“Einstein's Desk” by brothers Domenic Melillo & Dr. Robert Melillo is a fascinating mystery thriller with sci-fi elements, at least that's how we'd best describe it. We had very high hopes and expectations for this book as it comes from one of our new favorite authors, Domenic Melillo, who penned one of the best romance novels we'd ever read in “A Major League Love!” Also, apparently, Dr. Robert Melillo is one of the leading brain researchers on the planet.
This book didn't disappoint, but it definitely was quite odd and different from anything we were prepared for—for better or for worse.
What you have here is essentially season four of “Lost." It is full of serious moments that are actually humorous. It is overflowing with over-the-top melodrama including the presence of villainous Nazi special agents akin to “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” along with the prospect of time traveling to meet Albert Einstein himself! This book goes balls to the walls. It's a really weird book that sometimes borders on absurdity, but we can dig weird and we can understand absurdity.
Interestingly, this book starts out very grounded. We're introduced to our main protagonist, Ian Petrie, by his parents. His parents are both worried and hopeful due to Ian being born and growing up with several health problems and eccentricities which they mistake for autism. Ian is actually a very intellectually-gifted child with a pension for thinking outside the box, recognizing patterns, and solving abstract patterns. Ian's parents are told by an expert that Ian isn't autistic, but rather shows many of the eccentricities shared by super-geniuses like Albert Einstein. In fact, he directly compares Ian to Albert Einstein, so much so that Ian grows up looking up to and idolizing Einstein, learning and knowing everything about the famed genius.
Or so Ian thinks...
And here is one of the many alluring mysteries of this book: what secrets might Albert Einstein have taken with him? Furthermore, who is the mysterious recipient of Einstein's last known correspondence, a correspondence which implies he may have come up with a grand unifying theory of physics that he never revealed? What would have happened if Germany or the surviving Nazis had possession of Einstein's knowledge of potential nuclear energy? Is there something even more dangerous than nuclear weapons? What special relationship if any might Einstein have had with Nikola Tesla, another brilliant scientist and visionary who—historically speaking—criticized Einstein? Could Einstein have really made time travel not only theoretically possible but also practical?
For the rest of you who are sticking around to read this review, we're going to try to just do what we always do: be thorough, thoughtful, and fair. There may be some spoilers ahead, so be forewarned.
Anyway, Ian Petrie is a compelling enough protagonist for several reasons. One, he's a super-genius who demonstrates an impressive pension for figuring things out. That's always something we love to see in our protagonists: they use their wit. Another thing about Ian is that he is quite human, not so dissimilar to Einstein himself in his lust for women, but Ian is almost definitely a better lover to Angelina than Einstein was to either of his wives. If you're not aware, Einstein was not very kind or loving to his first wife, Mileva, or to his children, one of whom he put up for adoption because she'd get in the way of his career (we don't even know this daughter's fate) and the others who rarely saw their father. He also continued to cheat on Mileva, eventually with his cousin, Elsa, whom he eventually married.
These things are a little interesting to note as this book seems to portray Einstein as most of us see him: in a very idealized light. He is seemingly “the most” and “the greatest” of everything science-related—the Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, or Tom Brady of science. What we often forget is how flawed a person he was, and that there was a lot of context missing from his discoveries. For example, people often consider him the father of the atomic bomb, but he had nothing directly to do with the Manhattan Project that constructed it, just coming up with the relationship between energy and mass, thus the ability to release energy from matter.
This book continuously portrays Einstein in about as idealized a light as you could imagine. Yes, there are times when he does show a human side that defies this notion of him being some kind of omniscient psychic being whose intellect far surpassed all others. For example, despite the grandfather (and other) paradoxes that he must be aware of, he still asks how he will die—something which the real Einstein didn't seem all that concerned about when he actually did die (refusing surgery).
