“Dodecahedron” by T.G. Monahan

Dodecahedron

T.G. Monahan
Citrine Publishing (2026)
ISBN: 978-1954569157
Reviewed by Jordan Durfee for Reader Views (08/2026)

Dodecahedron: A Novel in Short Stories by T.G. Monahan is vastly unique for the way it tells the story of Donnybrook, New York. Written solely through short stories connected only by location and ancestry, the stories are non-linear in their order throughout the novel. One moment you could be in the 1800s, the next you could be in the 2000s. This creates a fascinating web of contradictory narratives that highlight the ways in which time can alter how history is remembered.

Following the evolution of the myth of Donnybrook and the Dodecahedrons that continually put the town on the map, readers are brought along on a treasure-hunting adventure. Seeing how the Dodecahedron impacts the town and its lore in different ways throughout history, and showing that in a non-linear timeline, allows readers to witness the changing lore and history; only we, the readers, know the truth of what happened during particular timelines. While I won’t spoil the particular timelines or stories, I will say that the final short story was the absolute best way to end the novel. It wrapped up the histories and made clear what might have otherwise been confusing.

The characters themselves were entertaining and staunchly different from one another. Due to the nature of the narrative told through short stories, readers are dropped into the middle of these without the background context the characters themselves have. This serves to add more curiosity surrounding the characters. Why are they fighting? Where does this feud stem from? What is going to happen now? Not all the questions are answered, but in this case that’s a good thing. If we were to know all the answers and fully understand the context, it would defeat the purpose of the overall message of myth and history at times being interchangeable. I also enjoyed being able to see the way different characters were discussed in the future versus who they were in their time, again contributing to the idea that how history is remembered can change over time.

I also vastly appreciated that the novel includes real historical events, names, and places. While a fantastical tale of adventure, like all the best archaeology-adventure movies, it’s rooted in true history. Donnybrook itself may not be real, but mentioned places like Newport, Rhode Island, and Tahiti, and historical figures like Nathaniel Spring, or historical events like Shays’ Rebellion are all real. It further roots the legend in reality, which is an aspect I enjoyed.

Fans of adventure or historical narratives, especially those rooted in archaeology, and non-linear timelines would really enjoy this novel. It’s well-written; it’s a strong narrative with unique characters and a unique execution, keeping curiosity high as you read. You won’t want to miss out!