Book: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Publisher: Tor
Publish Date: September 10, 2019
Synopsis: The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

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

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. The emperor has called his necromancers to action, and Harrowhark is set on Gideon attending her as bodyguard. If Gideon survives, she’ll be a hero, and a free woman. If not, she can look forward to eternity as a shambling bone-servant.

Disclosure: ARC provided for an honest review. #partner


My hype for this book was real. The cover alone drew me in. But aside from that, the synopsis won me over. Aside from epic fantasy with a dash of space opera, Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth is a rule breaking story. Let me tell you why.

At its most fundamental level, Gideon the Ninth is about revelations and the acceptance of those truths. It shares a familiarity that we find with most fantasy stories, but what sets Gideon apart from the rest is the main character, Gideon. It’s very obvious that Gideon is a no-nonsense type of gal. In fact, if you called Gideon a gal, she probably would have hit you with the blunt end of her sword. But that tenacity of her character? It’s why I love this story so much.

The premise of the story is the Ninth House are the keepers of the Locked Tomb. They are the lowest of the caste system, and are frowned upon. But the Ninth House are powerful necromancers, and the heir to the house, and also a revered daughter of Drearburh, Harrowhawk, is bartering with her. What is she bartering? Gideon’s freedom in exchange of acting as her bodyguard.

Throughout this adventure, Muir has been frivolous with the snark, the attitude, and the sparkling personality of her characters. Just the dialogue between Gideon and Harrowhark is enough comedy to make my stomach hurt. The adventure itself, finding secrets around each corner, fighting ghosts of the past and of the present, and most of all, the truth between Gideon and Harrowhark is enough to say that Gideon the Ninth is ranked as one of my favorite books of the year.

I loved this book, and I cannot wait for more in this world and from Muir.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

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