Harrow the Ninth

Harrow the Ninth

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-09-01 00:16:25
  • Update Date:2025-09-24
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Tamsyn Muir
  • ISBN:125031321X
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Includes 40+ pages of original content, including a never-before-available Locked Tomb short story。

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

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Reviews

Lily Bearwolf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Sono sempre più convinta che questo non sia un libro, ma un atto di fede。 Sì, perché per voltare pagina ti serve davvero tanta fede, fede nell’autrice che prima o poi ti spieghi cosa diavolo stai leggendo e perché。 E quella fede viene ripagata? Mm, sì e no。Io lo devo ammettere: le ultime 130 pagine sono belle, ricche di azione e spiegazioni e il cliffhanger finale ci sta tantissimo。。。 il problema è che non mi ripagano delle 400 pagine in cui non ci si capiva una fava! Per tutto il libro si ha la Sono sempre più convinta che questo non sia un libro, ma un atto di fede。 Sì, perché per voltare pagina ti serve davvero tanta fede, fede nell’autrice che prima o poi ti spieghi cosa diavolo stai leggendo e perché。 E quella fede viene ripagata? Mm, sì e no。Io lo devo ammettere: le ultime 130 pagine sono belle, ricche di azione e spiegazioni e il cliffhanger finale ci sta tantissimo。。。 il problema è che non mi ripagano delle 400 pagine in cui non ci si capiva una fava! Per tutto il libro si ha la sensazione di assistere a dieci film contemporaneamente, ma che partono da metà, così da non capirci niente neanche volendo。I dialoghi non aiutano a caratterizzare i personaggi, anzi te li rendono antipatici e fastidiosi。 Il linguaggio chiamiamolo “tecnico” della necromanzia, che già non veniva spiegato nel primo libro, qui addirittura si complica, rendendo molto difficile e poco scorrevole la lettura。Se “Gideon la Nona” aveva dei difetti, “Harrow la Nona” li eredita e li aggrava。 Come avevo già riscontrato nel primo, sono convinta che questa saga abbia un unico grande problema: la struttura narrativa。 Allora, io posso accettare due linee temporali scritte una in terza persona e una in seconda (anche se mi ha destabilizzato non poco, soprattutto per via di alcuni refusi che si potevano evitare correggendo un po’ meglio la bozza), posso accettare che ai personaggi venga un ictus proprio quando stanno cercando di rivelarti un segreto e aspettare per altre 100 pagine che te lo dicano, posso accettare di non avere uno straccio di world building (i luoghi in cui è ambientato il libro sono intercambiabili) e sorbirmi descrizioni che finiscono inesorabilmente con “era pieno di morti”, ma quello che proprio non posso accettare è uno sbilanciamento così pesante nello sviluppo della trama。 Non puoi, su 500 pagine, non dirmi niente e riempirmi la testa di scene inutili per 400 e poi darmi tutte le rivelazioni shock e il combattimento finale nelle ultime 130! Non è così che scrive, accidenti! Ho pensato più volte di abbandonare la lettura, ma mi sono aggrappata alla flebile speranza (o è masochismo?) che alla fine mi sarebbe stato tutto chiaro。 Non è andata esattamente così e me ne dispiaccio, perché la copertina è davvero bellissima e Harrow è un personaggio che adoro, ma vederla ridotta a un’ameba per 2/3 del libro è stata davvero dura。L’unica cosa in cui l’autrice è stata davvero brava (oltre a farsi venire l’idea, ovviamente) è far parlare i personaggi con una voce diversa。 Quando Gideon prende le redini della narrazione non hai alcun dubbio che sia lei a parlare con i suoi modi rozzi e sboccati che, ammetto, non mi ero resa conto di quanto mi fossero mancati。Prenderò il terzo? Eh, non lo so。 Da una parte, mi piacerebbe sapere come procede la storia, visto che in questo ci saranno state sì e no 200 pagine davvero importanti e che le restanti, oltre a tediarti a morte, hanno sollevato più dubbi che altro。 Dall’altra, eh… io non ne posso più di leggere cose inutili per l’80% del romanzo! La copertina del terzo dovrà essere davvero un capolavoro…3 stelline soltanto, ma sarebbero 2,5, perché l’ho praticamente finito per esasperazione!Ps。 Io, comunque, sono ancora perplessa dal “balocco del gioielliere”! 。。。more

