Gideon the Ninth
Score Modern
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
The Tainted Cup, A Memory Called Empire or The Fifth Season
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.
Quick answers
Is Gideon the Ninth worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. It ranks #107 of the 2,819 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.
By the numbers
- 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.
Hugo Award finalist (2020).
Where it ranks
- #12 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #14 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #60 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #107 of the 2,819 books we rank
Shortlisted
- Hugo Award finalist (2020)
- Nebula Award finalist (2019)
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping, Epic
