Title: Gideon The Ninth

Series: The Locked Tomb #1

Author: Tamsyn Muir

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

As the blurb says….’The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.’

So off Harrow and Gideon go to Canaan House for the trials……

This was absolutely weird, dark and actually stark raving mad. And I loved it!

It took me a bit to get used to the writing style but once I was there, I was hooked and gobbled it down in a day and a bit!!!!

It was full of dry humour, the murder/mystery was amazing, the world building had me hooked but the characters were what did it for me.

All the characters, although at first were a bit of a blur as there were so many, were in the end completely fleshed out and I loved each one in their own way!

Love Gideon, Magnus, Palamedes, Camilla, Teacher and I even loved Harrow by the end! Just a side note – I pictured Silas as Joffrey from GoT all the way through!

That last half made my jaw hang open! I had no idea about any of those things that were revealed, didn’t for a minute! I really wonder where this is going to go.

‘We do bones’.