Heather

Note: this was the audiobook version。 I read a lot of other reviews from people who were confused about the mystery and the intertwining timelines。 Maybe it's because I went directly from Gideon to this book, or maybe there were subtle hints in the delivery of the audiobook narration, but I clued in pretty quickly to what was going on。 It helped that the two timelines are separated by third person and second person narration, and each one plays out more or less in consecutive order, with a few e Note: this was the audiobook version。 I read a lot of other reviews from people who were confused about the mystery and the intertwining timelines。 Maybe it's because I went directly from Gideon to this book, or maybe there were subtle hints in the delivery of the audiobook narration, but I clued in pretty quickly to what was going on。 It helped that the two timelines are separated by third person and second person narration, and each one plays out more or less in consecutive order, with a few exceptions。 I thought the build of foreshadowing was great, and the two timelines meet up in a satisfying confirmation of all the hints。And speaking of the second person narrative sections - this was a big risk, and after the first couple sections, it settled in and felt natural。 I did feel the tone of the first bit of the book is a little flat, as is Harrow's character, but that picks up quickly, and soon enough, the book isn't taking itself too seriously again。Audiobook is an A+ format choice for enjoying this series, because Moira Quirk does such an amazing job of delivering the puns, dry humour, and memes, but also does great work with the pacing/tension of dramatic and battle sequences。 Overall, I'd give this 4。5 stars, rounding up to 5 because I love this world and these characters。 。。。more

Justin A

Even。 Freaking。 Better。 (which I didn't think was possible) Even。 Freaking。 Better。 (which I didn't think was possible) 。。。more

Lydia Hephzibah

again I say 。。。 what the fuck?? (and WHO is the Nona of book 3??)

Ricky

Similar in pace to the first book - slow, challenging first half, then action-packed, “wtf??” second half。 I read the second half in about 5 hours straight。 So I’m giving in and giving it 5 stars。 Still very morbid and gory like the first book。 Even weirder and more confusing and slower plot, especially the first half。 But damn。 What an exciting series!

Jon

The world-building in this series is amazing and so visceral。 The merging of futuristic sci-fi with archaic, magical fantasy keeps me eating these books up。I was lost for a while in the shift between second- and third-person narratives and the whole thing felt like a huge retcon to the first book in the series。 However, after figuring out the twist and realizing *why* this shift was happening I exclaimed, “Damn! That’s clever!” I hope you will too。

Nick

This series is so fun! It's like listening to a friend explain their very niche hobby to you - you may not always completely understand what is going on, you may sometimes wonder how anyone could be this interested in how two bones connect to each other, but then you step back and bathe in the exquisite vibes of a storyteller that is having the time of their life。 The universe being laid down here is so strange and compelling to me, can't wait to see where it goes from here。 This series is so fun! It's like listening to a friend explain their very niche hobby to you - you may not always completely understand what is going on, you may sometimes wonder how anyone could be this interested in how two bones connect to each other, but then you step back and bathe in the exquisite vibes of a storyteller that is having the time of their life。 The universe being laid down here is so strange and compelling to me, can't wait to see where it goes from here。 。。。more

Maria

This series is such a ride! It's such a rewarding read; it challenges everything you thought you knew after Gideon, leaves you in a state of confusion for most of the novel, and then consistently pulls the rug from by answering your questions with answers that only raise more questions。 Muir has built a very rich, fascinating world and a fantastic set of characters, and I genuinely can't wait to read more。 My only complaint is the constant meme references—there are some breathtaking passages, bu This series is such a ride! It's such a rewarding read; it challenges everything you thought you knew after Gideon, leaves you in a state of confusion for most of the novel, and then consistently pulls the rug from by answering your questions with answers that only raise more questions。 Muir has built a very rich, fascinating world and a fantastic set of characters, and I genuinely can't wait to read more。 My only complaint is the constant meme references—there are some breathtaking passages, but then characters reference memes and it would completely take me out of it and I found it very grating, which is unfortunate because Muir can be extremely funny when she doesn't rely on memes。 。。。more

Nellie Neal

Idk wtf I just read but damn am I ready for the next one

Elena

Delirio necromantico, pazzia, lutto e un intrigo da cercare di risolvere。 La prima parte mi ha lasciato più che altro molto perplessa e confusa。 Poi piano piano si riescono a mettere un po' i tasselli al loro posto, si capisce a che gioco sta giocando l'autrice e ci si riesce ad immergere di più nella lettura e nel delirio。 Il finale è molto bello。 Attendo con trepidazione il prossimo (e comunque: chi è Nona????!!!) Delirio necromantico, pazzia, lutto e un intrigo da cercare di risolvere。 La prima parte mi ha lasciato più che altro molto perplessa e confusa。 Poi piano piano si riescono a mettere un po' i tasselli al loro posto, si capisce a che gioco sta giocando l'autrice e ci si riesce ad immergere di più nella lettura e nel delirio。 Il finale è molto bello。 Attendo con trepidazione il prossimo (e comunque: chi è Nona????!!!) 。。。more

