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Sledge vs. The Labyrinth
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 NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . .
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Published May 1, 2025
29 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
Nick Horvath
1 book52 followersNick Horvath is the author of the Sledge vs. action-noir series. A native of northern Minnesota, Nick double-majored in Physics and English at Duke before embarking on a 12-year professional basketball career. Over that time he transformed myself from a timid finesse player into a rugged rebounding monster, much like his savage anti-hero, Sledge Laukkanen.
Since retirement from sport he's become a physics teacher and writer. Though he has yet to bludgeon anyone to death with his hardened bones, anyone wishing to date his daughter should consider themselves forewarned!
Nick draws inspiration from 80’s action and horror movies, fighting games, the Dark Souls universe, Robert. E Howard’s Conan, Frank Miller’s Sin City, and hard-boiled mystery novels in wintery settings.
He currently resides in New Zealand with his family.
Since retirement from sport he's become a physics teacher and writer. Though he has yet to bludgeon anyone to death with his hardened bones, anyone wishing to date his daughter should consider themselves forewarned!
Nick draws inspiration from 80’s action and horror movies, fighting games, the Dark Souls universe, Robert. E Howard’s Conan, Frank Miller’s Sin City, and hard-boiled mystery novels in wintery settings.
He currently resides in New Zealand with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 9, 2025
HIGHLY RECOMMEND especially if you like bruiser characters.
Excellent story plot and storytelling. The storytelling had an effortless flow to it and the pace was always moving. The humor was the high point of the story for me.
Excellent story plot and storytelling. The storytelling had an effortless flow to it and the pace was always moving. The humor was the high point of the story for me.
November 4, 2024
Freaking AMAZING! Nick Horvath has filled a sorely needed hole in fiction. Sledge is the kickbutt antihero we all need and this book was incredible. Short, action-packed chapters with an insanely addictive main character in Sledge make this a lightning quick read. The characters are fleshed out and feel alive, the fight scenes are brutally written and the world building is fabulous. I love the whole idea of the plot and the labrynth as well. Do yourself a favor and grab this book NOW!
October 8, 2023
Sledge v The Labyrinth is one hell of a ride. Non stop action from the first chapter to the last. Sledge is not a man he is violence its who he is. Violence is his life, he needs it, he feeds off it, it's a drug which keeps him going.
One of Sledges past lovers approaches him after receiving threats to her life seeking his help in finding out who is after her. This sets him down a dangerous path against an organisation known as The Labyrinth who seek out hitmen to conduct business which is all recorded and live streamed on the dark web. As Sledge investigates the threats and attack on his past lover he is drawn deeper into the organisation. He soon realises there is more to the organisation that he initially thought and it may go right to the top of those most powerful.
This story is absolutely full of carnage. Sledge is a monster of a man who uses nothing more than his fists, a sledgehammer and his instincts to wreak havoc in search of the truth. This has some crazy scenes of action and violence that you would expect from a hollywood film. The book reads like one of your favourite action movies from the 80s with over the top grotesque violence that makes you just keep reading not wanting to stop.
Sledge is a loveable brute that whilst he is committing heinous murders you just keep rooting for him to kick ass. The plot in this is such fast paced and had such a good element of mystery which keeps the reader in the dark you just want to know what happens next.
I'm guessing this is the first in a series of novels about the character and I honestly cant wait to spend some more time with Sledge.
The best action novel I have read in a long time. Easy 5 stars.
One of Sledges past lovers approaches him after receiving threats to her life seeking his help in finding out who is after her. This sets him down a dangerous path against an organisation known as The Labyrinth who seek out hitmen to conduct business which is all recorded and live streamed on the dark web. As Sledge investigates the threats and attack on his past lover he is drawn deeper into the organisation. He soon realises there is more to the organisation that he initially thought and it may go right to the top of those most powerful.
This story is absolutely full of carnage. Sledge is a monster of a man who uses nothing more than his fists, a sledgehammer and his instincts to wreak havoc in search of the truth. This has some crazy scenes of action and violence that you would expect from a hollywood film. The book reads like one of your favourite action movies from the 80s with over the top grotesque violence that makes you just keep reading not wanting to stop.
Sledge is a loveable brute that whilst he is committing heinous murders you just keep rooting for him to kick ass. The plot in this is such fast paced and had such a good element of mystery which keeps the reader in the dark you just want to know what happens next.
I'm guessing this is the first in a series of novels about the character and I honestly cant wait to spend some more time with Sledge.
The best action novel I have read in a long time. Easy 5 stars.
March 24, 2024
THINK REACHER. BUT MEANER AND LEANER.” – EC Greaves, author of Daughter of the Beast
“SLEDGE IS A THROWBACK IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. AN ADVENTURE WITH ALL THE POWER OF A HAMMER TO THE SKULL.” – Josh Hanson, author of King’s Hill
When I open a book and the “Acknowledgements” page says “To the grind”, we must have one hell of a story destined to be unraveled. I was not wrong.
The story begins with a woman named Kiira, drudging through knee high snow, bloody and beaten with the goal of seeking help from her ex-lover. Only one man qualifies to dish out the copious amount of “Kick-Ass” that is required to protect and seek revenge. His name is “Sledge”; a man that stands 6’10” tall with no fear of looking his enemy in the eye.
Sledge proves to the reader who he is and the reason behind his nonchalance for brutality. The blood-spattered walls tell a tale of the softer, human side of Sledge, making him very relatable.
As a reader, the plot being a clear and concise part of this novel allows for the MC to truly get the spotlight he deserves by creating contrast between character and plot. The action scenes were intense and brought with them a plethora of knowledge of arms, anatomy, and tactics that I absolutely loved.
Nick has a prose that instantly drew me in and captured my soul. Its punchy, unpredictable, and humorous in the darkest of ways. Personally, this is my introduction to what I consider to be an incredible suspense/crime/noir novel all-in-one. What an experience it was.
NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . .
“SLEDGE IS A THROWBACK IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. AN ADVENTURE WITH ALL THE POWER OF A HAMMER TO THE SKULL.” – Josh Hanson, author of King’s Hill
When I open a book and the “Acknowledgements” page says “To the grind”, we must have one hell of a story destined to be unraveled. I was not wrong.
The story begins with a woman named Kiira, drudging through knee high snow, bloody and beaten with the goal of seeking help from her ex-lover. Only one man qualifies to dish out the copious amount of “Kick-Ass” that is required to protect and seek revenge. His name is “Sledge”; a man that stands 6’10” tall with no fear of looking his enemy in the eye.
Sledge proves to the reader who he is and the reason behind his nonchalance for brutality. The blood-spattered walls tell a tale of the softer, human side of Sledge, making him very relatable.
As a reader, the plot being a clear and concise part of this novel allows for the MC to truly get the spotlight he deserves by creating contrast between character and plot. The action scenes were intense and brought with them a plethora of knowledge of arms, anatomy, and tactics that I absolutely loved.
Nick has a prose that instantly drew me in and captured my soul. Its punchy, unpredictable, and humorous in the darkest of ways. Personally, this is my introduction to what I consider to be an incredible suspense/crime/noir novel all-in-one. What an experience it was.
NO ONE ESCAPES THE LABYRINTH . . .
January 22, 2025
Sometimes, all you need to relax is an ultra-violent, adrenaline filled shot of sledgehammer swinging testosterone pumped straight into your bloodstream. And this book delivers.
Sledge Vs The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath serves up a relentless, action-packed story centered around the first person POV of the titular Sledge, a seven-foot-tall powerhouse, the former pit fighter and basketball player who splatters blood and bone across half the pages. From the very start, it’s clear that Sledge is a force of nature—hard as nails, unapologetically violent, and willing to take out anyone who wishes to harm him. Yet despite being a stone cold killer, he’s not entirely unrelatable, living to a code we might not always agree with but can certainly understand.
His story blends doses of noir, action, and dark comedy with elements of mystery and even a touch of horror. It’s dark, gritty, and often larger than life, yet never takes itself too seriously and I think this gives it a real unique appeal. You never truly get pulled into the darkness because some of the events almost feel like comic book-style exaggerations. The juxtaposition of the darker elements with humour and with some quite insane showpieces works excellently. This book has many qualities that contributed to an incredibly satisfying read, but most of all it’s truly entertaining and I absolutely flew through the pages.
