120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 We’ve moved into our new bookstore and warehouse 🎉

Gideon the Ninth

By Tamsyn Muir
0.0 (0 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy where lesbian necromancers navigate a haunted gothic palace in space. Gideon, raised by unfriendly nuns and surrounded by skeletons, is a swordswoman ready to escape servitude. However, her childhood nemesis, Harrowhark, forces her to attend as bodyguard on a crucial mission called by the emperor. Filled with swordplay, cut-throat politics, and arcane revenants, this novel combines a solar system's worth of danger and intrigue.
Read More
Format: Hardback
$4499

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Gideon the Ninth is ideal for readers who enjoy dark fantasy and science fiction with strong LGBTQ+ themes, gothic atmospheres, and complex characters. Fans of genre-blending, sharp wit, and thrilling adventures will find it captivating.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Tamsyn Muir's necromantic science fantasy debut Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you'll ever have with a skeleton

Tamsyn Muir's necromantic science fantasy debut Gideon the Ninth is the most fun you'll ever have with a skeleton

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"Unlike anything I've ever read." - V.E. Schwab

"Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!" - Charles Stross

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

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

Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

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. The emperor has called his necromancers to action, and Harrowhark is set on Gideon attending her as bodyguard. If Gideon survives, she'll be a hero, and a free woman. If not, she can look forward to eternity as a shambling bone-servant.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The New York Times calls it "deft, tense and atmospheric, compellingly immersive and wildly original." V.E. Schwab praises it as "unlike anything I've ever read" with writing "as sharp as a broken tooth, and just as unsettling." NPR describes it as raucous, deep, and, unexpectedly, heartbreaking. Robin Sloan refers to it as "a profane Daria in space," while Kiersten White labels it "an astonishing, genre-defying, hilarious-violent-tragic-horrifying-thrilling wonder of a novel." Charles Stross highlights "lesbian necromancers [exploring] a haunted gothic palace in space" amidst decadence and skeletons.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250313195

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 September 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: St Martin's Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 39.0mm

Width: 145.0mm

Height: 218.0mm

Weight: 510g

Pages: 448

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction Tamsyn Muir

About the Author

Tamsyn Muir is a horror, fantasy and sci-fi author whose short fiction has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the World Fantasy Award and the Eugie Foster Memorial Award. A Kiwi, she has spent most of her life in Howick, New Zealand, with time living in Waiuku and central Wellington. She currently lives and works in Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Gideon the Ninth is her first novel.

Also by Tamsyn Muir

View all
  • Gideon the Ninth
    Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is a thrilling debut that melds the dark allure of gothic storytelling with the visceral excitement of science fiction. Set in a universe where necromancy and swordplay intertwine, the narrative follows Gideon Nav, an orphan raised in the Ninth House with only one goal—escape. Armed with her trusty sword and a collection of risqué...
    By Tamsyn Muir
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    Backorder
    Ships early October
  • Nona the Ninth
    Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling installment of the Locked Tomb Series, graces us with its continuation of the saga. Her city is under siege. The zombies are coming back. And all Nona wants is a birthday party. In many ways, Nona is like other people. She lives with her family, has...
    By Tamsyn Muir
    Paperback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Harrow the Ninth
    Immerse yourself in a dark and twisted universe with Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, the spine-chilling sequel to Gideon the Ninth. Continuously enigmatic and potently evocative, this continuation of the Locked Tomb series takes you deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of necromantic magic and paradoxical realities. Prepare for a transformation in the protagonist, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, who is navigating a...
    By Tamsyn Muir
    Paperback
    $5600
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • On Sale
    20% off
    World of Warcraft: Folk & Fairy Tales of Azeroth
    Monsters, mystery, and magic abound in this stunning, illustrated collection of original fairy tales from the World of Warcraft universe, as told by an all-star cast of bestselling, award-winning storytellers. Embark on a journey through the fantastical lands of Azeroth, where mythical creatures roam, powerful magic is wielded, and extraordinary tales unfold. Each story is crafted by a master storyteller,...
    By Garth Nix and Molly Knox Ostertag and Christie Golden and L.L. McKinney and Tamsyn Muir and Kami Garcia and Steve Danuser and Allison Irons and E.C. Myers
    Hardback
    $6000
    Usually:
    $7499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all
  • He Who Fights With Monsters: Adventurer
    New Release
    He Who Fights With Monsters: Adventurer
    He Who Fights With Monsters: Adventurer Book Two in Shirtaloon's wildly popular LitRPG series. The path from retail middle management to interdimensional wizard adventurer wasn't easy, but Jason Asano is settling into his new life. Now, a contest draws young elites to the city of Greenstone, competing for a grand prize. Jason must gather a band of companions if he...
    By Shirtaloon and Travis Deverell
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Scion
    ‘Scion’ is an electrifying sci-fi thriller that follows a contract killer tasked with protecting a scientist from assassination, only to find himself in the crosshairs. My name’s Azure. I kill rich idiots for a living. All completely legal, of course, even if it does still make the old-fashioned crowd a bit uncomfortable. Once the ultra-wealthy realised they had a way...
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Massif
    New Release
    Massif
    Caught me a mountain Rode it to the stars It's business as usual for Ship Leader Parnell Shi-Sawahla and the crew of the corvette Sassafras. Ride a Massif to a new system, fight the enemy, repeat. For more than two hundred years, humans have been hitching rides on these sentient, starfaring mountain ranges, colonising planets and exporting an on-again, off-again...
    By Garth Nix
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    By Andy Weir
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (5)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Strength of the Few
    The highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Many—one of 2023's most lauded and bestselling fantasy novels. The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am. But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore. I am no longer one. I won the...
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    By Pierce Brown
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    10% off
    Crossroads of Ravens
    THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS... Every legend has an origin - and Geralt of Rivia's begins here. In this brand-new chapter of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series, follow Geralt in his earliest days as a Witcher, as he faces monsters and humans alike. Discover the untold stories and encounters that shaped the iconic character known today. Crossroads of Ravens brings readers into...
    By Andrzej Sapkowski
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Ministry of Time
    One of the 18 best novels of the year for the Sunday Times A book of the year for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, Spectator, Red, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Slate, Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, Globe and Mail, Den of Geek, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, NetGalley and Smithsonian Magazine 'A sparkling delight' Observer 'Make room on your bookshelves...
    By Kaliane Bradley
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    By Robin Hobb
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • I Who Have Never Known Men
    A haunting, heartbreaking tale of female friendship and intimacy that evokes the chilling atmospheres of The Handmaid's Tale and the desolate landscapes of The Road, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This gripping narrative takes us deep underground, where thirty-nine women are held in isolation...
    By Jacqueline Harpman
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    19% off
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a timeless classic that has enchanted readers for generations. This beloved tale follows Bilbo Baggins, a peace-loving hobbit from the quaint and picturesque Shire, who finds himself thrust into an epic journey far from the comforts of his cosy home. Charming and lively illustrations by Jemima Catlin breathe new life...
    By J. R. R. Tolkien
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    18% off
    Blood Over Bright Haven
    A riveting dark academia fantasy about the limits of truth and power, from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. For twenty years, Sciona...
    By M. L. Wang
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all