Karelle

Omfg。

Kat

I loved this, don’t get me wrong。 But I can’t give it a 5 (at least on first read through)。I don’t like second person POV - I find it jarring。 It wasn’t too bad here and made sense but still removed me from the story a little。I love the characters。 The world is so fresh。 The plot is neat!!But I was confused literally the entire way through。 Even the end where I finally got some answers had me thinking “???”Excited for the next book because I’m dying to see what happens to my favs!!

Bryana Shook

3。5 starts。 This book was better than the first, very enjoyable, but not the most memorable or captivating。

Jolien

I was really confused for 2/3 of this book。 The pacing was constantly changing, but never too slow。 We jumped around in time。 Things just did not add up。 There is also quite some parts written from second person, which has a good reason and did not bother me too much。 Once the reveal came, it was really good and worked really well with the confusion that this book is。 All in all, it is one of the most chaotic books I have read, but done in a good way。

Mel

This didn't start making any sense until I got about 340 pages in, and I still ended the book really fucking confused by the whole thing。 I'm glad some people loved it but really I don't think this series works for me。 This didn't start making any sense until I got about 340 pages in, and I still ended the book really fucking confused by the whole thing。 I'm glad some people loved it but really I don't think this series works for me。 。。。more

Natalie Weizenbaum

Absolute natbait。 Not a perfect book, but the perfect cocktail of compelling plot, stimulating worldbuilding, gay, and shitposts that hit like a left hook out of nowhere。

Aviva Intveld

**spoilers**the bad: takes forever to reach any answers and by the time it does you’ve waited so long that it’s not satisfying anymore, and you’ve likely already guessed (at least some of) what’s going on at some point anyway。 still, there’s so many unopened questions and details that are either ultimately unimportant or, because your head is swimming with the sheer amount of confusion you’re expected to swallow for 5/6 of harrow, you simply forget them。 conclusion relies too much on overplayed **spoilers**the bad: takes forever to reach any answers and by the time it does you’ve waited so long that it’s not satisfying anymore, and you’ve likely already guessed (at least some of) what’s going on at some point anyway。 still, there’s so many unopened questions and details that are either ultimately unimportant or, because your head is swimming with the sheer amount of confusion you’re expected to swallow for 5/6 of harrow, you simply forget them。 conclusion relies too much on overplayed tropes and imagery- shocking parentage, god wrestling with a fallen (actively falling? lol) angel, space cults and rebels- somehow none of this feels unique the way the first book did。 gideon’s motivations and emotions make less sense (this irked me the most- how did she switch so intensely to being purely motivated out of loyalty and cavalier identity? this was so much more nuanced in the first, at least complicated with attraction/love, and in harrow this aspect is rolled over, esp。 during her convo showdown with ianthe)。the good: still very entertaining。 harrow’s voice is great。 still very smart, breaks the fourth wall in really satisfying ways (is this really how it happens?), and unapologetic。 can’t peel your eyes away from action scenes, magic, and gore。 overall: i finished it, and i don’t regret it, but i am disappointed :( 。。。more

