Gideon the Ninth

4.5 stars. Interestingly, I think this is a book that one might enjoy more if you listened to the audiobook (the one narrated by Moira Quirk) than if you just simply read it on text. I had DNFed this book in 2020 but then came back to give it 4.5 stars and I think Quirk's narration played a big part in this change of mind.

Gideon Nav wants to escape from the dreary House of the Ninth, but her plans are foiled by the Reverend Daughter of the House, Harrowhark Nonagesimus. Gideon is coerced into being Harrow's cavalier (something like a right-hand person and bodyguard) as she travels to the planet of the First House to undertake trials to hopefully become a Lyctor, a member of the God-Emperor's House of the First.

This book is - confusing. It also doesn't do much to ease readers into the world so be prepared to feel utterly lost at sea for the first few chapters. That was what made me DNF three years ago. If you push past it and find something to like about this book, chances are you're going to really enjoy it. Even now, after finishing this, I'm not sure I completely understand what was going on. I certainly only had half an idea of what was happening during the climax at the end. But what kept me going was just really being there for Gideon and her relatable bungling persona.

I was such a fan of Quirk's voice, tone, and performance that even when I hadn't an idea what was going on, I was still happy to bask in the moment and continue. At no point did I feel like things were getting draggy, nor did I have to keep checking my progress to see how much more I have left of this book (which I do for almost every book I read).

The action in this book really only ramps up after quite a bit of preamble, maybe at the 40-50% mark or so. I think I must have finished almost half of the book in one day because it got so exciting that I couldn't put it down. It also took me up to about the halfway mark to even start distinguishing the side characters, because there were so many of them and I had no idea what part they were going to play in the plot until they did.

The premise is also so wild that it's fascinating. Each House is a planet in whatever planetary system they're on. The House of the Ninth are essentially some kind of religious order revolving around bones and skeletons, and they paint their faces like skulls a la Día de Muertos. I get by imagining that the House of the Ninth would basically be like Pluto in our Solar System - far away from the Sun and somewhat forgotten by the rest of the system. Plus, Pluto = Hades = Lord of the Underworld and there's something definitely Underworld-y about Drearburh, the planet of the Ninth, and its religious order of bone nuns. Although it's sort of sci-fi with the interplanetary politics and travel, I would say this is more fantasy than sci-fi, given that the plot revolves a lot more around bone and death magic.

Somewhat more spoilery thoughts about the book and ending: I don't usually enjoy reading enemies to lovers because the trope has been done to death these days but I was actually quite a fan in this one. Harrow and Gideon's bickering was one of the main reasons why I pushed on in the early chapters.”Do you want,” Gideon whispered huskily, “my hanky.”“I want to watch you die.”Harrow also felt like a more intense, more powerful, and more ruthless sort of Hermione-like figure, but it went perfectly with Gideon's dumbassery. Although I would say that Harrow and Gideon's chemistry reminded me strongly of Draco/Harry in fanfics, which is not at all bad in my books :PI was suspicious of Dulcinea all along and I was satisfied that I was right, although I had expected that she had masterminded something or that she might even be a beguiling corpse, not that she was someone else entirely. I didn't quite understand why Gideon had to sacrifice herself at the end, but it did bring tears to my eyes when she had to part from Harrow. The fact that her body disappeared though... I'm slightly hopeful that somehow or other Gideon might return. They do specialise in death magic after all.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I can see why it might be polarizing to many people. The writing style and humour is probably not universally appealing, even if it was very much up my alley. I also wouldn't market this as a sci-fi recommendation because there's barely any sci-fi elements in it. So perhaps if you like reading about bone and death magic, and a humourous bickering frenemy relationship, this is definitely one for you.