Praise for J.R. Dawson's The First Bright Thing: "Compelling and brilliant, and made me cry on a public street."--Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway "A celebration of artistry and wonder as essential talismans we wield against despair."--Travis Baldree, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Legends & Lattes " The First Bright Thing is a genre-bending and wholly absorbing tale that will envelop readers in its exploration of light and dark."--B&N Reads "Charming, effervescent, and emotional, the book is a page-turner."--Locus "A masterpiece of the fantastical and the human."--Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light "Mesmerizing and magical.

"--Rowenna Miller, author of the Unraveled Kingdom series "Dawson mashes up history, fantasy, and the magic of the circus in an emotionally immersive, character-driven story."--Library Journal, STARRED review "Richly imagined and vividly depicted."--Sarah Pinsker, award-winning author of We Are Satellites " A wonderful tale of hope and heart and perseverance."--Rita Woods, author of Remembrance and The Last Dreamwalker "Fans of gentle, uplifting speculative fiction will find much to enjoy in this heartfelt celebration of difference."--Publishers Weekly "Pure magic. It's a story of healing and becoming and truth, of finding our broken pieces and fitting them back together."--Liz Parker, author of In the Shadow Garden.