Lion’s Den by Neil Citrin

What would it look like to have a superhero, fully human, walk amongst us?To get the answer, you’ll have to search the Lion’s Den.

Johnny Slater’s life is anything but typical. His father, Daniel Slater, runs a martial arts studio by day, but he is a prolific political activist by night. His older brother, Benny, is a short tempered, loyal son who wants nothing more than to carry out his father’s vision. Since the death of their mother, the family has struggled to hold together—and then tragedy rears its horrific face. 

One day, Daniel and Johnny are ambushed by a group of masked men who beat Daniel mercilessly. As Daniel slips away, his final sight is of Johnny, battered and helpless on the floor.

With no surviving nuclear parents, Johnny and Benny are forced to live with their aunt, who holds very different political beliefs and does not hide her disdain for “the other side.” She puts them both up for adoption so that Lee Anderson, family friend, can take them in. 

Lee Anderson and Daniel are both members of the Progressive Constitutionalists, a group that is fighting to stop Sebastian Beeman and his son from carving out San Fernando and breaking off California into two separate states. Due to this, the Beemans hate the Slaters and vow to end them both; unbeknownst to them, however, the Slaters are more than ready.

At the new school where the Slater brothers are enrolled, they notice that the security staff, dubbed the Timberwolves, tend to prey on the weaker students and act more like bullies with impunity. Phillip and Karl, two high ranking members of the Timberwolves, decide to scheme a way for Johnny to break. Nothing works, not even threatening to kick members off of the football team or confronting him. Growing frustrated, they resort to the extreme: why bother persuading when you can simply take? Thus, Johnny’s girlfriend is kidnapped, and there’s no telling when or if she’ll return.

Lion’s Den is a dynamic thriller that bursts at the seams with excitement and action. The respect and research poured into martial arts techniques and the precision in describing their execution are evident throughout. Frequent mention of traditional garments and the significance of specific moves add authenticity, making the action sequences that much more engaging and immersive.

Johnny’s “superhero” abilities are another selling point. He’s extremely humble and has no desire to show off, unlike his older brother. Together, they create a compelling “push and pull” dynamic that captures the realism of a brotherly bond, complete with subtle undertones of envy. Johnny tends to walk on eggshells, careful not to set his brother off, while Benny is a perfect storm, ready to leave chaos in his wake. 

Despite these differences, it’s their bond that endures everything, even the loss of their parents. Lion’s Den delivers both adrenaline and depth. Action readers will love the pinpoint precision in which the fights are described but also Johnny’s engaging internal voice.