Within its pages, we only know as much as our main character and we spend the book trying to find out more about The Labyrinth, a shady game being run through the dark web involving modern day gladiatorial death matches and brutal challenges – with unimaginable consequences. There are ten descending levels, of ascending violence. A death threat is the first challenge level, while more serious acts of violence such as paralysing the target make up some of the lower levels of the labyrinth that victims work their way toward. It starts when Sledge’s former love interest Kiira is targeted and approaches him for help, after which he finds himself embroiled in its dark world. It plays on the uncomfortable modern truths of surveillance and the unknowable potential of what might be going on away from publicly indexed web pages.
The tone reminded me of Sin City, both in its noir-infused atmosphere and its mix of visceral action and dark humour. Like Taken or John Wick, this is a story about survival, driven by a protagonist who is almost impossible to stop, There’s a similar sense of a gritty, dangerous world where morality is murky, violence is plentiful, and the main character is both the judge and executioner. Sledge’s feats aren’t always 100% plausible, but they’re immensely fun to follow.
Importantly, the book isn’t about shocking or offending for the sake of it. Sensitive topics, such as rape, are mentioned but never depicted, and while the violence is intense, it serves to highlight Sledge’s sheer power and resilience rather than to glorify pain or suffering. It’s the kind of action that you can really get immersed in, not because you enjoy the harm being done but because you’re in awe of the character’s grit and strength. Plus, most of the enemies deserve it!
There is balance to the vicious onslaughts, though. It’s not just a relentless series of fights—there’s buildup, dialogue, and character work that give the action weight and make this book more than just a thrill ride. There are some great character interactions and Sledge’s friendship with his buddy Gow feels impactful. You find yourself feeling an admiration for Sledge’s resilience and his brilliant inner voice and witty remarks in the face of danger. He’s still more Kratos than James Bond, though. And I’d like to think that given the choice, most of us men might prefer to be a one-man wrecking ball warrior with a beard than a suave secret agent.
In a world where traditional masculinity is sometimes viewed critically, this book feels refreshing. It embraces the raw appeal of toughness, grit, and adrenaline-fuelled action. As with John Wick, Kratos, Rambo or Conan, it’s a reminder that it’s a hell of a lot of fun to root for the badass warrior who takes on every challenge head-on. And it feels so much more authentic when the author has spent time crafting characters whose voices feel real rather than catering to all the different modern sensibilities. It should already be obvious this isn’t the sort of book for the easily offended or faint hearted; there are some really bad people who do some really bad things.
This book delivers a relentless, action-packed, unapologetically brutal story that I believe will resonate strongly with readers who crave something raw, intense, and unabashedly masculine. While it’s a story anyone can enjoy, it’s particularly geared towards those who appreciate the thrill of high-octane violence, larger-than-life characters, and a no-holds-barred narrative style.
I don’t even know if I’ve ever read a book as fast as I did this. Every single chapter is important and entertaining. There are loads of twists and turns including an ending I didn’t see coming and absolutely fantastic action sequences. I really like Nick Horvath’s many cool ideas and implementation of them – the writing keeps you on the edge of your seat and desperate to get back to reading it when you’re away from the book.
If you’re a fan of gritty, unflinching stories with a humorous and self-aware edge, Sledge Vs The Labyrinth is a book well worth picking up. It’s brutal, dark, and larger-than-life—and the author knows exactly how to orchestrate it.
Sledge Vs The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath serves up a relentless, action-packed story centered around the first person POV of the titular Sledge, a seven-foot-tall powerhouse, the former pit fighter and basketball player who splatters blood and bone across half the pages. From the very start, it’s clear that Sledge is a force of nature—hard as nails, unapologetically violent, and willing to take out anyone who wishes to harm him. Yet despite being a stone cold killer, he’s not entirely unrelatable, living to a code we might not always agree with but can certainly understand.
His story blends doses of noir, action, and dark comedy with elements of mystery and even a touch of horror. It’s dark, gritty, and often larger than life, yet never takes itself too seriously and I think this gives it a real unique appeal. You never truly get pulled into the darkness because some of the events almost feel like comic book-style exaggerations. The juxtaposition of the darker elements with humour and with some quite insane showpieces works excellently. This book has many qualities that contributed to an incredibly satisfying read, but most of all it’s truly entertaining and I absolutely flew through the pages.
Within its pages, we only know as much as our main character and we spend the book trying to find out more about The Labyrinth, a shady game being run through the dark web involving modern day gladiatorial death matches and brutal challenges – with unimaginable consequences. There are ten descending levels, of ascending violence. A death threat is the first challenge level, while more serious acts of violence such as paralysing the target make up some of the lower levels of the labyrinth that victims work their way toward. It starts when Sledge’s former love interest Kiira is targeted and approaches him for help, after which he finds himself embroiled in its dark world. It plays on the uncomfortable modern truths of surveillance and the unknowable potential of what might be going on away from publicly indexed web pages.
The tone reminded me of Sin City, both in its noir-infused atmosphere and its mix of visceral action and dark humour. Like Taken or John Wick, this is a story about survival, driven by a protagonist who is almost impossible to stop, There’s a similar sense of a gritty, dangerous world where morality is murky, violence is plentiful, and the main character is both the judge and executioner. Sledge’s feats aren’t always 100% plausible, but they’re immensely fun to follow.
Importantly, the book isn’t about shocking or offending for the sake of it. Sensitive topics, such as rape, are mentioned but never depicted, and while the violence is intense, it serves to highlight Sledge’s sheer power and resilience rather than to glorify pain or suffering. It’s the kind of action that you can really get immersed in, not because you enjoy the harm being done but because you’re in awe of the character’s grit and strength. Plus, most of the enemies deserve it!
There is balance to the vicious onslaughts, though. It’s not just a relentless series of fights—there’s buildup, dialogue, and character work that give the action weight and make this book more than just a thrill ride. There are some great character interactions and Sledge’s friendship with his buddy Gow feels impactful. You find yourself feeling an admiration for Sledge’s resilience and his brilliant inner voice and witty remarks in the face of danger. He’s still more Kratos than James Bond, though. And I’d like to think that given the choice, most of us men might prefer to be a one-man wrecking ball warrior with a beard than a suave secret agent.
In a world where traditional masculinity is sometimes viewed critically, this book feels refreshing. It embraces the raw appeal of toughness, grit, and adrenaline-fuelled action. As with John Wick, Kratos, Rambo or Conan, it’s a reminder that it’s a hell of a lot of fun to root for the badass warrior who takes on every challenge head-on. And it feels so much more authentic when the author has spent time crafting characters whose voices feel real rather than catering to all the different modern sensibilities. It should already be obvious this isn’t the sort of book for the easily offended or faint hearted; there are some really bad people who do some really bad things.
This book delivers a relentless, action-packed, unapologetically brutal story that I believe will resonate strongly with readers who crave something raw, intense, and unabashedly masculine. While it’s a story anyone can enjoy, it’s particularly geared towards those who appreciate the thrill of high-octane violence, larger-than-life characters, and a no-holds-barred narrative style.
I don’t even know if I’ve ever read a book as fast as I did this. Every single chapter is important and entertaining. There are loads of twists and turns including an ending I didn’t see coming and absolutely fantastic action sequences. I really like Nick Horvath’s many cool ideas and implementation of them – the writing keeps you on the edge of your seat and desperate to get back to reading it when you’re away from the book.
If you’re a fan of gritty, unflinching stories with a humorous and self-aware edge, Sledge Vs The Labyrinth is a book well worth picking up. It’s brutal, dark, and larger-than-life—and the author knows exactly how to orchestrate it.
January 23, 2025
This gritty novel packs one helluva punch! Nick Horvath has created the ultimate badass in Sledge, yet he does have a soft heart as well. It shows itself in glints here and there beneath his barbed wire exterior.
