A review by emarie_stone
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-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

5.0

“Lesbian Necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!”.

TW:
Lots of blood. In-depth descriptions of bones, body parts, body horror (because necromancy). Death. Death of a child. Death of a parent. Suicide. Cancer.

The cover quote both overestimates and underestimates this book, leaving the reader wholly unprepared for the reality that is Gideon the Ninth. It’s graphic, violent, and told through the eyes of the most badass, hearthrobbing, buff lesbian I have seen to date in fiction. 

Let’s start with the first and most important point: this book is not gonna be for everyone. Neither characters nor locations are introduced slowly; rather, the reader is air-dropped into a story that’s already 10,000 years old and expected to figure it out along the way. The prose is thick as molasses, often intentionally confusing, but like an hourglass, the pieces gradually fall into one cohesive piece. By the end, I was excited, I was invested in the story, and the ending itself hit me like a freight train.

If given the option, I would suggest listening to the audiobook over traditional reading. The names of the characters are long and similar, but the narrator gives an excellent variety to their voices to distinguish them. Honestly a delight to listen to, and I’m not sure I would have gotten through it without her.

If you’re the kind of person who wants to understand the book while you’re reading, this is probably not the book for you. If you want a sarcastic, asshole lesbian to punch whatever’s pissing her off, maybe give Gideon the Ninth a try. 
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