Gideon the Ninth
Aug. 31st, 2020 04:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alaterdateGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir has got to be, hands down, my favorite read of the year. How could I find anything as good in the last four months of the year? Unless it's, you know, maybe Harrow the Ninth (but I have yet to get my hands on it).
The lore is thick, the lore is a measured ooze. And that turns some people away. They want to know what's going on. They want to know immediately. But all that matters is that Gideon kicks ass. Plus, the relaxed writing style is engaging enough to hold the weight of being dropped in this fantastical world.
I was thinking about the writing and it kind of reminds me of John Dies at the End by David Wong, but tighter. More focused. More sure. Need I say: better. It's really good. I loved the style a lot. It immediately drew me in.
Muir does however have her favorite phrases and images so that by the end they've kind of lost their impact, but that's not a major detraction because her writing is fun as hell.
The plot? The plot! The plot is so damn good.
Gideon is coerced to serve the head of the Ninth House in a way she never has before. As the cavalier to Harrow the necromancer. They go to a gothic mansion (on an entire different planet mind you!) to compete for the necromancer's chance at immortality against seven other houses. Seven other necromancers. Seven other cavaliers.
They don't play nice.
I knew very early on that it was going to contain so many of the things I love. It's that character plot about someone struggling with having every reason to "turn" on someone who treated/s them like shit (as I have said before), and having to decide whether or not to. Gideon doesn't struggle as much as other characters I've loved with this ordeal, but it's there. And I wondered how the hell Muir was going to get Harrow to a place where she's likeable enough to be the main character of the second book. WELL. She did it. (I need that book augh!) I must admit though that nearer to the end it seemed a tad forced perhaps, but still plausible.
Don't even get me started on the haunted gothic mansion bits. The mystery of locked doors, of knowledge kept beyond our grasp? THE MURDER. What more could someone ask for?
I really enjoyed all of that. Even when the answer was clear to me as a reader and the characters still fumbled around (in disbelief). Because you know something terrible. And dramatic irony is delicious.
As for characters: we all know I love Gideon. (If you didn't know: I love Gideon. And this review was nearly me repeating that single phrase innumerous times.) I love Gideon so much, I returned my borrowed copy of this book to the library and bought my own copy. My own copy that I promptly annotated (and colored in some of the roses and jewels). But did you know that I also loved everyone else in this book?
The character relationships between each necromancer and their respective cavalier is simply summed up with a chef's kiss. Complete loyalty. Betrayal. Also things I love to read about.
But I love Gideon the most.
Were we supposed to ship Gideon and Harrow? Did you ship Gideon and Harrow? It seemed to teeter there, but never quite cinched it. Despite the, you know, heroics. I was really rooting for Gideon/Dulcinea, but that turned out, uh, bad, lol.
In summary: this book was amazing. I love it dearly. And please take a very good look at the cover because it took me so long to realize in the kindle thumbnail that Gideon is wearing sunglasses. I love her so much. Muir's excellent, refreshing, writing style and the plethora of characters are not to be overlooked! Look at them!
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Date: 2020-09-03 07:13 pm (UTC)Have you read the Sixth House short story on the Tor website?
I loved how each house had their own style of necromancy, I didn't expect that.
Yes, I found the Eight interesting because it was so creepy. The scene in their room? Gideon couldn't get out of there fast enough for us both!
Ah, poor Nab. He was pissed wasn't he? lol. The turn around for the Third House was compelling. Muir did a great bit of concealing and foreshadowing with them.
Oh, thank the stars!
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Date: 2020-09-03 10:55 pm (UTC)