Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Expraedium is a work of fiction in the literary, cultural, and critical thinking subgenres. It is best suited to mature readers for its complex content and the use of explicit language throughout and was penned by Armen Melikian. In this explosive work which tackles heated and controversial topics, the author discusses and criticizes Western civilization, mainstream religion, and identity construction through its narrator, Brathki. As Brathki travels deeper into more acerbic estimations and experiences of the world, a deconstructive viewpoint comes to the fore, with satire and philosophy at its heart to break apart the chains of what we call civilization and look for something more liberating beyond its banal constraints.

I love experimental works that make you think, especially those that break the standard bonds of what we know to be “normal” and offer us food for thought elsewhere. Armen Melikian achieves this with shocking and arresting fiction that will not suit all readers, especially as it comes so close to the bone with so-called “facts of life” that upholders of the status quo continue to accept as fact. I loved the way that the novel’s construction, timing, structure, and stream of consciousness push every standard of mainstream literature in the same way that Brathki and the author wish to break down the norms of society. This marries well with the rebellious, critical, and savage style of the work. In audiences where the worldview of Expraedium is appreciated, it will surely become a recommended read that will spread like wildfire for its astute thinking and radical approach.