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Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Series, 1)

15+ pages of new, original content, including a glossary of terms, in-universe writings, and more!

A USA Today Best-Selling Novel, and one of the Best Books of 2019 according to NPR, the New York Public Library, Amazon, BookPage, Shelf Awareness, BookRiot, and Bustle!

WINNER of the 2020 Crawford Award
Finalist for the 2020 Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards


“Unlike anything I’ve ever read. ” —V.E. Schwab

“Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space!” —Charles Stross

Brilliantly original, messy and weird straight through. —NPR

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

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

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth, first in The Locked Tomb Trilogy, 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.

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 be 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.

THE LOCKED TOMB SERIES
BOOK 1: Gideon the Ninth
BOOK 2: Harrow the Ninth
BOOK 3: Nona the Ninth
BOOK 4: Alecto the Ninth

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Published Jul 14, 2020

496 pages

Average rating: 8.02

312 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

TwistedWreck
Jan 26, 2025
8/10 stars
What a delight… …also I’m now devastatingly sad.
FutureAK
Jan 07, 2025
7/10 stars
Interesting read about a be romantic space society. Gideon and Harrow, the only two survivors of a generation in there house are frenemies who overcome great odds for survival. Looking forward to the sequel to see how the story progresses. Gave it a 7 star rating because it was written in a style I’m not used to and didn’t particularly love, and although I enjoyed the book I was head over heels waiting to find out what happened next.
Anonymous
Apr 02, 2025
8/10 stars
3.75
Pferdina
Mar 28, 2025
7/10 stars
Dark. Interesting world of necromancers and their cavaliers. The first part was slow going, but once Gideon and Harrow left home it was better.
wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
2/10 stars
Kept going because the reviews have been so high....just could not get into the story.

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