2021/003: Gideon the Ninth -- Tamsyn Muir

2021/003: Gideon the Ninth -- Tamsyn Muir

“I would have thought you would be happy that I needed you,” [Harrow] admitted. “That I showed you my girlish and vulnerable heart.”
“Your heart is a party for five thousand nails,” said Gideon. [loc. 836]

It took me, despite the word-of-mouth encomia and Hugo shortlisting, several tries to get into this. I kept baulking at the bleakness of the first chapter, where Gideon Nav -- orphan and indentured servant -- is all packed and ready to escape a gloomy, lifeless planet inhabited solely by ancient warder-nuns, labouring skeletons, and Gideon's nemesis Harrow, heir of the House. And I wasn't convinced by Gideon placing the key to her security cuff on her pillow, 'like a chocolate in a fancy hotel', since I did not see how she would have any idea about hotels fancy or otherwise.

( no spoilers )