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.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.



Praise for this book

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




About the AuthorJ.R. Dawson (she/they) is the Golden Crown award-winning author of The First Bright Thing. Her shorter works can be found in places such as F&SF, Lightspeed, and Rich Horton's Year's Best. Dawson currently lives in Minnesota with her loving wife. She teaches at Drexel University's MFA program for Creative Writing, and fills her free time with keeping her three chaotic dogs out of trouble.
Title: The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World
Author(s): J.R. Dawson
ISBN: 9781250805607
Copyright 2025
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: None available | Learn More about our supported formats
Dragonmount is a proud provider of DRM-free eBooks. By purchasing any eBook from our store, you are not only helping support our website, but you are helping small businesses thrive in a market traditionally dominated by large companies. Learn more in our eBook FAQ.