Reviews in Brief

An explosive and cerebral thriller delving into the insidious origins of cruelty, Root of All Evil by Ayura Ayira is a compelling and unforgettable portrait of power, trauma, and vengeance. Seething with horrific memories of a stolen childhood and twisted indoctrination, Zayani finally has the opportunity to seize control of her life, and the reins of power in her country, but her long path towards healing is filled with violence of its own. Intense in its subject matter and stunning in its character portrayals, this is a shocking and wholly original novel that bristles with real-life crises and humanitarian issues too often overlooked.

A satirical spoof on the corporatization of creativity, The Little Lives of the Pocketverse by Sam Hill is an unhinged plunge into a myriad of alternate realities. The power to create other time-bent universes comes with a fair amount of madness for a legendary inventor, and many unintended consequences erupt for the ninjas, pirates, sea monsters, astronauts, spies, and zombies that populate these strange realms. Layered in dry wit and not-so-subtle social commentary, this spiraling story of chaotic world-building manages to touch on heady themes of sentience, free will, scientific ethics, immortality, and even the meaning of life. For those seeking a clever piece of escapist sci-fi, this strange and intricately inventive novel will not disappoint.

A collection of short stories inhabiting a universe full of mystery and wonder, The Unnatural Order of Things by Rick M. Clausen displays the author’s masterful command of the written word. In a series of surreal tales, we find thugs trapped in a desert loop, metaphysical visions of god-like horses, and the experiences of immortal cowboys, with each story being both eloquent and unpredictable. The stories possess a vital balance between fantasy and realism, so the narrative never becomes too absurdist to be believable, with Clausen mixing together straightforward prose with lyricism, authentic emotion with irony, for an innovative work of magic realism that is accessible enough for those who are unfamiliar with the genre.

A truly surprising autobiographical work about the author’s experience growing up with a family of vagabond artists, Artists and Vagabonds: How I Escaped My Mother’s Narcissistic Personality Disorder by Lorena L. Sikorski is a powerful exploration of family eccentricity and dysfunction. Exploring the family history from the 19^th century to the present, Sikorski spells out a long history of abuse, co-dependency, and mental illness that ran in the family’s structure, and which ultimately exacerbated her mother’s narcissism. Told in a matter-of-factly style without unnecessary flairs, this memoir offers deep reflections on family bonds and mental health that will be immediately recognizable to those who have had to navigate the conflict between familial connection and neglect, while also offering a strong degree of hope for healing.

Capturing the beliefs, pace, and tale-telling tradition of a bygone era, Old Shop Stories by C. Blaine Hyatt is a nostalgic portrait of simpler times. Gathered from memories of his father, this quaint but spirited collection of memories is compellingly varied – from stickball in the street and farm pets becoming dinner, to witnessing crimes, shearing sheep, and saving out-of-control trucks, these brief vignettes are like dusty photographs polished off to give a full-featured look at one man’s life, in a way that is at once personal and universally relatable. With a pastoral and intimate perspective, this charming peek into the past is an enchanting and transportive collection.

A Japanese bildungsroman written in Spanish, Rito de Iniciacion (Initiation Rite) by Diego Uribe tells the life of Akito, from his childhood until his emotional last moments. The author recounts Akito’s difficult upbringing and his harmful family ties, as well as his bond with his younger sister, Umiko, a relationship that keeps him going until he decides to escape his dire situation at home. As his journey progresses, he makes a number of bad decisions along the way, turning him into a “despicable being,” as he describes himself. Written clearly and simply, Uribe imbues this short novel with great emotion, gripping the reader from the start, though it leaves one wanting to know more about Akito’s life, as we are mainly privy to his mistakes. Despite Akito’s difficult life, Uribe’s novel is a compelling invitation to delve into Japanese culture through the vivid lens of one man’s journey.