ashley

ummm。。 what the fck

Amanda

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 ——THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR HARROW THE NINTH——After suffering under the weight of GIDEON THE NINTH's ending for the better part of 2020, I was incredibly excited to get HARROW in the mail。 I didn't expect Muir to bust out half of the skills and tools she did, but wow, did she deliver in almost every way。I know many people didn't enjoy the use of second-person narration, but I felt it to be incredibly effective; the entire narrative thrust of the first two-thirds of HARROW rests on the fa ——THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR HARROW THE NINTH——After suffering under the weight of GIDEON THE NINTH's ending for the better part of 2020, I was incredibly excited to get HARROW in the mail。 I didn't expect Muir to bust out half of the skills and tools she did, but wow, did she deliver in almost every way。I know many people didn't enjoy the use of second-person narration, but I felt it to be incredibly effective; the entire narrative thrust of the first two-thirds of HARROW rests on the fact that Harrowhark can't trust herself or her own mind, and so is inadvertently gaslighting herself the same way the narrative is gaslighting the readers。 And when the readers finally realize why the story is being told in second-person, it makes all the confusion worth it。---This section contains a CONTENT WARNING for BRIEF MENTIONS OF SELF-HARM---I did take a star off because I wish this book had come with a trigger warning; there's a particularly upsetting scene in the first 30 pages of the book in which Harrow uses her own arterial blood drawn from the wrists to paint her face。 I'm not sure if that scene and the way it was written pinged on very particular triggers of mine, or if it truly was as content-warning worthy as I thought, but it did sour my enjoyment of the story in ways the gore and blood in GIDEON did not。 I understand that, this being a sci-fi/horror crossover book, there is going to be blood and gore, and that's not my issue; it was the elements of self-harm that did me in。---SECTION END---That said, there was another element of this book that, as a chronically ill person, I really enjoyed: the character of the real Dulcinea Septimus。 After watching "Dulcinea" aka Cytherea show her true colors in GIDEON, I was definitely intrigued by the introduction of the real Dulcinea, aka Dulcie。 While Dulcie is terminally ill and not chronically ill - and also technically dead, as she's in the River - her character was the closest I've ever seen to my own when it comes to the way we interact with our failing bodies。 Cytherea intentionally leaned into her physical frailty to encourage those around her to lower their guards, Dulcie stood proud and defiant in the face of the cancer meant to kill her, and overtly stated that she did not wish to be reduced to her illness and that she always wanted to be an active participant in her own story。 It's a narrative I don't usually get to see in characters with physical ailments akin to mine, and I enjoyed it。This book was well worth the wait and I can't wait to see where Muir takes the story from here, not just because I miss Gideon, but because I desperately need Camilla Hect to get her boy back!!! and get out of that damn apartment!!! 。。。more

Jolee

This series is truly impeccable。 Much like the first, I don't know if I could relay a single piece of information from this book to a passing stranger。 But boy, it sure is fun as hell This series is truly impeccable。 Much like the first, I don't know if I could relay a single piece of information from this book to a passing stranger。 But boy, it sure is fun as hell 。。。more

Nina Peluso

4。5 stars because this was an absolutely brilliant but *exhausting* read。 I feel like I need to re-read both books immediately to catch even more of the references and jokes but I think I’ll wait until Alecto comes out because I am very。 tired。

Nicholas Whyte

https://nwhyte。livejournal。com/3730522。htmlJeepers。 I really didn't understand what was going on here。 I didn't remember a lot about the first book, which was a finalist last year, but am not sure it would have helped if I had。 Clearly appeals to quite a lot of people。 https://nwhyte。livejournal。com/3730522。htmlJeepers。 I really didn't understand what was going on here。 I didn't remember a lot about the first book, which was a finalist last year, but am not sure it would have helped if I had。 Clearly appeals to quite a lot of people。 。。。more

K

Confusing as all get-out, so expect to have to reread it。 If you’re struggling, I promise it’s worth the effort! Very very different from the first book but I’m excited to continue the series。

Benjamin

The sequel to Gideon the Ninth is really quite bonkers。 The style is very different and there's quite a bit of unreliable narrator going on too。 Towards the end of the book, it picks up a bit and some things get sorta explained。 When this book sings, it really sings。 However, it doesn't quite make up for the early parts。 This is certainly a very interesting series at least。 The sequel to Gideon the Ninth is really quite bonkers。 The style is very different and there's quite a bit of unreliable narrator going on too。 Towards the end of the book, it picks up a bit and some things get sorta explained。 When this book sings, it really sings。 However, it doesn't quite make up for the early parts。 This is certainly a very interesting series at least。 。。。more

Liz

Confusing。 Heartbreaking。 Magical。 Badass。 Hilarious。 Fascinating。Harrow the Ninth requires the reader to pay attention, and to pay attention WELL。 This is not a book you can read while distracted or tired, otherwise you're going to be even more lost than you would if you were actually paying attention。 The oscillation between second person and third, and ultimately (view spoiler)[first (hide spoiler)], actually served to help the reader differentiate between past and present, so I found that to Confusing。 Heartbreaking。 Magical。 Badass。 Hilarious。 Fascinating。Harrow the Ninth requires the reader to pay attention, and to pay attention WELL。 This is not a book you can read while distracted or tired, otherwise you're going to be even more lost than you would if you were actually paying attention。 The oscillation between second person and third, and ultimately (view spoiler)[first (hide spoiler)], actually served to help the reader differentiate between past and present, so I found that to be a super helpful and clever tactic。 I love the universe that is getting fleshed (heheh) out here, and I absolutely love these characters with ever fiber of my being。 The ending definitely answers some questions, while posing some new ones to carry the story into the next two (2!!!!!!) installments。 This was the first book I have ever felt the need to tab, and now I'm definitely going to do a reread of Gideon so I can tab that one as well。 Seriously, this is one of the most rewarding books I've ever read, in the sense that I can tell the author wants us, as readers, to pay attention in order to be rewarded。 *heart eyes* 。。。more

