Scan barcode
A review by diannaherondale
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
August 2024 re-read:
The first time I finished this book, I didn't know how to explain how I could find it so confusing but absolutely fascinating at the same time.
I have read confusing books before, and it's not something that I dislike, but most times, it does diminish my enjoyment of a book. Not with this one.
I think it was because from the beginning, it was clear that we were following a character that was not 100% sane. And it was understandable because of the trauma that we already knew she had from the previous book.
I found Harrow to be such a captivating protagonist. She was so different from Gideon, and I understand why that could have made this story difficult thing to get into, but I found her so interesting, sad and relatable, not in the way you think! I swear I am a (mostly) functional human being.
It's true, the humor in the book does decrease because of Gideons absence, but if you didn't laugh out loud with the absolute comedic genius, that is Ianthe the First then I don't know what to tell you. She is so horrible, and I only like her like 10% of the time, but I also love her.
And Mercymorn!! If you tell me you didn't laugh at her eccentricity and bad temper, you dont get it, you are 5 years old etcetera, etcetera .
That's why it didn't end up mattering that I didn't get the plot until about 80% of the book. There was so much going on. We were getting a lot of worldbuilding in an incredibly clever way, the characters were so unique, Harrow psychology was a puzzle that I couldn't look away from, and it had so much heart and emotion.
Re reading this was such a blast too. I got most of the plot now! Tamsyn Muir, I finally got what you were talking about with that Melon! And the second person, of course. Catching those clues was especially fun.
It's probably one of my favorite books of all time. It's my favorite book right now.
It was also a really nice experience because when I was re reading this time, I was listening along to Mel and Amy's Locked Tomb podcast, and it felt like I was commenting on it with someone which is somehting that I can rarely do irl.
2023 og reaction:
I need to make a detailed review of this because my brain just exploded. 5 stars.
The first time I finished this book, I didn't know how to explain how I could find it so confusing but absolutely fascinating at the same time.
I have read confusing books before, and it's not something that I dislike, but most times, it does diminish my enjoyment of a book. Not with this one.
I think it was because from the beginning, it was clear that we were following a character that was not 100% sane. And it was understandable because of the trauma that we already knew she had from the previous book.
I found Harrow to be such a captivating protagonist. She was so different from Gideon, and I understand why that could have made this story difficult thing to get into, but I found her so interesting, sad and relatable, not in the way you think! I swear I am a (mostly) functional human being.
It's true, the humor in the book does decrease because of Gideons absence, but if you didn't laugh out loud with the absolute comedic genius, that is Ianthe the First then I don't know what to tell you. She is so horrible, and I only like her like 10% of the time, but I also love her.
And Mercymorn!! If you tell me you didn't laugh at her eccentricity and bad temper, you dont get it, you are 5 years old etcetera, etcetera .
That's why it didn't end up mattering that I didn't get the plot until about 80% of the book. There was so much going on. We were getting a lot of worldbuilding in an incredibly clever way, the characters were so unique, Harrow psychology was a puzzle that I couldn't look away from, and it had so much heart and emotion.
Re reading this was such a blast too. I got most of the plot now! Tamsyn Muir, I finally got what you were talking about with that Melon! And the second person, of course. Catching those clues was especially fun.
It's probably one of my favorite books of all time. It's my favorite book right now.
It was also a really nice experience because when I was re reading this time, I was listening along to Mel and Amy's Locked Tomb podcast, and it felt like I was commenting on it with someone which is somehting that I can rarely do irl.
2023 og reaction:
I need to make a detailed review of this because my brain just exploded. 5 stars.