I loved so many aspects of this story, but especially the realistic dialogue, mix of characters, and absolute badass scenes throughout! Sledge is a ruthless antihero, and his personality is the perfect mix of curt with a sense of humor.
There’s a lot of intrigue in this one as well, and The Labyrinth is such a creative concept. And skull-crushing action? Yeah, there’s lots of it, and it gets descriptive!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with lots of mystery, action, and brutality then definitely pick this book up!
I loved so many aspects of this story, but especially the realistic dialogue, mix of characters, and absolute badass scenes throughout! Sledge is a ruthless antihero, and his personality is the perfect mix of curt with a sense of humor.
There’s a lot of intrigue in this one as well, and The Labyrinth is such a creative concept. And skull-crushing action? Yeah, there’s lots of it, and it gets descriptive!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with lots of mystery, action, and brutality then definitely pick this book up!
October 19, 2023
A little while ago, Nick Horvath reached out to me and asked if I'd be keen to check out his book.
I was intrigued by the cover and the blurb, and although fantasy stuff is more my wheelhouse, I thought "why not?"
I then spent the next few weeks trying to get away with secretly reading it at work. I really should have booked a couple of days' leave, and read it in one go!
See, every now and then, a book comes along that defines the way you understand a genre, and every now and then, a book comes along that screws that all up again.
For me, this is that second book. And the genre is… well, I’d say thriller, but there’s more to it than that. See what I mean? Lemme try and explain:
Make no mistake. This IS a thriller. But it is also a horror, an action-adventure, a mystery, and in its own special way, a dark-comedy. It's a grindhouse piece, but it’s not exploitation. It’s like Sin-City, Reacher, and maybe even a little Max Payne - noir, but self-aware; grim, but ever so fun. Honestly? I don’t quite know how to categorise it, but I do know that I want more!!
I’ll try my best not to spoil anything, but suffice it to say; this is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read. In fact, the author, Nick Horvath has so effortlessly captured the dark and frigid vibe of a Minnesota winter, so easily painted a grim and detailed picture of the titular protagonist and the violent world within which he works, and so well-fused action, mystery, and thriller stuff, that I almost forgot that it’s not also one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever watched too!
Set in the brutal winter months of a Minnesota so well-realised, I’m pretty sure that I could meet the actual cast if I went there, the story follows ex-convict (and former illegal pit-gladiator) Einarr “Sledge” Laukkanen as he tries to uncover, expose, and stop the perpetrators of an attack on his ex girlfriend (and their promise of far worse to come.) It would seem that she’s become the target of a network of rather bad folk indeed, but actually uncovering the whys, hows, and whos of it will take a little… work. Luckily, Sledge is no stranger to that sort of work, and so begins a crazy descent into a gritty and violent investigation.
I posted on Twitter that this is like Reacher, but leaner, meaner, and with less moralising and more fun, and I think that describes SLEDGE himself too. But the thing is, he also has a surprising amount of heart. Does he crush skulls, stomp knees, and maim dudes with some rather creative use of a chair? Yep. But at his core, you can tell that he would probably rather just hang out and eat some chili. And you can also tell that he genuinely cares for his mates. Hell, he puts himself through some nasty stuff for their sakes.
Now, based on the crushing, stomping, and maiming I mentioned, you might suspect this book is brutal action fare, but you’d only be HALF right. Yes, there’s action, and the action is punchy, unforgiving, and violent - but it’s done in a way that never crossed the line into voyeuristic. Not once did I feel as though I needed to skip over a passage to spare my delicate sensibilities, and each crack of bone or splatter of blood felt visceral, yes, but most importantly - it felt earned. Earned through the careful pacing, the metering of information and clues, and the planning, downtime, and dialogue that Sledge and co take part in.
And that’s a theme I kept coming back to: Each component of the book felt earned.
Do horrible things happen to people (and Sledge himself)? Damn right they do. Some REALLY nasty stuff. But it’s all done in such a way that it never once feels gratuitous. Does the plot have some crazy twists? Is it harrowing and shocking and…funny too? Absolutely. And every twist, turn, brutal pummeling, and genuine laugh-out-loud moment paid off so well because of the carefully crafted story, character, and world-building preceding it.
Now, about that humour. For a book named after a literal blunt-force tool, there is a razor-sharp wit on display - slicing through the foreboding atmosphere and perfectly balancing the heavy subject matter. Sure, Sledge himself mightn’t see himself as a particularly bright chap, but mr. Horvath most assuredly is. I earned myself some odd looks from colleagues when I started laughing out loud at a particularly well-earned joke regarding the RPG-style stats of our hero.
And that’s only one such moment. Even some of the gritty and brutal fight scenes have an element of bold cheekiness running throughout. Sledge’s wry commentary on the world around him, his anecdotes and metaphor, and the brilliant nicknames he gives people are glorious, and serve to turn him from a dour killing-machine, into a very human, and very likable guy.
I mentioned Sledge having heart before, but all of the characters here feel human too. They might be thrust into a situation straight out of a particularly gnarly Black Mirror episode, but they react to things in a believable way. And they also speak so naturally, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re just ad libbing! Did I say all? Cos I meant it. Right down to the bad guys!
Many times throughout, Sledge takes the time to interrogate his defeated foes, and many times throughout, I was taken aback by how relatable even these “goons” were. They weren’t just faceless mooks, they were people with lives and families, forced or coerced into doing nasty stuff for an omniscient and omnipresent organisation. Well, most of them. A couple were just dicks.
Which brings me to the “antagonist” of the story.
We’re all familiar with a group of nutters producing nasty stuff for wealthy weirdos on the darkweb, right? Being an OG internet nerd, who has occasionally written E as 3, I usually cringe at how poorly internet stuff is portrayed. In this case, it was accurate as can be (right down to the correct icon for a particular browser that I swear I’ve never used, officer!) and FINALLY someone explained that the darkweb is literally just non-indexed sites, nothing more! THANK YOU NICK!!
(also, cheeky Dark Souls references amuse me greatly.)
Anyway, the villainous organisation is cleverly constructed, and very, very scary. It never feels unbelievable though. You always get the sense that, whilst they’re insidious and dangerous, they’re still just people, preying on the weakness, greed, hubris, and violence of people - to get their nastiness done, and to get their kicks and cash as a result. Is there a final boss, pulling the strings? Hey! I said I wouldn’t spoil anything, but the final reveal is awesome!
Alright, I’m actually at work and trying not to get fired after slacking off to read Sledge for the last few weeks. I could go and on, but I’ll sum up the whole lot in three words:
BUY THIS BOOK.
Just remember: No one escapes the Labyrinth.
I was intrigued by the cover and the blurb, and although fantasy stuff is more my wheelhouse, I thought "why not?"
I then spent the next few weeks trying to get away with secretly reading it at work. I really should have booked a couple of days' leave, and read it in one go!
See, every now and then, a book comes along that defines the way you understand a genre, and every now and then, a book comes along that screws that all up again.
For me, this is that second book. And the genre is… well, I’d say thriller, but there’s more to it than that. See what I mean? Lemme try and explain:
Make no mistake. This IS a thriller. But it is also a horror, an action-adventure, a mystery, and in its own special way, a dark-comedy. It's a grindhouse piece, but it’s not exploitation. It’s like Sin-City, Reacher, and maybe even a little Max Payne - noir, but self-aware; grim, but ever so fun. Honestly? I don’t quite know how to categorise it, but I do know that I want more!!
I’ll try my best not to spoil anything, but suffice it to say; this is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read. In fact, the author, Nick Horvath has so effortlessly captured the dark and frigid vibe of a Minnesota winter, so easily painted a grim and detailed picture of the titular protagonist and the violent world within which he works, and so well-fused action, mystery, and thriller stuff, that I almost forgot that it’s not also one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever watched too!
Set in the brutal winter months of a Minnesota so well-realised, I’m pretty sure that I could meet the actual cast if I went there, the story follows ex-convict (and former illegal pit-gladiator) Einarr “Sledge” Laukkanen as he tries to uncover, expose, and stop the perpetrators of an attack on his ex girlfriend (and their promise of far worse to come.) It would seem that she’s become the target of a network of rather bad folk indeed, but actually uncovering the whys, hows, and whos of it will take a little… work. Luckily, Sledge is no stranger to that sort of work, and so begins a crazy descent into a gritty and violent investigation.
