Trigger warnings: suicide, death of family, blood

Twins Roger and Dodger are two sides of the same cosmic coin separated by the continental United States. Roger of New England masters language with relative ease, while his sister Dodger is a math prodigy.

The structure of this novel, though not linear, was frightening in how easy it was to follow. It bounces between past, future, alt!past, alt!future, and the interstitial space where Reed and Leigh plot their schemes for dominating time and reality. Never once did I find myself confused. McGuire has such a precision in her language that this book simultaneous felt like a fairy tale, something contemporary, and a thriller. Absolutely engaging and mind-blowing.

The characterization of the twins is absolutely fantastic. What I think shines brightest here is the depiction of Dodger’s math skills by showing the reader enough of that mastery without going into the specifics of the mathematics itself. It was surprisingly accessible, and even more mind-blowing when you see how it fits into the ending.

Part Frankenstein, some cosmic fuckery, definitely read this book if you’re wondering how any pair of the Wayward Children would turn out as young adults.