Seventh SonSeventh Son
Score Classic
What it's about
In an alternate frontier America where folk magic works, the seventh son of a seventh son is born, which gives him powerful gifts. Alvin Miller is destined to be a Maker, someone who can build and heal the world, but a dark force called the Unmaker wants him dead, and has been trying to kill him since before he was born.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo finalist. It's the first book of the Tales of Alvin Maker, a fantasy of early American history.
You'll love it if you liked
The Eye of the World
Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellGood to know
It's the first of a series. The poet William Blake appears as a character.
By the numbers
- Readers23 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics76 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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
- #102 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #228 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #454 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1569 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
More by Orson Scott Card
If you like this, read next
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang
The Wasp Factory
Noughts & Crosses
The Time Keeper
The Lord of the Rings
FoundationExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Seventh Son worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #1,569 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Seventh Son about?
In an alternate frontier America where folk magic works, the seventh son of a seventh son is born, which gives him powerful gifts. Alvin Miller is destined to be a Maker, someone who can build and heal the world, but a dark force called the Unmaker wants him dead, and has been trying to kill him since before he was born.
How long does it take to read Seventh Son?
About 6 hours (256 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Seventh Son?
If you liked it, try The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.