A thought-provoking novel for readers willing to navigate its dense political and philosophical terrain.
Boyner’s ambitious political thriller plunges readers into the fractured Republic of Estaran near the Iberian Peninsula, where idealism clashes with ruthless pragmatism.
In 1940, Sark Efni, Estaran’s president-select who once served as the nation’s Minister of Interior, struggles to maintain control of a country in turmoil as insurgencies erupt and loyal allies fall. His main adversary, though, is the enigmatic Esin Largaz—the Chief of the General Staff, who orchestrates a ruthless military coup that reshapes the nation. The relatively brief narrative features high-stakes political maneuvering, full of tense standoffs, assassinations, and strategic gambits, which make for an intriguing contrast with the more intimate, reflective moments between Sark and his significant other, Ely: “Every night before bed…Sark and Ely lay close to one another after tangling the sheets and just spoke. They talked about politics, philosophy, economics, theology, the past, the future... everything.” Throughout, the book’s plotting is intricate, and the stakes are convincingly dire. However, the prose often falters under the weight of its ambition. Lengthy expository monologues and repetitive ideological speeches slow the pace and sometimes feel more like lectures than organic dialogue: “But there is an enormous gap between those who are here and those who, for example, live in rural regions. The cultural gap is growing, and one day it will be so wide it will be impossible to close. Resentment will take root, assuming, of course, it has already not done so.” As such, the novel is thematically rich but uneven in style. In addition, abrupt shifts between violent action and introspective musing may jar the reader. Still, the story’s exploration of power, loyalty, and the fragility of idealism is compelling, and the tension between public chaos and private intimacy gives the book emotional depth. The ultimate sense of suspense—leaving readers with the promise of rebellion and upheaval—ensures that the narrative lingers in the mind. Fans of meticulous dystopian political thrillers may appreciate its scope, although those seeking fast-paced, character-driven storytelling may find it heavier going.
A thought-provoking novel for readers willing to navigate its dense political and philosophical terrain.Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2025
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 226
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Nov. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
A welcome literary resurrection that deserves a place alongside Wright’s best-known work.
A falsely accused Black man goes into hiding in this masterful novella by Wright (1908-1960), finally published in full.
Written in 1941 and '42, between Wright’s classics Native Son and Black Boy, this short novel concerns Fred Daniels, a modest laborer who’s arrested by police officers and bullied into signing a false confession that he killed the residents of a house near where he was working. In a brief unsupervised moment, he escapes through a manhole and goes into hiding in a sewer. A series of allegorical, surrealistic set pieces ensues as Fred explores the nether reaches of a church, a real estate firm, and a jewelry store. Each stop is an opportunity for Wright to explore themes of hope, greed, and exploitation; the real estate firm, Wright notes, “collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent from poor colored folks.” But Fred’s deepening existential crisis and growing distance from society keep the scenes from feeling like potted commentaries. As he wallpapers his underground warren with cash, mocking and invalidating the currency, he registers a surrealistic but engrossing protest against divisive social norms. The novel, rejected by Wright’s publisher, has only appeared as a substantially truncated short story until now, without the opening setup and with a different ending. Wright's take on racial injustice seems to have unsettled his publisher: A note reveals that an editor found reading about Fred’s treatment by the police “unbearable.” That may explain why Wright, in an essay included here, says its focus on race is “rather muted,” emphasizing broader existential themes. Regardless, as an afterword by Wright’s grandson Malcolm attests, the story now serves as an allegory both of Wright (he moved to France, an “exile beyond the reach of Jim Crow and American bigotry”) and American life. Today, it resonates deeply as a story about race and the struggle to envision a different, better world.
A welcome literary resurrection that deserves a place alongside Wright’s best-known work.Pub Date: April 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-59853-676-8
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Library of America
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
BOOK TO SCREEN
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