Gideon The Ninth
Author: Tamsyn Muir
Genre: Fantasy
Released: 10 September 2019
Rating:
Gideon Nav is a foul-mouthed, sword-wielding servant of the necromantic Ninth House. When her lifelong nemesis Harrowhark needs a cavalier for a deadly imperial competition, Gideon has no choice but to comply. The prize: immortality. The catch: everyone else wants it too. A singular mash-up of gothic necromancy, locked-room mystery, and sardonic humour. Unlike anything else in fantasy.
I was really looking forward to Gideon The Ninth having read lots of glowing reviews about the book, and the series in general, but I came away feeling a bit...meh.
It's not a bad book, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it lived up to the hype. The story is really interesting, and quite unique, what with the necromancy and all that, but I don't think Muir went into enough detail about the background story.
Personally, I would have preferred this book to have set the scene a little better and talk about the background of the empire we find ourselves in, the Emperor, and how it all came to be.
Instead, I found myself playing catch up on the storyline and feeling unfulfilled because of it. Despite this, I found Gideon to be absolutely brilliant and really well written. There was just enough dark humour sprinkled in to make me chuckle a number of times.
I found my brain wandering at times, which isn't a great sign, but in fairness to the book, I "read" this via audiobook and this was my first one, so maybe that had something to do with it?
🚨 Mild spoiler ahead...
The last few chapters culminate into what can only be described as a boss fight, and they're really gripping as the story all comes together. But like I said, I'd have liked the backstory to have been revealed a sooner.
Given how the first book ended, I think I will read the second book, but I might try this the old fashioned way, by actually reading it to see if that holds my attention any better.
In the meantime, I flipped back to Brandon Sanderson's world and am currently reading listening to The Way Of The Kings.
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