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darlingfarthings 's review for:
Harrow the Ninth
by Tamsyn Muir
Truth to be told, some series peak with the first book. The first book often takes on some sort of exploratory angle, depending mostly on worldbuilding and unfamiliar circumstance to draw one in. The problem with this is that by the second book, there isn’t any more unfamiliarity or ingenuity to capitalise on. There is nothing to be curious about and hence nothing to be excited about.
The Locked Tomb is not one such series.
I think I’ll just state everything I love about this novel because I have no idea how else to go about it. I love the beginning of the novel which sets up two deaths - that of the emperor and that of Harrowhark’s mind - for us to unravel. I love the daring shifts in point of view and timeline. I love Ianthe, even though I felt that her personality was somewhat retconned before I realised (with shock, and then with horror) that this is Ianthe *flirting*. That Ianthe’s love languages are gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss. Fucking hell. I love the body in all its ambiguity, I loved the setup and payoff stuff which worked way better in this novel tbh because the first one felt more like a murder mystery and the lyctorship rituals didn’t quite go anywhere - in this one, everything led to something. I loved the fact that this was a pretty - excuse the pun - harrowing novel? I think that Muir truly has a gift for ending chapters on a dramatic revelation. Said dramatic revelations end like 30% of her chapters and always elicit emotional reactions. For better or for worse, for me, an emotional reaction is one that involves gasping for breath or saying stuff like “excuse me!” repeatedly from the isolated comfort of my own homes
Also Mercymorn Gideon (I) etc are so good. Mercymorn is such a fun character, probably me irl lowkey. Gideon I is just fun. I love John a lot too? Probably because he’s such an unconventional [HUGE MEGA HECKING SPOILERS HERE] villain. Like yeah he’s probably a bad man but he’s nice !!!! So :(
Also. Gideon and Harrowhark, man. At that first “Griddle”, something within me gave way. I feel like in The Locked Tomb I didn’t truly believe in Griddlehark, but somehow, this novel haunted by Gideon’s absence made me believe it. The yearning, the sheer need and want, and finally [MORE HUGE SPOILERS] the joy I felt at her return??! Like, god I missed that personality of hers. And her immaculate banter with Ianthe. Sigh. This is sooooo good you guys. Like so good! Like.
5/5 would recommend to everyone ngl
The Locked Tomb is not one such series.
I think I’ll just state everything I love about this novel because I have no idea how else to go about it. I love the beginning of the novel which sets up two deaths - that of the emperor and that of Harrowhark’s mind - for us to unravel. I love the daring shifts in point of view and timeline. I love Ianthe, even though I felt that her personality was somewhat retconned before I realised (with shock, and then with horror) that this is Ianthe *flirting*. That Ianthe’s love languages are gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss. Fucking hell. I love the body in all its ambiguity, I loved the setup and payoff stuff which worked way better in this novel tbh because the first one felt more like a murder mystery and the lyctorship rituals didn’t quite go anywhere - in this one, everything led to something. I loved the fact that this was a pretty - excuse the pun - harrowing novel? I think that Muir truly has a gift for ending chapters on a dramatic revelation. Said dramatic revelations end like 30% of her chapters and always elicit emotional reactions. For better or for worse, for me, an emotional reaction is one that involves gasping for breath or saying stuff like “excuse me!” repeatedly from the isolated comfort of my own homes
Also Mercymorn Gideon (I) etc are so good. Mercymorn is such a fun character, probably me irl lowkey. Gideon I is just fun. I love John a lot too? Probably because he’s such an unconventional [HUGE MEGA HECKING SPOILERS HERE] villain. Like yeah he’s probably a bad man but he’s nice !!!! So :(
Also. Gideon and Harrowhark, man. At that first “Griddle”, something within me gave way. I feel like in The Locked Tomb I didn’t truly believe in Griddlehark, but somehow, this novel haunted by Gideon’s absence made me believe it. The yearning, the sheer need and want, and finally [MORE HUGE SPOILERS] the joy I felt at her return??! Like, god I missed that personality of hers. And her immaculate banter with Ianthe. Sigh. This is sooooo good you guys. Like so good! Like.
5/5 would recommend to everyone ngl