Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

56 reviews

adancewithbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 Middlegame is one of those books I've heard a lot about. People singing its absolute praises. Did I love it as much as them? No but I can see why it captured everyone's attention like that.

Middlegame follows the lives of two twins that were seperated at birth. They were used for human experimentation to create something entirely non-human in a human body. To become the perfect vessels. They weren't the only ones. Of course they know none of this. And across the country they find each other. Despite those higher up trying to stop them, they still find each other again and again.

Middlegame is a trip that you follow along with Roger and Dodger. Even though we know more than them it doesn't take away from all the surprises we come across with them in who they really are. And even that, it isn't really about that. It is about their relationship and finding their way in the world when the world has been shaped for you. To take back your own choices.

And it is strong in setting up the two unit between Roger and Dodger. Because it goes with heart, bumps and scrapes. Many scrapes but with a lot of feelings. Relationships, especially with found siblings like these, don't come easy. It was realistic to see them run and turn away from each other. Their characterisation made me invested in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body horror

Human Experimentation

le_mur's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child death, Confinement, and Gun violence

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death

yourlocalsadie's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

m_e_ruzak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

kyraisaverage's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

rebeccaxpaige's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Gun violence, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

its_madi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt

je55ilo's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

This was a good book to read in January 2022, while the omicron numbers ticked ever higher and it felt like an unstoppable force bearing down on all of us. Sometimes the themes of a book come too close to a stressful reality, but

watching Roger and Dodger attempt to outrun their evil alchemists was heartening. If they can walk the improbable road, maybe I can too.

I am not a horror fan, and the beginning of this book was almost too much for me (see content warnings), but I'm glad I stuck with it long enough to see Roger and Dodger grow up enough to have a fighting chance against the evil bearing down on them. Maguire knows how to keep you turning the pages.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

milliemudd's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury