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Harrow the Ninth

The Locked Tomb #2 / 4
by Tamsyn Muir
Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir
  ★ 9.00 / 7
1★2★3★4★5★6★17★18★29★310★

Harrow the Ninth, the sequel to the sensational Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor's haunted space station.

"Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted gothic palace in space! Decadent nobles vie to serve the deathless emperor! Skeletons!" - Charles Stross on Gideon the Ninth

"Unlike anything I've ever read." - V.E. Schwab on Gideon the Ninth

"Warm and cold; goofy and gleaming; campy and epic; a profane Daria in space." - Robin Sloan on Gideon the Ninth

She answered the Emperor's call.

She arrived with her arts, her wits, and her only friend.

In victory, her world has turned to ash.

After rocking the cosmos with her deathly debut, Tamsyn Muir continues the story of the penumbral Ninth House in Harrow the Ninth, a mind-twisting puzzle box of mystery, murder, magic, and mayhem. Nothing is as it seems in the halls of the Emperor, and the fate of the galaxy rests on one woman's shoulders.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, last necromancer of the Ninth House, has been drafted by her Emperor to fight an unwinnable war. Side-by-side with a detested rival, Harrow must perfect her skills and become an angel of undeath -- but her health is failing, her sword makes her nauseous, and even her mind is threatening to betray her.

Sealed in the gothic gloom of the Emperor's Mithraeum with three unfriendly teachers, hunted by the mad ghost of a murdered planet, Harrow must confront two unwelcome questions: is somebody trying to kill her? And if they succeeded, would the universe be better off?

Also known as Gideon the Ninth Book 2.
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Updated 04/09/2025
Category: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fantasy
Release date: August 4, 2020

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Tamsyn Muir

Tamsyn Muir

Tamsyn Muir's voice stands out in the speculative fiction landscape as something uniquely dark, inventive, and emotionally charged. Born in 1985 in New Zealand, Muir’s writing career is an unexpected yet thrilling journey from the quiet beauty of her homeland to the high stakes of intergalactic necromancy. Now residing in Oxford, Muir continues to weave complex, multifaceted stories that defy easy categorization.

Her breakout series, The Locked Tomb, burst onto the scene with Gideon the Ninth in 2019, capturing readers with its sharp wit, twisted necromantic world, and a set of characters that are anything but ordinary. The series blends genres with fearless abandon—mixing dark humor, science fiction, and gothic horror into a potent brew that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Muir’s exploration of death, identity, and loyalty within this universe has garnered her critical acclaim, earning the 2020 Locus Award for Best First Novel and nominations for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

Read more ...

Muir’s writing is often described as fiercely intellectual, full of intricate world-building, compelling dialogue, and intricate character development. With each book—Harrow the Ninth and Nona the Ninth—she delves deeper into the emotional and psychological layers of her characters, particularly exploring the complexities of relationships and the cost of loyalty in an unforgiving universe.

Before launching into her Locked Tomb fame, Muir’s early years were spent honing her craft at the Clarion Workshop, a renowned summer program for emerging science fiction and fantasy writers. Her career began to take shape with short stories, including "The Deepwater Bride," which earned nominations for some of the most prestigious awards in the genre.

A self-proclaimed lover of all things strange and speculative, Muir's stories are laced with humor, tragedy, and dark romance—qualities that have resonated deeply with fans and critics alike. As she continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in genre fiction, Muir is a captivating voice that’s hard to forget. Whether you’re new to The Locked Tomb or an avid reader, one thing is clear: Tamsyn Muir’s writing invites you to step into a world of necromantic intrigue that you won't want to leave.

Photo: Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0

The Locked Tomb

The Locked Tomb series invites readers into a universe where necromancy is not just an art, but a means of survival. At the heart of this tale is a cast of outcasts, anti-heroes, and reluctant warriors who are bound by secrets far darker than they could ever imagine. Starting with Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir creates a world where death isn’t the end—it’s only the beginning of a terrifying, witty, and utterly unpredictable journey.

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The series is as much about the bonds between its characters as it is about the macabre universe they inhabit. In a society ruled by necromancers and their immortal legions, every corner hides a betrayal, and every revelation seems to sink the characters further into a labyrinth of twists and turns. The Locked Tomb is drenched in mystery, offering readers an intricate, labyrinthine world of space tombs, deadly secrets, and an ever-deepening conspiracy that challenges the very concept of life and death.

At its core, the series explores identity, loyalty, and the haunting specter of the past. Through sharp dialogue and dark humor, Muir brings to life characters like Gideon Nav—a sword-wielding, snarky fighter with a complicated past—and Harrowhark Nonagesimus, a brilliant necromancer struggling with her own darkness. Their evolving relationship drives the narrative forward, each book unraveling more about who they are and who they might become.

In The Locked Tomb, Muir blends science fiction with gothic horror, creating a world where the fantastical meets the grotesque in ways that feel both exhilarating and eerie. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and as the series progresses, the stakes grow ever higher, pushing the boundaries of genre fiction.

If you're looking for a series that feels like it’s been crafted from the darkest, most brilliant corners of the mind, one that bends genre norms and defies expectations at every turn, then this tale of necromancers, haunted tombs, and endless betrayal will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page. The Locked Tomb is a bold, unforgettable journey—one you won’t want to miss.


The Locked Tomb consists of three primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex (The Locked Tomb #0.5)
not yet rated
Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1)
  ★ 8.30 / 10
Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #2)
  ★ 9.00 / 7
Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #3)
  ★ 9.66 / 6
Alecto the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #4)
  ⧗ 9.88 / 18


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