Reviews in Brief

Immersing readers in long-forgotten history and the wild swings of imperial power over 1,500 years ago, The Vandals: Rampage Through Gaul by Edmund Karlsson is a breathless work of historical fiction written as a memoir. Steeped in military strategy and richly researched detail, this second installment of the series traces Prince Gaeseric’s momentous rise as a trusted leader of the Vandal forces and a fierce adversary to the Roman Empire. Though the prose focuses on troop movements, political motivations, alliances, and battles at the expense of some deeper character development, Karlsson presents a stunning portrait of an overlooked conqueror.

A mad plunge into the fractured landscape of the male psyche, Incel by ARX-Han is a satirical and sinister look at a frightening modern development. A sexually frustrated American embarks on a dark journey to lose his virginity, as readers are given intimate access to his unfiltered thought processes as he becomes more radicalized, obsessive, bitter, and destructive. Brilliant in its technical detail, linguistic flexibility, and savage cultural commentary, this dense portrait of a solipsistic loner feels timely and insightful about a dangerously disaffected portion of contemporary society.

Farcical romp meets superhero origin story in The Birth of Agent Big Butt by Amy Winfield, a whimsical ride that will have children laughing out loud. Yanked into the world with an exceptionally large backside, this precocious infant protagonist has the internal monologue of a wise-cracking adult, along with an arsenal of flatulence-fueled abilities that make him hilariously heroic. With a butt like a battering ram, and toots that can bring the house down, this bank robber-busting baby is the talk of the town, and the target of a sinister doctor who wants to turn him into a lab rat. Surreal, silly, and unpredictable, this kooky and clever tale is an incredibly fun beginning to an original series.

A forthright and easy-to-follow resource for longevity and fulfillment on your career path, Back After Burnout by Dennis Consorte is a timely and relatable guidebook. Structuring the text around the MASHPLAY framework – Mindset, Acceptance, Symptoms, Habits, Purpose, Leadership, Accountability, and Yourself – readers are told how to identify, navigate, and mitigate the most common crises for working professionals. With actionable examples of failing forward and overcoming exhaustion in productive and progressive ways, the book offers concise, practical solutions that entrepreneurs and businesspeople can implement for a successful work-life balance. Low on fluff and repetitive information, this compendium of authors employs accessible and empathetic language, lacing the advice with an assured sense of authenticity and authority.

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.