Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, Book 3)

Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, Book 3)
Tamsyn Muir, 2022

Premise: Sequel to Harrow the Ninth. Nona doesn't know who she is, but she lives with people who love her and look after her. There are many things she doesn't know, but she doesn't worry about it too much. However, time is running out for a little makeshift family running from the Nine Houses.

I loved this book, once I realized it was book 3 of 4, and not the end of the series. I somehow missed the fact that the planned trilogy turned into a 4-book series while this one was being written, so as I approached the end of the book I was seriously confused for a few minutes. 

Independent of that, this is a delight. First, we're switching subgenres yet again. Gideon the Ninth is murder mystery/science fantasy adventure. Harrow the Ninth is more horror/sci-fi with a lot of psychological-thriller twistyness. Nona the Ninth is mostly dystopian slice-of-life, intercut with the backstory/exposition I've been waiting for, which is more apocalyptic/philosophical sci-fi. 

The tagline on the cover of this book says "You will love Nona, and Nona loves you." And I do, I do love Nona. I love her attitude and her charm. I love her frustration and her rage. Nona is both too powerful to get close to and a child in need of protection.

The rest of the cast is fabulous as well. The few survivors of Canaan House and the Mithreaum are hiding here, trying to buy some time to figure out what is going on with Nona. Many other characters are new - children and teachers who befriend Nona plus rebels against the Emperor - and I can't imagine the series without them now. 

It's as deep a mystery as any the books have cooked up yet, but we're kept distracted by charming interludes about swimming and buying cigarettes and avoiding riots in a city full of interstellar refugees. 

And when the plot picks up it picks up with a vengeance. And now we're waiting, frozen, for the final book to plunge all our now-beloved friends into the finale.

5 Stars - An Awesome Book

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