A review by alica2
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ough......this one was rougher to get through than Gideon the Ninth, and way more confusing LOLOL but when it all came together it was worth it. I also felt super satisfied in calling one of the main twists, and I LOVE a good use of second-person POV (it was cool when NK Jemisin did it in The Stone Sky and it was still cool here). Much more chilling and creepy than Gideon the Ninth, I felt tense almost the whole time what with
the stalkeresque threat to Harrow on the ship, iykyk
. I LOOOVED the soup scene, like
the way that I wasn't expecting it all, the way that I could practically FEEL Harrow's paranoia and deliriousness from lack of sleep, the way she used her own freaking bone marrow, like girl??????
. Huge content warnings for self harm and just poor mental health in general. Harrow's visions and psychosis were particularly triggering for me and rough to read...

I cried again when
Gideon's POV kicked in
because like eugh the yearning and loneliness and despair... Also I really loved Ianthe in this one, like I hate her but I love her LOLOL she's an amazing character and I want to study her under a microscope. Ending spoiler
I almost yelled out loud when she saved the emperor from the hell hole or whatever, like girl!!!!! We were all rooting for you and you fumbled it big time!!!!!!!
Also
John's whole deal in general...I got completely fucking taken in by him and kept making excuses for why he wouldn't help Harrow and then he just like. Of course ends up being evil!!! Because no one should ever live as long as he has!!! But it was terrifying to see how frank and unconcerned he was about everything during the final confrontation with his Lyctors...like damn top ten villains for sure
.
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