Series: The Locked Tomb #3
Author: Tamsyn Muir
Publisher: Tor.com
Released: September 13, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Oh wow. Is it really that time? I’m not sure I’m emotionally ready for this, but you guys know I won’t be able to resist the temptation. That’s right; I’m talking about the third novel in The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir. Nona the Ninth was a bit of a surprise for us readers, as we had been expecting Alecto the Ninth. But hey! One more book for this brilliant series! Nobody is going to complain about that.

Nona could be concerned with many things, such as the return of the zombies (aka the necromancers) or that her city is under siege and about to tear apart. But Nona would prefer to focus on her friends, family, and her impending birthday.

Okay, there is one current event that has caught Nona’s attention. The giant blue sphere hovering over the planet is hard to ignore. Nona doesn’t find it as frightening as everyone else. Though it probably helps that she doesn’t know what her allies hope or expect from her.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Can we just stop everything and give Tamsyn Muir an award? Right now, please. Because, wow! I knew Nona the Ninth would be a brilliant read – it would take all of our expectations and twist them into something wholly unexpected and compelling. But I was still unprepared for what I found in Nona the Ninth.

Words cannot express how amazing Nona the Ninth is. Actually, scratch that. Words cannot express how amazing the entire Locked Tomb series has been. It just so happens that Nona the Ninth is the ideal continuation of this story.

First, there was Gideon, full of personality (some would call that description too kind). Then Harrow, full of mystery and determination. Now there’s Nona, and she is a story all of her own. Her story unfolds in two parts. Much of it is told through her perspective, though other details flow through her dreams.

These Dreams seem to be telling us an ancient story of immediate relevance. Readers will have to do a lot of reading between the lines here, but doing so will allow them to understand the whole picture – and every horrifying implication that comes with it.

Nona the Ninth is a bold and fascinating addition to this series. It made me worry, smile, cry, and laugh. Sometimes all at once. It’s the sort of emotional roller coaster that only Tamsyn Muir could pull off.

To my fellow readers, let me offer you this piece of advice – read Nona the Ninth. If you haven’t read the whole of The Locked Tomb series, do that first. If you read those, do yourself a favor and reread Gideon and Harrow the Ninth first. You won’t regret it. This complex series deserves to be fresh on your mind before moving forward.

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.