There are so many other layers of this beautifully chaotic book. For example, we get a glimpse into the time in Einstein's life when the Nazis ruled. We even see that his life is intricately entangled in the conflict between Hitler's Germany and the rest of the world, as stored away in his (and, in some contexts, Nikola Tesla's) mind is knowledge that could lead to the building of superweapons: laser cannons, atomic bombs, and even antimatter weapons—weapons that would make even nukes appear like a candle by comparison. It's a bit... over-the-top, but there's some truth behind it and a degree of this which is grounded in reality. After all, Einstein's discoveries made the atomic bomb possible, something which—in the hands of someone like Hitler—would have put the whole world in danger. In this fictitious but believable telling, a fresh generation of Nazis are after this research, hoping to use it to bring the world to its knees and create what they even call a “Fourth Reich.”
Another layer of this is the mysterious recipient of Einstein's last correspondence at Princeton according to this book.
His name is Clarence, and Clarence parents have a real good marriage. As fate would have it, it turns out that Clarence is not only still alive, but he's also still at Princeton, and he happens to run into our protagonist, Ian, who ironically questions him about Einstein before knowing who Clarence really is.
Anyway, Clarence can't spill all of the beans because he gets home-office-invaded by some home-office-invaders who push him into a state of delirium through drugs or something, and by the way, these home-office-invaders work for the Nazis or the FBI or something. That's right, our hero has the Nazis and the FBI on his tail, and it's humorous how lightly the characters sometimes take this.
Speaking of character, there's also Dr. Mills and Angelina. Dr. Mills is basically Alfred from Batman or Jarvis from Iron Man. He's this wise old man who clearly knows what's going on, but just facilitates the butt-kicking by the main hero. Angelina is a beautiful, gorgeous, punk-rock-looking Croatian woman. We know this because the authors constantly remind us that she's a beautiful, gorgeous, punk-rock-looking Croatian woman. She is, in fact, so beautiful, gorgeous, punk-rock-looking, and Croatian, that our protagonist considers getting into punk rock and moving to Croatia. She also has a photographic memory or something. She's spunky in her own way, sometimes teasing Ian.
There's also Mario Ducati, the clearly evil guy pretending to not be evil who commissions them to do research for him. We couldn't read his name without saying, “It's-sumi, Mario!” And there's the Fuhrerin, who is supposed to be written as a sick, sadistic villainess but instead comes across like she belongs in a different kind of novel entirely (the “Fifty Shades of Hey Now” type).
This is a really chaotic and pretty wild book that takes a high degree of suspension of disbelief, but if you can get to that point, you can enjoy this in the way you'd enjoy something like “Lost."
Now, THIS is a romance novel! It's a perfect read for women and men alike, full of enough substance, entertainment, and drama for everyone. It is even appropriate for young adults. Wow! The key to any great work of fiction is crafting great characters, and author Domenic Melillo certainly delivers!
“A Major League Love” follows Luca Milano, a minor league baseball player hoping for his big break, and Samantha Jolene Jackson (more often called “Sammi Jo”), a young woman coming of age who loves the sport of baseball with a passion. It is almost impossible not to cheer for both of them, especially in the hope that they can be together. Both are generally good people, but not saints. That's key. Sammi Jo, for example, is naive, jumps to conclusions, and even plays more than one guy at once, but it's hard to blame her. She's still learning to love. Luca is socially awkward (if not inept), dense, and prioritizes his sport over any relationship—these things hurt him more than once, but it's hard to blame him. He's a dreamer, and his history of relationships has conditioned him to fear attachment. It's very relatable.
The two characters are drawn together in a hilarious and unexpected way, and Luca actually ends up with Sammi Jo's sister, Savannah. Savannah isn't nearly as much of a fan of baseball as the other characters are, which is understandable. She feels it's slow and boring. We can't blame her either. Baseball is far from our favorite sport as well for those same reasons. Interestingly, we wondered for a while if Savannah might be our surprise main protagonist because she's initially portrayed as a character who might undergo a large arc—coming around to the sport because of her admiration for Luca. Savannah remains a good supporting character, especially as a loving voice of reason for Sammi Jo. However, there's no voice of reason more loving, compassionate, and true than that of Henry (their father). Henry is just the dad we all wish we'd had: a man who loves his children enough to be involved in their lives but not overly domineering. He understands that, despite his strict religious upbringing, that Sammi Jo and Savannah need to be free to make their own decisions and their own mistakes, but he's there to guide them and love them along the way.
