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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
please ignore how long this took to re-read i just took a really long break. i forgot that that the very beginning of the book is kinda boring but then it gets so good.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
If you're checking reviews because you're struggling with this book, I was right there with you- Harrow The Ninth is up there with one of the strangest and in some ways most challenging books that I've ever read. I came very close to DNFing at about 45%, and now that I'm finished, it's an easy five star. So if you're feeling the same way, I really encourage you to stick with it!
Harrow is unlike any other book I've read. This is a book that really benefits from a close read and careful attention, but will make you feel like you're being punished for trying to figure it out at first, but it invites and, I'm confident to say, would reward a reread. Once the narrative starts to unfurl, it's beyond satisfying. Muir places breadcrumbs expertly throughout the story, even when it feels at its most confusing, and you can tell you are in safe hands for the arc that she has planned.
I loved the Harrow that we met in Gideon, so I was very excited to get to delve deeper into her in this book. On that count, I am both satisfied and left wanting, and desperately hoping that Nona will give me more of both she and of our favourite butch cavalier.Their relationship is one of the keystones of this series, so a book in which we don't get to see them interact for a single scene was torturous, but in the best way imaginable. The yearning is off the charts. The way that Harrow loves is filthy and desperate and sad. This book allows us to explore more of Ianthe's character too, and I love how Muir makes this feel so different than the impression we had of her in Gideon and from Gideon's POV, now that we're able to see with different eyes. She's awful and I love her.
One of the shining stars of this novel is the Emperor/God/The Kindly Prince of Death, a character who is at once utterly repellant, hilarious, and exudes power and menace. The epilogue of this book leaves me completely baffled about what Nona will bring, but I hope it's got plenty more of him.
One of my favourite things about this story is that it feels like the sequel to something much more straight forward, but doesn't allow the reader to ease in with that story. I'm fascinated by the story of the Saints and the Resurrection and all that came before Gideon and Harrow, and loved getting to piece it together slowly as more or less a bystander to these powerful characters. All of the characters felt substantial and fleshed out, and I hope that I get to know them better in the rest of the series, but I suspect that Muir might keep those stories just out of focus- as torture, because she's that kind of author.
The reveal that the 2nd person POV chapters are not actually second person at all was one of the most brilliantly executed twists I've ever seen in a book. It transformed the book from truly baffling to a compelling and unputdownable ride for the last three hundred pages. That twist put the story on its head and removed any sense of safety you had as a reader, revealing that this story has the ultimate unreliable narrator. I can't give enough praise for that; it was genius, and it's probably one of the best things about the book- if anyone has any tips on how to recommend this book without giving this away, I'd love to hear them!
Harrow is unlike any other book I've read. This is a book that really benefits from a close read and careful attention, but will make you feel like you're being punished for trying to figure it out at first, but it invites and, I'm confident to say, would reward a reread. Once the narrative starts to unfurl, it's beyond satisfying. Muir places breadcrumbs expertly throughout the story, even when it feels at its most confusing, and you can tell you are in safe hands for the arc that she has planned.
I loved the Harrow that we met in Gideon, so I was very excited to get to delve deeper into her in this book. On that count, I am both satisfied and left wanting, and desperately hoping that Nona will give me more of both she and of our favourite butch cavalier.
One of the shining stars of this novel is the Emperor/God/The Kindly Prince of Death, a character who is at once utterly repellant, hilarious, and exudes power and menace. The epilogue of this book leaves me completely baffled about what Nona will bring, but I hope it's got plenty more of him.
One of my favourite things about this story is that it feels like the sequel to something much more straight forward, but doesn't allow the reader to ease in with that story. I'm fascinated by the story of the Saints and the Resurrection and all that came before Gideon and Harrow, and loved getting to piece it together slowly as more or less a bystander to these powerful characters. All of the characters felt substantial and fleshed out, and I hope that I get to know them better in the rest of the series, but I suspect that Muir might keep those stories just out of focus- as torture, because she's that kind of author.
You’re confused. I’m confused. Harrow’s confused. WE ARE ALL CONFUSED!
But when I say my jaw dropped when I realized the 2nd person writing was for a reason, I mean that MY JAW DROPPED AND I SCREAMED! I will definitely need to reread this book.
