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A review by joy_achill
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
5.0
As much as I appreciate a good unreliable narrator, I don't think any book has the right (or the ability) to gaslight a reader extensively for very long and get away with it. Lying to your audience, even just by withholding information, is a powerful but dangerous narrative tool. In the (abridged) words of popular book-tuber KrimsonRougue: Confusion is not the same as mystery.
Throughout the first half of Harrow the Ninth, I worried that Muir might be making this exact mistake. I'm happy to report that I was wrong.
The frankly nonsensical first half of the story, coupled with the absence of much of the first book's humorous tone, makes for a bit of a difficult start. The narrative relies on the reader to power through the boring bits on pure faith. I personally know people who DNFed Harrow the Ninth in the first half. I understand that some lack the patience.
But if you don't, you will be rewarded with explosive action and authentic emotional extremes that will have you pacing wildly in your room (I annoyed a lot of people). Reveal after shocking reveal will be unveiled. Characters you thought you knew totally recontextualized.
If you want a taste of what the climax of this book feels like, go listen to /that/ part of Free Bird. Go skateboard off a steep hill. Reveal a dark secret to a trusted online-friend you met on Tumblr.
Even the Epilogue of Harrow the Ninth is deeply interesting. Each and every character, no matter how minor, feels like they are the protagonist of their own story - something that luckily carried over from Gideon the Ninth. Every twist and turn of their fate is impactful and so often surprising. I could sing praise for ever.
An amazing sequel.
Throughout the first half of Harrow the Ninth, I worried that Muir might be making this exact mistake. I'm happy to report that I was wrong.
The frankly nonsensical first half of the story, coupled with the absence of much of the first book's humorous tone, makes for a bit of a difficult start. The narrative relies on the reader to power through the boring bits on pure faith. I personally know people who DNFed Harrow the Ninth in the first half. I understand that some lack the patience.
But if you don't, you will be rewarded with explosive action and authentic emotional extremes that will have you pacing wildly in your room (I annoyed a lot of people). Reveal after shocking reveal will be unveiled. Characters you thought you knew totally recontextualized.
If you want a taste of what the climax of this book feels like, go listen to /that/ part of Free Bird. Go skateboard off a steep hill. Reveal a dark secret to a trusted online-friend you met on Tumblr.
Even the Epilogue of Harrow the Ninth is deeply interesting. Each and every character, no matter how minor, feels like they are the protagonist of their own story - something that luckily carried over from Gideon the Ninth. Every twist and turn of their fate is impactful and so often surprising. I could sing praise for ever.
An amazing sequel.