Gideon the Ninth

Gideon the Ninth takes place in a distant star system where nine noble Houses practice necromancy under the rule of an immortal Emperor. The story centers on Gideon Nav, a swordswoman who serves the death-obsessed Ninth House against her will, and her nemesis Harrowhark, the House's heir and necromancer. The Emperor summons the heirs of each House to compete in mysterious trials, with the winners to become Lyctors - immortal beings who serve as the Emperor's elite guard. Gideon must act as Harrowhark's bodyguard during these trials, despite their mutual hatred. Together they travel to a crumbling mansion on a distant planet to face unknown challenges alongside competitors from the other Houses. The novel combines elements of gothic horror, science fiction, and dark comedy. It features complex magical systems, political intrigue, and tense action sequences while following Gideon and Harrow's reluctant partnership. The narrative explores themes of power, sacrifice, and the price of immortality, set against a backdrop of decaying aristocratic structures and ancient secrets. Through its fusion of genres and distinctive voice, the book creates a unique meditation on death, loyalty, and transformation.

Readers emphasize the unique blend of gothic horror, science fantasy, and dark humor. Many note the sharp, sarcastic dialogue and complex relationship between Gideon and Harrow. Likes: - Original worldbuilding combining necromancy with space setting - Gideon's irreverent voice and pop culture references - Intricate mystery plot with surprising twists - LGBTQ+ representation without making it a focus Dislikes: - Dense writing style with confusing terminology - Too many characters introduced quickly - Slow pacing in first third of book - Difficulty following action sequences One reader called it "like Gormenghast meets Alien with sword-fighting lesbians," while another said "the prose feels deliberately obtuse." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (128,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (8,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (2,000+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.12/5 (19,000+ ratings)

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🦴 The novel's distinctive blend of genres coined the term "Lesbian Necromancers in Space" among readers and reviewers, creating an entirely new literary niche. ⚔️ Author Tamsyn Muir drew inspiration for the sword fighting scenes from her own experience in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) training. 🏰 The architecture and atmosphere of the Canaan House setting was influenced by both Gothic revival mansions and Medieval European monasteries. 📚 The book won the 2020 Locus Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. 💀 Each of the nine Houses in the novel specializes in a different aspect of necromancy, from bone manipulation to spirit communication, creating a complex magical system based on death magic.