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A review by echoesofstrdst
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
gideon the ninth is a page-turning mystery set in an intriguing, morbid universe surrounded by death and resurrection. upon receiving an offer she can’t refuse, gideon nav joins harrowhark nonagesimus in her journey- and challenge- to become a lyctor, a trusted servant, soldier, and scholar to her emperor. between an unexpected turn during the lyctor challenge and a complex, hostile relationship rife with secrets and history, gideon and harrow attempt to pass a challenge with no instruction.
this book has been on my to read list for a long time and i had no idea what i expected it to be, but it was certainly not a necromancy murder mystery. i loved virtually every part of this book- from the lore and function of necromancers, the magic and specialty’s developed within necromancy, to the cavaliers, to the relationships, to the characters themselve, this book has something for every reader. i especially loved the slow burn of not just harrow and gideon’s relationship but the slow reveal of their history as well, adding depth and complexity to not just them but their situation as well.
the only reason i didn’t give gideon the night a 5 star review is because the main motivation for the central mystery is something i’m not particularly a fan of and therefore fell flat to me. that aside, this book is genuinely incredible and worthy of all the praise it receives from fans and readers. heart-wrenching, interesting, and simply cool, gideon the ninth created a story and world that draws readers in and makes their surroundings fade into the morbid, dark reality of the empire.
this book has been on my to read list for a long time and i had no idea what i expected it to be, but it was certainly not a necromancy murder mystery. i loved virtually every part of this book- from the lore and function of necromancers, the magic and specialty’s developed within necromancy, to the cavaliers, to the relationships, to the characters themselve, this book has something for every reader. i especially loved the slow burn of not just harrow and gideon’s relationship but the slow reveal of their history as well, adding depth and complexity to not just them but their situation as well.
the only reason i didn’t give gideon the night a 5 star review is because the main motivation for the central mystery is something i’m not particularly a fan of and therefore fell flat to me. that aside, this book is genuinely incredible and worthy of all the praise it receives from fans and readers. heart-wrenching, interesting, and simply cool, gideon the ninth created a story and world that draws readers in and makes their surroundings fade into the morbid, dark reality of the empire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Colonisation
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Death of parent, War
Minor: Child death, Cannibalism