Lesbian necromancers in space, trading swordfights and insults across a crumbling palace full of skeletons, yes, really. Below is how the Gideon the Ninth audiobook actually plays out loud. Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth is as gloriously unhinged as that sounds, and the audiobook narrator nails every razor-edged quip and rattle of bone. Buckle up, because there’s genuinely nothing else quite like it.
Get the Gideon the Ninth Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printWhat Gideon the Ninth is about
Gideon Nav is an indentured swordswoman on a dying planet, desperate to escape the crumbling Ninth House and the girl she hates most in the universe — Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the Ninth’s brilliant, prickly boy-necromancer heir. When the Emperor summons a scion from each of the Nine Houses to compete for a chance at immortal power, Harrow needs a cavalier at her side, and Gideon is the only blade available. So the two sworn enemies strike an uneasy bargain and travel to a decaying palace where the trials begin.
What follows is part locked-room mystery, part elaborate puzzle, part slow-burn character study — and always laced with gallows humor. The other Houses arrive with their own necromancers and cavaliers, secrets start surfacing, and people start dying. Muir builds a world that feels genuinely ancient and lived-in without ever pausing to lecture you about it, trusting you to keep up. It’s dense, weird, and rewarding, and the emotional core sneaks up on you.
| Author | Tamsyn Muir |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Moira Quirk |
| Length | 16h 50m |
The narration: Moira Quirk gives Gideon her perfect voice
Moira Quirk narrates the unabridged edition, which runs about 16 hours and 50 minutes, and honestly I can’t imagine anyone else doing it. Gideon’s internal voice is a torrent of eye-rolls, deadpan asides, and profane wit, and Quirk delivers every joke with impeccable timing — but she never lets the comedy flatten the grief underneath. Her range across a large cast is remarkable; each House’s scion gets a distinct texture, so I rarely lost track of who was speaking even in crowded scenes. She leans into the gothic dread when the story turns frightening and pulls back into wry warmth when Gideon and Harrow spar. If you found the opening chapters disorienting on the page, Quirk’s performance is genuinely clarifying. This is a case where the audiobook may be the best way to experience the book.
Is the Gideon the Ninth audiobook worth a credit?
Absolutely. At nearly seventeen hours you’re getting a meaty, layered listen, and it’s the rare title I finished and immediately wanted to start again to catch what I’d missed. Between the density of the world and the sheer quality of the narration, this is one of the best value credits I’ve spent in the genre.
Who should press play
Press play if you love morally complicated characters, snappy banter, and a mystery that trusts your intelligence — especially fans of dark fantasy and sci-fi blends. I’d hold off if you prefer gentle, cozy listens or need everything explained up front, because the first few hours ask for patience. Sensitive listeners should note it gets bloody. Stick with it, though, and the payoff is huge.
If you like Gideon the Ninth, listen to these next
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo — a razor-sharp ensemble of misfits pulling off an impossible job, with the same crackling banter and morally grey charm.
- Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson — for the immersive, intricately built world and the slow reveals that reward close listening.
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon — an ambitious, queer epic fantasy with layered politics and a cast worth living inside.
How to listen to Gideon the Ninth
You’ll find Gideon the Ninth on Audible and Amazon. If you’re new to Audible, you can grab it with a free trial credit, or simply buy the audiobook outright. Prefer to read along? It’s also available in Kindle and print, and switching between formats is an easy way to savor Muir’s prose twice.
Get the Gideon the Ninth Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printFrequently asked questions
Who narrates the Gideon the Ninth audiobook?
The unabridged audiobook is narrated by Moira Quirk, whose performance is widely praised for nailing Gideon’s voice and distinguishing a large cast.
How long is the Gideon the Ninth audiobook?
It runs approximately 16 hours and 50 minutes.
Is Gideon the Ninth a good audiobook for first-time listeners of the series?
Yes. It’s the first book in The Locked Tomb series, and the narration actually helps smooth out the story’s early complexity.
Is the Gideon the Ninth audiobook spoiler-heavy or standalone?
It tells a complete, satisfying story on its own while setting up a larger series, so you can enjoy it without having read anything else first.