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A review by icarusabides
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
5.0
What a fucking book. I don't think I've ever been so confused by a sequel before and yet I loved it for it. Harrow the Ninth boldy changes things up from Gideon the Ninth, there's no playing it safe here whatsoever and I constantly found myself questioning the previous book, uncertain and I swear gaslit at times, but Muir kept me reading and more than repaid the faith in embracing being adrift for so long in this world.
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The above is my original rambly, incoherent, and impassioned review after my first read but I fully agree with it still, incoherence and all, so I'm leaving it up even as I hope to expand a little more on my thoughts about the book. First time through Harrow the Ninth is an, intentionally, confusing fever dream of a book and I absolutely adored it for that but it's also very true that second time through proved just as a rewarding. Things were much clearer this time around with the benefit of hindsight and it was fascinating to see things click into place from conversations or events that Harrow herself barely understood.
No doubt a fair few people will have bounced off HtN considering how much of a departure it is from GtN but it's one of those book that if it clicks for you and you can cope with being in the dark for the bulk of the book and at times lied to then it's a pure delight. Harrow the Ninth expands well on the wider universe that was only really hinted at in the previous book with more revealed about just what this vast necromantic driven empire is doing out on its fringes. The mysterious, rarely seen, millenia old lyctors are brought into full vivid focus wonderfully and some of the characters who were somewhat sidelined in the first book get a chance to shine.
The mysteries, the universe, the magic are all great but it's the characters along with Muir's fantastic writing that make this series sing. Outside of Harrow and Gideon who are of course incredible the supporting cast is just so bloody good, even the ones who are twisted and awful are compelling and easy to like even though they shouldn't be really. It's a pure delight to spend time with all of them which pretty much sums this book up really since despite it being confusing, dark, full of meme references and thoroughly awful people it's bloody lovely spending time with it. Not for everyone perhaps but if it is then it really chuffing is.
Oh and Moira Quirk absolutely knocked it out of the park with the audio narration.
---------
The above is my original rambly, incoherent, and impassioned review after my first read but I fully agree with it still, incoherence and all, so I'm leaving it up even as I hope to expand a little more on my thoughts about the book. First time through Harrow the Ninth is an, intentionally, confusing fever dream of a book and I absolutely adored it for that but it's also very true that second time through proved just as a rewarding. Things were much clearer this time around with the benefit of hindsight and it was fascinating to see things click into place from conversations or events that Harrow herself barely understood.
No doubt a fair few people will have bounced off HtN considering how much of a departure it is from GtN but it's one of those book that if it clicks for you and you can cope with being in the dark for the bulk of the book and at times lied to then it's a pure delight. Harrow the Ninth expands well on the wider universe that was only really hinted at in the previous book with more revealed about just what this vast necromantic driven empire is doing out on its fringes. The mysterious, rarely seen, millenia old lyctors are brought into full vivid focus wonderfully and some of the characters who were somewhat sidelined in the first book get a chance to shine.
The mysteries, the universe, the magic are all great but it's the characters along with Muir's fantastic writing that make this series sing. Outside of Harrow and Gideon who are of course incredible the supporting cast is just so bloody good, even the ones who are twisted and awful are compelling and easy to like even though they shouldn't be really. It's a pure delight to spend time with all of them which pretty much sums this book up really since despite it being confusing, dark, full of meme references and thoroughly awful people it's bloody lovely spending time with it. Not for everyone perhaps but if it is then it really chuffing is.
Oh and Moira Quirk absolutely knocked it out of the park with the audio narration.