Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Joan of the Arcane by Alexandra Fleder delves deep into the world of conspiracy theories and the internet trolls who spread them. Before she married and settled down to middle-aged, middle-class normalcy in Los Angeles, Joan was a rebel, a singer in a punk rock band. These days, her rebellious side is fed by a constant stream of conspiracy theories that she reads daily on the internet. When a new neighbor moves in down the street, Joan is convinced she has seen him somewhere before. Searching back through her past internet history, she eventually discovers he has the same name and looks remarkably similar to the supposedly dead pilot of the space shuttle that so spectacularly exploded in front of millions on television, many years ago. Already convinced that the earth is flat and that the moon landings were faked, in her mind, this is just one more lie the public has been fed by the government. This is one thing Joan is absolutely determined to prove false. She sets out to prove that Glen Angleton, law professor, is the selfsame Glen Angleton who was supposed to have been killed in the shuttle explosion.

Joan of the Arcane is a must-read for anyone who has ever doubted the veracity of official announcements. Alexandra Fleder's plot will entice anyone who has ever hovered over an absurd title on an internet video and wondered, “Really, could that be true?” Joan is a wonderful character because, as a member of a punk rock band, she once sang about anarchy and destruction. Marriage, parenting, and a “normal” suburban life have definitely squelched those rebellious tendencies, but the ideas promoted by conspiracy theories give her the type of freedom of expression she has unconsciously longed for all these years. I appreciated her turning to mysticism, ancient spells, talismans, and arcane gods as she sought some sort of spiritual awakening on this journey of discovery. This gives the entire narrative a depth and complexity that otherwise would be missing in a straight conspiracy theory novel. Her strength of character, when almost everyone she knew treated her with humor, disdain, and often outright disrespect, didn’t deter her from staying the course. This is an enjoyable read that I highly recommend to anyone seeking light relief from today’s weighty environment.