17 new SFF books to get nice and cozy with this September
By Lacy Baugher
Gideon the Ninth – Tamsin Muir
This debut from first time author Tasmin Muir combines horror, fantasy, science a classic mystery and more. In short, Gideon the Ninth is a weird, strange tale, but it’s also exactly the sort of book that everyone will likely be talking about this Fall.
It’s that original and, well…also kind of bizarre.
The story involves everything from necromancers to undead skeletons to witches to immortals and politicians, with a dash of interplanetary space travel thrown in. It’s tremendously difficult to explain in a succinct fashion, so perhaps it’s best to just let the official synopsis do it for us.
"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.
Gideon the Ninth is available on September 10.