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cheyennamarshall's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I'm actually in awe of how this book made me feel. It took me a second to get into the world in the beginning, but after that the pace just never let me feel okay with the fact that I had to put it down. There wasn't a single dry period. Every plot twist or show of the author's hand through the length of the book make me feel almost too overwhelmed to keep reading, but in the exact way I would want. This book is absolutely rock solid and definitely in the top three books I've ever read. It almost makes me ill. I will have to start the Wayward Children series...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
asexual rep, aromantic repmfrank's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love Seanan McGuire and her writing so much! I was so happy to read this and it made me happy to go through it! I loved Roger and Dodger so much. They felt very real to me. I think Seanan McGuire is so great at creating characters. For me, the only reason that this was four stars instead of five stars is the climax scenes. I think Seanan McGuire is great at creating characters and building narrative tension, but I've noticed in a few of her books that I've read that the climax sometimes fails to deliver on that tension. I really hated the fake-out climax. It felt like we gained nothing from that. They would have manifested without that. And the fact that we thought both Leigh and Erin died and then neither of them died made me so upset. Like, what was the point of that scene if it accomplished literally nothing for them. Also, the face that Erin then actually died made me so upset. It felt a bit weird too. Like, that Erin was just too broken to survive without her brother? It felt off to the message about sibling love. Especially, that Erin basically chose to kill herself, sort of? I know she didn't literally, but it felt at the end like she was making the choice to die rather than that Reed actually killed her. Just those last like 30 pages felt weird overall. Despite those few issues I had with the book, I loved the overall story enough to sort of make up for those moments where I didn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Blood, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
jayisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
For a limited time, Tordotcom made Middlegame downloadable for free, which was nice. I admit I have a tendency to jump at any opportunity to get a free book, even if I don’t know the premise of it. It was absolutely the case with this book, ahaha.
That said, I think I enjoyed this book? It’s hard to tell because, admittedly, I didn’t fully follow what was happening at times. I think there were two reasons for this. One is that there’s a lot of fascinating worldbuilding, but there was a little too much happening. The other related reason is because of the point-of-view that McGuire decided to write in, which was limited third-person primarily from the perspectives of Roger and Dodger. I don’t mind reading books that don’t have an omniscient perspective, but I think it would have helped for this book because, goodness, Roger and Dodger simply have no idea what’s happening for most this book. In other words, the reader has to deal with this as well, and that can get really frustrating. As a result, the story got messier.
On a more positive note, though, I was fascinated by this idea of math and language being the foundation of the world (in a way). I also really enjoyed how McGuire explored the relationship between Roger and Dodger. It was such a unique dynamic that felt very real. Lastly, McGuire writes beautifully with multisensory descriptions that added so much to the book.
I could have missed something that resulted in my confusion, but I may look into the sequel. I’m admittedly curious to know what more McGuire can do with the worldbuilding she has done. Plus, it might make more sense since I have some footing from this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death
ziote's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Middlegame came highly recommended by a friend of mine. If not for this recommendation then I would have DNF'd this book. Honestly, I still can't figure out if I enjoyed this book or not.
Seanen McGquire has a talent to write prose as if it were read like poetry. The writing is unconventional and dense, which is both a good thing (because this is a unique book and has some beautiful lines in it) but also a bad thing (it's a difficult and rather slow read). Seanen McGuire takes great care in interweaving plot lines with varying timelines. It's complex and impressive, but I think it can also be very hard to follow. I had to marathon read this book because I knew if I put it down for even more than a day or two, then I'd forget important details. And I wouldn't feel right talking about the writing without talking about the quotes and passages inserted in the beginning of some chapters that referenced Over the Wayward Wall by A. Deborah Baker. Deborah Baker is apparently a pen name of Seanan McGuire (which I only found out afterwards). I think it is a little odd to reference Over the Wayward Wall as this "great piece of literature that has been overshadowed by the likes of The Wizard of Oz, etc." when the author wrote both Middlegame and Over the Wayward Wall. Perhaps I found this egotistical, or perhaps I didn't like these quotes/passages from Over the Wayward Wall because I have never read that novel and felt as if I were missing something.
The characters also fell flat to me. We spend quite a great deal of time with Rodger and Dodger, and neither of them charmed me.They spent more time at odds with each other and separated than they did together and getting along. This separation is the crux of their relationship. I understand that it is important on a narrative standpoint; Rodger/Dodger need to mature and become their own person, unless they want the alchemists to get involved and separate them by force.
When together, Rodger and Dodger were fun and completed each, which is probably the point. However, by the 3rd messy separation (and I can't believe this plot device happened multiple times), I just did not care. I was tired and always waiting for the other shoe to drop and for them to spend another large amount of time not talking with one another. Separated or together again; either way I found that by the end of it, I could not give a damn.
This book is interesting and compelling and Seanen McGuire put a lot of thought into this ... but I really don't know if it's an enjoyable read
Seanen McGquire has a talent to write prose as if it were read like poetry. The writing is unconventional and dense, which is both a good thing (because this is a unique book and has some beautiful lines in it) but also a bad thing (it's a difficult and rather slow read). Seanen McGuire takes great care in interweaving plot lines with varying timelines. It's complex and impressive, but I think it can also be very hard to follow. I had to marathon read this book because I knew if I put it down for even more than a day or two, then I'd forget important details. And I wouldn't feel right talking about the writing without talking about the quotes and passages inserted in the beginning of some chapters that referenced Over the Wayward Wall by A. Deborah Baker. Deborah Baker is apparently a pen name of Seanan McGuire (which I only found out afterwards). I think it is a little odd to reference Over the Wayward Wall as this "great piece of literature that has been overshadowed by the likes of The Wizard of Oz, etc." when the author wrote both Middlegame and Over the Wayward Wall. Perhaps I found this egotistical, or perhaps I didn't like these quotes/passages from Over the Wayward Wall because I have never read that novel and felt as if I were missing something.
