Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Most Fantastic Show on Earth...
Magic. Mobsters. Mythical creatures. This book may not have been my usual genre, but that by no means made it any less enjoyable. It was creative, well-crafted, and simply a fun read.
CTRA is part fantasy, part alternate-history. Set in a magical version of 1920s America, the story centers around Jake—a former rodeo dragon rider—and the circus he inherited from his father. With help from close friends like Grace the griffin tamer and Bruno the ringmaster, Jake has managed to turn the circus into a successful business, a show enjoyed by spectators everywhere. But along with the circus, Jake also inherited all of his father’s financial troubles, including a debt owed to mobster Vincent Burke. Burke gives Jake an ultimatum: pay up by the end of the month, or hand over the circus.
Jake has already endured a number of trials in his life, but this new conundrum is perhaps his biggest test yet. He never got along well with his father, and now his bitterness toward the man has increased tenfold. While he battles these demons from his past, Jake’s personal relationships are also tested as he resorts to desperate measures to satisfy Burke’s demands…even going so far as to break the trust of those closest to him.
The story also had a great vintage feel to it. Everything from the characters (e.g. mobsters in fedoras) to the locations (e.g. speakeasies) to the concepts (e.g. prohibition, but with magic) gave it a very fun, unique flair. It was clear to me that a lot of attention and care had gone into accurately recreating the time period, though at the same time, with dragons and potions and magical business cards, it was nothing like the 1920s we know.
Give CTRA a try if you’re looking for a quick read with memorable characters, a unique magic system, and of course, dragons!
Look for other work by T.A. Hernandez, including the Secrets of PEACE thriller trilogy and her collection of short stories!
ABOUT T.A. HERNANDEZ
T.A. Hernandez grew up with her nose habitually stuck in a book and her mind constantly wandering to make-believe worlds full of magic and adventure. She began writing stories after reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings for the first time at age 10. Thankfully, her writing has improved significantly since then, though she will happily admit that she has much more to learn and is looking forward to a long and exciting journey in her Quest to Tell Better Stories.
She is a clinical social worker and the proud mother of two girls. She also enjoys drawing, reading, graphic design, playing video games, riding her motorcycle, and making happy memories with her family and friends.
