Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

120 reviews

corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s okay, I didn’t need my heart to be in one piece anyway.
If you’re keeping a spreadsheet, yes, this book also made me cry. 
I’m not sure how to write a review for it, because it defies my normal method of writing reviews and I don’t want to spoil certain very startling plot points, but I shall try. 
I really liked the growth of Harrow’s character in this and I found myself identifying with her a lot as someone who grew up in religion and then suddenly started deconstructing it all. The constant question of what is real or not in this book makes it both rather confusing to read but also riveting, and Harrow’s struggles with mental illness and hallucinations is handled realistically- gently by those who love her, and as another way to manipulate her by others. (Ianthe, when I get my hands on you, you’re going to regret being the surviving twin) I loved Harrow in the last book, but I came to love her even more in this one- she is deeply, deeply flawed, but also deeply broken and simultaneously trying to be better, even when her methods are… questionable. 
The plot itself is complex and confusing, but also grabs you by the throat and drags you along in a way that cannot be escaped. I’m still a little unclear on all of the relationships that are detailed in the last few chapters, and I’m pretty sure I need a spreadsheet, but the story manages very complicated and obscure worldbuilding while preserving the atmosphere and drive in a way that keeps the story moving forward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury

isaaah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and War

krisalexcole's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

cuteasamuntin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Medical content

chrisb913's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was incredible. First off, the way Muir has woven this narrative is absolute brilliance. The book is incredibly confusing. You start off the book directly contradicting everything you read in Gideon the Ninth and it all serves a purpose. Muir is able to craft a narrative that is so unique and it has just blown me away.

Second the characters are so well written. There is still so much snark and sass and attitude as we meet back up with Harrowhark as well as new characters for this story. Harrow may not have the same vibe as Gideon, but I found myself cackling at the way she interacts with all characters involved.

At the end of the day, this was baffling, confusing, mind blowing, and just such an incredible experience. I cannot wait to continue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Cannibalism

lunarkris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ladythana's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse

violator's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

divine529's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Don't let the amount of time it took me to get through this book fool you. I really enjoyed it. The thing about this book though, is it can be really difficult to read because of what the main character (Harrow) is going through for the vast majority of the book. 

This book takes place after Gideon, but it's told in two timelines (second person and third person). Harrow has just become a Lyctor and is adjusting to and learning all about the inner workings of what that means all the while she's struggling to adjust to that. It's hard to say more than that due to spoilers, but let's just say, it's a wild ride and it's best read right after Gideon (trust me on this). It's a fantastic book and very well written and done in a very unusual style (two timelines isn't unusual, but out of order, fragmented, multiple voices like this is - if you've read it, you know what I mean). The character relationships are complex and messy and so good. One thing I will say is the vast majority of the time I forget we're in space and on a ship. It just doesn't feel like it and when I'm reminded of that fact it takes me a minute to re-calibrate my thoughts (I felt the same way about the first book). All in all a fantastic book, albeit a rough one to read at times (please heed the content warnings). 

I can't wait to read "Nona" and continue with the series!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent