A review by the_lesbrarian
The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dawson’s debut novel promises a truly unique premise for fans of The Night Circus and Cloud Cuckoo Land. Set primarily in 1920s midwest USA, The First Bright Thing offers an alternate reality where, at the close of the first world war, millions of people were bestowed with sparks, a single magical power stemming from their most desperate wish.

Rin uses her ability to travel through space and time to create a magical circus and refuge for outcast sparks. She and her wife dedicate their lives to saving others through art, performance, and magic. However, when Rin travels forward and sees the horrors the near future holds, she struggles to stay grounded in the present. 

Dawson weaves together so many threads in so few pages that sometimes the story can feel a little rushed— I particularly wish that more time had been dedicated to relationships between the characters, which were central to the plot, but not often thoroughly developed. 

The First Bright Thing delicately explores identity, family, what we owe to the people we love, and how much choice we really have in our futures. 

rep:

-jewish mc

-wlw main 

-mlm side 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Blood

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Genocide, and Antisemitism

More details on the domestic abuse:

it is very central to the story. The main character is in a prolonged relationship with an abusive man who has the power to make people do whatever he says, and he is a constant threat/main villain throughout the novel. Reading how the main character is forced to obey and believe him may be very triggering. Take care of yourself <3