Who Would Like This Book:
This book is a wild, ambitious sci-fi/fantasy blend with necromancers, cosmic horror, and delightfully bizarre worldbuilding. If you loved the mind-bending mysteries and dark humor of Gideon the Ninth, you'll find plenty to enjoy here - just expect things to get even weirder and more challenging. Muir’s character work shines, and her prose is creative, lyrical, and often unexpectedly funny. Fans of challenging narratives, unreliable narrators, and stories that make you work for your rewards will absolutely love it. Anyone who enjoys dark, complex, and queer SFF with Gothic vibes and meme-fueled humor should dive in.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If non-traditional storytelling puts you off, this might be a tough ride - expect second-person narration, a confusing (sometimes intentionally bewildering) plot, shifting timelines, and a protagonist who can’t trust her own mind. Many readers found the first half especially hard to follow, with little handholding or immediate payoff. Some felt alienated by the lack of clear answers, others missed the snarky charm of Gideon from book one, and for a few, the gory details and body horror elements were a bit much. If you prefer a straightforward narrative or dislike unreliable narrators, this may not be your cup of tea.
About:
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is a mind-bending sequel in 'The Locked Tomb' series that delves into the journey of Harrow, a newly minted lyctor, as she navigates a world of mental disassociation, cosmic-level mysteries, and moral ambiguities. The book challenges readers with a complex layering of deceits and interweaving scenes from an alternate version of the previous volume, all set in eerie settings that are a far cry from conventional worlds, creating a dense and balky reading experience. The narrative style, filled with second-person perspective and a mix of confusion and clarity, keeps readers on their toes as they unravel the intricate plot twists and revelations.
The book is praised for its ability to expand upon the world and characters introduced in the first installment, 'Gideon the Ninth,' providing a compelling continuation of the story that challenges preconceptions and offers fresh perspectives. With a focus on character development and intriguing mysteries, Harrow the Ninth keeps readers engaged through its chaotic and over-the-top narrative, delivering surprises, twists, and a deluge of exposition that culminates in a metal-filled climax, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the final installment in the series.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of mental illness, body horror, graphic violence, and discussions of suicide.
From The Publisher:
Harrow the Ninth, an Amazon pick for Best SFF of 2020 and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling sequel to Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor's haunted space station.
"Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space! Decadent nobles vie to serve the deathless emperor! Skeletons!" -Charles Stross on Gideon the Ninth
"Unlike anything I've ever read." -V.E. Schwab on Gideon the Ninth
"Deft, tense and atmospheric, compellingly immersive and wildly original." -The New York Times on Gideon the Ninth
She answered the Emperor's call.
She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.
In victory, her world has turned to ash.
After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman's shoulders.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath - but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.
Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor's Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?
THE LOCKED TOMB SERIES
BOOK 1: Gideon the Ninth
BOOK 2: Harrow the Ninth
BOOK 3: Nona the Ninth
BOOK 4: Alecto the Ninth
Ratings (128)
Incredible (56) | |
Loved It (47) | |
Liked It (17) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (192):
Read It (127) | |
Currently Reading (4) | |
Want To Read (45) | |
Did Not Finish (9) | |
Not Interested (7) |
9 comment(s)
all right! i'm ready for alecto! give it to me now! i am a parasite!
Я хотіли багато, що написати, але скажу одне:
ЦЕ.БУЛО.АХУЄННО!
This book is as confusing as everyone makes it out to be yet knowing that beforehand made the ride much more enjoyable. This book makes a lot of risky decisions and I can see why it’s so divisive but I think I fall under the like it camp. The writing level is quite high and the various styles all are well done. Maybe it could’ve been a little less obtuse especially for so long but this is genuinely one of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read. If nothing else this book makes an impression and that’s worth something. I’m sure my take will change as a process the book over time but I leave now with a great interest in this series. Also ianthe and harrow are great characters
Let it be known this book does not hold your hand and there is no immediate satisfaction. If you’re looking for immediate payoff or even the cheeky humor of the first book you’ve got to hold out till the end. If you don’t like the style from the get go I wouldn't necessarily encourage you to fight your way through its chaotic and hard to follow. This is definitely an a niche style and if it’s not to your taste and you hate it from the start it’s probably not going to grow on you. But if you liked the world building of the first book give it a go it’s a wild ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’d recommend everyone at least give it a shot if you liked Gideon the ninth. It was wildly satisfying and I’m eager to tear through the next one even though I’ve got more questions than answers. Harrow the ninth has one of the best applications of unreadable narration and 2nd person narration, with a highly lyrical and poetic style of writing. It expands so many characters of the first book and the very foundation of necromancy as it works in the books. There is no doubt in my mind that this one is a hit and will have a place of honor on the bookshelf.
This left me with more questions than answers. I’ll probably re-rate it after the next book is out or I read it again.
Woohoo!!! This one was a doozy to get through. A bit of a nonstop mindfuck, but one that I was so enthused to embark on. It was a great prismatic time.
Couldn't wait for #2 since book 1 was so enjoyable, but the experience is really improved by reading spoilers. There's a lot of what feels like filler content otherwise.
Was expecting GtN and was severely disappointed, it's a very different book. I tried to struggle through because I've been told that the ending is worth it, but where GtN was funny and exciting, HtN is just depressing. Couldn't take it anymore and DNF'd at 45%.
4.5
What can you read after
Harrow the Ninth?
About the Author:
TAMSYN MUIR is the bestselling author of the Locked Tomb Series. Her fiction has won the Locus and Crawford awards, and been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Dragon Award, and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. A Kiwi, she has spent most of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time living in Waiuku and central Wellington. She currently lives and works in Oxford, in the United Kingdom
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