I posted on Twitter that this is like Reacher, but leaner, meaner, and with less moralising and more fun, and I think that describes SLEDGE himself too. But the thing is, he also has a surprising amount of heart. Does he crush skulls, stomp knees, and maim dudes with some rather creative use of a chair? Yep. But at his core, you can tell that he would probably rather just hang out and eat some chili. And you can also tell that he genuinely cares for his mates. Hell, he puts himself through some nasty stuff for their sakes.
Now, based on the crushing, stomping, and maiming I mentioned, you might suspect this book is brutal action fare, but you’d only be HALF right. Yes, there’s action, and the action is punchy, unforgiving, and violent - but it’s done in a way that never crossed the line into voyeuristic. Not once did I feel as though I needed to skip over a passage to spare my delicate sensibilities, and each crack of bone or splatter of blood felt visceral, yes, but most importantly - it felt earned. Earned through the careful pacing, the metering of information and clues, and the planning, downtime, and dialogue that Sledge and co take part in.
And that’s a theme I kept coming back to: Each component of the book felt earned.
Do horrible things happen to people (and Sledge himself)? Damn right they do. Some REALLY nasty stuff. But it’s all done in such a way that it never once feels gratuitous. Does the plot have some crazy twists? Is it harrowing and shocking and…funny too? Absolutely. And every twist, turn, brutal pummeling, and genuine laugh-out-loud moment paid off so well because of the carefully crafted story, character, and world-building preceding it.
Now, about that humour. For a book named after a literal blunt-force tool, there is a razor-sharp wit on display - slicing through the foreboding atmosphere and perfectly balancing the heavy subject matter. Sure, Sledge himself mightn’t see himself as a particularly bright chap, but mr. Horvath most assuredly is. I earned myself some odd looks from colleagues when I started laughing out loud at a particularly well-earned joke regarding the RPG-style stats of our hero.
And that’s only one such moment. Even some of the gritty and brutal fight scenes have an element of bold cheekiness running throughout. Sledge’s wry commentary on the world around him, his anecdotes and metaphor, and the brilliant nicknames he gives people are glorious, and serve to turn him from a dour killing-machine, into a very human, and very likable guy.
I mentioned Sledge having heart before, but all of the characters here feel human too. They might be thrust into a situation straight out of a particularly gnarly Black Mirror episode, but they react to things in a believable way. And they also speak so naturally, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re just ad libbing! Did I say all? Cos I meant it. Right down to the bad guys!
Many times throughout, Sledge takes the time to interrogate his defeated foes, and many times throughout, I was taken aback by how relatable even these “goons” were. They weren’t just faceless mooks, they were people with lives and families, forced or coerced into doing nasty stuff for an omniscient and omnipresent organisation. Well, most of them. A couple were just dicks.
Which brings me to the “antagonist” of the story.
We’re all familiar with a group of nutters producing nasty stuff for wealthy weirdos on the darkweb, right? Being an OG internet nerd, who has occasionally written E as 3, I usually cringe at how poorly internet stuff is portrayed. In this case, it was accurate as can be (right down to the correct icon for a particular browser that I swear I’ve never used, officer!) and FINALLY someone explained that the darkweb is literally just non-indexed sites, nothing more! THANK YOU NICK!!
(also, cheeky Dark Souls references amuse me greatly.)
Anyway, the villainous organisation is cleverly constructed, and very, very scary. It never feels unbelievable though. You always get the sense that, whilst they’re insidious and dangerous, they’re still just people, preying on the weakness, greed, hubris, and violence of people - to get their nastiness done, and to get their kicks and cash as a result. Is there a final boss, pulling the strings? Hey! I said I wouldn’t spoil anything, but the final reveal is awesome!
Alright, I’m actually at work and trying not to get fired after slacking off to read Sledge for the last few weeks. I could go and on, but I’ll sum up the whole lot in three words:
BUY THIS BOOK.
Just remember: No one escapes the Labyrinth.
December 15, 2024
This was a fun read. Non-stop action throughout. Like Reacher taken up a few notches. Sledge is tough as nails, fantastical fight scenes, and a story that sticks with you. You root for Sledge but not quite sure how he will come out of it. High paced, quick read. Would definitely read more of these. Hope I get to.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
April 23, 2024
Wild ride
Epic read from start to finish. I love a book that doesn't let up, and Sledge sure delivers. Wild, intense, and non-stop fun.
Epic read from start to finish. I love a book that doesn't let up, and Sledge sure delivers. Wild, intense, and non-stop fun.
March 9, 2025
Well overall nicely violent and as advertised a Frank Miller-ized Reacher-ized Herman Munster protagonist who also just so happens to channel the actual author interestingly enough. The mystery was strong, the fights and battles and blood and death badass, the politics blatant and crude, the MC enjoyable yet ultimately lucky as all hell he knew people with money and skills. He wouldn't have survived and there wouldn't have been a story without those folks. Probably won't read anything more from this author due to the combination of grotesqueness, ridiculousness, and over-powered sidekicks.
October 1, 2023
Sledge VS. The Labyrinth is a book where the titular hero, Einarr “Sledge” Laukkanen, gets embroiled in a dark web assassination game after a friend and former lover is picked as a target.
In practice, this means that throughout the story, he goes up against increasingly brutal and deadly freaks, fighting for his life in locations ranging from labyrinthine abandoned warehouses to frozen wastelands… and more.
The action is quick and brutal but not overly voyeuristic. Based on the overall presentation before I started reading, I thought this would be the book equivalent of a snuff film, but it’s much more like a pulpy action flick from the late '80s or early '90s. There are gory bits for sure—the book is a tour-de-force of pure skull-cracking, knee-crushing escapist—but rarely the kind of thing you’d rush to turn the TV off if your mom suddenly barged in on the living room.
The language of film is very apt to describe Sledge because this is a very visual book. Author Nick Horvath has a flair for describing harsh locations and weather, but the action scenes are also on point. They come at you fast and brutal, and before you know it, you’re turning the page, and skulls have been crushed and limbs dislocated.
Many authors write all their action scenes in Matrix-like slow motion, exploring the character's inner thoughts, planning, painstakingly describing the movements… It gets tiring. Nick knows when to do it like that, and he does it well when appropriate, but he mainly narrates in a glorious one-two-punch fashion that keeps the action brisk and engaging.
Sledge is a great character, too. It’s tough to pull off the “big, strong, dumb” character vibe in a serious solo adventure. Usually, such a character is either in a group with plenty of foils or is the main character in a comedy. Sledge is neither. What he is is self-aware. He knows he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed—and his allies aren’t shy about reminding him, either—but that’s okay because he knows he’s the heaviest hammer.
This is where the paint cracks a bit, and your disbelief is suspended because while Sledge and everyone around him recognizes he’s not the brightest soul, he can somehow use the school lab to manufacture potent chemicals and has a college-professor-level understanding of ballistic physics. It could be argued that this is highly specialized knowledge and that even a dumb character could know these things if it is an area of interest, but it still feels a bit incongruent with the character.
My old Dungeons & Dragons DM used to say that the most fun characters are those that roll extreme in their stats—like high charisma and super low intelligence—and what makes Sledge endearing is precisely that he’s one such character… except when he’s not.
By the same token, the supporting cast is a mixed bunch. Brother-in-arms Gow and rich-as-God patron Maldonado are standouts, characterized beautifully throughout the novel, always leaving enough mystery to make them interesting but also offering enough that you can paint a 3D picture of them in your head. Some of the assassins Sledge goes up against are also more developed than expected.
But other characters like Dr. Cole get hasty info-dumps to build their credentials, which feels a bit off.
The ending is what I have the most problems with. The final battle is epic and fantastic, and everything you'd want it to be, and the twist at the end, well, I didn’t see it coming, which is more than what can be said for most books.
But there’s a problem with the denouement. After all the build-up and the trail of crushed skulls, broken bones, and dead, mauled, or otherwise disabled foes, it feels like the final villains get off a little too easy, and the curtain comes down a bit too fast.
