Gideon the Ninth

by Tamsyn Muir · 2019

Gideon the Ninth is a genre‑bending science‑fantasy novel that follows orphan‑fighter Gideon Nav, raised in the grim Ninth House, as she reluctantly teams up with the house’s brilliant necromancer heir, Harrowhark Nonagesimus. Summoned by the Emperor to a deadly competition among the nine necromantic houses, they must navigate a labyrinthine, decaying mansion, solve locked‑room mysteries, and survive lethal trials to become Lyctors—immortal servants of the Emperor. The story blends necromancy, swordplay, dark humor, and a sharp, sarcastic voice while exploring complex relationships, including a queer dynamic between the protagonists.