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The First Bright Thing
If you knew how dark tomorrow would be, what would you do with today?
Ringmaster — Rin, to those who know her best — can jump to different moments in time as easily as her wife, Odette, soars from bar to bar on the trapeze. And the circus they lead is a rare home and safe haven for magical misfits and outcasts, known as Sparks.
With the world still reeling from World War I, Rin and her troupe — the Circus of the Fantasticals — travel the midwest, offering a single night of enchantment and respite to all who step into their Big Top.
But threats come at Rin from all sides. The future holds an impending war that the Sparks can see barrelling toward their show and everyone in it. And Rin's past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape.
It takes the form of another circus, with tents as black as midnight and a ringmaster who rules over his troupe with a dangerous power. Rin's circus has something he wants, and he won't stop until it's his.
Ringmaster — Rin, to those who know her best — can jump to different moments in time as easily as her wife, Odette, soars from bar to bar on the trapeze. And the circus they lead is a rare home and safe haven for magical misfits and outcasts, known as Sparks.
With the world still reeling from World War I, Rin and her troupe — the Circus of the Fantasticals — travel the midwest, offering a single night of enchantment and respite to all who step into their Big Top.
But threats come at Rin from all sides. The future holds an impending war that the Sparks can see barrelling toward their show and everyone in it. And Rin's past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape.
It takes the form of another circus, with tents as black as midnight and a ringmaster who rules over his troupe with a dangerous power. Rin's circus has something he wants, and he won't stop until it's his.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
About the author
J.R. Dawson
6 books136 followersJ. R. Dawson (she/they) has published shorter works in places such as F&SF, Lightspeed, and The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Omaha with her spouse and three dogs in the middle of a city park. Having earned a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul and an MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast, Dawson works at Nebraska Writers Collective and other Midwestern nonprofits that teach kids the power of performance and storytelling.
www.jrdawsonwriter.com
Twitter: @j_r_dawson
www.jrdawsonwriter.com
Twitter: @j_r_dawson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 651 reviews
July 14, 2023
The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson is Creative, Entertaining, and Uniquely Different!
"The Sparks Circus always arrived at the right place at the right time..."
The Sparks Circus is a caravan of red, gold, and blue well-worn train cars labeled with the name "Windy Van Hooten's Circus of the Fantastical". It appears, almost unnoticed, on the tracks of small towns across the American Mid-West for one special night of magical entertainment.
Sometimes the train cars simply appear out of nowhere, in the middle of a field. Not a train track in sight.
The red and white canvas Big Top is nothing special. It's what happens when the lights fade to black and the halo of the spotlight illuminates the Ringmaster, wearing her red velvet coat, in the center of the ring and the magic begins...
I can't tell you any more than this but there's so much to discover and it's best for you to do so as you read/listen to the story. I promise.
The First Bright Thing is simply loaded with Magical Realism and amazing characters! Magical characters called Sparks are viewed as outcasts and misfits because of being different. Most of them are very different.
The Sparks are what makes this read fun and entertaining: a time-jumper; one with hands that heal; one that can see into the future; one that can...well, you get it. It's best for you to discover this for yourself. I promise.
The First Bright Thing is set in the year 1926 with multiple time-jumps from 1914 to 1945, always returning to 1926. I found the audio (ALC) confusing in the beginning with the timelines switching back and forth. I was glad to also have a physical ARC which I relied on to keep track of who was where and when. This truly became an immersive read. It does take time for the author to introduce all the characters and to fully understand where this story is headed but it's worth it. I promise.
This is a Good vs Evil story. The goodness and safeness of found family vs the darkness of a black heart filled with revenge, disguised as love. At certain points it turns dark and it's a constant mixture of emotions, possibilities, and outcomes.
One concern I did have is how the author uses her characters to relay information through a narrative rather than focusing on her creative writing skills. Less telling and more showing in a story is always the best choice.
The audiobook narrators Petrea Burchard and Tim Campbell made this a memorable listen with their range of voicing skills.
The First Bright Thing is a creative, entertaining, and uniquely different read that I loved and highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading a blend of Historical Fiction and Fantasy!
4.5⭐rounded down!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and J. R. Dawson for an ALC and Tor Publishing Group for a physical ARC of this book through Shelf Awareness. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
"The Sparks Circus always arrived at the right place at the right time..."
The Sparks Circus is a caravan of red, gold, and blue well-worn train cars labeled with the name "Windy Van Hooten's Circus of the Fantastical". It appears, almost unnoticed, on the tracks of small towns across the American Mid-West for one special night of magical entertainment.
Sometimes the train cars simply appear out of nowhere, in the middle of a field. Not a train track in sight.
The red and white canvas Big Top is nothing special. It's what happens when the lights fade to black and the halo of the spotlight illuminates the Ringmaster, wearing her red velvet coat, in the center of the ring and the magic begins...
I can't tell you any more than this but there's so much to discover and it's best for you to do so as you read/listen to the story. I promise.
The First Bright Thing is simply loaded with Magical Realism and amazing characters! Magical characters called Sparks are viewed as outcasts and misfits because of being different. Most of them are very different.
The Sparks are what makes this read fun and entertaining: a time-jumper; one with hands that heal; one that can see into the future; one that can...well, you get it. It's best for you to discover this for yourself. I promise.
The First Bright Thing is set in the year 1926 with multiple time-jumps from 1914 to 1945, always returning to 1926. I found the audio (ALC) confusing in the beginning with the timelines switching back and forth. I was glad to also have a physical ARC which I relied on to keep track of who was where and when. This truly became an immersive read. It does take time for the author to introduce all the characters and to fully understand where this story is headed but it's worth it. I promise.
This is a Good vs Evil story. The goodness and safeness of found family vs the darkness of a black heart filled with revenge, disguised as love. At certain points it turns dark and it's a constant mixture of emotions, possibilities, and outcomes.
One concern I did have is how the author uses her characters to relay information through a narrative rather than focusing on her creative writing skills. Less telling and more showing in a story is always the best choice.
The audiobook narrators Petrea Burchard and Tim Campbell made this a memorable listen with their range of voicing skills.
The First Bright Thing is a creative, entertaining, and uniquely different read that I loved and highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading a blend of Historical Fiction and Fantasy!
4.5⭐rounded down!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and J. R. Dawson for an ALC and Tor Publishing Group for a physical ARC of this book through Shelf Awareness. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
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October 2, 2023Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
Okay, so I know this review got attention with my anticipatory comment stating: "The Night Circus but make it sapphic, Jewish, and with time travel?????" but before I begin my actual review, I'd like to sort of ret-con that statement and say I actually disagree with the way this book is pitched. I've seen it described as "cozy" and compared to The Night Circus. I don't think that either of those things are accurate beyond the surface layer of this book. Rather, I would call this a dark, yet hopeful magical realism story for fans of Jessica Jones and Thistlefoot. (Though, yes, it is still a sapphic, Jewish story with a magical circus and time travel.)
Centering a ringmaster caught between a haunted past and the terrifying uncertainty of the future, The First Bright Thing is a story set between WWI and WWII about what a small light in a sea of darkness can accomplish. Featuring a bisexual Jewish protagonist, a queer found family, and a magical traveling circus, this story is one full of whimsy and profound commentary.
It's rare to find a true magical realism book these days. People often throw "magical realism" around as a synonym of low fantasy, but it truly is its own category, and one that has a history of roots in Latin American literature and Jewish literature. Books of this genre require loose magic systems that function primarily as metaphor, and mostly contain discussion–metaphorical or direct–about resistance to systemic oppression. In the words of Anna Marie-McLemore, a current author who is famous for writing in this genre: "Magical realism isn’t just about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. In a culture of oppression, seeing the magical in the midst of the tragic, the unjust, the heartbreaking is a way of survival, for people, for communities, for cultures. We must find our magic where it lives, or we will lose it. Our spirits depend on not overlooking that which might be dismissed or ignored." I've only read a few books in the past few years that truly embody the language of magical realism (Thistlefoot being one of them, hence my comparison), so it's always truly exciting when I come across a book that does fit into that category. And the magical realism in this story was handled profoundly and beautifully, with a magic system meant to emphasize survival mechanisms, and many conversations around what the control of that magic can be used for.
I'm always a sucker for stories that display art as a tool of power, an agent of change, and I loved the way that Dawson dealt with both sides of that double-edged sword throughout the different perspectives in this book. Art is something that we often view as pure and hopeful and uplifting, but those of us who have been in the art world know that there are people that use their art to spread hurt, to control people for their own benefit, and to uphold harmful systems of oppression. This book emphasizes the weight of storytelling, and how those who weave narratives have the ability to cause serious harm through the perspectives they carry and impose upon others. Anything that can be used for good can be used for bad, and vice versa.
And this conversation expands further into a larger picture, about what we do with the life we've been given and the tools we've been to navigate it. Whether we allow the bad things that happened to us to become all-consuming, or if we find light in spite of them. The First Bright Things shows us that being good is a choice that we have to make every day. That everything in this world is just... potential. Like ℵ: a sound waiting to be molded by its vowels, we are just a shape waiting to be molded by our choices and our actions. We all have the potential to use our lives and our strengths to cause chaos and lash out. But we also have the potential to love and to heal. It is not what has happened to us, or what we are capable of doing, but what we actually choose to be, that defines who we are.
And my favorite part of this story, and in my opinion, the most successful, was its depiction of an abusive relationship. Aided by its magic systems, this book flawlessly navigates the experience of being manipulated and gaslit and physically and mentally abused, at times through metaphor, at times directly, but often both simultaneously. It's so perfectly messy and morally warping and confusing, and I definitely think the execution of this element will be the thing from this book that sticks with me the longest.
Most importantly, this is a book built upon Jewish values. Mainly, and more specifically: mitzvah. “A mitzvah is the work we are responsible for, as long as we are part of the living world… We are here to bring light to the dark. And it’s not a charity, it’s not a special congratulations. It’s just the right thing to do.” The First Bright Thing centers community. It centers family. What we owe to ourselves and what we owe to each other in order to make the world a better place. I think right now, at times we feel as these characters feel, like sitting ducks waiting for the other shoe to drop. And mitzvah is something that reminds us all that the little actions that we take can make a world of difference. We can make the world better not by trying to fix the past or trying to solve the problems of the future, but by being our best selves in every present moment.
This book is also very much a Yom Kippur book, and I would love to reread this during the high holidays one year, because of how much it talks about teshuvah and holds so many themes that we reflect upon during Yom Kippur. The idea of staying true to oneself and atoning by returning home to our hearts is one of the largest elements of this story, and I feel that this would really hit hard during the high holidays.