Like its main character, Sledge vs. The Labyrinth has flaws, but that shouldn’t deter you from reading it. This is a lean, mean, tour-de-force of a book with effortless cinematic narration that is just… fun to read!
I am looking forward to Book 2. SKOL!
In practice, this means that throughout the story, he goes up against increasingly brutal and deadly freaks, fighting for his life in locations ranging from labyrinthine abandoned warehouses to frozen wastelands… and more.
The action is quick and brutal but not overly voyeuristic. Based on the overall presentation before I started reading, I thought this would be the book equivalent of a snuff film, but it’s much more like a pulpy action flick from the late '80s or early '90s. There are gory bits for sure—the book is a tour-de-force of pure skull-cracking, knee-crushing escapist—but rarely the kind of thing you’d rush to turn the TV off if your mom suddenly barged in on the living room.
The language of film is very apt to describe Sledge because this is a very visual book. Author Nick Horvath has a flair for describing harsh locations and weather, but the action scenes are also on point. They come at you fast and brutal, and before you know it, you’re turning the page, and skulls have been crushed and limbs dislocated.
Many authors write all their action scenes in Matrix-like slow motion, exploring the character's inner thoughts, planning, painstakingly describing the movements… It gets tiring. Nick knows when to do it like that, and he does it well when appropriate, but he mainly narrates in a glorious one-two-punch fashion that keeps the action brisk and engaging.
Sledge is a great character, too. It’s tough to pull off the “big, strong, dumb” character vibe in a serious solo adventure. Usually, such a character is either in a group with plenty of foils or is the main character in a comedy. Sledge is neither. What he is is self-aware. He knows he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed—and his allies aren’t shy about reminding him, either—but that’s okay because he knows he’s the heaviest hammer.
This is where the paint cracks a bit, and your disbelief is suspended because while Sledge and everyone around him recognizes he’s not the brightest soul, he can somehow use the school lab to manufacture potent chemicals and has a college-professor-level understanding of ballistic physics. It could be argued that this is highly specialized knowledge and that even a dumb character could know these things if it is an area of interest, but it still feels a bit incongruent with the character.
My old Dungeons & Dragons DM used to say that the most fun characters are those that roll extreme in their stats—like high charisma and super low intelligence—and what makes Sledge endearing is precisely that he’s one such character… except when he’s not.
By the same token, the supporting cast is a mixed bunch. Brother-in-arms Gow and rich-as-God patron Maldonado are standouts, characterized beautifully throughout the novel, always leaving enough mystery to make them interesting but also offering enough that you can paint a 3D picture of them in your head. Some of the assassins Sledge goes up against are also more developed than expected.
But other characters like Dr. Cole get hasty info-dumps to build their credentials, which feels a bit off.
The ending is what I have the most problems with. The final battle is epic and fantastic, and everything you'd want it to be, and the twist at the end, well, I didn’t see it coming, which is more than what can be said for most books.
But there’s a problem with the denouement. After all the build-up and the trail of crushed skulls, broken bones, and dead, mauled, or otherwise disabled foes, it feels like the final villains get off a little too easy, and the curtain comes down a bit too fast.
Like its main character, Sledge vs. The Labyrinth has flaws, but that shouldn’t deter you from reading it. This is a lean, mean, tour-de-force of a book with effortless cinematic narration that is just… fun to read!
I am looking forward to Book 2. SKOL!
February 25, 2025
To say Sledge is not a man to mess around with is an understatement. He's a seven-foot tall ex-basketball player, built like a bodybuilder, with a unique set of mercenary skills that make him somewhere between an evil James Bond and a grizzly bear. He's living in a snow-covered shack in Minnesota, minding his own business when somebody threatens a woman he cares about and Sledge gets drawn into a conspiracy of an evil organization of hitmen. Soon, he's the star of increasingly oversized manga-like fights with a cast of violent characters and you're gonna find out, Sledge is REALLY someone you don't want to mess with. It's an action parody with a unique sensibility, as the story seems more intent on satirizing Jack Reacher style espionage action but does it in a hyper-violent, slapstick way. It's more goofy and macho, Sledge is like if you made Micheal Myers a secret agent. That said, not all the comedy works and could use some better editing, but for a first novel, great stuff!
November 9, 2024
Good luck on your next Descent!
April 13, 2024
This book has been called many things very accurately. The character of Sledge is a phenomenon that comes along, breaks down the genre walls and plants itself atop a foundation of thriller, action, crime and controversy. Horvath doesn’t waste time nor words to get the action going full-speed. And from the very start, you know that voice in your head, when you’re thinking or reading? Well, for Sledge, I had the gravelly voice of Marv from Sin City in my head. That is to say, Mickey Rourke’s voice. I sure did have a good time with this book. Horvath’s style of writing and sharp undercurrent of wit makes no apologies and won me over with its confidence. I kid you not, I was grinning through most of the book. Wild and definitely 2 steps ahead of any action thriller I have read, the secondary adrenaline, astonishment and incredulity made me consider my sanity. That ending cracked me up… the last few paragraphs were just very…revealing, and what the motherload of twist was that?!
Since everyone uses well-known fictional characters to convey what this book and Sledge is like, and I would plus 1 all of those comments, I would like to add that the stylized violence and out of this world action scenes popping off the pages are Tarantinoesque. Sharp, to the point and totally bonkers. Horvath also does not pussyfoot around when delivering dialogue that befits the characters.
Sledge? Has to be one of the ultimate anti-heroes ever to be created in fiction. When we think of action dudes, they fall into 2 types. One type are the lean, tech-savvy, use all of the arsenal and run like lightning kind of guy. Think Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible or Jack Reacher, Matt Damon in Jason Bourne franchise, James Bond, or the lot in Fast and Furious. You get the gist. Sledge is not like that. The other type is made up of dudes larger than life (sometimes physically, sometimes mentally), all grunt and brute force, no flinch, no fucking around, and they have an unlimited supply of stamina. Like a gods damned steam train. Think John Wick, Mad Max, good tried and tested boys of Expendables. Sledge is that kind of hardened bastard – he’s nice enough, just about. But show him death and threat, and he’s like: “Fuck it, it is what it is, let’s get on with it.”
I think that’s the most enjoyable in Sledge’s characteristics, making the action scenes so much better – the no wait, no halt, no fret kind of approach. There’s a fight? Let’s fight. No hesitation, just step right into it and let’s see what happens. There’s a certain confidence, and in Sledge’s case it’s a well earned confidence (as you will learn from his background) that if he doesn’t have a plan or the tools, he will go with the flow and use his fists or whatever he can get his hands on around him to make bloody good use of. He doesn’t stop think about the age old “everyone has a choice, you do not have to kill” mantra. The fight was brought to him, so the mantra is long expired and useless. He’s the bear and we all knows what happens when the bear is poked.
There is no shortage of villains, plot twists and surprising solutions to the most impossible of challenges. There is plenty of high tech (and low tech!) weaponry geek for the wank bank, the friends in high places to fund it all, the friend to cover the six, and a dame or two because, well, there’s always a woman involved! If you’re a fan of high octane, balls to the wall kind of wild ride, Sledge vs The Labyrinth is a safe bet.
Since everyone uses well-known fictional characters to convey what this book and Sledge is like, and I would plus 1 all of those comments, I would like to add that the stylized violence and out of this world action scenes popping off the pages are Tarantinoesque. Sharp, to the point and totally bonkers. Horvath also does not pussyfoot around when delivering dialogue that befits the characters.
Sledge? Has to be one of the ultimate anti-heroes ever to be created in fiction. When we think of action dudes, they fall into 2 types. One type are the lean, tech-savvy, use all of the arsenal and run like lightning kind of guy. Think Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible or Jack Reacher, Matt Damon in Jason Bourne franchise, James Bond, or the lot in Fast and Furious. You get the gist. Sledge is not like that. The other type is made up of dudes larger than life (sometimes physically, sometimes mentally), all grunt and brute force, no flinch, no fucking around, and they have an unlimited supply of stamina. Like a gods damned steam train. Think John Wick, Mad Max, good tried and tested boys of Expendables. Sledge is that kind of hardened bastard – he’s nice enough, just about. But show him death and threat, and he’s like: “Fuck it, it is what it is, let’s get on with it.”
