Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *Random Oxidation* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

*Random Oxidation* is an unconventional and sharply satirical novel about wealth, taste and the elaborate myths surrounding the world of fine wine. The story follows a privileged man whose understanding of wine—and ultimately of the society around him—begins to collapse when he becomes convinced that much of what collectors, critics and merchants celebrate is based on exaggeration, manipulation and fraud.

The novel’s greatest strength is its distinctive voice. Malcolm Gluck writes with confidence, wit and a clear willingness to challenge the traditions and hierarchies of the wine industry. The book is frequently funny, but its humour is often biting, aimed at collectors prepared to spend extraordinary sums, experts who speak with unquestionable authority and consumers who may be afraid to admit that they cannot taste what they have been told is there.

Beneath the satire, the novel raises interesting questions about value and belief. Wine is valuable partly because people collectively agree that certain bottles, regions and vintages deserve reverence. Once the protagonist begins questioning those assumptions, he also starts questioning the people who benefit from maintaining them. The story therefore becomes about more than wine; it examines status, insecurity and the human desire to belong to an exclusive world.

The book will probably work best for readers with an interest in wine, as much of the humour depends on recognising the language, rituals and pretensions surrounding it. Gluck’s knowledge is obvious, and the strongest passages combine that expertise with genuine irreverence. Even readers who are not wine enthusiasts may appreciate the broader criticism of industries that use mystique and expert opinion to transform personal preference into supposedly objective truth.

At times, however, the satire becomes repetitive, and the narrative occasionally feels more interested in making an argument than developing the characters or moving the story forward. The writing can be deliberately provocative, and some observations are likely to divide readers. I enjoyed the originality and intelligence behind the premise, but I did not always feel emotionally connected to the characters.

Overall, *Random Oxidation* is a bold, witty and unusual novel that takes aim at wine snobbery, commercial manipulation and the stories people tell themselves about luxury. It is not a conventional plot-driven novel, but it offers a distinctive perspective and plenty to think about. Although its style and subject matter will not appeal to everyone, readers who enjoy satire, wine culture and irreverent challenges to accepted wisdom may find it particularly entertaining.