesn't exactly make the trials easy.
Each of the other Houses has its own personalities too, providing one necromancer and one cavalier primary (sworn knight, essentially) per House. I particularly enjoyed the different necromantic specialities of the various Houses. To discuss them in detail would spoil the surprise, but let's just say it goes far beyond Harrowhark's preferred medium of bones.
The selling point may be "lesbian necromancers in space," but this book features much more than that. I liked the colorful cast of characters, the worldbuilding around necromancy, and the vividly rendered action sequences, whether in duels between cavaliers or in fights against necromantic constructs. I thought the pacing was generally very good, and I'm already thinking about buying the next book in the series.
At the end of these trials waits immortality, or so it's said. At least, for those who can survive until the end... Gideon is a fighter, but she's also been alone for most of her life. And her necromancer's chilly personality doesn't exactly make the trials easy.
Each of the other Houses has its own personalities too, providing one necromancer and one cavalier primary (sworn knight, essentially) per House. I particularly enjoyed the different necromantic specialities of the various Houses. To discuss them in detail would spoil the surprise, but let's just say it goes far beyond Harrowhark's preferred medium of bones.
The selling point may be "lesbian necromancers in space," but this book features much more than that. I liked the colorful cast of characters, the worldbuilding around necromancy, and the vividly rendered action sequences, whether in duels between cavaliers or in fights against necromantic constructs. I thought the pacing was generally very good, and I'm already thinking about buying the next book in the series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
I don't rememberI don't remember reading anything like that. I'm not a fan of the genre, but I have to admit that the author has written an interesting novel that surprises at every turn.