2 Books Like The Dreadful Dawn

A fellow once stated, “I never let anyone rent space inside my head.” Any avid reader knows that is poor advice. Indeed, one should readily allow Tom Hoffman to ‘let’ daily headspace with his marvelously entertaining novel, Miss Bristol Rents A Room. Billed as “an epic historical fantasy,” this brilliantly executed morsel of wonderment will light up that special reading nook inside one’s brain. The intriguing orange-headed femme fatale adorning the cover of Mr. Hoffman’s latest foray into imaginative adventure is the infamous Miss Bristol — the primary motivation for leasing some temporary reading space. Why is she dressed from “The Gilded Age?” Why is she standing on a modern street? Why is she firing what appears to be a Martian ray gun? To repeat: this entertainment is an epic historical fantasy.

Tom Hoffman is well known for his beguiling characters, their wild adventures, and hilarious repartees. Miss Bristol is… show more.

Some writers pull you into their story so easily that you have no time to notice how quickly and deeply you’ve become immersed. Usually, this happens due to exquisite writing or a compelling plot. Sometimes, the reader is treated to both. When the story being told is also magically imbued, the immersion feels much like an invisible spell cast by irresistible words—a literary incantation, if you will. Within such conjurations, single phrases—sometimes disarmingly simple—evoke the most profound emotions. Consider an early observation made by the narrator in Doina Ruști’s exquisitely literate and magical novel, The Book of Perilous Dishes:
“What sadness there is in clothes that no one will wear anymore!”
Within the context of a most remarkable scene, this simple phrase evokes emotions beyond what should be warranted while creating an atmosphere impossible to dispel. At this point, the reader is already spellbound, immersed, and utterly engaged.
The plot… show more.