The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

After WWI a circus appears made up of wondrous people who delight the crowd before vanishing to another town as quietly as they arrived. The circus is run by The Ringmaster Rin, her wife trapeze artist Odette and manager Maeve. All have magical talents, all are trying to help those who are lost but only Rin is on the run. There is another circus out there run by an egotistical and dangerous man known as the Circus King and he will stop at nothing to find Rin. Rin is able to jump in time and space which allows her to find the next person the circus will reach out to but this knowledge of the future and the horror of war to come haunts her and the others in her care. There is the back story of an ill fated love affair that fits in perfectly. The classic battle of good and evil, acceptance and persecution, freedom and possession - this wonderful debut is as tender and heartfelt as it is violent and frightening. Fans of THE NIGHT CIRCUS, CIRCUS OF WONDERS and LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS will all flock to the big tent for the wonders that await them.  5 stars