Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Girl Genius #10

Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse

Rate this book
Adventure! Romance! Mad Science! Deep in the heart of the damaged machine that is Castle Heterodyne, Agatha discovers her mother's long-abandoned secret laboratory. But waiting inside is a relentless guardian that is not what it seems!

152 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2011

5 people are currently reading
282 people want to read

About the author

Phil Foglio

168 books356 followers
A popular science fiction fan artist in the 1970s, Phil Foglio began writing and drawing cartoons and comics professionally in the 1980s. His work includes Magic: The Gathering, Buck Godot, and the popular series of comics and novels, Girl Genius, co-written with his wife, Kaja Foglio.

Awards:
Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist (1977 and 1978)
Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story (2009, 2010, 2011)

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
651 (54%)
4 stars
423 (35%)
3 stars
110 (9%)
2 stars
10 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Kathryn.
793 reviews19 followers
June 5, 2011
This is the only webcomic I continue to read. The art and colors are fantastic, the characters are original and fun, and the story unlike anything else available. My one complaint, at least in terms of what is available in this edition, is that the story stagnated a little too much and there were so many characters that the focus was not always where I wanted it to be. But I still love the work and am grateful that it remains available for free. As for Volume 11, I like it more than Volume 10 so far and I plan on purchasing this edition if only to have an even better view of the wonderful panels and colors.
Profile Image for Lorelei.
459 reviews74 followers
December 19, 2011
I just read this book in one sitting. Sitting with my son who was also reading, I was unable to stop laughing out loud, not every page but perhaps every other? Then my son took the book, and he was also unable to avoid bursting into laughter. A daughter read it in the car on the way home, and the noises from the back seat confirmed that this is an uncommonly enjoyable book.
Profile Image for Kristin Boldon.
1,175 reviews45 followers
January 4, 2022
Will Agatha save her two multi-hued boyfriends and herself from the deadly disease? The hits come fast and furious, and Zola has been seriously underestimated. A reappearance of the Other, a deadly marshmallow gun, and I'm left with so many cliffhangers: Zeetha? Von Pinn? The Castle? But most of all, I must read on to figure out what the deal with Higgs is!

Is it me, or are the characters looking a little more fleshed out? Tarvek might even have a little belly (yay!), and both Zola and Agatha look strong and healthier than I recall from earlier. Tarvek needs a style consult on that mullet, though.
Profile Image for Eric.
248 reviews16 followers
May 27, 2011
At times frantic and disjoint. Starts too fast, and ends too abruptly. Not a discrete piece of reading.

All that said, it's fun. And you have to like the Foglio's art.
Profile Image for K.S. Trenten.
Author 13 books52 followers
January 19, 2018
Accompanied by Gilgamesh Wulfenbach and Tarvek of Sturmhalten, along with a host of sparks and more or less willing minions, Agatha Heterodyne continues to face the perils of Castle Heterodyne. For even shut down, it still has such denizens as the guardian muse and man-eating plants that distract their prey with giggles. Not to mention unwelcome visitors and long lost relatives, plotting to take down Agatha and steal both of her suitors. Plus, she’s still got Lucrezia Mongfish scheming in her head, who’s coming to the conclusion that Agatha is too dangerous a host to live.

The character revelations, interactions, and plot hurdles come so fast, they’re almost impossible for me to keep up with them all. One of my favorites involve Othar Tryggvassen and Wilhelm, along with a welcome bit of queer suggestiveness. All of the female swashbuckling which took place was among the others. Not only did Agatha and Zeetha get to indulge in these, but Zola and Violetta got a piece of the action. I was left feeling rather anxious about Zeetha’s fate at the end, not to mention more than sympathetic toward the sailor who was considerably less chivalric toward Zola than Gil. At the same time, I found myself hoping Zola would get away, now that she’s getting interesting.

For a fast plot and character development completed unimpeded by the speed, this gets four stars.
3,035 reviews14 followers
June 11, 2019
The whole "Battle of Mechanicsburg" storyline keeps getting weirder and weirder, and I have lost track of just how many factions are now involved. That's probably just as well, because knowing how many would be discouraging, I'm sure.
Still, the battle with the false Heterodyne heir over the castle builds nicely in this volume. I'm still wondering what the full set of "muses" could have done together, based on what we've seen of just a couple of broken ones.
Profile Image for Esme.
656 reviews30 followers
November 14, 2017
I love this series, but from this point forward, I think the novels are a bit too action-packed. Sometimes we need a pause to let the readers and characters breathe, like the fourth act of a play where we get some funny banter or the characters have a cup of tea and regroup before the shit hits the fan in the climax. Volumes 9-13 are all climax, and it's exhausting. Still love the series, though.
Profile Image for Jenny.
1,974 reviews47 followers
April 9, 2021
Mad science, vengeance, carnivorous plants, and a love triangle (that I *really* hope gets resolved soon) is the order of the day in Girl Genius #10. A whole lot of fun.
Profile Image for Juan Sanmiguel.
955 reviews5 followers
February 17, 2023
I read the first 10 volumes since the last was up for a Hugo. The art is great. The story is fun. Agatha and her friends are fighting the good fight in an odd world.
Profile Image for Jackie B. - Death by Tsundoku.
778 reviews56 followers
June 30, 2016
Volume 10: In which the rest of the people die, Zeetha and Violetta bond over kicking ass, everyone gets resurrected, we begin to fix the castle, and Maxim buys a hat. (Very important)

