Series: Sledge Vs., #1
Release Date: October 30, 2023
Book Length: 329 pages
Author: Nick Horvath (@SledgevsBooks)
Author Site: www.sledgevsbooks.com
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Synopsis
When his former lover, Kiira, finds herself the target of a mysterious dark web assassin network, modern-day gladiator, Einarr “Sledge” Laukkanen, embarks on a blood-spattered mission to uncover who lurks at its heart. But as he bludgeons his way down to its lowest depths, one thing becomes terrifyingly clear:
NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . .
Review
Sledge Vs. The Labyrinth is as subtle as a sledgehammer to the skull and as quiet as a Cannibal Corpse album. It starts with a simple but effective setup: Sledge's ex-girlfriend (with whom he still desires relations) is being targeted by a dark web hitman network. Sledge figures out who jumped her in a parking lot, solves the problem by applying copious fist to face, and discovers the rabbit hole goes much deeper than he suspected.

From there, he's drawn into increasingly life-threatening attacks and gladiator-style death matches that are broadcast to an audience on the dark web betting big money on the blood sport. The story proceeds like a progression fantasy, each trial testing him against deadlier foes. Each time he survives, he descends to lower depths of the Labyrinth and uncovers more about how he can stop the madness he's been dragged into.
This also forces more of Sledge's dark history out, and we learn he's a surprisingly deep character with a tortured past. Occasionally this strains belief, like Sledge being a Top 30 NBA player. But hell, I'm along for the ride at this point so I can roll with that. Later plot developments also skirted the limits of jumping the shark—but by the end of the book, I decided it works for me.
As a total package, I loved it. The mystery is thrilling. The dialogue is snappy and funny. The chapters are short and always left me wanting more. The tangents about Sledge's obscure random knowledge are always interesting and justified by his past. Despite his Labyrinth profile's intelligence score never rising above 2/10, the book and Sledge himself are both smartly written. The journey through the Labyrinth isn't just about survival. Each new depth peels back layers of who Sledge is and what he's capable of.

Sledge Vs. The Labyrinth revels in its over-the-top action, leaning fully into its chaos, hitting you with a mix of gory, bone-crunching action and enough twists to keep you eagerly flipping pages. It’s a book where a guy who punches his problems into submission somehow outsmarts everyone in the room—and by the time you realize how ridiculous that is, you’re already hooked. It shouldn’t work, but damn it, it does.
4.5 / 5 ⭐