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Cover of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirGideon the Ninth
Modern · Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Gideon the Ninth

by Tamsyn Muir
2019 · 448 pages · Fiction
86.3Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick · Lifetime bestseller
≈ 11 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

The Emperor needs necromancers, the Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman, and Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines and no more patience for undead nonsense. Raised by unfriendly nuns and countless skeletons, she's ready to abandon a life of servitude, until her childhood rival, the bone witch Harrowhark, drafts her into a deadly competition in a decaying palace.

Why it's worth reading

It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. Readers love its mix of swordplay, cutthroat politics, haunted-house mystery and a wildly funny narrator.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

The first chapters throw a lot of names and jargon at you; keep going and it clicks. It's the first book of the Locked Tomb series.

By the numbers

86.3Must-Read Score
  • Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics76 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz37 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Hugo Award finalist (2020)Nebula Award finalist (2019)

Reads as

Adventurous, Gripping, Epic

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is Gideon the Ninth worth reading?

Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. It ranks #106 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.3 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Gideon the Ninth about?

The Emperor needs necromancers, the Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman, and Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines and no more patience for undead nonsense. Raised by unfriendly nuns and countless skeletons, she's ready to abandon a life of servitude, until her childhood rival, the bone witch Harrowhark, drafts her into a deadly competition in a decaying palace.

How long does it take to read Gideon the Ninth?

About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Gideon the Ninth?

If you liked it, try The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine or The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin.