Title: Gideon the ninth.
Author: Tamsyn Muir.
Format: Hardcover from library.
Publisher: Tor.com.
Page count: 444.
Release day: September 10th 2019.
Genre: Adult, science-fiction, fantasy.
Rating: 2 stars.
What is it about? (Summary from GoodReads)
Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you’ll ever have with a
skeleton.
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 necromantic skeletons. 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 wits and
skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant
of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier.
Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
My thoughts:
You know, the problem is, I have no clue what I just read.. This book really sounded like something I would enjoy, and I really wanted to.
I absolutely loved the first chapter of this book, the reason for giving this two stars, it was fast, it was funny and I really loved Gideon here!
And that’s about where it stopped.. After this first chapter Harrow got introduced, and things got explained, and I was very confused. But that often happens, so I pushed through and hoped I would be able to follow. I was not. I just got more and more confused. There were so many houses and their people introduced, and I kept being confused who belonged where and their relation to each other.
Also this book is described as Lesbian necromancers in space. There was lesbian romance present, but very on the background. And there was barely any space.. I mean they mention they are on a planet and travel to another planet, but that is as much space as we get.. So yes the description is true, but I think those two things should have been more present if this description is used. The whole book is about necromancers though!
I think I should have DNF’ed this book, but I just DNF’ed another book and didn’t want to do it again.. But now I kinda feel like I wasted quite some time on a book I really didn’t enjoy.. I think I read the first 250 pages with lots of attention, and then I just started skimming because I didn’t know what I was reading anyway..
I’m sorry for another negative review.. But I just wasn’t a fan of this one!
I definitely went back and forth on my score for this, ultimately gave it a 3/5 stars. I struggled with the first half, but really enjoyed the second half when it became more of a murder mystery. I’m going to go ahead and read the second book because I’m curious if things even out, but I totally get not liking this one.
YEah I keep hearing that people really enjoyed the second half!
But I think by that point I didn’t understand the story and was too confused haha!
I hope you enjoy the sequel!
I had such a hard time with the first half of this book, but I did manage to finish it and liked the ending enough to bump my rating up to a 3.5 tops! I really did think the second half was very good, though I don’t know if it’s enough to save the book – however, I will be reading the next one!
I think I was too lost becasue of the first half, to understand the second half haha!
I hope you will enjoy the sequel!
Sorry this didn’t work for you. I’ve seen a few mixed reviews for this and that’s why I haven’t picked it up. Hope the other books you pick up are much better.
Yes this one seems to get a lot of different reviews!
Thanks!
So sorry this one didn’t work for you. I’ve heard so many mixed things on it, makes me scared to start reading my copy lol. Sometimes marketing can be really misleading and expectations play a part in things too. Hope your next read is much better!
Yes I feel like you really love it or you don’t..
Yeah I really feel like the marketing should have been done differently in this case..
Oh well, I hope you will end up loving this one anyway!