That partially comes from the use of second perspective for large portions of the book, which didn’t bother me overall, even if it gave the narration a certain detached feeling.

Harrow is not the coarse POV character that Gideon was, which will be a relief for some, a disappointment for others. But to get there is to tread through some slow, obtuse sections, owing to the fact that you know there’s a bigger picture you don’t understand. I even teared up in a few places as some payoffs landed.

It WILL all make sense in the end (well, mostly) and the last hundred pages or so were the same kind of unstoppable ride that the end of GIDEON THE NINTH was. The present-day sections of the book are easy enough to follow, even as the flashbacks leave you scratching your head. That said, the bizarre gothic mystery vibe of the series continues, so if you enjoyed GIDEON THE NINTH, you’ll probably enjoy HARROW as well. HARROW is a more consistent book than GIDEON, easier to follow overall, but if you are put off by endless discussions of necromantic theory or are the kind of person who wants answers sooner than later, I’d recommend giving this one a pass. The reveal that puts everything in perspective comes incredibly late in the book, frequently leaving you lost and bewildered as everyone besides Harrow acts with outside knowledge.

Like GIDEON THE NINTH, HARROW THE NINTH is a book that requires patience. You see, Harrow’s never heard of a Gideon in her life. But wait, I hear you say, her cavalier wasn’t Ortus, it was Gideon! What happened to Gideon? That question, my friends, is the crux of the entire book. Unsurprisingly, HARROW THE NINTH is an unusual book, told in alternating perspectives: Harrow’s present day recollections are told in second person, while flashbacks to previous events at Canaan House, the location where she underwent a series of trials to become a Lyctor, accompanied by her cavalier Ortus, are told in third person. Harrow trains for the confrontation, but soon realizes not all the other Lyctor’s are her allies. Imbued with even greater necromantic power than she’s had before, Harrow barely gets a moment to rest before she’s confronted with the news that the Emperor is at war with a deadly enemy, and it will be at the Lyctor sanctuary in a matter of months. Harrow the Ninth achieved her dream of becoming one of the Emperor’s Lyctors, but the process nearly cost her her life.

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