Speaking of characters, there are some great villains in this book! What's best about these villains is that they are foils for the main characters—exactly what great villains should be. For example, Bobby Curtis—Sammi Jo's boyfriend and star quarterback—is like Luca in a lot of ways. He's a promising star athlete who seemingly lives to play his sport. Both Bobby and Luca often allow their passion for their sport to eclipse the relationships in their lives. However, while Bobby becomes so narrow-minded and laser-focused that he completely, remorselessly, and cruelly blocks out Sammi Jo, Luca is haunted by the thought that his passion is coming between him and those who love him. It's this guilt and remorse that separates Luca from Bobby. It's his conscience. And, ultimately, it's Luca's conscience that makes him a likable character.
On that same note, the novel's main villain, Cynthia, is the mirror-image of Sammi Jo—at least on the outside. However, she contrasts with Sammi Jo in that she's older, more mature, domineering, controlling, and manipulative. Cynthia is despicable, but she's not the devil incarnate. You can understand why she does what she does, but that doesn't make her likable in the slightest. Something about Cynthia is that she has different gears and levels just like this book. She can come across as kind and caring at some times (especially when she wants something) but can be cruel and vindictive at other times. Cynthia's defining characteristic is her controlling nature. She insists on having her way at all times, guilting and even forcing Luca to do the things that she wants to do instead of listening to him and letting him have a say or a choice. One night, she even undresses and dresses him while he's sleeping. She constantly serves as a distraction to him and, perhaps unknowingly or subconsciously, sabotages him time and time again. She fails to see past herself and her wants and needs. She wants Luca, so she's willing to do anything and everything to get him.
Meanwhile, Luca and Sammi Jo have a relationship based on trust, mutual respect, and boundaries. They respect each other's space and never insist on one having to be with the other. They know that if they are ever going to be together, it needs to be a two-way street and a two-person decision.
This novel is anything but straight forward. Be prepared for some twists and turns! Be prepared for the unexpected!
Something happens about 3/4ths through this book that none of us saw coming, and while it didn't change how we felt about the characters, it threatened to.
Another thing that's great about this book is how accessible it is. This is not a difficult read, but it's not an elementary-level read either. It's not just a baseball book, and it's not just a romance book. It has something for everyone—action, drama, suspense, and, of course, romance.
Ultimately, it is beautiful to see these characters progress and change/grow as people, developing a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.
Well, Domenic Melillo did it. He is the fourth author ever to achieve a 9.6 rating in fiction!
Season of the Swords is a phenomenal novel from top to bottom. It's not too surprising considering that this author wrote one of the best romances we've ever read (A Major League Love) and a truly mind-bending sci-fi novel in Einstein's Desk. One things for sure: Melillo can write.
So what is it about Season of the Swords that earned it our highest rating ever? Well, it's actually very fun to read. It's entertaining! Is it too much to ask for a book to be fun and entertaining? It's also persistently interesting, always having us wonder what will happen next even in scenarios that seem predictable (like the battle of Thermopylae and the execution of Joan of Arc).
Furthermore, the cousins in this book are distinct characters with something unique to bring to the story. While they're not exceptional as individual characters, they truly shine as a unit. One member of the family (Jeff) is a lawyer, another (Ty) is a bit on the naive and innocent side. Robbie takes the initiative and serves as the de facto company commander of the group.
The Cincinnatus family, it turns out, are direct descendants of Joseph of Arimathea, destined to seek and protect the legendary Swords of Valor as a counter to the villainous Apostles of Azazel and their Swords of Terror. They are Guardians, following in the footsteps of their grandfather and those who came before them. They serve a divine destiny ordained by the Judeo-Christian God.