Now, I did struggle with the book's pacing a bit. Like I mentioned earlier, this book is a lot darker than the "cozy fantasy" it was pitched as, and I don't think that the pacing of this book was built to carry the heaviness of the story. I often struggled to find breathing room between the highs and lows, or to find places to pause in the story. The intensity of the content made me need to consume the book in smaller bites, but it moved so seamlessly between chapters–which is usually a compliment lol–that it was difficult to find a place to set it down. I just felt with a book that had this many hard hitting topics and moments, that it should’ve been built in a way that offered more room for its readers to take breaks. Especially by the end of this book, I felt like I had been weighed down by so much, and without the breathing room, I was losing stamina and was struggling to feel the catharsis of the climax. I do think that part of this could be due to how unprepared I was for the content by the pitch. It definitely made it more difficult for me to process the material at my highest capacity, and I honestly hope to reread it with a different mindset, because I think I could enjoy this more than I did.
And one last little nitpick, because I think its important to mention: this story did use the word "bohemian" a few times, and as a word that has a harmful etymology and background, it didn't feel necessary. I wish I had read this ARC earlier so I could've messaged the publisher to take it out.
Overall: I do recommend this book. It has a gorgeous (loose, because its magical realism) magic system based on trauma responses, a lovely found family element, incredible character growth, and gorgeous imagery and writing. I also definitely caution its readers that though it is about hope, it's also about the pain you have to fight through to find it.
CW: war (graphic), mind control/manipulation, abusive relationship, parental death, grief, character death, ptsd, holocaust, alcoholism, violence, gun violence, body horror, blood & gore, antisemitism, homophobia, homophobic slur, suicidal thoughts, emesis
Okay, so I know this review got attention with my anticipatory comment stating: "The Night Circus but make it sapphic, Jewish, and with time travel?????" but before I begin my actual review, I'd like to sort of ret-con that statement and say I actually disagree with the way this book is pitched. I've seen it described as "cozy" and compared to The Night Circus. I don't think that either of those things are accurate beyond the surface layer of this book. Rather, I would call this a dark, yet hopeful magical realism story for fans of Jessica Jones and Thistlefoot. (Though, yes, it is still a sapphic, Jewish story with a magical circus and time travel.)
Centering a ringmaster caught between a haunted past and the terrifying uncertainty of the future, The First Bright Thing is a story set between WWI and WWII about what a small light in a sea of darkness can accomplish. Featuring a bisexual Jewish protagonist, a queer found family, and a magical traveling circus, this story is one full of whimsy and profound commentary.
It's rare to find a true magical realism book these days. People often throw "magical realism" around as a synonym of low fantasy, but it truly is its own category, and one that has a history of roots in Latin American literature and Jewish literature. Books of this genre require loose magic systems that function primarily as metaphor, and mostly contain discussion–metaphorical or direct–about resistance to systemic oppression. In the words of Anna Marie-McLemore, a current author who is famous for writing in this genre: "Magical realism isn’t just about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. In a culture of oppression, seeing the magical in the midst of the tragic, the unjust, the heartbreaking is a way of survival, for people, for communities, for cultures. We must find our magic where it lives, or we will lose it. Our spirits depend on not overlooking that which might be dismissed or ignored." I've only read a few books in the past few years that truly embody the language of magical realism (Thistlefoot being one of them, hence my comparison), so it's always truly exciting when I come across a book that does fit into that category. And the magical realism in this story was handled profoundly and beautifully, with a magic system meant to emphasize survival mechanisms, and many conversations around what the control of that magic can be used for.
I'm always a sucker for stories that display art as a tool of power, an agent of change, and I loved the way that Dawson dealt with both sides of that double-edged sword throughout the different perspectives in this book. Art is something that we often view as pure and hopeful and uplifting, but those of us who have been in the art world know that there are people that use their art to spread hurt, to control people for their own benefit, and to uphold harmful systems of oppression. This book emphasizes the weight of storytelling, and how those who weave narratives have the ability to cause serious harm through the perspectives they carry and impose upon others. Anything that can be used for good can be used for bad, and vice versa.
And this conversation expands further into a larger picture, about what we do with the life we've been given and the tools we've been to navigate it. Whether we allow the bad things that happened to us to become all-consuming, or if we find light in spite of them. The First Bright Things shows us that being good is a choice that we have to make every day. That everything in this world is just... potential. Like ℵ: a sound waiting to be molded by its vowels, we are just a shape waiting to be molded by our choices and our actions. We all have the potential to use our lives and our strengths to cause chaos and lash out. But we also have the potential to love and to heal. It is not what has happened to us, or what we are capable of doing, but what we actually choose to be, that defines who we are.
And my favorite part of this story, and in my opinion, the most successful, was its depiction of an abusive relationship. Aided by its magic systems, this book flawlessly navigates the experience of being manipulated and gaslit and physically and mentally abused, at times through metaphor, at times directly, but often both simultaneously. It's so perfectly messy and morally warping and confusing, and I definitely think the execution of this element will be the thing from this book that sticks with me the longest.
Most importantly, this is a book built upon Jewish values. Mainly, and more specifically: mitzvah. “A mitzvah is the work we are responsible for, as long as we are part of the living world… We are here to bring light to the dark. And it’s not a charity, it’s not a special congratulations. It’s just the right thing to do.” The First Bright Thing centers community. It centers family. What we owe to ourselves and what we owe to each other in order to make the world a better place. I think right now, at times we feel as these characters feel, like sitting ducks waiting for the other shoe to drop. And mitzvah is something that reminds us all that the little actions that we take can make a world of difference. We can make the world better not by trying to fix the past or trying to solve the problems of the future, but by being our best selves in every present moment.
This book is also very much a Yom Kippur book, and I would love to reread this during the high holidays one year, because of how much it talks about teshuvah and holds so many themes that we reflect upon during Yom Kippur. The idea of staying true to oneself and atoning by returning home to our hearts is one of the largest elements of this story, and I feel that this would really hit hard during the high holidays.
Now, I did struggle with the book's pacing a bit. Like I mentioned earlier, this book is a lot darker than the "cozy fantasy" it was pitched as, and I don't think that the pacing of this book was built to carry the heaviness of the story. I often struggled to find breathing room between the highs and lows, or to find places to pause in the story. The intensity of the content made me need to consume the book in smaller bites, but it moved so seamlessly between chapters–which is usually a compliment lol–that it was difficult to find a place to set it down. I just felt with a book that had this many hard hitting topics and moments, that it should’ve been built in a way that offered more room for its readers to take breaks. Especially by the end of this book, I felt like I had been weighed down by so much, and without the breathing room, I was losing stamina and was struggling to feel the catharsis of the climax. I do think that part of this could be due to how unprepared I was for the content by the pitch. It definitely made it more difficult for me to process the material at my highest capacity, and I honestly hope to reread it with a different mindset, because I think I could enjoy this more than I did.
And one last little nitpick, because I think its important to mention: this story did use the word "bohemian" a few times, and as a word that has a harmful etymology and background, it didn't feel necessary. I wish I had read this ARC earlier so I could've messaged the publisher to take it out.
Overall: I do recommend this book. It has a gorgeous (loose, because its magical realism) magic system based on trauma responses, a lovely found family element, incredible character growth, and gorgeous imagery and writing. I also definitely caution its readers that though it is about hope, it's also about the pain you have to fight through to find it.
CW: war (graphic), mind control/manipulation, abusive relationship, parental death, grief, character death, ptsd, holocaust, alcoholism, violence, gun violence, body horror, blood & gore, antisemitism, homophobia, homophobic slur, suicidal thoughts, emesis
June 28, 2023
I am ~emotionally unwell~
Plot: There are two main very high stakes conflicts, one with the evil Circus King, and another with an initially vague yet horrific future (that we find out is the Holocaust) that our MCs are trying to prevent. This was definitely a character driven book in which the author explores really important themes such as power, corruption, abusive relationships, identity, racism, antisemitism, important aspects of the Jewish faith, and so so much more.
Characters: Talk about the best found family! I loved the way that Rin, our MC, made a family for herself in this magical little circus. The relationships between all of the Sparks were so beautiful, I wish we had gotten to see even more of the individual characters!
Pacing: this was a slower book, as I find most character driven novels are, but that wasn’t a bad thing as it gave more room for the themes to be fully explored.
Overall: This was such an important book with own voices LGBTQ and Jewish rep. I have countless tabs for equally heartbreaking and hopeful quotes, and I know it’s going to stick with me for a while. If you like poignant character driven novels, definitely pick this one up.
Content warnings: murder, abusive relationship, war, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, alcoholism, self harm/suicidal thoughts
————————————————
Thank you so much Tor for the ARC! I’m ready to read nothing but magical circus books for the foreseeable future 😌
Plot: There are two main very high stakes conflicts, one with the evil Circus King, and another with an initially vague yet horrific future (that we find out is the Holocaust) that our MCs are trying to prevent. This was definitely a character driven book in which the author explores really important themes such as power, corruption, abusive relationships, identity, racism, antisemitism, important aspects of the Jewish faith, and so so much more.
Characters: Talk about the best found family! I loved the way that Rin, our MC, made a family for herself in this magical little circus. The relationships between all of the Sparks were so beautiful, I wish we had gotten to see even more of the individual characters!
Pacing: this was a slower book, as I find most character driven novels are, but that wasn’t a bad thing as it gave more room for the themes to be fully explored.
Overall: This was such an important book with own voices LGBTQ and Jewish rep. I have countless tabs for equally heartbreaking and hopeful quotes, and I know it’s going to stick with me for a while. If you like poignant character driven novels, definitely pick this one up.
Content warnings: murder, abusive relationship, war, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, alcoholism, self harm/suicidal thoughts
————————————————
Thank you so much Tor for the ARC! I’m ready to read nothing but magical circus books for the foreseeable future 😌
February 22, 2023
What a great story that will transport you into a magical world. I didn't want this story to end, but I couldn't quit turning the pages. The characters are wonderful. I felt like I knew them and couldn't stop thinking about them long after I finished the story. If you want to be transported out of the ordinary you need to open the cover of this book and experience a beautiful story. Highly recommend.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 25, 2023DNF @49 pages
Listen, I think there are readers who are going to love this book, but it just really was not for me. I did know it was a circus book which can be hit and miss for me, but I took a chance on it because it's a QUEER circus book. With found family. Which is fantastic.
Unfortunately, what I didn't know is that it's also a couple of my least favorite things that are a really hard sell for me- a book with time travel, and historical fiction/fantasy set around WWI & WWII. Added to that is the fact that I could see where things were going very quickly (I did skim the end to see if I was right when deciding whether to keep reading). Ultimately this just has too many things I'm not fond of and I'm not invested enough in the characters. That said, if any of what I mentioned are big buzz words for you, give it a try. The actual writing is reasonably good if a bit heavy on poeticism and it's a debut novel. Thank you to Tor for sending me a copy for review, all opinions are my own.
Listen, I think there are readers who are going to love this book, but it just really was not for me. I did know it was a circus book which can be hit and miss for me, but I took a chance on it because it's a QUEER circus book. With found family. Which is fantastic.
Unfortunately, what I didn't know is that it's also a couple of my least favorite things that are a really hard sell for me- a book with time travel, and historical fiction/fantasy set around WWI & WWII. Added to that is the fact that I could see where things were going very quickly (I did skim the end to see if I was right when deciding whether to keep reading). Ultimately this just has too many things I'm not fond of and I'm not invested enough in the characters. That said, if any of what I mentioned are big buzz words for you, give it a try. The actual writing is reasonably good if a bit heavy on poeticism and it's a debut novel. Thank you to Tor for sending me a copy for review, all opinions are my own.
December 3, 2022
First- loved this story. Here's the thing... I sobbed gently for hours while reading it. It /hurts/ and it's gorgeous. There are serious TW involved - please go into it with open eyes if you are or are close to anyone with experience + trauma + scars from gaslighting. It's visceral. It's hopeful. But please know the TWs going in. 💛
June 16, 2023
I wanted more from the story.
I was super excited about this novel! There are so many good reviews and people have stated that this was similar to X-Men and the Night Circus. It was kind of similar to X-Men: Days of Future Past. Where we have people with powers/sparks traveling to different timelines trying to save lives without causing too much of a ripple effect. I love the circus setting and the whole concept. However, the writing wasn't as coherent or immersive as I would have liked. I was expecting epic battles or something catastrophic to happen. Unfortunately, I found everything to be a bit underwhelming.
***Thank you to NetGalley, J.R. Dawson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I was super excited about this novel! There are so many good reviews and people have stated that this was similar to X-Men and the Night Circus. It was kind of similar to X-Men: Days of Future Past. Where we have people with powers/sparks traveling to different timelines trying to save lives without causing too much of a ripple effect. I love the circus setting and the whole concept. However, the writing wasn't as coherent or immersive as I would have liked. I was expecting epic battles or something catastrophic to happen. Unfortunately, I found everything to be a bit underwhelming.
***Thank you to NetGalley, J.R. Dawson, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
October 22, 2022
The X-Men mashed up with The Night Circus, creating a queer found family that wants to welcome each reader with open arms? Sign me the heck up. A beautiful novel.
Shelved as 'd-n-f'
May 1, 2023DNF @ 21%
I have a rule of thumb, that if a book does not draw me in in the first quarter, I am no longer wasting my time on it. The First Bright Thing had all the buzzwords that usually appeal to me, but for some reason, the writing was so stilted and slow I could not get into it. It's told in a dual timeline, and the writing style for the 1917 chapters is soo much better than the 1926 chapters. It almost feels like a separate writer. The third-person distant style of narration does not seem to work for the 1926 chapters, meanwhile, the third-person personal style is something I enjoy reading in the 1917 chapters.
Long story short: I wasn't much intrigued by the characters, but it was mainly the quagmire-esque writing that made me drop this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
before reading:
time travelling sapphic circus acrobats??
today was a good day on netgalley <3
I have a rule of thumb, that if a book does not draw me in in the first quarter, I am no longer wasting my time on it. The First Bright Thing had all the buzzwords that usually appeal to me, but for some reason, the writing was so stilted and slow I could not get into it. It's told in a dual timeline, and the writing style for the 1917 chapters is soo much better than the 1926 chapters. It almost feels like a separate writer. The third-person distant style of narration does not seem to work for the 1926 chapters, meanwhile, the third-person personal style is something I enjoy reading in the 1917 chapters.
Long story short: I wasn't much intrigued by the characters, but it was mainly the quagmire-esque writing that made me drop this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
before reading:
time travelling sapphic circus acrobats??
today was a good day on netgalley <3
June 13, 2023
Dzisiaj premiera, więc wracam do tej książki. Strzelam motywami: cyrk dla ludzi z mocami, kultura żydowska, wychodzenie z traumy, przemocowy związek, queerowość, podróże w czasie, I i II wojna światowa. Dla mnie była to powieść fascynująco oryginalna (ale nie pamiętam nic z „Cyrku nocy”, więc zwyczajnie nie umiem tego z nim porównać). Jeden z lepszych opisów toksycznej relacji, jaki czytałam, co sprawia, że czasami rozdziały antagonisty wciągały mnie bardziej niż bohaterki I TO BYŁO TO DZIWNE. Do tego jest tu motyw odwracania znanych wszystkim wydarzeń historycznych, który doprowadził u nas w domu do wielu dyskusji o tym, czy fantasy wolno tykać Zagładę i czy każdy może być jak Tarantino. Więc zdecydowanie jest to taka historia, o której się dużo myśli, miejscami bardzo mroczna i makabryczna, ale zdecydowanie inna niż większość fantasy, które ostatnio pojawia się na rynku. Z wad: niektóre postacie strasznie niedopracowane, zwłaszcza żona głównej bohaterki, w jednym czy dwóch miejscach widziałam wyraźną nielogiczność fabuły. I warto podkreślić, że to jednotomówka.
June 13, 2023
Of all the books I DNFed this month, The First Bright Thing was definitely the one I was most excited for. And I think a lot of people are going to love it! For very good reasons! But for me, it just didn’t click.
Alarm bells started ringing with the very first line of the book;
It’s hard to believe that that’s not an intentional reference to/echo of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, since the first line of that is
That’s a pretty well-known line – I’ve seen it on prints, enamel pins, clothing, cups, journals, everything. It’s difficult for me to imagine a fantasy author – especially a fantasy author writing about a magical circus! – is unaware of The Night Circus. That book was a global phenomenon even outside the SFF community. So the first line of The First Bright Thing doesn’t feel like an accident.
I’m not accusing Dawson of plagiarism – that would be nonsensical, that’s clearly not what this is. It could be a respectful/happy homage to The Night Circus; it could simply be a nod of recognition to a book that did the Magic Circus trope before The First Bright Thing (but then, so did dozens if not hundreds or thousands of other books???); it could be a way of saying ‘yes, I’m walking in Erin Morgenstern’s footsteps’ (but then, again, also the footsteps of many, many other storytellers, so???) It might be that someone along the line suggested to Dawson that crafting a first line that echoed that of The Night Circus might help draw in fans of that book, might be a good idea.
I don’t think it was. I think it was a really, really bad idea. Why would you want readers immediately comparing The First Bright Thing to The Night Circus (any more than they already will, I mean, because Magic Circus)? It’s generally agreed that The Night Circus is an especially beautiful book, both in terms of prose style and imagery, and the nostalgia factor has gilded the memory of a book most fans probably haven’t reread in a while. That’s not something you want people measuring your book up against!
And besides, The First Bright Thing is different to The Night Circus in…almost every single way? They both feature magic circuses. That’s it. So if your goal is to draw in Morgenstern’s fans and make them hopeful that they’re going to get another book like The Night Circus…they’re not going to? And they will be disappointed? And more likely to judge The First Bright Thing negatively, because they’re (unconsciously, I’m pretty sure) now viewing it as a poor imitation of one of their favourite books, rather than judging it on its own merits???
Am I overthinking this? Quite possibly.
For me, that first line struck a sour note, both because I find it uncomfortable for a book to echo another book this way (I’m sure it’s not meant to be, but I can’t help but feel that it’s somehow rude?) and because the phrasing is kind of clunky (especially in comparison to the neat, simple elegance of ‘The circus arrives without warning.’)
The phrasing – writing – turned out to be my big issue with The First Bright Thing, the reason I quit before finishing it. It’s not that Dawson is a bad writer, but I would have sent this manuscript back for another round of polishing, because quite lovely lines are juxtaposed with very awkward ones that break the writing rhythm. The former make it clear that Dawson has the ability to be great; the latter just…grated.
Take this paragraph, which comes near the end of the first chapter;
Bolding is mine.
See, I think most of that paragraph is great! The baseball game imagery works! I get what it means! …And then there’s that line at the end. ‘Real magic was a strong drink to take in.’ I think I understand what Dawson is trying to say, but it’s just phrased very clumsily, and I don’t think it mixes well with the baseball game imagery. It’s also unnecessary to getting the point of the paragraph across. I would have cut it, personally.
There are a lot of lines like that, lines that are clunky, and sometimes outright confusing or unclear. Usually, said lines are trying to express something very meaningful and poignant – and there are a good number of times when Dawson gets it right, and those moments pack punch! But it’s jarring when it goes wrong, and it goes wrong a lot, and it’s like listening to someone playing music when they keep hitting the wrong notes – I keep twitching, and I absolutely cannot relax and enjoy myself, regardless of how many boxes the book’s premise and description tick for me.
This reads like it should be three separate paragraphs; we have a) Rin’s desire to protect, b) Rin’s difficulty letting people in – and then it jumps to c) the world having carried on. It jumps from topic to topic in a way that doesn’t work for me; it feels jerky and random, not smoothly flowing the way it ought to.
A few more examples, lines or images that didn’t make sense or didn’t work for me;
Bricks along her bones?
You can see what is trying to be said here! It’s so close! The phrasing just needs tweaking.
That…is not the optimistic speech you think it is? What??? Why would you tell them about dreams that are out of reach? And ‘tonight you will see things you never thought you would live to see’…that would make sense if you were time-travelling from the future, I guess? Otherwise, I don’t understand???
Amazing mission statement, but not at all an answer to the question? Is this a way to hide? No, we do much good here. Those two points aren’t related to each other. I think I see what the Ringmaster is trying to say, but it’s frustrating.
…I think I get what you’re trying to say here, but calcified anything can’t grow, and invisible people don’t need to disappear? Because they’re already invisible? What???
But then we get lines like this, which are simply *chef’s kiss*
I LOVE that! That is an amazing line! You immediately get what it’s saying, the image is fantastic, and I am an ardent fan of alliteration. Perfect!
Genius!
Brilliant!
So while I was majorly frustrated by the clunky lines, there is a lot here for readers to like – and I know I’m incredibly picky when it comes to writing style, which is why I included so many examples; if the lines that make me twitch don’t bother you? Then you can, obviously, ignore that whole part of my critique.
I did have a few more problems with this book, though. Very quickly, we learn that the purpose of the circus – this particular circus, I mean – is to find people who ‘need something in their life’ and customise each night’s performance for that one visitor they foresee attending. And those visitors then walk away with hope or courage or resolve or whatever it is they needed.
I just…immediately didn’t buy that. Because I don’t see how even the most incredible circus could do that. A thing of beauty, including all kinds of performance art, can absolutely inspire, and fill people with powerful emotion. But the idea that every night, this circus changes someone’s life? What kind of performances are you giving? What are you doing? I mean in practical, literal terms, what are you doing? How do you change/edit/customise the acts so that this night, you will fill someone with courage they’ll carry with them forever, and the next night, hope? What do the clowns do differently on a courage night, as opposed to a hope night?
(In fairness, maybe there would have been more detail on this further on in the book – I stopped a third of the way through. But given how this entire explanation of their mission is info-dumped on the reader, I’m not betting on it.)
So the premise of the circus itself immediately didn’t make sense to me – I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough, I guess – but there are also bits of the worldbuilding that made me frown, like the law that says Sparks and not-Sparks will just…leave each other the fuck alone. The government will happily use people with magical powers in war, and civilians will hand over their Spark kids or spouses to sanitoriums that allegedly try to cure them, but – look, I am extremely Tired of the idea that the government would want mutants/magic users/Sparks registered and tracked or whatever, but I find it impossible to believe that the government – the American government specifically – would decide that the best course was agreeing to mutual non-interference. Not kicking them out of the country, not conscripting them, not requiring them to be registered, not trying to kill them, just a ‘you do your thing and we will do ours and neither side will start trouble with the other’. Especially when we see how many non-Sparks really, properly hate and fear Sparks.
I don’t buy it. And – what does that even mean? Are Sparks still citizens? Can they vote? Is there a separate legal system for them, are there Spark police who investigate crimes involving Sparks? Can Sparks enter into contracts with non-Sparks? I did not get answers to any of this in the first third of the book, and I got the vibe I wasn’t going to get any if I pushed through, either. (But who knows? I could be wrong about that.)
Finally, the descriptions of the actual circus acts – which should really be dripping in gorgeous descriptive prose – are very inconsistent, swinging between dull and mechanical
and something that comes close to what I wanted out of these scenes.
That second paragraph – which comes right after the first! – is wonderful; it’s emotive, now I know what I’m supposed to be feeling, and I have something to picture. The vibe of wonder, which is absolutely necessary for a magic circus, is there! But the first paragraph? I don’t know what those terms mean, and even if I did, it’s such a dry way of describing what Odette is doing here. This beautiful, presumably very impressive thing is boring because the prose isn’t up to the task of conveying it.
Eventually, I just couldn’t take the see-sawing between bad lines and good any more. I got very tired of all the telling, and while I liked the characters individually, I didn’t believe in their established relationships with each other. The book makes major use of a kind of magic/supernatural ability I particularly dislike – the whole story hinges on it, really – the dialogue felt scripted, and poorly scripted at that…
Nope. This one just isn’t for me. Alas.
Alarm bells started ringing with the very first line of the book;
The Spark Circus always arrived when no one was looking, early in the morning.
It’s hard to believe that that’s not an intentional reference to/echo of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, since the first line of that is
The circus arrives without warning.
That’s a pretty well-known line – I’ve seen it on prints, enamel pins, clothing, cups, journals, everything. It’s difficult for me to imagine a fantasy author – especially a fantasy author writing about a magical circus! – is unaware of The Night Circus. That book was a global phenomenon even outside the SFF community. So the first line of The First Bright Thing doesn’t feel like an accident.
I’m not accusing Dawson of plagiarism – that would be nonsensical, that’s clearly not what this is. It could be a respectful/happy homage to The Night Circus; it could simply be a nod of recognition to a book that did the Magic Circus trope before The First Bright Thing (but then, so did dozens if not hundreds or thousands of other books???); it could be a way of saying ‘yes, I’m walking in Erin Morgenstern’s footsteps’ (but then, again, also the footsteps of many, many other storytellers, so???) It might be that someone along the line suggested to Dawson that crafting a first line that echoed that of The Night Circus might help draw in fans of that book, might be a good idea.
I don’t think it was. I think it was a really, really bad idea. Why would you want readers immediately comparing The First Bright Thing to The Night Circus (any more than they already will, I mean, because Magic Circus)? It’s generally agreed that The Night Circus is an especially beautiful book, both in terms of prose style and imagery, and the nostalgia factor has gilded the memory of a book most fans probably haven’t reread in a while. That’s not something you want people measuring your book up against!
And besides, The First Bright Thing is different to The Night Circus in…almost every single way? They both feature magic circuses. That’s it. So if your goal is to draw in Morgenstern’s fans and make them hopeful that they’re going to get another book like The Night Circus…they’re not going to? And they will be disappointed? And more likely to judge The First Bright Thing negatively, because they’re (unconsciously, I’m pretty sure) now viewing it as a poor imitation of one of their favourite books, rather than judging it on its own merits???
Am I overthinking this? Quite possibly.
For me, that first line struck a sour note, both because I find it uncomfortable for a book to echo another book this way (I’m sure it’s not meant to be, but I can’t help but feel that it’s somehow rude?) and because the phrasing is kind of clunky (especially in comparison to the neat, simple elegance of ‘The circus arrives without warning.’)
The phrasing – writing – turned out to be my big issue with The First Bright Thing, the reason I quit before finishing it. It’s not that Dawson is a bad writer, but I would have sent this manuscript back for another round of polishing, because quite lovely lines are juxtaposed with very awkward ones that break the writing rhythm. The former make it clear that Dawson has the ability to be great; the latter just…grated.
Take this paragraph, which comes near the end of the first chapter;
Some circuses didn’t allow audience members on the main floor after the show, but Rin liked to watch the crowd poke at the props and set pieces, trying to spot any tricks up the circus’s sleeves. It was part of the nightly ritual; to watch from the wings as the audience spilled onto the floor like the end of a baseball game, intoxicated and invigorated by what they’d just witnessed. Real magic was a strong drink to take in.
Bolding is mine.
See, I think most of that paragraph is great! The baseball game imagery works! I get what it means! …And then there’s that line at the end. ‘Real magic was a strong drink to take in.’ I think I understand what Dawson is trying to say, but it’s just phrased very clumsily, and I don’t think it mixes well with the baseball game imagery. It’s also unnecessary to getting the point of the paragraph across. I would have cut it, personally.
There are a lot of lines like that, lines that are clunky, and sometimes outright confusing or unclear. Usually, said lines are trying to express something very meaningful and poignant – and there are a good number of times when Dawson gets it right, and those moments pack punch! But it’s jarring when it goes wrong, and it goes wrong a lot, and it’s like listening to someone playing music when they keep hitting the wrong notes – I keep twitching, and I absolutely cannot relax and enjoy myself, regardless of how many boxes the book’s premise and description tick for me.
No war, no Circus King would touch this. She could do this. She could protect them all. When Odette had met her, years ago, Rin had been nothing but hard armor. She’d tried so hard to let it go, to let them all into her heart, to believe no shadows would follow her. The world had carried on, and now, in 1926, people knew the future would be bright. It had to be. Nothing could be as bad as what had come before.
This reads like it should be three separate paragraphs; we have a) Rin’s desire to protect, b) Rin’s difficulty letting people in – and then it jumps to c) the world having carried on. It jumps from topic to topic in a way that doesn’t work for me; it feels jerky and random, not smoothly flowing the way it ought to.
A few more examples, lines or images that didn’t make sense or didn’t work for me;
“I can hold the weight I need to hold,” Rin said solidly. Like she’d formed cement bricks along her bones, burying whatever was beneath and fortifying her to move forward.
Bricks along her bones?
a man called Ford, who could change his voice to sound however he’d like.
the way the backstage crew worked like something between a ballet dance and a clock.
You can see what is trying to be said here! It’s so close! The phrasing just needs tweaking.
“Tonight!” she sounded. “Tonight you will see things you never thought you would live to see! You will realize that in this world, there are dreams that are only just out of reach.”
That…is not the optimistic speech you think it is? What??? Why would you tell them about dreams that are out of reach? And ‘tonight you will see things you never thought you would live to see’…that would make sense if you were time-travelling from the future, I guess? Otherwise, I don’t understand???
“This circus is a way to hide?” Jo said.
“No,” the Ringmaster said, calmly. “No, we do much good here. Empires have always underestimated artists. And it works in our favor. It makes us powerful. No one expects us to change the world, and so we do.
Amazing mission statement, but not at all an answer to the question? Is this a way to hide? No, we do much good here. Those two points aren’t related to each other. I think I see what the Ringmaster is trying to say, but it’s frustrating.
He was one of many calcified children who had to grow up too fast. And Jo was one of many invisible girls trying to disappear into the cracks of the world.
…I think I get what you’re trying to say here, but calcified anything can’t grow, and invisible people don’t need to disappear? Because they’re already invisible? What???
But then we get lines like this, which are simply *chef’s kiss*
It made this downtown an industrial otherworld; one foot in progress and the other in prairie.
I LOVE that! That is an amazing line! You immediately get what it’s saying, the image is fantastic, and I am an ardent fan of alliteration. Perfect!
It was now time to add the pathos to the logos and ethos.
Genius!
This girl was sitting on a precipice and she could fall or she could fly. Maybe Rin could build her a bridge…
Brilliant!
So while I was majorly frustrated by the clunky lines, there is a lot here for readers to like – and I know I’m incredibly picky when it comes to writing style, which is why I included so many examples; if the lines that make me twitch don’t bother you? Then you can, obviously, ignore that whole part of my critique.
I did have a few more problems with this book, though. Very quickly, we learn that the purpose of the circus – this particular circus, I mean – is to find people who ‘need something in their life’ and customise each night’s performance for that one visitor they foresee attending. And those visitors then walk away with hope or courage or resolve or whatever it is they needed.
I just…immediately didn’t buy that. Because I don’t see how even the most incredible circus could do that. A thing of beauty, including all kinds of performance art, can absolutely inspire, and fill people with powerful emotion. But the idea that every night, this circus changes someone’s life? What kind of performances are you giving? What are you doing? I mean in practical, literal terms, what are you doing? How do you change/edit/customise the acts so that this night, you will fill someone with courage they’ll carry with them forever, and the next night, hope? What do the clowns do differently on a courage night, as opposed to a hope night?
(In fairness, maybe there would have been more detail on this further on in the book – I stopped a third of the way through. But given how this entire explanation of their mission is info-dumped on the reader, I’m not betting on it.)
So the premise of the circus itself immediately didn’t make sense to me – I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough, I guess – but there are also bits of the worldbuilding that made me frown, like the law that says Sparks and not-Sparks will just…leave each other the fuck alone. The government will happily use people with magical powers in war, and civilians will hand over their Spark kids or spouses to sanitoriums that allegedly try to cure them, but – look, I am extremely Tired of the idea that the government would want mutants/magic users/Sparks registered and tracked or whatever, but I find it impossible to believe that the government – the American government specifically – would decide that the best course was agreeing to mutual non-interference. Not kicking them out of the country, not conscripting them, not requiring them to be registered, not trying to kill them, just a ‘you do your thing and we will do ours and neither side will start trouble with the other’. Especially when we see how many non-Sparks really, properly hate and fear Sparks.
I don’t buy it. And – what does that even mean? Are Sparks still citizens? Can they vote? Is there a separate legal system for them, are there Spark police who investigate crimes involving Sparks? Can Sparks enter into contracts with non-Sparks? I did not get answers to any of this in the first third of the book, and I got the vibe I wasn’t going to get any if I pushed through, either. (But who knows? I could be wrong about that.)
Finally, the descriptions of the actual circus acts – which should really be dripping in gorgeous descriptive prose – are very inconsistent, swinging between dull and mechanical
Odette spun around right ways up, then did a figure-eight foot lock with a fan kick, arabesque, fan kick, arabesque, hold as she spun. Then Odette did a Russian climb and somehow even made that look both graceful and difficult.
and something that comes close to what I wanted out of these scenes.
She walked across a tightrope, grabbed one of her lyras, and balanced with the power of an athlete and the poise of a princess, her thighs and feet and fingers slowly turning and contorting around the circle high in the sky.
That second paragraph – which comes right after the first! – is wonderful; it’s emotive, now I know what I’m supposed to be feeling, and I have something to picture. The vibe of wonder, which is absolutely necessary for a magic circus, is there! But the first paragraph? I don’t know what those terms mean, and even if I did, it’s such a dry way of describing what Odette is doing here. This beautiful, presumably very impressive thing is boring because the prose isn’t up to the task of conveying it.
Eventually, I just couldn’t take the see-sawing between bad lines and good any more. I got very tired of all the telling, and while I liked the characters individually, I didn’t believe in their established relationships with each other. The book makes major use of a kind of magic/supernatural ability I particularly dislike – the whole story hinges on it, really – the dialogue felt scripted, and poorly scripted at that…
Nope. This one just isn’t for me. Alas.
May 10, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
You know when a book is so bad that the reading experience ends up being fun as it basically becomes a hate read? Well, this wasn’t that bad. And it also wasn’t that fun. It really isn’t a bad book and, based on some other reviews, it seems like my opinion is in the minority. But I’ve literally never wanted a book to be over as much as I did with this one. I actually considered DNFing a few times, which I never do.
For something described as X-Men meets The Night Circus, I thought I was in for a wild ride. But everything was really flat for me. I felt nothing about anybody. Even the moments that were supposed to be sad didn’t hit me. This book is set between WW1 and WW2, with a large portion of the plot being centered around how to stop WW2 from happening. And the way that plot line wrapped up just was a bit unsatisfying. And there was a lot of time jumping that felt pointless. I did like the found family aspect and the sapphic romance, though. But yeah, long story story, a forgettable story that felt way too long.
The Night Circus is one of my favorite books and if you haven’t read it yet, totally recommend. For a non-magical circus read set during this time, I thought The Circus Train and Water for Elephants were better.
I’m really bummed out I didn’t like this more. Especially since Tor is one of my favorite publishers.
You know when a book is so bad that the reading experience ends up being fun as it basically becomes a hate read? Well, this wasn’t that bad. And it also wasn’t that fun. It really isn’t a bad book and, based on some other reviews, it seems like my opinion is in the minority. But I’ve literally never wanted a book to be over as much as I did with this one. I actually considered DNFing a few times, which I never do.
For something described as X-Men meets The Night Circus, I thought I was in for a wild ride. But everything was really flat for me. I felt nothing about anybody. Even the moments that were supposed to be sad didn’t hit me. This book is set between WW1 and WW2, with a large portion of the plot being centered around how to stop WW2 from happening. And the way that plot line wrapped up just was a bit unsatisfying. And there was a lot of time jumping that felt pointless. I did like the found family aspect and the sapphic romance, though. But yeah, long story story, a forgettable story that felt way too long.
The Night Circus is one of my favorite books and if you haven’t read it yet, totally recommend. For a non-magical circus read set during this time, I thought The Circus Train and Water for Elephants were better.
I’m really bummed out I didn’t like this more. Especially since Tor is one of my favorite publishers.
May 6, 2023
This was such a cool story! Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely emotional and deep but it was unlike anything I’ve read before. It was a really interesting mix of fantasy and historical fiction with a bit of romance sprinkled in.
I really liked the writing. It was so very immersive and just added a lot of depth to the story itself. It had an atmospheric quality to it that transported the reader right into the circus and the world of the Sparks. The beginning of the book felt a little slow to me but the pacing picked up deeper into the story.
The found family feeling to this book was superb. I love when a group of perceived misfits and outcasts find their home with one another and that’s exactly what Rin’s circus gave to these characters.
The dichotomy of this story really hit me. There were so many sad, horrible moments but also a lot of happy, beautiful moments. It was really impactful to see the events of the World Wars juxtaposed with the magic of the Circus of the Fantasticals.
This was a really impressive book, especially considering it’s a debut novel!
I really liked the writing. It was so very immersive and just added a lot of depth to the story itself. It had an atmospheric quality to it that transported the reader right into the circus and the world of the Sparks. The beginning of the book felt a little slow to me but the pacing picked up deeper into the story.
The found family feeling to this book was superb. I love when a group of perceived misfits and outcasts find their home with one another and that’s exactly what Rin’s circus gave to these characters.
The dichotomy of this story really hit me. There were so many sad, horrible moments but also a lot of happy, beautiful moments. It was really impactful to see the events of the World Wars juxtaposed with the magic of the Circus of the Fantasticals.
This was a really impressive book, especially considering it’s a debut novel!
July 17, 2023
2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/07/10/...
“It’s not this book, it’s me” always seemed a bit of a cop out, but in this case, I feel that it must be said. Time travel—especially unexpected time travel—has a way of putting me on my guard because when it works, it works, but when it doesn’t, things have a tendency to fall apart pretty quickly.
The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson opens on an alternate 1920s America where Sparks, the name given to those who are gifted with incredible powers, are mistrusted and feared by the general population. Think mutants in the X-Men. The story’s protagonist, Rin, also known as the Ringmaster on account of her role in leading the magical Circus of the Fantasticals, is able to not only teleport to different places but also jump to different moments in time.
Crewed by Spark performers, the circus charms audiences wherever—and whenever—they go, but there are more pressing reasons why they must stay on the move. Dire threats loom on two major fronts: first is the villainous Circus King, Rin’s nemesis who himself is a Spark possessing a dark power which he wants to use to control her. Second is of course the fast-approaching horrors of World War II. Having traveled through time, Rin is aware of what the future holds but has no idea how—or if she even can—do anything to avert the war.
What must it be like, to have an amazing superpower but is helpless to do anything with it at the same time? By all accounts, such a premise should hold nothing but despair and dreariness, but like its name, The First Bright Thing is surprisingly uplifting. While some things can never be changed, whether it be your past or the course of history, there are things you can do right now to improve your life. Rin has chosen her own family in her circus of misfits, with wife Odette by her side. When the adversity feels too overwhelming and challenges too great to overcome, it’s the supportive and loving relationships that form the heart of this novel.
But, as far as positives go, I’m afraid that’s where my praise ends. One prevalent issue that kept me from enjoying this book, even from the start, was the strained and sometimes clichéd writing which pushes what should be warm and touching moments into sappy, cringe-worthy territory. On top of that, the forced writing made it hard to connect with the characters, which might be why Rin always felt so flat to me. She conveys her thoughts in a rigid way that makes them feel unconvincing, and that extends to her relationships and feelings for those around her.
The time traveling aspect didn’t do much for me either. A lot of it felt needlessly convoluted and added little to nothing to the overall plot. Being unnecessarily complex also described the frequent time jumps which wore on my patience over time. The overall gist of the story boils down to trying to escape the Circus King and to stop WWII—two major points about stopping evil, which often converge. It needn’t have to be more complicated than that, and yet it was.
I wish I had a more favorable report, because the ideas behind The First Bright Thing are good, and fascinating, and tremendous. There’s a solid core here for sure, but ultimately the story’s different elements—writing, plotting, characterization—simply didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.
“It’s not this book, it’s me” always seemed a bit of a cop out, but in this case, I feel that it must be said. Time travel—especially unexpected time travel—has a way of putting me on my guard because when it works, it works, but when it doesn’t, things have a tendency to fall apart pretty quickly.
The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson opens on an alternate 1920s America where Sparks, the name given to those who are gifted with incredible powers, are mistrusted and feared by the general population. Think mutants in the X-Men. The story’s protagonist, Rin, also known as the Ringmaster on account of her role in leading the magical Circus of the Fantasticals, is able to not only teleport to different places but also jump to different moments in time.
Crewed by Spark performers, the circus charms audiences wherever—and whenever—they go, but there are more pressing reasons why they must stay on the move. Dire threats loom on two major fronts: first is the villainous Circus King, Rin’s nemesis who himself is a Spark possessing a dark power which he wants to use to control her. Second is of course the fast-approaching horrors of World War II. Having traveled through time, Rin is aware of what the future holds but has no idea how—or if she even can—do anything to avert the war.
What must it be like, to have an amazing superpower but is helpless to do anything with it at the same time? By all accounts, such a premise should hold nothing but despair and dreariness, but like its name, The First Bright Thing is surprisingly uplifting. While some things can never be changed, whether it be your past or the course of history, there are things you can do right now to improve your life. Rin has chosen her own family in her circus of misfits, with wife Odette by her side. When the adversity feels too overwhelming and challenges too great to overcome, it’s the supportive and loving relationships that form the heart of this novel.
But, as far as positives go, I’m afraid that’s where my praise ends. One prevalent issue that kept me from enjoying this book, even from the start, was the strained and sometimes clichéd writing which pushes what should be warm and touching moments into sappy, cringe-worthy territory. On top of that, the forced writing made it hard to connect with the characters, which might be why Rin always felt so flat to me. She conveys her thoughts in a rigid way that makes them feel unconvincing, and that extends to her relationships and feelings for those around her.
The time traveling aspect didn’t do much for me either. A lot of it felt needlessly convoluted and added little to nothing to the overall plot. Being unnecessarily complex also described the frequent time jumps which wore on my patience over time. The overall gist of the story boils down to trying to escape the Circus King and to stop WWII—two major points about stopping evil, which often converge. It needn’t have to be more complicated than that, and yet it was.
I wish I had a more favorable report, because the ideas behind The First Bright Thing are good, and fascinating, and tremendous. There’s a solid core here for sure, but ultimately the story’s different elements—writing, plotting, characterization—simply didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.
April 13, 2023
4/10
A lot of work went in to writing the 350 pages in this fantasy fiction novel. I understand the effort and sacrifice that goes into creating a novel like this, so I hate to trash it.
Yet here we go anyway.
