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A review by mgdoherty
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ok I swear to god I’ll write a proper review this time but suffice it to say this book has haunted me for three years, and rereading it now with an eye to craft, I am so impressed. Everything in this story builds inevitably to its conclusion. It never would’ve ended any other way, because these characters are who they are and will always want to make these choices they’ve made.
Placeholder scribbles:
Gideon and Harrow define themselves in reaction to their individual traumas + in opposition to each other. They are each acting out the persona that allows them to live with their circumstances — Gideon can live with being an indentured servant if she believes she’s the big dumb hero who can’t get hurt and will someday win glory in the Cohort and make her House proud. Harrow can live with [redacted] if she is evil and cruel and wicked because only a bad person could result from [redacted].
The slow but steady becoming of Gideon the cavalier. The way she fulfills her heroic archetypes not just because she’s living her life like she’s in a story, but also fulfilling her archetype because it’s the only way she can see to save them all. She commits and never allows herself to waver. Big damn hero indeed.
Gemel girls, growing around each other so tightly wound they might strangle each other… but neither can they be separated.
Placeholder scribbles:
Gideon and Harrow define themselves in reaction to their individual traumas + in opposition to each other. They are each acting out the persona that allows them to live with their circumstances — Gideon can live with being an indentured servant if she believes she’s the big dumb hero who can’t get hurt and will someday win glory in the Cohort and make her House proud. Harrow can live with [redacted] if she is evil and cruel and wicked because only a bad person could result from [redacted].
The slow but steady becoming of Gideon the cavalier. The way she fulfills her heroic archetypes not just because she’s living her life like she’s in a story, but also fulfilling her archetype because it’s the only way she can see to save them all. She commits and never allows herself to waver. Big damn hero indeed.
Gemel girls, growing around each other so tightly wound they might strangle each other… but neither can they be separated.