A review by orionmerlin
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

Characters: 10/10
If I had to be stranded in a crumbling dystopia with cosmic horrors lurking around, I’d want this crew at my side. Nona is pure chaotic sunshine wrapped in existential dread, and somehow, that works beautifully. The supporting cast? Flawless. Camilla and Palamedes continue to be the kind of characters I could write a thesis on, and every single personality in this book pops like neon in a blackout. The dynamics are rich, the relationships are layered, and everyone feels so vividly real I could sketch out their facial expressions from memory.
Atmosphere/Setting: 9/10
Imagine a world that’s rotting from the inside out, sprinkled with eldritch nonsense, and held together by sheer narrative audacity. That’s what you get here, and somehow, it absolutely slaps. The blend of gothic horror, sci-fi, and end-of-the-world tension is chef’s kiss. Do I fully understand the mechanics of this universe? Not always. Did I care? Not really, because the vibes were immaculate, and I was too busy being captivated by the eerie, crumbling spectacle of it all.
Writing Style: 10/10
Tamsyn Muir’s prose is so good it makes other authors look like they’re typing with oven mitts. It’s sharp, it’s witty, it’s devastatingly emotional, and somehow, it never takes itself too seriously. The dialogue alone could sustain me for weeks. There’s this perfect blend of absurd humor and gut-punch tragedy that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Every sentence feels deliberate, and honestly, I’d read Muir’s grocery list if she decided to publish it.
Plot: 9/10
Muir continues her reign as the queen of “figure it out as you go” storytelling, and honestly? I respect it. The plot is a labyrinth, and yeah, I had to stop a few times to process what was happening, but that just made the payoff even better. It’s layered, intricate, and refuses to hold your hand. The pacing keeps things engaging, even when the narrative structure plays jump rope with linear time. And when the big reveals hit? Whew. Worth every moment of confusion.
Intrigue: 10/10
I was hooked. Utterly, completely obsessed. The mystery of Nona’s identity had me flipping pages like I was training for the Olympics. The book doesn’t just hold your interest—it kidnaps it and refuses to negotiate. Every twist, every cryptic conversation, every existential revelation had me glued to the story, and I could not focus on reality until I devoured the last page.
Logic/Relationships: 9/10
The relationships are the emotional backbone of the book, and they work. Nona’s dynamic with her found family? Perfection. The tension, the love, the unspoken grief—it’s all there, and it hurts in the best way. The logic of the world-building? Well… it operates on vibes, but those vibes are consistent. There’s a lot of dense lore, but at this point, if you’re not here for some intentional ambiguity, that’s a you problem.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I loved every second of this weird, brilliant, emotionally devastating ride. Confusing? Sometimes. But worth it? Absolutely. If you want a book that will make you laugh, cry, and question your existence all at once, this is the one. Muir remains undefeated in making me feel things I was not emotionally prepared for, and I will happily let her do it again.