Middlegame

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Holy Smokes, where do I start?! Part science fiction, part alchemy, part siblings coming of age, part ode to language and math, part rebellion, with a dash of horror, this book has so many components that come together in the seamless, chaotically beautiful way that belongs only to Seanan McGuire's writing.

Roger & Dodger are twins growing up in their respective adoptive homes on opposite coasts of the US. They are constructs created for a singular purpose by an alchemist, but they don't know this yet. They are also human, relatable, and intent on choosing their own way. They are terrific characters who are readable and yet clearly something new & powerful.

The roles that Roger & Dodger serve is partially explained with the fictional book series, the Up and Under. This embedded fiction was one aspect of this read that I particularly enjoyed. Its a story within a story, with enough passages shared & examined to be a tantalizing mystery, and to help contextualize the events of Middlegame. But it also serves to remind us how vital storytelling is to the fabric of our own world, and to help in understanding those things that are seemingly unexplainable.

Among those unexplainable things we have to weave into our stories are the monsters hidden in plain sight. McGuire is so incredibly good at these, and Middlegame is no exception. In this book, some are born and others created, some are pitiable and others easy to hate, and one is simply chillingly terrifying. While they may be evil, they are detailed & dimensional. And just like with our protagonists, show off some great character writing on the part of the author.

The one downside I experienced was that when I started reading I was a little squicked out by some of the initial bloodiness & general weirdness of the alchemy that I had to push through. (Fans of the Mira Grant books should be fine, but if all you've read of Seanan's stuff is published under 'Seanan McGuire,' know that this is akin to Down Among the Sticks and Bones - and then some - as far as monsters, body parts, and general creepy factors.) It never feels gratuitous, and always serves a purpose in storytelling, but had I not been reading an ARC for review, I might have put it down or really taken my time with it. I am soo glad I finished the book, so I would encourage readers who may experience a similar 'ick' response to stick with it a bit longer. Its worth it.

All in all, I felt this was a masterful piece of science fiction from a much beloved author. As an admitted fan of hers, I still felt she outdid herself with Middlegame, and give it a glowing 5 stars.

I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.