Published: 10 September 2019(print)/ 10 September 2019 (audio) 
Publisher: Tor/Recorded Books
Pages: 448/16 hrs and 50 mins
Narrator: Moira Quirk
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fantasy
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars
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.
Everyone has been talking about this book and after reading it I can say it was…ok. I liked it, it is an interesting premise: necromancers, interplanetary adventures, and swordfights all with a modern aesthetic in terms of language, swearing, and attitudes of the kick arse characters. That probably made it a bit more accessible to a non-fantasy reader like myself, but it is still a heavy fantasy with guilds and the art of necromancy to wrap your head around.
Gideon is an intriguing character and as you meet others who have been summoned to this trial they are their own kind of unique which makes for an eclectic group which brings its own challenges and delights.
Harrowhark’s goals and intentions and clear, as are Gideon’s, and seeing the pair interact is amusing since it’s initially begrudging and one of servitude. After a while the pair soften towards one another, especially as the perils around them become clear and they grow closer.
I will say one of the downsides was it is long, or at least it felt long, and I got a smidge bored. I wasn’t very invested in what was happening after a while, despite the strong start and our introduction to Gideon. I will say I enjoyed the fighting at the end, it was enjoyable and engaging after the saggy middle.
I agree Muir is a good writer and you can easily picture what plays out on the page. The writing is vivid and when there are fight scenes or action it’s hard not to become intrigued. I did it as an audio and ?? was a good narrator, they definitely helped me get through it, I think reading it I would have put it down a lot more.
I can see why people enjoy it, it is certainly different and has great magical elements. The guilds and factions, the war etc are all a lot that could be further explored and probably are in the rest of the series. I do not read a lot of fantasy so I am probably not the best judge, and I have definitely read a lot worse.
With three stars I didn’t hate it, it was good, but I will say I wasn’t invested enough to pick up the next one, despite the very creative cliff hanger.
You can purchase Gideon the Ninth via the following
Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible
