Gideon the Ninth

paperback, 496 pages

Published July 14, 2020 by Tor.com.

ISBN:
978-1-250-31318-8
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4 stars (27 reviews)

"The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of …

4 editions

Review of 'Gideon the Ninth' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Wow.

Just... wow.

This was a hell of a fun ride. I love stories which just throw you into the world, and expect you to figure it out as the story goes along. That is, as long as the author can give you enough clues and description and character development to show you the world she's building.

And Tamsyn Muir is more than capable of doing just that. She is a wonderful writer, and I would read anything else she chooses to write, no matter the genre or material. Hell, even the Acknowledgements at the end of the book were entertaining.

I won't give the plot away, except to say that this is a great twist on the traditional swords-and-sorcery fantasy genre, with a bit of a sci-fi element. Her characters are modern and smart and three-dimensional. The dialogue is crisp and funny and sometimes poignant and always moving …

reviewed Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb, #1)

Review of 'Gideon the Ninth' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This book has a lot of hype and I am here to tell you it is all thoroughly deserved. I knew I was going to give this 5 stars within the first 50 pages and I am trying to be more stingy with that rating. The main plot engine here is an Agatha Christie style locked room mystery, set against a wider backdrop of impending doom. The world building is top notch with the author not showing their hand too much with the wider plot. What makes this book sparkle are the characters. Jagged, little diamonds of characters that drag you in and make you want to know more. You will laugh, gasp and feel sorrow with these characters. A definite recommend and I hope the high standard is kept on the next one which has already been pre-ordered.