I was intrigued by the story - essentially a group of XMen-like people (humans with unique and extraordinary powers) creates a traveling circus. There’s the shapeshifter, the dreamweaver, the time traveler, etc.
Could be interesting, eh?
The story primarily takes place in 1926, between World Wars I and II, and there is a bit of time travel to each. It follows the Ringmaster (Rin, for short) and her struggles. One of her biggest struggles is with the Circus King. Enter evil villain.
The circus king has a competing circus. His secret power is the ability to control peoples minds and have them do horrendous things. He is angry at Rin and wants to destroy her.
Ok, that’s the story. Here are my problems.
The writing is pedantic and often times confusing. There are so many extra words in this book that you could remove entire chapters without impacting anything that happens in the story. In fact, this book should be 200 pages long, it might make it better.
Truthfully there’s not a lot that happens in this story. No dramatic twists and turns, nothing you don’t expect. It’s just grueling chapter after grueling chapter in which Rin is describing that she’s scared of the Circus King.
There is little to no emotional connection made between the reader and the characters. I don’t care about any of them. Well, I take that back. The evil Circus King is the most interesting of the characters. It’s super easy to despise him. As for the others? I will forget them all in a day or two.
There is also a lot of emphasis put on WW II, as if the entire destruction of humanity will occur because of the war. Spoiler alert, we know a lot of people died but all of humanity wasn’t destroyed because of the war.
I’m still not clear why there was this entire long section in which they tried to avoid WWII occurring because they thought it would kill every human, but when they couldn’t stop it, they suddenly didn’t think it would kill everybody anymore so just dropped the subject.
All in all, this was a huge struggle to finish. I pushed through because I wanted to be fair to NetGalley and the author, but I can’t in my right mind recommend this book for anybody.
If you want a good fantasy, go read Mistborn. It’s twice as long of a book, but feels half the effort to read.
#netgalley #thefirstbrightthing
A lot of work went in to writing the 350 pages in this fantasy fiction novel. I understand the effort and sacrifice that goes into creating a novel like this, so I hate to trash it.
Yet here we go anyway.
I was intrigued by the story - essentially a group of XMen-like people (humans with unique and extraordinary powers) creates a traveling circus. There’s the shapeshifter, the dreamweaver, the time traveler, etc.
Could be interesting, eh?
The story primarily takes place in 1926, between World Wars I and II, and there is a bit of time travel to each. It follows the Ringmaster (Rin, for short) and her struggles. One of her biggest struggles is with the Circus King. Enter evil villain.
The circus king has a competing circus. His secret power is the ability to control peoples minds and have them do horrendous things. He is angry at Rin and wants to destroy her.
Ok, that’s the story. Here are my problems.
The writing is pedantic and often times confusing. There are so many extra words in this book that you could remove entire chapters without impacting anything that happens in the story. In fact, this book should be 200 pages long, it might make it better.
Truthfully there’s not a lot that happens in this story. No dramatic twists and turns, nothing you don’t expect. It’s just grueling chapter after grueling chapter in which Rin is describing that she’s scared of the Circus King.
There is little to no emotional connection made between the reader and the characters. I don’t care about any of them. Well, I take that back. The evil Circus King is the most interesting of the characters. It’s super easy to despise him. As for the others? I will forget them all in a day or two.
There is also a lot of emphasis put on WW II, as if the entire destruction of humanity will occur because of the war. Spoiler alert, we know a lot of people died but all of humanity wasn’t destroyed because of the war.
I’m still not clear why there was this entire long section in which they tried to avoid WWII occurring because they thought it would kill every human, but when they couldn’t stop it, they suddenly didn’t think it would kill everybody anymore so just dropped the subject.
All in all, this was a huge struggle to finish. I pushed through because I wanted to be fair to NetGalley and the author, but I can’t in my right mind recommend this book for anybody.
If you want a good fantasy, go read Mistborn. It’s twice as long of a book, but feels half the effort to read.
#netgalley #thefirstbrightthing
June 11, 2023
Wow. This was wonderful. One of my top reads for the year.
Fans of "The Night Circus" and "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" will find much to love in this mesmerizing, diverse (genderfluid, LGBTQIA+, Jewish, BIPOC characters) novel. Dawson has created a captivating world filled with richly developed characters and thought-provoking themes that will leave a truly lasting impression. This is an enchanting and emotionally resonant read that seamlessly blends historical elements, fantastical elements, and a heartfelt romance. It is a must-read for those seeking a captivating story filled with magic, love, and found family.
"The First Bright Thing" by J.R. Dawson is a captivating historical fantasy that weaves together elements of time travel, magical superpowers, and a vibrant circus setting. It is set in the time in which the world is recovering from the horrors of World War I and the tragedy of the influenza pandemic of 1918. In the wake of an unknown event during the war, there are super-powered people called Sparks, some of which have found their way into the show business of the big top.
Dawson's prose is exquisite, painting a vivid picture of the Circus of the Fantasticals and the enchanting world it inhabits. The romance between Rin and Odette is beautifully portrayed, filled with tenderness that will surely captivate readers. The exploration of themes such as family, abuse (domestic and childhood), and accepting one's humanity adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. The author delves into the complexities of power and choice, highlighting the consequences of desperation and the difficult choices individuals make in challenging circumstances. It has quite a bit of diversity within its pages. Even the villain of the story is sympathetic in his motivations despite the fact that his actions are incredibly chilling.
Amazing novel. Dawson is now an instant-buy author for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the eARC! This is an honest review and contains my own opinions.
Fans of "The Night Circus" and "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" will find much to love in this mesmerizing, diverse (genderfluid, LGBTQIA+, Jewish, BIPOC characters) novel. Dawson has created a captivating world filled with richly developed characters and thought-provoking themes that will leave a truly lasting impression. This is an enchanting and emotionally resonant read that seamlessly blends historical elements, fantastical elements, and a heartfelt romance. It is a must-read for those seeking a captivating story filled with magic, love, and found family.
"The First Bright Thing" by J.R. Dawson is a captivating historical fantasy that weaves together elements of time travel, magical superpowers, and a vibrant circus setting. It is set in the time in which the world is recovering from the horrors of World War I and the tragedy of the influenza pandemic of 1918. In the wake of an unknown event during the war, there are super-powered people called Sparks, some of which have found their way into the show business of the big top.
Dawson's prose is exquisite, painting a vivid picture of the Circus of the Fantasticals and the enchanting world it inhabits. The romance between Rin and Odette is beautifully portrayed, filled with tenderness that will surely captivate readers. The exploration of themes such as family, abuse (domestic and childhood), and accepting one's humanity adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. The author delves into the complexities of power and choice, highlighting the consequences of desperation and the difficult choices individuals make in challenging circumstances. It has quite a bit of diversity within its pages. Even the villain of the story is sympathetic in his motivations despite the fact that his actions are incredibly chilling.
Amazing novel. Dawson is now an instant-buy author for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the eARC! This is an honest review and contains my own opinions.
June 4, 2023
I read this ARC for two reasons:
1. It was blurbed by Seanan McGuire.
2. It is being marketed to fans of The Night Circus
If you know, you know.
Off the bat, I will say that there is something intangible about The Night Circus for me personally (likely due to nostalgia), so I think the marketing fell short with the comparison. The Night Circus meets Vicious might be more accurate.
My only issue with reviewing audiobook ARCs is that I can't physically digest the book and take notes and highlight to delve into specific lines that resonate with me easily. However, I will say that this is a book I see myself re-visiting when it comes out. I'm a sucker for a found family trope, and this delightfully delivered on that. It's a perfect blend of historical fiction that isn't over the top, good vs evil, and magical realism. The themes of love in this book are tender and reach beyond the queer romance at its center- which I profoundly enjoyed. The positive relationships balanced the manipulation and cycle of abuse with the antagonist's storyline into a power dynamic that lets you see the darkness in this world while also highlighting the hope that is born out of the pain.
The start of the book was a bit slow, and I found inconsistencies in the time travel narrative but that's just me nitpicking. Approaching time travel in any media is going to have faults depending on how deeply you look at it, but it was used in a way that supported the overall theme of finding your place and acceptance in a world that rejects misfits.
1. It was blurbed by Seanan McGuire.
2. It is being marketed to fans of The Night Circus
If you know, you know.
Off the bat, I will say that there is something intangible about The Night Circus for me personally (likely due to nostalgia), so I think the marketing fell short with the comparison. The Night Circus meets Vicious might be more accurate.
My only issue with reviewing audiobook ARCs is that I can't physically digest the book and take notes and highlight to delve into specific lines that resonate with me easily. However, I will say that this is a book I see myself re-visiting when it comes out. I'm a sucker for a found family trope, and this delightfully delivered on that. It's a perfect blend of historical fiction that isn't over the top, good vs evil, and magical realism. The themes of love in this book are tender and reach beyond the queer romance at its center- which I profoundly enjoyed. The positive relationships balanced the manipulation and cycle of abuse with the antagonist's storyline into a power dynamic that lets you see the darkness in this world while also highlighting the hope that is born out of the pain.
The start of the book was a bit slow, and I found inconsistencies in the time travel narrative but that's just me nitpicking. Approaching time travel in any media is going to have faults depending on how deeply you look at it, but it was used in a way that supported the overall theme of finding your place and acceptance in a world that rejects misfits.
August 12, 2023
I love a circus found family and this one was awesome! Very diverse and a big yesss to the queer ringmaster and her aerialist wife. 😁
The concept of sparks was so fun. I liked that the ‘powers’ weren’t necessarily the traditional abilities you’d expect. They were so varied and unusual, some amazing and some very sinister in the wrong hands.
Was a really interesting read with the combination of history and fantasy elements. Just the kind of genre mash up I love!
I have to say it wasn’t one I felt that desperate urge to get back to. Yet I’m very glad I read it!
The concept of sparks was so fun. I liked that the ‘powers’ weren’t necessarily the traditional abilities you’d expect. They were so varied and unusual, some amazing and some very sinister in the wrong hands.
Was a really interesting read with the combination of history and fantasy elements. Just the kind of genre mash up I love!
I have to say it wasn’t one I felt that desperate urge to get back to. Yet I’m very glad I read it!
June 10, 2023
Sapphic, magical realism, circus, found family, all of this with some very serious and emotional twists.
I had to take a moment after reading this one to really think about it, but I realized in that time that ultimately, I really loved this.
Rin is the ringleader of a magical circus, a place that serves as a refuge to many misfits. Her love for this found family knows no bounds, and when everything is under attack from a man from Rin's past, she does everything possible to save her friends.
Set between WW1 and WW2, this story hits on numerous difficult topics, including xenophobia and homophobia. There is also violence and dangerous situations. Please be prepared for this.
I really wound up loving this story. The magic system was not only gorgeous but also incredibly useful. This starts off seeming like a sweet, cozy read but quickly turns very serious. However, the love in this book overwhelms anything else, and for that, this will be on my mind for a while to come.