The book opens up with the funeral of their grandfather, however we still frequently hear from a ghostly hologram of him throughout the story. He almost becomes like an Obi-Wan Force Ghost in that sense.
If this sounds eerily familiar, it is. We actually just read a book (Genesis Awakens) that opens with a grandfather's funeral only to find out that he's actually an immortal wizard informing the main protagonist, Gen, that her destiny is to seek and guard the sacred nail that pierced Christ's feet from the villainous Accursed—essentially a demonic cult seeking the holy artifact to do evil. That book also keeps cutting to major events in Judeo-Christianity, namely the life and death of Jesus and the victory of David over Goliath.
The similarities are staggering, but we can pretty safely assume it's a coincidence. After all, both books seem inspired by the same reference texts: The Bible, apocrypha, and Arthurian lore.
Both books closely resemble King Arthur and his knights' quest of the Holy Grail. Both books seem to hold Christianity and western civilization in particularly high regard. Both are inspired, and their hearts are in the right place.
Something that really elevates this book over Genesis Awakens is just that it's simply much funner to read. There are some really funny parts of this book like when Ty breaks the serious mood of the moment by asking to use the restroom.
This book is also quite a bit more emotional. There are seriously times when the young men are emotionally torn about their actions, inactions, and decisions. Case in point: Joan of Arc. Should they try to save her from an unjust, cruel, and painful death by being burned at the stake? How will they cope emotionally in the aftermath of this? What about Jesus? Will they try to prevent his crucifixion or help him or the apostles somehow in such a dire time? What about Elizabeth II? May she rest in peace... Should the boys warn her about the terrible times that are to come during World War II or even beyond such as during the Cold War? Should they encourage Leonidas and the Spartans to change strategies to possibly defeat the Persians, or should they let them be betrayed and slaughtered? These are seriously interesting questions and situations that just beg to be explored.
What's more is that this book is just COOL. Plain and simple. Who doesn't fantasize about collecting rare and powerful swords with tons of history and magical properties? Swords like Excalibur, Braveheart, Peter's sword, the sword of Joan of Arc, the sword of Don Quixote (yes, really), and the sword of Leonidas? There's even the Sword of freakin' Michael the Arch-Angel! How much more awesome does it get than that? It's almost like Adventure Time or something.
We only have a few complains, and they really don't matter in the broader scheme of things. One, there are several redundancies such as when grandfather's hologram is repeatedly called “the image of their grandfather.” This is stated 17 times. However, it isn't technically their actual grandfather, so that explains that.
Second, several of these side-quests drag on far longer than the others. The two we can think of are the quest to obtain the sword of Leonidas and the quest to overcome the sword of Goliath. At least the quest to obtain the sword of Leonidas took some risks and gave us some what-if scenarios, but it seemed plodding. Also, why did they really need an extra sword just to defeat the sword of Goliath?
In another scenario, we could imagine that being understandable, but the Cincinnatus family literally has Excalibur and the sword of Michael the Arch-Angel. How can the sword of Michael the Arch-Angel not just run rough-shot through Goliath's sword and many of the other Swords of Terror? Do you remember that angel in the Bible who pushed away the four-ton stone from Jesus' tomb or the one that killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night? Those probably weren't even arch-angels. Could you imagine what Michael THE Arch-Angel (with capital “A's”) could do? The dude straight up defeated THE Satan with it, presumably at the height of Satan's angelic power. Yes, Goliath was big and had heavy weapons and armor, but he probably didn't weigh 8,000+ pounds or was equivalent to 185,000 soldiers. And what about Excalibur? Didn't you see it help Richard Gere run circles around Maligant in First Knight? That wasn't even a fair fight anymore. That was an auto-win! But we digress. These was a point to all of that, and that was to emphasize the importance and power of the virtues of the swords, not necessarily just their size or physical might.
Anyway, this is a great book that can be read by people of all ages. It is fun, cool, and interesting throughout.
