Hard to believe it’s only March and I think I have my 2026 villains of the year.
Congratulations to Hyrum and Kendra!
More on them later, or maybe not — for Crux isn’t about horrible people. It’s about the depths of friendship and discovering yourself in this coming of age tale by Gabriel Tallent.
Dan and Tamma have spent their entire lives — all 18 years of it so far — as BFFs in California backcountry, living in various states of poverty, but not really caring all that much. It’s a small town, mostly small people living in it, and their joie de vive — climbing — is always available to them.
Having conquered one of the toughest climbs in their reach, the two begin to seriously ponder the future — can they make it as trad climbers, dirtbagging it in the Canyonlands? Competing family trauma pulls them in opposite directions, as Dan tries to reconcile his mother’s past and present, and Tamma pulls triple duty between being a BFF, a wannabe competitive climber and a surrogate mother to her two nephews and niece.
There are so many layers to this story, which is why the constant return to Dan and Tamma climbing is fitting. It’s a lot at first for anyone not familiar with the lingo (and I asn’t and still am not) — Tallent goes pretty deep with his linguistic illustrations of trad climbing. But the fear and exhilaration that comes with a successful venture are emotions that will resonate with anyone. There is no straight route, let alone a safe one. So many choices, none of which have clear outcomes. Such is life. Readers will also be able to connect with Tamma’s resilience in the face of two of the worst people ever (insert our villain winners Hyrum and Kendra here) and Dan’s struggle with depression and anxiety, even with the precipice of incredible success waiting just around the corner, there for his taking.
I was also struck by the commitment Tallent opts for in storytelling around a platonic friendship. He never once takes the easy route into a “will they, won’t they?” plot line, because it isn’t necessary. This is a story about two individuals that have long been part of each other and are now facing an uncertain future, each on their own path.
For anyone that lovers to read a story and find their brain stuck on what might be happening next, this is for you. Dan and Tamma, as well as Sierra and the kids, and even Lawrence and Alex, are living rent-free in my head for a while. Not Hyrum and Kendra, though. Eww. Those two can take a long walk off a short bridge. In my mind, Tamma is going to show them, and then some.
Don’t pass on this if you have the opportunity.
LitzyDitz 