I think that’s the most enjoyable in Sledge’s characteristics, making the action scenes so much better – the no wait, no halt, no fret kind of approach. There’s a fight? Let’s fight. No hesitation, just step right into it and let’s see what happens. There’s a certain confidence, and in Sledge’s case it’s a well earned confidence (as you will learn from his background) that if he doesn’t have a plan or the tools, he will go with the flow and use his fists or whatever he can get his hands on around him to make bloody good use of. He doesn’t stop think about the age old “everyone has a choice, you do not have to kill” mantra. The fight was brought to him, so the mantra is long expired and useless. He’s the bear and we all knows what happens when the bear is poked.
There is no shortage of villains, plot twists and surprising solutions to the most impossible of challenges. There is plenty of high tech (and low tech!) weaponry geek for the wank bank, the friends in high places to fund it all, the friend to cover the six, and a dame or two because, well, there’s always a woman involved! If you’re a fan of high octane, balls to the wall kind of wild ride, Sledge vs The Labyrinth is a safe bet.
January 1, 2025
Sledge vs EVERYTHING
I had been hearing loads about this book, seeing it all over X (Twitter), and decided I'd best get to checking it out.
Man, oh man! As a veteran and fan of political thrillers, violent action, and military fiction, Sledge vs. The Labyrinth knocked it out of the park. At first, I thought...well, this dude it's a giant. It'll be easy. I expected this massive, stoic antihero. I wasn't completely wrong but, at the same time, Sledge is so much more than that. We slowly see the history of the character unfold in its brutally beautiful way.
Soooo many times, I thought Sledge is dead. No way he's surviving. Then, he does. Nick Horvath brings so much nuance to the characters with genius level creations that make this story un-put-down-able! 3 days. That's all it took me to read it because I had to keep going. Short chapters draw you in. The pace starts quick and steadily ramps up to a twisted ending I should have seen coming, but I didn't. And then...a final twist reveal?!
Brilliant job, Nick. I need to jump into Slege's next bloody adventure—yesterday!
I had been hearing loads about this book, seeing it all over X (Twitter), and decided I'd best get to checking it out.
Man, oh man! As a veteran and fan of political thrillers, violent action, and military fiction, Sledge vs. The Labyrinth knocked it out of the park. At first, I thought...well, this dude it's a giant. It'll be easy. I expected this massive, stoic antihero. I wasn't completely wrong but, at the same time, Sledge is so much more than that. We slowly see the history of the character unfold in its brutally beautiful way.
Soooo many times, I thought Sledge is dead. No way he's surviving. Then, he does. Nick Horvath brings so much nuance to the characters with genius level creations that make this story un-put-down-able! 3 days. That's all it took me to read it because I had to keep going. Short chapters draw you in. The pace starts quick and steadily ramps up to a twisted ending I should have seen coming, but I didn't. And then...a final twist reveal?!
Brilliant job, Nick. I need to jump into Slege's next bloody adventure—yesterday!
June 24, 2024
John Wick, but instead of guns, Sledge uses his fists.
Sledge VS The Labyrinth is not only one of the best books I’ve read this year, but it has shot to the top of being one of my all-time favourite books. Every time I picked it up, I struggled to put it down, which wasn’t many times because I devoured it in only a couple of sittings.
Even when our anti-hero is taking a break from breaking things—namely people—the momentum is nonstop. This is thanks to the perfect story length, which never overstayed its welcome, short punchy chapters, awesome action sequences that were all unique, grim humour in all the right places, great dialogue and a clear and focused plot that I could always follow but kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time.
This is the perfect example of self-publishing indies absolutely kicking ass. This gritty thriller, dark comedy, action book is an absolute must-read.
Sledge VS The Labyrinth is not only one of the best books I’ve read this year, but it has shot to the top of being one of my all-time favourite books. Every time I picked it up, I struggled to put it down, which wasn’t many times because I devoured it in only a couple of sittings.
Even when our anti-hero is taking a break from breaking things—namely people—the momentum is nonstop. This is thanks to the perfect story length, which never overstayed its welcome, short punchy chapters, awesome action sequences that were all unique, grim humour in all the right places, great dialogue and a clear and focused plot that I could always follow but kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time.
This is the perfect example of self-publishing indies absolutely kicking ass. This gritty thriller, dark comedy, action book is an absolute must-read.
January 15, 2025
Not a big fan of twenty-first century fiction, but once in a while one comes through, like this did. I'm not a fan of popstars or basketball. Dislike them both immensely. I get lost with modern day references in these books. So. I thought this would be a non-finisher. I was pretty wrong, once again. The action and plot kept this moving in the fast lane.
November 19, 2024
In a world full of romantasy slop and tepid offerings from tradpub, one figure emerges from the indie publishing spaces to mark its claim as the baddest MFer to ever set foot in the literary world.
Enter Sledge, a 6’9 junkyard dog given human form with a penchant for solving his problems with the power of friendship and brutal, overwhelming violent acts—and a sledgehammer. If you shaved a bear and taught it to stand on two legs, you would be close to an approximation of the kind of being Sledge is: a modern day Conan the Barbarian born in the wrong century.
Sledge set foot on the indie scene and within a year managed to create what very few indie characters have managed: Sledge has aura. He’s GOATed with the suave. With the reviews of the book and how author Nick Horvath has marketed the book, it’s given Sledge a reputation that begs to be read. I went into the book knowing what to expect and the book delivers unfailingly.
The titular Labyrinth turns out to be a darkweb association that pays good money for violent acts perpetrated against others. Once you accept jobs, though, it traps you and uses blackmail and threat of violence against family and loved ones to force individuals into death matches—and Sledge is caught trying to fight his way through this organization with seemingly endless resources and money to throw deadly mercenaries and trained killers his way.
Prose is tight and terse, wasting no time in going from plot point to action scene. Sledge is a junkyard dog: not terribly pleasant, sometimes affable if you are, but never afraid to bare his fangs and remind you how much his bite hurts. And hurt he does. The book is full of bloody, brutal fights that feel like an 80s action flick combined with a 70s grindhouse movie. Chapters and short, wasting little time in introspection or naval gazing before we’re off to the next clue or face bashing. You can hear Sledge’s growling in every word. (The book is first person)
The book isn’t without some minor flaws. Like many narrative with a central character only, the side characters are often relegated to facilitating the MC’s plot progression. A touch of political allegory concerning the president and an ending that stumbles more than it lands do little to damper the blood-soaked fun of this book. There’s plenty of vulgarity, but not enough yo feel egregious. This character feels like a return to an era when men had better books available to read. Books made specifically FOR them and their sensibilities of storytelling.
This book is 100% testosterone. Unapologetic, bloody brutal fun. I will be there for book 2 and many more beyond. Believe the hype. Believe in Sledge.
To The Grind.
Enter Sledge, a 6’9 junkyard dog given human form with a penchant for solving his problems with the power of friendship and brutal, overwhelming violent acts—and a sledgehammer. If you shaved a bear and taught it to stand on two legs, you would be close to an approximation of the kind of being Sledge is: a modern day Conan the Barbarian born in the wrong century.
Sledge set foot on the indie scene and within a year managed to create what very few indie characters have managed: Sledge has aura. He’s GOATed with the suave. With the reviews of the book and how author Nick Horvath has marketed the book, it’s given Sledge a reputation that begs to be read. I went into the book knowing what to expect and the book delivers unfailingly.
The titular Labyrinth turns out to be a darkweb association that pays good money for violent acts perpetrated against others. Once you accept jobs, though, it traps you and uses blackmail and threat of violence against family and loved ones to force individuals into death matches—and Sledge is caught trying to fight his way through this organization with seemingly endless resources and money to throw deadly mercenaries and trained killers his way.