But when I say my jaw dropped when I realized the 2nd person writing was for a reason, I mean that MY JAW DROPPED AND I SCREAMED! I will definitely need to reread this book.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
finished this a few days ago but i had too many thoughts and i just had to start nona immediately after...
i'll be brief (editing here: i lied it's not brief) so i don't spoil but this book mirrors gideon the ninth in its strengths and weaknesses. tamsyn muir likes to throw you into each book completely blind, refuses to explain anything, and leaves you in the hands of narrators who know even less than you, which can make for a very confusing read, but also a very exciting one.
it is not a perfect book in the slightest. if gideon was frustrating because of her COMPLETE lack of interest in the lore, harrow's book frustrates you because of her skewered understanding of the plot, ultimately trapping you into the gigantic plot-hole-lore-hole clusterfuck that muir intended for you all long! yay!!!! but in the end i think that is the very charm of the book. everything about this book is experimental, from the characters to the plot to the narrative devices and magic. tamsyn muir is either a genius or a madwoman and wants you to know it. i do think her writing needs improvement, in that it often fails to convey her characters' feelings or tone, and the magic system is still terribly confusing and convoluted, which i accepted in the first book but cannot entirely excuse 2 books into the series—surely there must be less wordy and overwritten ways to explain the scientific necromancy. also her humour is occasionally a little too cringe but i'll put that down to personal preference.
what muir excels at is constantly taking you by surprise again and again and again, either with her characters' witty banter and questionable choices or with the emotional depth and complexity of their relationships. read half of this book on a plane and the girl next to me saw me vibrating in my seat in shock or sobbing one too many times. i desperately love these people it's Bad. thank you tamsyn muir i still think you're still a wonderful sadist
i'll be brief (editing here: i lied it's not brief) so i don't spoil but this book mirrors gideon the ninth in its strengths and weaknesses. tamsyn muir likes to throw you into each book completely blind, refuses to explain anything, and leaves you in the hands of narrators who know even less than you, which can make for a very confusing read, but also a very exciting one.
it is not a perfect book in the slightest. if gideon was frustrating because of her COMPLETE lack of interest in the lore, harrow's book frustrates you because of her skewered understanding of the plot, ultimately trapping you into the gigantic plot-hole-lore-hole clusterfuck that muir intended for you all long! yay!!!! but in the end i think that is the very charm of the book. everything about this book is experimental, from the characters to the plot to the narrative devices and magic. tamsyn muir is either a genius or a madwoman and wants you to know it. i do think her writing needs improvement, in that it often fails to convey her characters' feelings or tone, and the magic system is still terribly confusing and convoluted, which i accepted in the first book but cannot entirely excuse 2 books into the series—surely there must be less wordy and overwritten ways to explain the scientific necromancy. also her humour is occasionally a little too cringe but i'll put that down to personal preference.
what muir excels at is constantly taking you by surprise again and again and again, either with her characters' witty banter and questionable choices or with the emotional depth and complexity of their relationships. read half of this book on a plane and the girl next to me saw me vibrating in my seat in shock or sobbing one too many times. i desperately love these people it's Bad. thank you tamsyn muir i still think you're still a wonderful sadist
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just like in Gideon I LOVED the audiobook narrator.
I was surprised that, whereas I had a hard time getting into Gideon, and I had a hard time with this book too, by the end I was OBSESSED. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending contains some cool reveals that make me want to immediately reread both books.
I don't know where in the story the switch flipped for me from 'meh' to ... Watching YouTube videos explaining the book's ending, devouring two of the short stories, immediately procuring a paperback copy of this + Gideon so that I could read the appendices, reading interviews with the author, browsing the fandom Reddit and wiki, etc etc etc.
Sooooo yes I will be reading Nona too!
I was surprised that, whereas I had a hard time getting into Gideon, and I had a hard time with this book too, by the end I was OBSESSED. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending contains some cool reveals that make me want to immediately reread both books.
I don't know where in the story the switch flipped for me from 'meh' to ... Watching YouTube videos explaining the book's ending, devouring two of the short stories, immediately procuring a paperback copy of this + Gideon so that I could read the appendices, reading interviews with the author, browsing the fandom Reddit and wiki, etc etc etc.
Sooooo yes I will be reading Nona too!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WTF?! This book is awesome. I want to be inside TM's brain...or do I?!
The first part of the novel, with the alternation between flashback/alternate history/bubble-of-air-in-the-river and Harrow Not Knowing What the Actual Fuck was Happening dragged on for me. I missed Gideon. I wanted to know What the Actual Fuck was Happening. I felt a little impatient.
But it kept getting weirder and more horrific and slowly more clues dropped.
And then BAM!!! Big. Fucking. Reveals. Lots of feels. The wait was worth it! Nothing went the way I thought it would. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to Nona the Ninth.
This series is so weird and horrible and amazing and hilarious and touching. One of my favourites of the year. These books make me flinch and I can't put them down.
The first part of the novel, with the alternation between flashback/alternate history/bubble-of-air-in-the-river and Harrow Not Knowing What the Actual Fuck was Happening dragged on for me. I missed Gideon. I wanted to know What the Actual Fuck was Happening. I felt a little impatient.
But it kept getting weirder and more horrific and slowly more clues dropped.
And then BAM!!! Big. Fucking. Reveals. Lots of feels. The wait was worth it! Nothing went the way I thought it would. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to Nona the Ninth.
This series is so weird and horrible and amazing and hilarious and touching. One of my favourites of the year. These books make me flinch and I can't put them down.