Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir 

It’s Dune mixed with A Nightmare Before Christmas. That’s not a perfect comparison, but this book is hard to pin down. It’s an epic sci-fi space opera. It’s a sci-fi satire. It’s a queer romance. It’s a gothic fantasy. It’s a cat. It’s a dog. It’s a kitchen appliance. It’s all of that. 

The story is about Gideon (who likes swords), and Harrowhark (a necromancer). The magic and science of this world is all about death, which is where the book’s hard goth aesthetic comes into play. But despite the subject matter, and death, and blood, and bones, the tone is snarky and fun. 

Like a lot of sci-fi, and especially the first entry into a series, there’s a big ol’ mountain of world building in this book. And it’s easy to get confused or lost in all the magic systems and lore. But, the characters are fun, the main plot is somewhat straightforward, and everything feels unique. I haven’t read anything quite like it. That alone makes it worth a read if you dig weird sci-fi that exists well outside the traditional Star Trek/Star Wars tropes. I haven’t continued with the series, mostly because to do so would require me to re-read (or more likely watch a summary about) this book, because it’s been a while since I read and I no longer know the difference between a Lyctor and a Necrolord Prime. 

If you’re home for the holidays and bored, I hope my recent book reviews can shine a light on some good and great (and some so-so) books to help escape the real world. And if you love reading and want to help spread the joy of reading to kids who need it most, consider donating to my Reading is Fundamental campaign! Any amount helps!