Prose is tight and terse, wasting no time in going from plot point to action scene. Sledge is a junkyard dog: not terribly pleasant, sometimes affable if you are, but never afraid to bare his fangs and remind you how much his bite hurts. And hurt he does. The book is full of bloody, brutal fights that feel like an 80s action flick combined with a 70s grindhouse movie. Chapters and short, wasting little time in introspection or naval gazing before we’re off to the next clue or face bashing. You can hear Sledge’s growling in every word. (The book is first person)
The book isn’t without some minor flaws. Like many narrative with a central character only, the side characters are often relegated to facilitating the MC’s plot progression. A touch of political allegory concerning the president and an ending that stumbles more than it lands do little to damper the blood-soaked fun of this book. There’s plenty of vulgarity, but not enough yo feel egregious. This character feels like a return to an era when men had better books available to read. Books made specifically FOR them and their sensibilities of storytelling.
This book is 100% testosterone. Unapologetic, bloody brutal fun. I will be there for book 2 and many more beyond. Believe the hype. Believe in Sledge.
To The Grind.
December 10, 2023
If you think Reacher would be a pretty good hero if he had a little meat on his bones and wasn't such a wimp, then Sledge is the hero (or antihero) you've been waiting for. Sledge is a monster, but he's OUR monster, protecting us from the other big baddies in this dark world we dwell in. He's King Kong on Skull Island, protecting Ann Darrow from giant tyrannosauruses and carnivorous pterodactyls. He doesn't carry a gun, because he doesn't need to. He carries a sledgehammer because he can. And the things he can do with a rusty nail, well, you'll have to read it to believe it. He's got bones hardened to the tensile strength of stone, and he was trained to fight in the fighting pits of a Siberian hellhole, where every contest was to the death. (He emerged undefeated.) You can literally stab him in the brain, and he'll live (the author assures me that the wound is survivable, and he's got the documentation to prove it). In short, Sledge is the baddest badass in a badass badassery of badass badasses.
Okay, you get the picture.
What makes the story work, beyond the exotic locales (including one in the climactic last deathmatch that will blow your mind, especially once you google it and find out the place is real) is the fact that inside the monster is a relatively decent and sensitive human being who simply wants to obliterate anyone more evil than he is and otherwise be left alone to live a simple life. He may be a monster, but he's a relatable monster, the monster we all fantasize about being.
Nick Horvath (who, like Sledge, is a 6'10" ex pro-basketball player) has written a thrilling action tale filled with mayhem and mystery (and some cool political satire) that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its breakneck pace. It's a terrific beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable series.
Okay, you get the picture.
What makes the story work, beyond the exotic locales (including one in the climactic last deathmatch that will blow your mind, especially once you google it and find out the place is real) is the fact that inside the monster is a relatively decent and sensitive human being who simply wants to obliterate anyone more evil than he is and otherwise be left alone to live a simple life. He may be a monster, but he's a relatable monster, the monster we all fantasize about being.
Nick Horvath (who, like Sledge, is a 6'10" ex pro-basketball player) has written a thrilling action tale filled with mayhem and mystery (and some cool political satire) that will keep you on the edge of your seat with its breakneck pace. It's a terrific beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable series.
October 31, 2024
Sledge is a beast
A fantastic action novel starring Sledge, a man who is almost indestructible due to a lifetime of battling. Someone is out to get him, someone with unlimited funds, they put him in the Labyrinth. Which is a game that's as real as it gets, everything is against him but he always seems to rise to the occasion.
Highly recommended, he is similar to Reacher but this is much more violent and fast paced of a book than anything in that series. Definitely looking forward to a sequel.
A fantastic action novel starring Sledge, a man who is almost indestructible due to a lifetime of battling. Someone is out to get him, someone with unlimited funds, they put him in the Labyrinth. Which is a game that's as real as it gets, everything is against him but he always seems to rise to the occasion.
Highly recommended, he is similar to Reacher but this is much more violent and fast paced of a book than anything in that series. Definitely looking forward to a sequel.
March 25, 2025
A head banging good time!
Take the impossibility of winning the ever increasing opponent of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and add in the killing ability of Rambo all while being as tenacious and massive as the Zombified Mountain in GoT and you got Sledge vs. The Labyrinth. Holy freaking crap!
Take the impossibility of winning the ever increasing opponent of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and add in the killing ability of Rambo all while being as tenacious and massive as the Zombified Mountain in GoT and you got Sledge vs. The Labyrinth. Holy freaking crap!
Read
October 22, 2025DNF
This on stung.
Well, my streak had to end at some point. This book was excellent, with the exception of the intense language. It got progressively more present to the point where I didn't know if I could continue, so tried switching to audio (it has helped in the past), and it just exacerbated it.
It was an excellent story otherwise, but it was hard for me, personally, to continue. Oh well.
This on stung.
Well, my streak had to end at some point. This book was excellent, with the exception of the intense language. It got progressively more present to the point where I didn't know if I could continue, so tried switching to audio (it has helped in the past), and it just exacerbated it.
It was an excellent story otherwise, but it was hard for me, personally, to continue. Oh well.
March 27, 2025
Sledge vs. The Labyrinth is by far my favourite read of 2025, and I honestly don't think anything is going to top. This is fantastic pulp action ripped straight from late 80's action flicks, with a heaping scoop of Robert E. Howard dumped in for good measure. Sledge is the ultimate anti-hero, a big bruising asshole that shouldn't be messed with. He's got a great backstory and first-time author Nick Horvath does a great job sprinkling bits of info throughout the book instead of giving us one big info dump. When a former girlfriend is threatened, Sledge finds himself pulled into a sadistic game on the dark web called The Labyrinth. The further into he gets, the worse the violent situations become. This is a fast read, and Horvath keeps his foot on the gas throughout. It's brutal, violent, and laugh-out loud funny, and I loved every second of it. My only minor complaint is the ending, and the reveal of who's behind the whole thing, but it's in line with any dozen of the 80's action movies plot wrap ups so I'll go with it. Can't wait for the next installment.
November 4, 2023
This is it! THIS is the one action fans have been waiting for! Sledge Laukkanen is the type of bone-crunching, bullet spraying, Ka-Bar swinging, C-4 toting, eyeball gouging, spine-shattering literary hero that hasn't been seen since Don Pendleton first unleashed Mack Bolan in "War Against the Mafia."
With "Sledge vs. the Labyrinth," Nick Horvath has delivered a truly stunning debut. His prose is sharp-witted, blood-drenched, and moves with the speed of tracer fire. I haven't been this excited about a new action author in years. Horvath is a major talent.
With "Sledge vs. the Labyrinth," Nick Horvath has delivered a truly stunning debut. His prose is sharp-witted, blood-drenched, and moves with the speed of tracer fire. I haven't been this excited about a new action author in years. Horvath is a major talent.
June 4, 2024
I have been quite fortunate, having had wonderful recommendations from my lovely friends (some new, some not so very new) on what books to read. So, it should have come as no surprise when a new friend and recent guest on my show directed me to "SLEDGE VS. The Labyrinth" by Nick Horvath.
This genre hasn't been showing up lately on my TBR (to-be-read) pile, as I've been spending much of my time elsewhere. However, one look at the book's cover (blurb and all), and I *knew* I was going to be in for a fun read and a great ride. I was not disappointed, not one bit.
I might add, in fact *should* add, that this is the author's debut novel, and much like the main character, it kicks ass -- but in the best way possible!
"SLEDGE VS. The Labyrinth" is this wonderful mashup of graphic novel grittiness, classic comic books, hard-boiled fifties and sixties detectives, those terrific Saturday morning cartoons (probably before your time, LOL), and a generous helping of humour and violence. All this to say, it's a wickedly fun read, one that is fast-paced and generous in its ability to to have kept me entertained, engaged, and rooting for one bad-ass antihero named Einarr Laukkanen, the eponymous "Sledge" of the title. The blurb stating "Think REACHER, but meaner, and leaner" is bang on.
Populated by a great cast of characters, none of whom we can be entirely certain of as far as their allegiance or antagonism to the MC, it makes for a page-turning adventure. Nick Horvath's writing is sharp and witty, bringing together strong action, a twisting plot, and dialogue that sings with a delightful realism. This is hopefully only the start of more terrific work from his pen/keyboard/imagination. You get the idea.
