MiddlegameMiddlegame
Score Modern
What it's about
Roger has a gift for words and languages; his twin, Dodger, has a gift for numbers. Separated at birth, they are part of an experiment by an amoral alchemist who wants to control the fundamental forces of the universe through them. Seanan McGuire's standalone fantasy is full of shadowy organizations and impossible cities.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo Award finalist and won the Locus Award for best fantasy novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
The Night Circus
PiranesiGood to know
It's dark and complex, and it jumps around in time.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz14 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #132 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #200 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #743 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1391 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
If you like this, read next
Scythe
Skyward
Thief of Time
The Sword of Kaigen
The Alloy of Law
The Curse of ChalionExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Middlegame worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo Award finalist and won the Locus Award for best fantasy novel. It ranks #1,391 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Middlegame about?
Roger has a gift for words and languages; his twin, Dodger, has a gift for numbers. Separated at birth, they are part of an experiment by an amoral alchemist who wants to control the fundamental forces of the universe through them. Seanan McGuire's standalone fantasy is full of shadowy organizations and impossible cities.
How long does it take to read Middlegame?
About 13 hours (528 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Middlegame?
If you liked it, try The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern or Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.