A Boy’s Hammer by Alex Grass

Author Alex Grass fuses mythology and magic with the gritty modern world in A Boy’s Hammer, a witty, immersive, and mystical adventure that will leave you laughing and thoroughly hooked.

When Alan dramatically descends to Earth in an ultraviolet explosion, covered in tattoos of hammers, few people can believe he’s the same boy who disappeared in a plane crash twenty years earlier. His odd arrival is also a harbinger of something much worse: chaos is organizing itself in deadly and demonic ways, and long-dormant powers are awakening to face them. Finding unlikely allies along the way – from curmudgeonly cops to estranged family members – Alan flounders through his strange new world on a spiraling journey towards destiny.

Grass’ narration peeks in from all sides, leading readers through a maze of otherworldly drama and a rich cast of memorable characters – good, evil, and those from the murky space between. The descriptions are visceral and creative, but the prose shines brightest in the dialogue and scene-building, which crackle with wit and emotional depth. While the writing doesn’t take itself too seriously, it does address complex struggles, from abandonment issues and the weight of responsibility to finding one’s sense of purpose and challenging established lines of authority.

On the surface, this action-packed read feels like a superhero origin story, but there are deeper themes that fuel this compelling new offering from a prolific and uniquely inventive writer.