Phantom Glare of Day: Three Novellas

By M Laszlo

In this trio of novellas, three game young ladies enter into dangerous liaisons that test each one's limits and force them to confront the most heartrending issues facing society in the early twentieth century.

The Phantom Glare of Day tells of Sophie, a young lady who has lived a sheltered life and consequently has no idea how cruel public school bullying can be. When she meets Jarvis, a young man obsessed with avenging all those students who delight in his daily debasement, she resolves to intervene before tragedy unfolds. Mouvements Perp?tuels tells of C?cilia, a young lady shunned by her birth father. She longs for the approval of an older man, so when her ice-skating instructor attempts to take advantage of her, she cannot resist. Not a month later, she realizes that she is pregnant and must decide whether or not to get an abortion. Passion Bearer tells of Manon, a young lady who falls in love with a beautiful actress after taking a post as a script girl for a film company--and is subsequently confronted with the pettiest kinds of homophobia.

Specific to their time yet unquestionably relevant for women today, The Phantom Glare of Day is a compelling interrogation of who gets to decide what is right and what is wrong.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1684631750
• ISBN13: 9781684631759
• Release Date: November 2022
• Publisher: Sparkpress
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Thought provoking WWI fiction

The Phantom Glare of Day is composed of three novellas, each following a young English woman struggling with adverse circumstances during World War One. Sophie encounters a young man victimized by schoolyard bullies, Cäcilia faces decisions about abortion and euthanasia, and Manon confronts homophobia and antisemitism. I could not connect with any of the characters; they seemed aimless and prone to making bad decisions, so this book was not for me. The cover seems to have nothing to do with the stories inside. A picture of a rainy, nighttime London street would have been a better fit. The Phantom Glare of Day is, however, thought provoking and well-written with flowing prose. It will appeal to those interested in introspective First World War fiction. Thank you to BooksForward, SparkPress and the author for a copy to review.