One Bronze Knuckle

Initially set in the town of Bergerton, somewhere in pre–Industrial Revolution Europe, Gordon’s rambling, ridiculous tall tale debut, narrated by a witch whose visions come true (but otherwise devoid of fantastical elements), introduces readers to the self-involved members of the Berger family, after whom the town is named. When war comes to the region and an accidental fire ravages the town, the family is separated: twin sons go off to the front, nephews Robert and Cordage land in an orphanage in a nearby city, granddaughter Princess and handmaid Lexi are taken in by vagabonds, and patriarch Jonathan (“the Burgermeister ... He simply liked the sound of the title, thinking it had a certain grandness to it”) is left at home with his grieving daughter, sister, and sister-in-law. With each party believing the others are dead, the Bergers are thrown headlong into a series of bumbling adventures involving con-artistry, string-making, incarceration, prophecy, and even a thousand-year flood. Diminishing the tale, the characters never seem to genuinely enjoy one another or show any love or kindness. Though clever and easily digestible, this aggressively digressive story lacks the gut-busting laughs or the heart and human insight that would make it truly satisfying. (Mar.)