Out June 13, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
I had to take a moment after reading this one to really think about it, but I realized in that time that ultimately, I really loved this.
Rin is the ringleader of a magical circus, a place that serves as a refuge to many misfits. Her love for this found family knows no bounds, and when everything is under attack from a man from Rin's past, she does everything possible to save her friends.
Set between WW1 and WW2, this story hits on numerous difficult topics, including xenophobia and homophobia. There is also violence and dangerous situations. Please be prepared for this.
I really wound up loving this story. The magic system was not only gorgeous but also incredibly useful. This starts off seeming like a sweet, cozy read but quickly turns very serious. However, the love in this book overwhelms anything else, and for that, this will be on my mind for a while to come.
Out June 13, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
May 7, 2023
I picked this book up expecting it to be a magical circus story. But it turned out to be so much more than that. It's also a heartbreaking tale of the psychological wounds gaslighting can cause. It's a warning not to repeat the war and brutality of history, and not to let fear give way to acts of evil. And it's a beautiful ode to found family, theatre, diversity, love, hope and finding beauty in the small things of the present moment.
I love the way magic is woven into the historical narrative, with new talents, called 'Sparks', appearing midway through WWI and growing in the run up to WWII. People suddenly find they can travel through time and space, split themselves into multiple copies, paint their thoughts in the air like illusions or reverse the ageing process. Then, it is up to them whether they use their talents for good or evil, to progress humanity or tempt them back into darkness.
The rival circuses play on this dichotomy well, and I love the complexity of the protagonist, Rin, and her nemesis, the Circus King. Rin is a great example of the strength it takes to reclaim your life after trauma, and the Circus King is terrifying in his immense manipulative power and distorted justifications for wrongdoing.
Read this to fall in love with a misfit band of characters, to weep and laugh with them, and to emerge back into the world as you do after watching a circus: a little more in awe.
A massive thank you to Tor Books and J R Dawson for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love the way magic is woven into the historical narrative, with new talents, called 'Sparks', appearing midway through WWI and growing in the run up to WWII. People suddenly find they can travel through time and space, split themselves into multiple copies, paint their thoughts in the air like illusions or reverse the ageing process. Then, it is up to them whether they use their talents for good or evil, to progress humanity or tempt them back into darkness.
The rival circuses play on this dichotomy well, and I love the complexity of the protagonist, Rin, and her nemesis, the Circus King. Rin is a great example of the strength it takes to reclaim your life after trauma, and the Circus King is terrifying in his immense manipulative power and distorted justifications for wrongdoing.
Read this to fall in love with a misfit band of characters, to weep and laugh with them, and to emerge back into the world as you do after watching a circus: a little more in awe.
A massive thank you to Tor Books and J R Dawson for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2022
This was perfect for my end of year, existential read <3. It's beautiful. I learned some new things while reading it that I will carry with me. I love the characters and the circus and the magic! I don't want to give any spoilers. I went into this with the blurb saying this was for fans of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue, and I can say that that holds up. Beautiful debut!
January 12, 2023
The scope of this story is entertaining, vast, and highly original, while touching on extremely sensitive topics such as trauma, gaslighting, and depression. The First Bright Thing takes place within a traveling circus of the most interesting kind. Ringmaster Rin has the unique ability to jump through time and space, accompanied by her wife Odette and her fellow performers, all of whom live on the outskirts of society with their varied magical abilities, or “Sparks.” This supernatural circus faces foes from the past, two world wars, and the search for love, acceptance, and identity.
I enjoy how J.R. Dawson sets up this huge and very fantastical concept, but instead of her characters living within that context, they are in themselves the main event; the context for which history, time travel, and magic can take place. The heart of this story is its intimate character study, especially of the Ringmaster who is a beautifully flawed, magical, Jewish lesbian protagonist, with gaslighting scars from her past. Getting to know her is an easy intimacy, as we see ourselves in Rin every time she struggles to be “good enough” and tries to find love and acceptance in a life of self doubt. We follow her to a conclusion that would fill any wounded soul in the land of misfits with joy and hope. This is an absolute knockout debut novel. My only regret in finishing this book is that I now have to stop time traveling around the first half of the twentieth century with Ringmaster Rin and her adoptive family.
I enjoy how J.R. Dawson sets up this huge and very fantastical concept, but instead of her characters living within that context, they are in themselves the main event; the context for which history, time travel, and magic can take place. The heart of this story is its intimate character study, especially of the Ringmaster who is a beautifully flawed, magical, Jewish lesbian protagonist, with gaslighting scars from her past. Getting to know her is an easy intimacy, as we see ourselves in Rin every time she struggles to be “good enough” and tries to find love and acceptance in a life of self doubt. We follow her to a conclusion that would fill any wounded soul in the land of misfits with joy and hope. This is an absolute knockout debut novel. My only regret in finishing this book is that I now have to stop time traveling around the first half of the twentieth century with Ringmaster Rin and her adoptive family.
June 3, 2023
A beautiful story about humanity and the importance of hope and goodness in our each and every interaction.
Following WW1, in this universe, a 'spark' was given to some individuals, giving them a power... something otherworldly that relates to what they would need to cope in that moment. But how do you use the spark? To make the world a better place, or bend it to suit your will?
What a fantastic depiction of the good vs. Evil power struggle... set in the world of dueling circuses. With masterful worldbuilding, creative characterizations, and not only the use but the embodiment of catharsis, I truly loved every minute of this story!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Following WW1, in this universe, a 'spark' was given to some individuals, giving them a power... something otherworldly that relates to what they would need to cope in that moment. But how do you use the spark? To make the world a better place, or bend it to suit your will?
What a fantastic depiction of the good vs. Evil power struggle... set in the world of dueling circuses. With masterful worldbuilding, creative characterizations, and not only the use but the embodiment of catharsis, I truly loved every minute of this story!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2022
Gorgeous! Absolutely my favorite read this year!
The First Bright Thing is lovely and magical.
I was mesmerized by the story created and the characters are just beautiful. I couldn’t wait to finish it but I was sad when it was over. If you want to be transported out of the ordinary and into the fantastical then just read it!!
The First Bright Thing is lovely and magical.
I was mesmerized by the story created and the characters are just beautiful. I couldn’t wait to finish it but I was sad when it was over. If you want to be transported out of the ordinary and into the fantastical then just read it!!
February 27, 2024
J.R. Dawsons Debütroman ‚Sparks – Die Magie der Funken‘, übersetzt von Gesine Schröder, ist eines dieser Bücher, die vielversprechend klingen, an die ich aber keine besonders hohen Erwartungen hatte. Einfach, weil es nur einige wenige Bücher gibt, auf die ich mich richtig freue und die deshalb hoffentlich überzeugen. ‚Sparks‘ dagegen ist für mich ein Hidden Gem, ein verstecktes Juwel aus zweiter Reihe, das sich durch Plot, Figuren und Stimmung in den Vordergrund spielt und so richtig einschlägt.
Dabei war der Start in die Geschichte gar nicht mal so einfach für mich. Die mitunter sehr kurzen Sätze lassen anfangs alles ein bisschen abgehackt und unrund klingen. Außerdem habe ich nicht sofort kapiert, dass ‚Ringmaster, 1926’eine Person und das Jahr beschreibt.
Ringmaster, genannt Rin, ist also eine der Figuren, aus deren Sicht die Geschichte erzählt wird. Zirkusdirektorin. Überlebende. Spark. Man weiß nicht so genau, wo die Sparks, die Funken Magie, herkommen und warum sie in Erscheinung getreten sind. Es war irgendwann während des großen Krieges. Er hat sich wahllos in einigen Menschen manifestiert und ihnen verschiedene Fähigkeiten verliehen, zu Sparks gemacht.
Rins Zirkus bietet solchen Sparks eine Zuflucht vor einer Welt, die in den unerklärlichen Gaben eine Bedrohung sieht. Auch für sie selbst ist der Ort eine Zuflucht, ein Zuhause, denn sie ist einer Vergangenheit entkommen, die sie geformt hat. Voller Selbsthass und Selbstzweifel, aber mit der Hoffnung im Herzen, die Welt ein Stückchen besser zu machen. Ich persönlich liebe die Stimmung im Zirkus, sie ist zwar von Vergangenem geprägt, aber auch so aufbauend und heilsam. Voller Liebe und Freundschaft, unterstützend und ermutigend. Eine Found Family, wie sie schöner nicht sein könnte.
Die zweite Perspektive ist Edwards, welche 10 Jahre früher beginnt. 1916, während des großen Krieges, an der Front. Er bekam einen Funken Magie, der ihn vor allem charakterlich herausfordert, da ihn noch dazu die Schrecken des Krieges verfolgen. Ich bin selten einem derart hassenswerten Charakter begegnet, egoistisch, narzisstisch, übergriffig und toxisch. Er verlangt mir emotional alles ab, auch, weil er nicht eindimensional beschrieben ist sondern sein charakterlicher Verfall immer wieder von Versuchen, sich dagegen zu wehren, geprägt ist. Diese Versuche unternimmt er vor allem für seine große Liebe Ruth, die ihn mit ihrem Spark von der Front geholt hat, die aber unter seinem Gaslighting, seiner Übergriffigkeit und seinen verdrehten Moralvorstellungen am meisten zu leiden hat.
Mir war zwar relativ schnell klar, wie die beiden Perspektiven verbunden sind, doch das hat der Spannung kein bisschen geschadet. Die Charaktere sind einfach durchgehend faszinierend und der Plot zwar hier und da vorhersehbar, aber durch die Möglichkeit der Zeitreisen mittels eines Sparks unglaublich abwechslungsreich. Dazu diese düstere und beklemmende Stimmung durch vergangene und drohende Kriege, durch einen verfeindeten Zirkus und die Vergangenheit, die Rin einzuholen versucht.
Die Geschichte zeigt, dass du selbst entscheidest, was du mit deinen Talenten, deinen Gaben machst. Willst du Gutes tun und die Welt zu einem besseren Ort machen? Oder willst du nur dein Leben verbessern, deine Macht vergrößern, auf Kosten anderer?
‚Sparks‘ hat mich wirklich sehr beeindruckt, die Figuren, der Plot und die Emotionen werden noch ein bisschen nachhallen. 5 Sterne und eine unbedingte Leseempfehlung!
Dabei war der Start in die Geschichte gar nicht mal so einfach für mich. Die mitunter sehr kurzen Sätze lassen anfangs alles ein bisschen abgehackt und unrund klingen. Außerdem habe ich nicht sofort kapiert, dass ‚Ringmaster, 1926’eine Person und das Jahr beschreibt.