It had been almost two whole volumes with little sign of the Jagerkin. They are priceless.

When I first started this series, I felt like they were irritating and frustrating. I didn't get them. But now I found that I've really bonded with them, particularly Maxim. It was great to see him return-- and in particular on a question to get a new hat. After all, what is a Jager without his hat? Nothing.

Well, that's how we ended this volume, with a nice aside on Maxim getting his hat. It also ends with him leaving town… how hopefully we will see more Jagers in Volume 11!

Meanwhile, back in the castle… We have a lot of drama. I am really impressed with the Foglios at this point. Their writing has really hit a stride. There is a great balance of action, romance, intrigue, seriousness, and humor. Lots of humor. There is a ton of action happening, but as a reader I feel like I have a firm grasp on all the chaotic events surrounding Agatha. This is really saying something. At this point in our series, Agatha has multiple love interests, many people coming after her or her castle or something related to the Heterodynes, a castle to fix when it isn't trying to kill them, the spirit of her crazed mother trying to possess her, multiple teams of people scattered across the castle trying to locate her… and that's just inside the castle! I am thankful we are sticking to the castle walls for now. But despite this complicated web the Foglios have woven, I still feel confident I am following the storyline clearly. Nailed it.

I KNEW IT. I KNEW ZOLA WAS HIDING SOMETHING. Sneaky little wench. Also, unlike some other reveals, I feel like this one is appropriate and well crafted. [spoiler] After all, Zola being Lucrezia's niece makes perfect sense when you look at Zola and Agatha side-by-side. Totally blood relations. [/spoiler] And I love watching the parallels between Lucrezia's dislike for Zola grow to match Agatha's dislike. It's really beautifully done.

I will admit, I'm getting a bit sick of the Lucrezia possession bit. It's just challenging to keep track of what's happening sometimes. It was easier this time, but Lucrezia isn't making any headway. I'm certain something big is coming, but for once I can't seem to predict it.


Here's to a future with more antics, less Lucrezia, and more Jagers.
Profile Image for Mary Catelli.
Author 55 books204 followers
October 28, 2014
Again opening with the Hugo Award speech. And -- spoilers ahead for the earlier installments.

When last we left our intrepid Sparks, they were in the middle of an emergency medical treatment, which they were improvising on the spot, without which all three would die.

So naturally this opens with the realization in the town that Agatha killed the Castle (without the knowledge that she couldn't contain its insanity otherwise) and with Dr. Sun's finally managing to contain his most difficult patient, the Baron. Boris has to take over.

But very quickly, we are back with Agatha, Tarvek, and Gil, coping with things that most doctors don't have to. Like clank attacks. And dealing with the Dyne, the river that had once been a sacred spring (and for good if unpleasant reason).

Othar discovers someone in the Castle whom he had not expected to find. And in a deftly done scene, Boris goes to talk to the jaeger generals, and is interrupted; ah, the reflection that the character whose actions are trouble for Agatha and friends has much better motives than the one whose actions would aid her -- plus the dramatic conclusion.

But the main story about Agatha goes on. It involves Moloch's throwing a bucket over all three of the sparks, Agatha's screaming that Gil's not allowed to die just because everyone else did so, Gil and Tarvek's vowing vengeance for something they didn't realize that Agatha had done -- and for good reason, Agatha's managing to wrestle with her mother mentally even without the locket, a carnivorous flower that makes you happy and laughing to lure you in, and dealing with someone on combat drugs that make it impossible to knock her out.

And then there's the Unstoppable Higgs. There's a slight inconsistency in his characterization between here and earlier.
Ah, well, in webcomics, the problem of saying something you would need to revise out if only you hadn't published it is aggravated. And it is still possible to justify it by giving some reason why he changed. Memory issues, perhaps.
Profile Image for Karissa.
4,315 reviews214 followers
January 12, 2015
This is the tenth book in the Girl Genius series. I thought this book was a bit weaker than the last couple books in the series, but it was still a great read and highly entertaining. This whole series has been a wonderful blend of magic, steampunk, and humor.

Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek still have a strange malady that they are trying to cure. During the process of building the machine that will cure them, they discover a strange Guardian creature in the bowels of the Castle that is set on causing serious trouble. Meanwhile outside in the city things are falling apart since the shutdown of Castle Heterodyne. No one realized just how connected the castle was to the city.

Not as much happens in this book as in previous books, I also didn’t think it was quite as outrageously funny. Still, that being said, there are some interesting plot developments and I really continue to enjoy the characters.

The illustration continues to be brightly coloring and is easy to follow, it fits the tone of the story really well. It was fun to have Tarvek, Gil and Agatha in the story together...those three are hilarious together and play off of each other really well.

Overall this continues to be a highly entertaining graphic novel series. I love all the steampunk and magic elements. I continue to enjoy the humor and brightly colored illustrations. I would definitely recommend this whole graphic novel series to anyone, teen and older, who enjoys both a good laugh and steampunky goodness.
Profile Image for Psychophant.
548 reviews21 followers
September 9, 2015

For many years I have followed Girl Genius Webcomic as one of my daily rituals. I have been following the Foglio's quirky humour and idiosyncratic drawings.

What I really like of the series is the depth of scope and worldbuilding, with many details becoming obvious much later than when they appear. As such the recently appeared novels are the perfect complement, as you can finally be inside the head of Agatha, overcoming one of the limitations of comic: wordcount. So instead of being sparse with words, they can let out freely.

The series takes place in an alternate Europa, one where some kind of magical technology, the Spark, has made it diverge wildly from our own. The series follows the adventures, with some sadness and romance but mostly with good humour, of Agatha, the Girl Genius, and a huge supporting cast. I would call it Steam Fantasy instead of Steampunk, but it is better than most stories with than label.

I supported the kickstarter campaign, so I got the first 12 books. I suspect they are only scratching the surface so far...

I will recycle the review for the others, because they are really part of a continuum, and all are at a high level. If you do not believe me, just try it, it is free: www.girlgeniusonline.com
Profile Image for Marsha.
Author 2 books39 followers
July 30, 2013
Agatha, Tarvek and Gil race against time and the angry spirit of the castle as they try to cure themselves of a deadly disease. Agatha also has to contend with a fake Heterodyne who is as strong as she is powerful and cunning. Throw in Agatha’s possession by her mad egotistical mother Lucrezia Mongfish, her own clanks run amok, bombastic heroes (yes, Othar Tryggvassen returns—unfortunately), crazed sparks (are there any other kind?), Jägers, carnivorous plants and lovesick minions and you’ve got a recipe for another off-the-wall Girl Genius adventure.

The story spreads itself across multiple fronts but confines itself mainly to the castle. There’s a good balance between action and intrigue, humor and seriousness. Revelations are tossed in with astonishing rapidity but the storytellers know what they’re doing; no matter how nonsensical it seems for a character to show up and start wading in, fists flying, it always suits the action and the story.

This story also includes a little addition about how the Jäger Maxim gets a new hat. Hats are serious businesses with Jägers and this one combines humor, action and cunning as Maxim battles for the ultimate haberdashery accessory.
Profile Image for Raj.
1,688 reviews42 followers
June 20, 2016
Volume 10 of the adventures of Agatha Heterodyne sees her trying to save the lives of herself and her potential beaus, Gil and Tarvek, from a deadly Spark disease, dealing with the deadly guardian of the pit and trying to stop her mother taking over her body (repeatedly) while fending off the Heterodyne imposter, Zola and trying to repair the castle to defend the town.

As with the other Girl Genius books, the art is beautiful, the story hectic and the laughs keep coming. I still read the webcomic regularly but there's nothing quite like sitting down with a book and being able to blitz through a whole story in one go, rather than trying to remember what's going on at the (somewhat glacial) pace of three pages a week.

This volume is somewhat lacking in Jaeger activity, although that is corrected in the excellent short story Maxim Buys a Hat, included at the back of this volume. Other supporting cast get a bit more to do: we see some romantic interests blossoming between some of the minions hangers-on and, in particular, we see some intriguing hints that Airman (Third Class) Higgs is much more than he seems.
Profile Image for ***Dave Hill.
1,026 reviews28 followers
December 30, 2019
The 10th volume of GG is a mixed bag. The spark/minion cross-talk is brilliant, laugh-out-loud goodness, and the onion-peeling of the plot (and the castle) is fascinating -- but there's a lot of ... well, internal repetition here: personality transfers, Agatha/Lucrezia conflicts, last-gasp-gamble medical procedures, people dying (or maybe not), all of it down in the ever-changing-but-still-the-same bowels of Castle Heterodyne. A bit more setting change-up would be helpful, and the too-brief glances of what's going on with the Baron and the Seneschal and the Jaegers (including a delightful vignette at the end) provide much-needed contrast.

Still, the least-best GG is still worth four stars.

Not recommended for anyone who hasn't read every single volume to date. But it's worth it doing so. Really. (And, yes, these are all online for free -- but reading them in book form is both more convenient and less prone to missing a few days.)
195 reviews22 followers
July 13, 2011
I get to read the graphic novel collections of this series thanks to a friend who loans them to me. I find they are a great light read for when I'm waiting around for computers to do things that eat up chunks of time but need someone to be watching for error messages...

Anyway, the series in general is fun, fanciful and has a cast of thousands.... a nifty steampunk world of mad scientists, wanna be world rulers and fantastic machines, with lots of action and inside jokes. The Foglio's have always done great work and this is probably their greatest achievement.

You do need to put away your critical thinking, accept a certain amount of extreme coincidence and be willing to suspend some disbelief to enjoy them, but they are worth those choices.

Profile Image for Nancy.
540 reviews21 followers
October 20, 2015
The aforementioned sprawling continues, but there's so much action and excitement and character work that I can forgive it. Gil, Tarvek and Agatha make an amazing team, and I really want to know more about Higgs.

This volume ends very abruptly, and the last few pages are given over to a short story about Maxim acquiring a jaunty hat. (Oggie makes the rather amusing comment that it "only feels" like Agatha and Co. have been in the castle a long time, since these events have been spinning out over months and years as the comic is published. Ha!)
Profile Image for Lori.
698 reviews13 followers
March 10, 2012
Originally published online as a Web comic (where it can be found at www.girlgeniusonline.com), this series follows the exploits of a young woman, Agatha, who discovers she is the lost heir to a long-feared dynasty. Instead of a terribly serious version of this tale, the author/artist stick to humor over horrors. Still friends and enemies die, leaving their mark on Agatha as she grows to understand who she is and what she can do.
Profile Image for Miss Susan.
2,769 reviews65 followers
April 30, 2013
man i waited FAR too long to read this. it's like moffat!who minus the horrible gender politics! all wacky adventures, all the time! :D i'm really digging zola as the current antagonist, she was not kidding when she said she was adaptable. girl just won't stay down. i also loved all the sparks and minions interactions this volume. lots of entertainment value in watching people with rational priorities interact with mad scientists! 4 stars
Profile Image for Josh.
908 reviews
February 17, 2014
Girl Genius continues to be a fun book. I like how the fake Heterodyne continues to evolve. I also like how this volume focused a lot on Agatha and what is happening to her. This volume takes place over a fairly short period of time. I like how there is even a sly reference to this in the test. In short, this volume is more of the same; madcap adventures with a cool steampunk vibe and an ever evolving political situation.

Finally, the Jager story at the end is very amusing.
Profile Image for Nicholas Whyte.
5,372 reviews207 followers
August 6, 2011
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1784242...

I haven't actually finished this, but I've simply lost interest; despite having read the two previous volumes in the series (this is the tenth) I can't remember why I was supposed to care about any of the characters, and I'm going to do something else with my time.
Profile Image for Alicia Hill.
49 reviews12 followers
November 9, 2012
The series just keeps getting better as it goes. I have really been rooting for Gil from early on, but now Tarvek is starting to gain on him as Agatha's main... ummm... love interest doesn't feel like the right phrase for this series... attack coordinator? Co-inventor? Spark? Head minion? (Poor Moloch.)
Profile Image for Philip.
435 reviews9 followers
August 25, 2025
I love Girl Genius, but it does have a tendency to get bogged down in it’s own minutiae. I believe the back cover blurb on this volume is exactly the same as on the previous volume. And there’s another two volumes before the time skip. I do appreciate learning backstory and all, but I also like it when a story moves forward.
Profile Image for Robu-sensei.
369 reviews26 followers
December 30, 2011
In this installment of the Girl Genius saga, the interminable Si Vales Valeo story arc finally, finally comes to a close. Vol. 10 isn't a total loss, however: we learn who Von Pinn really is, and the bonus story, recounting how the Jäger Maxim acquires a new hat, is top-notch.
Profile Image for Christina (Boupie).
146 reviews18 followers
June 19, 2012
Loved it! I love Higgs.... I wish we knew more about him because he seems to be hiding something... something BIG. Plus he likes Zeetha and I love Zeetha and it is time that adorable girl got some attention. HATE Zola... but I think that was supposed to happen. I hope Agatha wins... I mean she has too right?
Profile Image for Allison.
674 reviews36 followers
January 1, 2015
Love this entire series. The story is fun and engages my interest. There's enough side stories going on to keep me from becoming bored. Action? Oh yeah, there's plenty of action too. Plus romance for our heroine with not one but two suitors. Add a castle trying to take over all by itself and what more could a gal ask for? Give it a try - I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.