J. R. Dawson

A powerful contemporary queer fantasy, perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. ‘Gorgeous . . . haunting and healing’ – Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop Love doesn’t die; people do . . . At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond. Nera has spent decades watching her father – the ferryman of the dead – sail across the lake, every night just like the last. But tonight something is wrong. The Station's lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person – a living person – has found her way onto the boat. Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost. A devastating story of magic, family and those who leave us – but who might not remain lost. ‘An earnest, heartfelt read’ – Veronica Roth, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows

A powerful contemporary queer fantasy, perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune.‘Gorgeous . . . haunting and healing’ – Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The SpellshopLove doesn’t die; people do . . .At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.Nera has spent decades watching her father – the ferryman of the dead – sail across the lake, every night just like the last.But tonight something is wrong.The Station's lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person – a living person – has found her way onto the boat.Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.A devastating story of magic, family and those who leave us – but who might not remain lost.‘An earnest, heartfelt read’ – Veronica Roth, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows

From J. R. Dawson, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a moving story of magic, family and those who leave us - but who might not remain lost.

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a powerful and poignant contemporary Queer fantasy perfect for fans of Hadestown and Under the Whispering Door At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, there is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly-departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives, before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond. Nera has spent decades watching her father--the ferryman of the dead--sail across the lake, each night just like the last. But tonight, something is wrong. The Station's lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person--a living person--has found her way onto the boat. Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost. "Gorgeous, lyrical, heartfelt, and true in all the ways that matter This is an achingly beautiful book that is as much about life as it is about death."--Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

A spellbinding historical debut for fans of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue.‘This is the magic circus book that I have been looking for all my life' – Seanan McGuire, author of the Wayward Children seriesWhen darkness descends, expect sparks.After the First World War, a select few wake up with frightening magical abilities. Rin can jump through time. Her wife, Odette, can heal the unhealable. And their friend, Mauve, sees what others can’t. Alone, afraid and exiled from regular society, the trio create a haven for Sparks – people like them – a circus housing those who are powerful and lost.Now it’s 1926 and Rin runs the Circus of the Fantasticals. It travels across the States, spreading enchantment and joy to those who need it. Rin hopes their performances leave the world brighter than before. But new threats loom that even circus lights can’t vanquish. Another devastating war is barrelling across the world. Worse still, Rin’s past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape. This takes the form of a rival circus, with tents as black as midnight. Its leader has dark powers and even darker desires as the Sparks have something he wants – and Rin knows he won’t stop until he has it.‘A masterpiece of the fantastical and the human’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light*Longlisted for Best Novel at the British Science Fiction Association Awards 2023*

If you knew how dark tomorrow would be, what would you do with today?"This is the magic circus book that I have been looking for all my life."--Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway 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.

When darkness descends, expect sparks. The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson is a spellbinding debut for fans of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue.Welcome to the Circus of the Fantasticals . . .After World War I, a select few wake up with frightening magical abilities. Rin can jump through time. Her wife, Odette, can heal the unhealable. And their friend, Mauve, sees what others can’t. Alone, afraid and exiled from regular society, the trio create a haven for Sparks – people like them – a circus housing those who are powerful and lost.Now it’s 1926, and Rin runs the Circus of the Fantasticals. It travels across the States, spreading enchantment and joy to those who need it. Rin hopes their performances leave the world brighter than before. But new threats loom that even circus lights can’t vanquish. Another devastating war is barrelling across the world. Worse still, Rin’s past creeps closer every day, a malevolent shadow she can’t fully escape. This takes the form of a rival circus, with tents as black as midnight. Its leader has dark powers and even darker desires. For the Sparks have something he wants – and Rin knows he won’t stop until he has it.‘This is the magic circus book that I have been looking for all my life. It's compelling and brilliant' - Seanan McGuire*Longlisted for Best Novel at the British Science Fiction Association Awards 2023*

The Night Circus meets The Greatest Showman, as three magically gifted women try to build a circus - and home - in the ruins of World War I. The First Bright Thing is a magical debut from J. R. Dawson.

If you knew how dark tomorrow would be, what would you do with today?"This is the magic circus book that I have been looking for all my life."―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway 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.