A Wildflower in the Dark by Michael E. Kozak

A genre-hopping work of speculative fiction, A Wildflower in the Dark by Michael E. Kozak is a wholly inventive mixture of dystopian and supernatural fiction.

Set in a post-apocalyptic 2192, Gretan Hutchen, a man marked by a life of adversity and miraculous survival, embarks on a journey that is as introspective as it is perilous. Orphaned and afflicted by health challenges, Gretan navigates a war-torn world when he discovers an inherited ability to communicate with the Sleepless dead. After communicating with the Sleepless lady, he comes to find that a shadowy group called the Ancients is looking to form an army with the Sleepless dead, plunging a disintegrating world into even deeper chaos.

Kozak excels at creating atmospheric tension and a foreboding sense of doom with every turn of the page, intertwining existential questions about life and death with the story of a society in crisis. The story’s greatest strength lies in its character development; Gretan, with his complex past and enduring resilience in a post-war setting, is immediately relatable in his quest for meaning and justice. Though far-fetched in its premise, the story is emotionally visceral, bringing a stark level of realism to this supernatural drama.

At times, the pacing can be inconsistent, particularly in the middle, which drags due to prolonged exposition. Overall, however, the novel succeeds by merging seemingly disparate genres together, offering a book that not only entertains but also invites reflection on life and death, for a work of speculative paranormal fiction that is equally page-turning and thought-provoking.