I highly recommend you pick up a copy, and dive in. Cheers!
This genre hasn't been showing up lately on my TBR (to-be-read) pile, as I've been spending much of my time elsewhere. However, one look at the book's cover (blurb and all), and I *knew* I was going to be in for a fun read and a great ride. I was not disappointed, not one bit.
I might add, in fact *should* add, that this is the author's debut novel, and much like the main character, it kicks ass -- but in the best way possible!
"SLEDGE VS. The Labyrinth" is this wonderful mashup of graphic novel grittiness, classic comic books, hard-boiled fifties and sixties detectives, those terrific Saturday morning cartoons (probably before your time, LOL), and a generous helping of humour and violence. All this to say, it's a wickedly fun read, one that is fast-paced and generous in its ability to to have kept me entertained, engaged, and rooting for one bad-ass antihero named Einarr Laukkanen, the eponymous "Sledge" of the title. The blurb stating "Think REACHER, but meaner, and leaner" is bang on.
Populated by a great cast of characters, none of whom we can be entirely certain of as far as their allegiance or antagonism to the MC, it makes for a page-turning adventure. Nick Horvath's writing is sharp and witty, bringing together strong action, a twisting plot, and dialogue that sings with a delightful realism. This is hopefully only the start of more terrific work from his pen/keyboard/imagination. You get the idea.
I highly recommend you pick up a copy, and dive in. Cheers!
February 12, 2025
So you ever come across someone that you feel will do anything in their power to rid the world of someone or multiple people if their friends or family were in danger? That someone is Einarr "Sledge" Laukkanen. From page one, you get the feeling that the next 318 pages are going to be some of the most brutal, chaotic, bloodiest pages you will ever read in a book. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!
We have Sledge, a 6'10 "monster of a man who loves to carry around a Sledgehammer. (A sledgehammer can do some pretty nasty damage.) He gets wrapped up in this cat and mouse game due to his ex-girlfriend getting a letter one night. "What the letter says, you'll have to read it to find out." And what that letter says starts the journey of 319 pages of chaos.
I really liked the writing in this. The words just flowed throughout every sentence, every page. It's truly amazing. It gets very graphic at times, but not too much to where your stomach will turn or you'll have to skip ahead. I would love to know what was going through the authors head while writing this. Well, maybe, lol.
Overall, this was a very fast-paced non-stop action read. If you're looking for your next Thriller/Horror action read, this is the one. Every page will have you wanting more, and trust me, you will not put this down. If my life wasn't so chaotic, I would've finished this in one day. 5/5 for this badass book!
We have Sledge, a 6'10 "monster of a man who loves to carry around a Sledgehammer. (A sledgehammer can do some pretty nasty damage.) He gets wrapped up in this cat and mouse game due to his ex-girlfriend getting a letter one night. "What the letter says, you'll have to read it to find out." And what that letter says starts the journey of 319 pages of chaos.
I really liked the writing in this. The words just flowed throughout every sentence, every page. It's truly amazing. It gets very graphic at times, but not too much to where your stomach will turn or you'll have to skip ahead. I would love to know what was going through the authors head while writing this. Well, maybe, lol.
Overall, this was a very fast-paced non-stop action read. If you're looking for your next Thriller/Horror action read, this is the one. Every page will have you wanting more, and trust me, you will not put this down. If my life wasn't so chaotic, I would've finished this in one day. 5/5 for this badass book!
February 13, 2024
I may not be someone who regularly reads crime thrillers, but I'm a regular reader of Sledge now. Right away, this book throws you in the thick of the action. One of the biggest strengths of this book is how Horvath organically portrays Sledge's reputation and his name recognition. It never feels forced, and it fuels your sense of glee whenever he faces off against someone new. Any time Sledge gets a new opponent, every reader of this book thinks "These goons doesn't know who they're messing with, do they?" It's a wonderful thing when an author gets it right, and Horvath nails it.
I also want to compliment this book's efficiency. No words, breaths, beats, or plot points are wasted here. The action keeps you invested, and the stubbornness of Sledge makes for some nice character moments both in and outside of the Labyrinth. The violence was clinical, matter-of-fact, and it hit harder because of it. Horvath also drip-feeds the reader exposition that gives you just the info you need without derailing the pacing. All of these factors made the book a short, but filling read.
If you want a crime noir with an engaging mystery, a cold and unforgiving setting, brutal action, and a brick wall of an antihero, pick up this book.
I also want to compliment this book's efficiency. No words, breaths, beats, or plot points are wasted here. The action keeps you invested, and the stubbornness of Sledge makes for some nice character moments both in and outside of the Labyrinth. The violence was clinical, matter-of-fact, and it hit harder because of it. Horvath also drip-feeds the reader exposition that gives you just the info you need without derailing the pacing. All of these factors made the book a short, but filling read.
If you want a crime noir with an engaging mystery, a cold and unforgiving setting, brutal action, and a brick wall of an antihero, pick up this book.
November 17, 2023
What can you say about Sledge that hasn't already been said. Is the book worth the hype, yes, it is.
This story was extremely well written. You can tell Nick took time to write this and not rush through it. I read this book twice before writing this review. The story and the story within the story are awesome. It has a little something for everyone. You will feel rage, sadness and by the end of the book you will cheer for Sledge.
The only thing that bothered me were some of the words used. If you can get past those two pages you will not regret it. It really has no impact on the story as a whole.
I would recommend this book to anyone! I can not wait to see what the next adventure Sledge goes on!
This story was extremely well written. You can tell Nick took time to write this and not rush through it. I read this book twice before writing this review. The story and the story within the story are awesome. It has a little something for everyone. You will feel rage, sadness and by the end of the book you will cheer for Sledge.
The only thing that bothered me were some of the words used. If you can get past those two pages you will not regret it. It really has no impact on the story as a whole.
I would recommend this book to anyone! I can not wait to see what the next adventure Sledge goes on!
August 8, 2024
I like horror, and I love extreme horror. But what I truly adore is action, be it in movie, literary or comic book form. And Sledge Vs The Labyrinth is such a deliciously over the top blend of the genres that it may as well have been written just for me.
From the first introduction of Sledge Laukannen, our 6' 10" former basketball star, one time prison pit fighter and all round badass mofo, Nick Horvath takes us on a blood and testosterone soaked rampage of a novel where no body part is left unwrenched, no mook unbrutalised and a steady parade of hard drinking, cool as ice, one liner spitting bastards kick the shit out one another while tackling a conspiracy so far fetched and overwrought that it's magnificent.
I love this book. We are given hints and winks to adventures as yet unwritten, a John Wick style world of brutal hardcore badasses that would make Jack Reacher wet his slacks and I am hoping we'll be seeing more of Sledge and his frenemies in future.
This is pure action heaven, a treat for fans of Cannon and exploitation from start to finish. Get it in your eyes!
From the first introduction of Sledge Laukannen, our 6' 10" former basketball star, one time prison pit fighter and all round badass mofo, Nick Horvath takes us on a blood and testosterone soaked rampage of a novel where no body part is left unwrenched, no mook unbrutalised and a steady parade of hard drinking, cool as ice, one liner spitting bastards kick the shit out one another while tackling a conspiracy so far fetched and overwrought that it's magnificent.
I love this book. We are given hints and winks to adventures as yet unwritten, a John Wick style world of brutal hardcore badasses that would make Jack Reacher wet his slacks and I am hoping we'll be seeing more of Sledge and his frenemies in future.
This is pure action heaven, a treat for fans of Cannon and exploitation from start to finish. Get it in your eyes!
December 2, 2024
Love the overpowered underdog
I loved Sledge vs The Labyrinth. It’s a smart persons action thriller, as in not a lot of words are wasted on long typical action sequences. And the writing is focused and funny. The characters, especially the protagonist, are well written. I love the overpowered underdog. Felt every punch and kick.
I loved Sledge vs The Labyrinth. It’s a smart persons action thriller, as in not a lot of words are wasted on long typical action sequences. And the writing is focused and funny. The characters, especially the protagonist, are well written. I love the overpowered underdog. Felt every punch and kick.
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