The characters also fell flat to me. We spend quite a great deal of time with Rodger and Dodger, and neither of them charmed me.
When together, Rodger and Dodger were fun and completed each, which is probably the point. However, by the 3rd messy separation (and I can't believe this plot device happened multiple times), I just did not care. I was tired and always waiting for the other shoe to drop and for them to spend another large amount of time not talking with one another. Separated or together again; either way I found that by the end of it, I could not give a damn.
This book is interesting and compelling and Seanen McGuire put a lot of thought into this ... but I really don't know if it's an enjoyable read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
gladiolus17's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thought Middlegame had great characters and such an interesting premise. Dodger and Roger were very fleshed out and I was invested in their relationship. My favorite character was Erin, though!
The other thing the book did well was metaphors. Sometimes you see books that throw in a metaphor just to be beautiful, but these ones extended the meaning of what they were comparing AND were unique and beautiful.
I was also blown away by how the timeline fit everything together. First I was confused, but then everything fell into place and I was very satisfied.
I did feel certain things were repetitive on a sentence and scene level. I’m not sure if it was necessary to have Roger and Dodger part so many times, as it dragged the narrative down a bit. As well, I felt that the metaphors around math and language were overused sometimes, since Roger and Dodger were often described as not being good at each other’s disciplines.
All in all, an enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror and Fire/Fire injury
chloeeereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has easily made its way into my all time favourites list. I was so hooked right from the first sentence - this book intrigued me, confused me, made me laugh, made me sad, made me think, and I loved every second.
The premise of this book is confusing but so cool and I will try and explain as best I can without giving anything away. Rodger and Dodger are twins (one set of many) engineered by alchemists and separated at birth, destined to grow and live a life apart before coming together when their maker deems fit. Roger is incredibly skilled in language and words, and Dodger in mathematics and numbers, but neither of them realise just how important or dangerous their abilities are. Together, they are the physical embodiment of The Doctrine, an ancient conception which allows its wielder to control time and the universe.
We follow Roger and Dodger throughout their childhoods and into adulthood, as they begin to learn more about themselves, each other, and the world around them. The writing in this book was stunning, and McGuire had such a way of taking something inherently weird and dark and twisted and confusing and weaving it into a story about friendship, family, heartbreak and sacrifice. The relationship between Roger and Dodger was raw and tender and so wonderfully built as the story progressed. There were characters that you couldn’t help but just hate, and so many twists and turns. It was so fun trying to figure out what was going on as Roger and Dodger were doing the same, and we deal with multiple timelines, time warping, telepathy and more. It’s definitely a confusing book and one that will make you verbally say “uh what the fuck” more than once, but it was so intriguing and wonderfully executed. I have been thinking about these characters and this story since I closed this book, and I will probably never stop thinking about it.
If you’ve been seeing this book around or meaning to read it, this is your sign to pick it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
hanz's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Car accident
ellemee's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Grief
kmtd's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
deedireads's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Middlegame is an incredibly creative novel with great plot and character. I really liked it a lot and I’ll definitely be reading more of Seanan McGuire’s work.
For you if: You like fantasy novels that have sci-fi-like elements and a super creative premise.
FULL REVIEW:
TL;DR REVIEW:
Middlegame is an incredibly creative novel with great plot and character. I really liked it a lot and I’ll definitely be reading more of Seanan McGuire’s work.
For you if: You like fantasy novels that have sci-fi-like elements and a super creative premise.
FULL REVIEW:
“For a man on a mission, a hundred years can pass in the blinking of an eye. Oh, it helps to have access to the philosopher’s stone, to have the fruits of a thousand years of alchemical progress at one’s fingertips, but really, it was always the mission that mattered. James Reed was born knowing his purpose, left his master in a shallow grave knowing his purpose, and fully intends to ascend to the heights of human knowledge with the fruits of his labors clutched firmly in hand. Damn anyone who dares to get in his way.”
Chances are if you’ve been in a bookstore over the last couple years, you’ve seen the cover of Middlegame. It’s hard to miss that hand of glory! (And yet, my brain kept mixing it up with Middlemarch, which is just…so not the same, lol.) So I’d been intrigued for a while, and when it was nominated for the Hugo Award, I knew it was only a matter of time before I picked it up. And I was NOT disappointed.
Middlegame is about a set of twins, Roger and Dodger, who were born to embody the Doctrine of Ethos, an alchemical principle that would allow the one controlling it to alter time … and the universe overall. Roger has the language part, and Dodger has math. Two halves of one whole, separated at birth, under the watch of one who would seek to use their abilities — we see the two of them grow up, learn who they are, and strive to save the world.
This book is just so incredibly creative. You can tell from the first few chapters that you’re in for something that feels really different from pretty much anything else. It’s also just really well written, with dynamic and vivid characters and a really exciting plot.
I will say that this is probably not a novel for SFF beginners. The structure and storytelling will feel accessible to those who are used to world-building and wrapping their minds around alternate rules of the universe, but it could be a little hard to follow if you aren’t used to books like that.
If you are a fan of fantasy with a feeling of sci-fi mixed in, pick this up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Gore, and Blood