James Knupp

A frustrating follow upI’m really frustrated with this book, because while in the end I understand a lot of the creative choices made, they are simply annoying until you’re nearly done with the entire thing。 The book lags for the first 2/3s, then dramatically ramps up and reveals all。 The mysteries unfolded are fascinating, but the execution just feels like such a slog to get through。 The previous book didn’t feel that way。 Honestly, a solid ending is what kept this from only being a 2 star book A frustrating follow upI’m really frustrated with this book, because while in the end I understand a lot of the creative choices made, they are simply annoying until you’re nearly done with the entire thing。 The book lags for the first 2/3s, then dramatically ramps up and reveals all。 The mysteries unfolded are fascinating, but the execution just feels like such a slog to get through。 The previous book didn’t feel that way。 Honestly, a solid ending is what kept this from only being a 2 star book。 。。。more

Megan

I took my sweet time reading the last 100 pages of this book because I had a feeling I would be heartbroken when it was over。 And you know what? I was right。I love this series。 I loved Gideon the Ninth, and if it was at all possible, I loved Harrow the Ninth even more。 Something about it all just really scratches an itch for me — the gore, the magic, the hard-to-explain setting where it all unfolds。 It has everything, and none of it is too much。 Do I have a massive crush on both Harrow and Gideo I took my sweet time reading the last 100 pages of this book because I had a feeling I would be heartbroken when it was over。 And you know what? I was right。I love this series。 I loved Gideon the Ninth, and if it was at all possible, I loved Harrow the Ninth even more。 Something about it all just really scratches an itch for me — the gore, the magic, the hard-to-explain setting where it all unfolds。 It has everything, and none of it is too much。 Do I have a massive crush on both Harrow and Gideon? Yes。 Is my new life goal to become a cavalier to a grumpy necromancer? Obviously。 I read some (non-spoilery) reviews of this beforehand, which I'm glad I did, because it very much prepared me for the confusion。 Don't get me wrong, I love me some unreliable narrator, but the first third of this book is a fucking puzzle。 And it's great! It shows how great of an author Tamsyn is, to be able to hold the attention of a confused reader for so long。 But man, the payoff is incredible。(view spoiler)[I'll admit, it actually took me quite some time to realize who was narrating the "you" portions。 I assumed it was the Emperor! What a fool。The line that really got me (like full body goosebumps, kicking my legs in delight) was — and this is not anywhere close to a direct quote, because I don't have my copy of the book next to me — at the end of one of the second person POV chapters, it says "they were looking at you, something something something, and I could have swore they were looking though you and right at me" AHHHHHHHH。 I had been so invested in the mystery that I wasn't even trying to guess at who it was anymore, and that line was like a hammer strike on my brain。 Of course it was Gideon!!! Who fucking else? Fuuucckk。(hide spoiler)]I read this book during a very stressful two weeks, (car problems, traveling, blah blah fucking blah) and it was a great comfort to me。 I would find myself thinking ridiculous things like, "this would be a non-issue to Harrowhark Nonagesimus。" Or, "what would Gideon Nav do?" Silly? Yes。 But if it works, it works。 What I'm saying is, this is the kind of story and characters that have a substantial impact on your real life。 It rewires your brain a little bit, in a good way。 Will come back to add in some of my favorite quotes。 。。。more

Virginia Borla

In realtà più un un 3 e 1/2

Elena

I enjoy this series because it is totally outside the realm of any fantasy or sci-fi I have read before。 That being said, since I don't have any context for necromancy, sometimes it feels like getting thrust into a calculus class partway through the semester。 I wish there was a glossary or appendix to explain that side of things a little bit! Without it, it's sometimes confusing, but overall worth the read。 Looking forward to Alecto the Ninth! I enjoy this series because it is totally outside the realm of any fantasy or sci-fi I have read before。 That being said, since I don't have any context for necromancy, sometimes it feels like getting thrust into a calculus class partway through the semester。 I wish there was a glossary or appendix to explain that side of things a little bit! Without it, it's sometimes confusing, but overall worth the read。 Looking forward to Alecto the Ninth! 。。。more

Lora

Took half the book to stop being a slog to read and another quarter before it finally became interesting。 Wanted to like it, but the end couldn't make up for how terribly it started。 Took half the book to stop being a slog to read and another quarter before it finally became interesting。 Wanted to like it, but the end couldn't make up for how terribly it started。 。。。more