The Dark Fights

Early in Vinarov’s promising debut, martial artist Sasha brings her older brother, Danilo, home to her tiny walkup Manhattan apartment; he’d been in the hospital, where he was treated for broken ribs and other injuries sustained in a fight. Since their parents’ sudden, violent deaths, Sasha has been the strong, responsible one, while the untrustworthy Danilo, a part-time model, has indulged his vices and was hurt in a Dark Fight, a no-rules underground cage match, which he participated in to erase his gambling debt to Russian mobsters. To settle Danilo’s debt, Sasha agrees to take part in one of these fights, which are popular with the elite of New York City who thirst for vicious blood sport. Sasha thinks she’s in control after she becomes intoxicated with her subsequent success as a fighter and the money it brings, but a shady Russian operator knows otherwise. Vinarov’s authentic view of this sinister subculture more than compensates for the familiar plotline. Readers will want to see more of the appealing Sasha. Agent: Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Assoc. (Aug.)