The First Bright Thing
| Modern Age |
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 The First Bright Thing
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American History > Modern Age > Jewish History
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 won't stop until it's his.
Emily's Review
This book was so good and so clearly written for ME. It has so many things I love in a story - a magical circus, amazing Jewish representation, and it asks deep questions about what we can do to change the future. It was like if The Night Circus and The Devil's Arithmetic had a magical book baby.
What I loved:
- The found family - the cast of characters was so great. I also really enjoyed the creativity in the magical abilities of all of the Sparks.
- A deliciously terrifying villain. Edward is scary because he knows what he's doing is wrong but doesn't know how to stop. The power he wields is too great, and the vulnerability makes him so scary.
- The Jewish representation made me feel so seen - I loved seeing a character embrace aspects of Judaism and finding great solace and meaning there, without needing to believe in a diety or feel that it's all or nothing.
- I LOVED the questions being raised in this story. Can you stop something bad from happening? What can you do to stop it? What are you willing to risk?
The writing was gorgeous and I already want to re-read it so I can annotate! I highly recommend!
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