Ringmaster, genannt Rin, ist also eine der Figuren, aus deren Sicht die Geschichte erzählt wird. Zirkusdirektorin. Überlebende. Spark. Man weiß nicht so genau, wo die Sparks, die Funken Magie, herkommen und warum sie in Erscheinung getreten sind. Es war irgendwann während des großen Krieges. Er hat sich wahllos in einigen Menschen manifestiert und ihnen verschiedene Fähigkeiten verliehen, zu Sparks gemacht.
Rins Zirkus bietet solchen Sparks eine Zuflucht vor einer Welt, die in den unerklärlichen Gaben eine Bedrohung sieht. Auch für sie selbst ist der Ort eine Zuflucht, ein Zuhause, denn sie ist einer Vergangenheit entkommen, die sie geformt hat. Voller Selbsthass und Selbstzweifel, aber mit der Hoffnung im Herzen, die Welt ein Stückchen besser zu machen. Ich persönlich liebe die Stimmung im Zirkus, sie ist zwar von Vergangenem geprägt, aber auch so aufbauend und heilsam. Voller Liebe und Freundschaft, unterstützend und ermutigend. Eine Found Family, wie sie schöner nicht sein könnte.
Die zweite Perspektive ist Edwards, welche 10 Jahre früher beginnt. 1916, während des großen Krieges, an der Front. Er bekam einen Funken Magie, der ihn vor allem charakterlich herausfordert, da ihn noch dazu die Schrecken des Krieges verfolgen. Ich bin selten einem derart hassenswerten Charakter begegnet, egoistisch, narzisstisch, übergriffig und toxisch. Er verlangt mir emotional alles ab, auch, weil er nicht eindimensional beschrieben ist sondern sein charakterlicher Verfall immer wieder von Versuchen, sich dagegen zu wehren, geprägt ist. Diese Versuche unternimmt er vor allem für seine große Liebe Ruth, die ihn mit ihrem Spark von der Front geholt hat, die aber unter seinem Gaslighting, seiner Übergriffigkeit und seinen verdrehten Moralvorstellungen am meisten zu leiden hat.
Mir war zwar relativ schnell klar, wie die beiden Perspektiven verbunden sind, doch das hat der Spannung kein bisschen geschadet. Die Charaktere sind einfach durchgehend faszinierend und der Plot zwar hier und da vorhersehbar, aber durch die Möglichkeit der Zeitreisen mittels eines Sparks unglaublich abwechslungsreich. Dazu diese düstere und beklemmende Stimmung durch vergangene und drohende Kriege, durch einen verfeindeten Zirkus und die Vergangenheit, die Rin einzuholen versucht.
Die Geschichte zeigt, dass du selbst entscheidest, was du mit deinen Talenten, deinen Gaben machst. Willst du Gutes tun und die Welt zu einem besseren Ort machen? Oder willst du nur dein Leben verbessern, deine Macht vergrößern, auf Kosten anderer?
‚Sparks‘ hat mich wirklich sehr beeindruckt, die Figuren, der Plot und die Emotionen werden noch ein bisschen nachhallen. 5 Sterne und eine unbedingte Leseempfehlung!
January 12, 2023
Gorgeously written! This book deals with a lot of dark subjects: WW2, manipulation, gaslighting, psychological torture, alcoholism, self-harm, etc etc. And yet, it's still so bright? Somehow Dawson manages to provide us with the very worst of humanity and in doing so, highlights the very best. The very small moments of unimpeded joy and true love and found family. Really loved this book.
April 22, 2023
I received an advanced copy via NetGalley.
The First Bright Thing delves into its 1920s setting and circus life to follow Rin, the Ringmaster of a circus that consists of Sparks--people with diverse magical abilities. The phenomenon emerged during the Great War, with no explanation of how or why. Rin can travel to different places and through time, while her trapeze-artist wide Odette has a healing touch. Their circus travels the Midwest, seeking to help people with each show--but they are shadowed by the stalking Circus King, an ominous figure from Rin's past.
The found family theme is strong and beautiful in this book, and the characters need that loving support, as this book delves into some disturbing darkness, mostly of the psychological variety. This one really does require a Trigger Warning straight-up because of the severe abuse it depicts. Through it all, though, there is a prevailing sense of hope. Rin is a Jewish woman, and discussion of her childhood faith and the concept of mitzvah come up often and fit beautifully within this world.
The First Bright Thing delves into its 1920s setting and circus life to follow Rin, the Ringmaster of a circus that consists of Sparks--people with diverse magical abilities. The phenomenon emerged during the Great War, with no explanation of how or why. Rin can travel to different places and through time, while her trapeze-artist wide Odette has a healing touch. Their circus travels the Midwest, seeking to help people with each show--but they are shadowed by the stalking Circus King, an ominous figure from Rin's past.
The found family theme is strong and beautiful in this book, and the characters need that loving support, as this book delves into some disturbing darkness, mostly of the psychological variety. This one really does require a Trigger Warning straight-up because of the severe abuse it depicts. Through it all, though, there is a prevailing sense of hope. Rin is a Jewish woman, and discussion of her childhood faith and the concept of mitzvah come up often and fit beautifully within this world.
July 8, 2023
A gorgeous and lush debut from JR Dawson. This one touched my heart in the best of ways. Learning to love yourself as you are and your value, found family, queer love, and Jewish history and trauma. Dawson really packed a punch with this. Especially Jewish terms(like mitzvah) and how it pertains to your life and others. I highly recommend the is book of you love X-men (thinks night crawler during his circus days) or the night circus by Erin morgenstern.
Cw
War
Toxic relationship
Death
Grief
Antisemitism
Homophobia
Cw
War
Toxic relationship
Death
Grief
Antisemitism
Homophobia
June 27, 2023
Sometimes a book joins your family. The First Bright Thing is one of those novels for me... It was exactly what I needed in the moment I needed it and my only regret is that there'll never be a moment where I can experience it for the first time again.
When I'm asked for my favorite titles, I always give the same four, without fail, because they are novels that moved into bedrooms in my heart. I've not added a title to that list in ten years... Until now.
When I'm asked for my favorite titles, I always give the same four, without fail, because they are novels that moved into bedrooms in my heart. I've not added a title to that list in ten years... Until now.
September 24, 2023
Really good!
Dawson's 'The First Bright Thing' is a fantasy fiction novel set in America in the 1920's - and tells the story of Rin, a ringmaster to a touring circus that travels the entire length and breadth of the country. Except - there's a catch. The circus crew is made entirely of 'Sparks' - people who have been bestowed with superhuman and supernatural abilities - such as the ability to fly, clone themselves, travel in time, see the future, etc.
Rin runs the show alongside her two mates, Odetta (her wife and the Trapeze artist of the crew) and Mauve (a woman who can see hints of the future). However, all is not well for Rin as her crew is constantly hounded by the members of another circus crew led by a man simply known as the 'Circus King'.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the formidable nature of the antagonist, the Circus King, and the Spark that he possesses that is nigh impossible to fight against. In addition, the man appears to be quite deluded and scarred by his past - and uses these past traumas as reasons to justify his inhuman actions in the present day.
One of the core themes of this book is the theme of destiny - and whether it is possible to deviate from the plan that life has for you. Rin and her team use their circus as a means to add positive changes to certain folks in every town they go to - and sometimes, they apparently succeed in doing so, while other times, they miserably fail. Eventually, they burgeon themselves with grandiose ambitions of attempting to prevent the upcoming Second World War - and a lot of the book focuses on the three women having moral debates on how far is one allowed to go in order to rewrite history.
At one point in the tale, the crew receives the addition of two young members - Josephine and Charles Reed - and much of the second half of the book explores Rin trying her hardest to be a good mother figure to Jo just like how her own mother was good to her. Jo has the perfectly cliched balance of sensibility and stubbornness to allow for Rin to showcase a range of character development based on how she deals with Jo's wild mood swings. Another point to note is that Rin is very deeply connected to her Jewish heritage - whether through her own faith, or through the memories of her mother's Jewish faith - which I found as a nice touch added to further humanize the otherwise time-jumping mutant.
I think one cool aspect of this book is the fact that it is set during WW2 - which I believe is a first for me in my experience with the genre. So thumbs up for that.
I thought the ending felt a little lacking and the emotional impact was missing - and I think more could have been done with Rin, Odette, Mauve and their attempts at rewriting history in an attempt to avoid World War 2. That would have been cool.
To summarize, a really engaging blend of fantasy fiction and world war II, and a terrifying antagonist are what really drive this book home as one that is definitely worth your time.
Dawson's 'The First Bright Thing' is a fantasy fiction novel set in America in the 1920's - and tells the story of Rin, a ringmaster to a touring circus that travels the entire length and breadth of the country. Except - there's a catch. The circus crew is made entirely of 'Sparks' - people who have been bestowed with superhuman and supernatural abilities - such as the ability to fly, clone themselves, travel in time, see the future, etc.
Rin runs the show alongside her two mates, Odetta (her wife and the Trapeze artist of the crew) and Mauve (a woman who can see hints of the future). However, all is not well for Rin as her crew is constantly hounded by the members of another circus crew led by a man simply known as the 'Circus King'.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the formidable nature of the antagonist, the Circus King, and the Spark that he possesses that is nigh impossible to fight against. In addition, the man appears to be quite deluded and scarred by his past - and uses these past traumas as reasons to justify his inhuman actions in the present day.
One of the core themes of this book is the theme of destiny - and whether it is possible to deviate from the plan that life has for you. Rin and her team use their circus as a means to add positive changes to certain folks in every town they go to - and sometimes, they apparently succeed in doing so, while other times, they miserably fail. Eventually, they burgeon themselves with grandiose ambitions of attempting to prevent the upcoming Second World War - and a lot of the book focuses on the three women having moral debates on how far is one allowed to go in order to rewrite history.
At one point in the tale, the crew receives the addition of two young members - Josephine and Charles Reed - and much of the second half of the book explores Rin trying her hardest to be a good mother figure to Jo just like how her own mother was good to her. Jo has the perfectly cliched balance of sensibility and stubbornness to allow for Rin to showcase a range of character development based on how she deals with Jo's wild mood swings. Another point to note is that Rin is very deeply connected to her Jewish heritage - whether through her own faith, or through the memories of her mother's Jewish faith - which I found as a nice touch added to further humanize the otherwise time-jumping mutant.
I think one cool aspect of this book is the fact that it is set during WW2 - which I believe is a first for me in my experience with the genre. So thumbs up for that.
I thought the ending felt a little lacking and the emotional impact was missing - and I think more could have been done with Rin, Odette, Mauve and their attempts at rewriting history in an attempt to avoid World War 2. That would have been cool.
To summarize, a really engaging blend of fantasy fiction and world war II, and a terrifying antagonist are what really drive this book home as one that is definitely worth your time.
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