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A review by atomic_tourist
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Sometimes I read a book and I'm like, 'yep, of course Tor Books would publish this...'
By that what I mean is that lots of their sci-fi and fantasy reads like fanfic, with characters that fit into neat bins both in terms of the tropes they check off and the identities they hold, and that everyone talks like they're tweeting. I guess it's kind of like 'adult' literature that reads strongly like YA? Though actually Gideon is one of few books I think fits squarely in the amorphous genre that is 'new adult.' Whatever that even means.
I'm rambling, I know... But what I'd really like to get at is that despite these limitations (which hold Gideon back from being a truly great book) I really liked it! I wish it had had a better editor, but I feel that way about 99% of books from this publisher. It was a pleasure seeing the relationship between Gideon and Harrow evolve, and I enjoyed the And Then There Were None-esque nature of the 'whodunnit' in last 2/3 of the novel. While the writing style (it really is very Twitter-y!) wasn't wholly original, the novel's premise was strong enough that I still had a good time.
And one more gripe: if you're going to market your book as "lesbian necromancers in space," then maybe the characters should... I don't know... do some lesbianing? Just a wild thought!
By that what I mean is that lots of their sci-fi and fantasy reads like fanfic, with characters that fit into neat bins both in terms of the tropes they check off and the identities they hold, and that everyone talks like they're tweeting. I guess it's kind of like 'adult' literature that reads strongly like YA? Though actually Gideon is one of few books I think fits squarely in the amorphous genre that is 'new adult.' Whatever that even means.
I'm rambling, I know... But what I'd really like to get at is that despite these limitations (which hold Gideon back from being a truly great book) I really liked it! I wish it had had a better editor, but I feel that way about 99% of books from this publisher. It was a pleasure seeing the relationship between Gideon and Harrow evolve, and I enjoyed the And Then There Were None-esque nature of the 'whodunnit' in last 2/3 of the novel. While the writing style (it really is very Twitter-y!) wasn't wholly original, the novel's premise was strong enough that I still had a good time.
And one more gripe: if you're going to market your book as "lesbian necromancers in space," then maybe the characters should... I don't know... do some lesbianing? Just a wild thought!