Wonderfully, people are now saying that this has tipped them over the edge into ordering a copy of MIDDLEGAME. That's wonderful, and makes me very happy (I enjoy eating).

But it means it's time for me to re-up my MIDDLEGAME CONTENT WARNING thread!

CW bullying, parental gaslighting and emotional abuse, murder, major character death, arson, graphic depiction of suicide attempt, chess, math, light swearing. No sexual assault, graphic sexual content, animal death, or animal abuse.

Also technically (although more glossed over) CW child abduction, abuse of authority, racism, misogyny both direct and systemic, and accidental use of the word "astrolabe" when I meant "orrery."

I can't promise the book doesn't contain things that might bother you, but these are the big ones. The suicide attempt is why I consider this thread essential. It's not a gratuitous scene. The book hinges around it, I couldn't take it out. But it's detailed, and it's THERE.

As someone who's been suicidal for my entire adult life, it was hard to write, and very important, and I'm so glad I did it, and I don't want it to be the brick upside someone's head.

The suicide attempt goes into as little detail as possible. It is an attempt, not a success, much as it was in real life (I do my research very thoroughly).

Also: while CWs can be considered spoilers, if your plot is so fragile that something as vague as "someone attempts suicide at one point in the book" robs it of its power and potency, the problem is not with the CW. It's with the plot. You can do better.

Much as I want ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE to read this book so I'll be allowed to write the follow-up, I would rather lose a potential reader than do them psychological harm when I don't have to.