Slab Square Ahzu 9 is a light, normal width, low contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial, book text, magazines, literary branding, pull quotes, bookish, old-style, warm, literary, refined, readability, classic tone, expressive italic, editorial texture, bracketed, calligraphic, lively, slightly condensed, texty.
This is an italic serif with sturdy, slab-like serifs and gently bracketed joins that keep the letterforms feeling cohesive rather than rigid. Strokes are largely even in weight with subtle modulation, and many terminals finish with flattened, square-ended forms. The overall rhythm is lively: curved letters lean forward with flowing entry/exit strokes, counters stay fairly open, and spacing reads comfortable in continuous text. Uppercase forms are elegant and slightly narrow, while the lowercase shows clear italic construction with single-storey forms and pronounced, curling descenders.
It fits well in editorial settings such as book interiors, magazine features, and cultured long-form layouts where an italic voice is needed with strong structure. It can also serve for literary branding, pull quotes, and short headlines that benefit from a classic yet animated serif texture.
The font projects a classic, bookish tone with a warm, human touch. Its italic movement and softened slab details give it a literary, editorial character—more expressive than a neutral text face, but still controlled and readable.
The design appears intended to blend the firmness of slab-like serifs with the elegance and momentum of an italic, creating a readable face that can carry narrative text while providing an expressive, traditional tone.
The numerals follow the same italic slant and serif treatment, with distinctive curves and a traditional feel. In paragraphs, the face maintains an even color and a steady baseline, while the forward-leaning shapes add energy without becoming overly flamboyant.