A review by chomperpupper
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Harrow the ninth is an intruging look into the life of children who have had to raise themselves ,children born into orthodox religious families and the life of a person who cannot let go of her grief . The book serves as a sequel to gideon the ninth and is very far from a typical fantasy book . It has a confusing structure but it is the kind of book that a person reads again and again to unravel everything the story has to offer. There is such depth in Harrows character and how she was never truly able to let go of her past . Her relationship with Ianthe and God provide us with a lot of new insights about her character which we didn't previously get in gideons perspective . There's a huge tonal shift in this book . Harrow is more grim than gideon was but also more detail oriented which can be clearly seen.  Harrows complicated relationship with God and ultimately religion and how it sometimes ends up causing more harm than good is something very interesting and seems to be done with a purpose.  A big part of harrow is her self loathing. Whenever she describes herself she is thinking of herself as a monster , something one can have no sympathy for and someone who always ends up making the situation worse. It's all over a very sad book to start the year with but I enjoyed so many parts . I enjoyed gideons point of view and I enjoyed the river bubble. I enjoyed Camilla coming back. I enjoyed ianthe more than I shouldve and I love mercymon . I despise John and I love how anytime a lyctor looks into the mirror they look into the eyes of the cavalier they killed to become a lyctor. It's all over a powerful read and I am excited to read the next book in the series.