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 wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be 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.
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"What's not to love about this book? It may take some readers a bit to get used to the juxtaposed mish-mash of archaic language and Tumblr references, but once you get into the world of the Nine Houses, you're in for a real treat. Tamsyn Muir crafts a deviously delightful mystery that forces two people to realize that they absolutely hate that they love each other. Read it again after its sequel, Harrow the Ninth, and it's an entirely different novel."
— LakeCity (5 out of 5 stars)
“Deft, tense, and atmospheric, compellingly immersive and wildly original.”
— New York Times“A whirlwind of dark fantasy and dark humor, all wrapped up in sarcastic, delightfully sapphic Gideon Nav. The narrative oozes with voice and every sentence rattles with Gideon’s disaffected attitude and the creepiness of skeleton bones.”
— New York Journal of Books“Tamsyn Muir’s absorbing storytelling and Moira Quirk’s immersive performance create a richly imagined fantasy world…Quirk is at turns antagonistic, vulnerable, and hopelessly helpful as she characterizes all the participants and stewards of Canaan House…Winner of the AudioFile Eaprhones Award.”
— AudioFile“Worth every second of every spine-chilling page as the book moves seamlessly from science fiction to mystery-thriller and back again.”
— BookPage" This story is very fun and original, if a little bit confusing. The writing is not always clear (beyond the mystery of the events). Overall I really enjoyed it. "
— ShortShanks, 4/30/2024Tamsyn Muir is the bestselling author of the Locked Tomb Trilogy. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy 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.
Moira Quirk, a British actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator, co-narrated Ben Bova’s Mercury and has narrated other popular audiobooks for which she received Audie Award nominations. She is a successful comedian and can be heard on Nickelodeon’s cartoon My Life as a Teenage Robot as well as in The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, The Wild Thornberrys Feature, and Serendipity, among others. She has also lent her voice to several video games, including Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction and Haunting Ground.