Began in 2021 as a project to foster creative energy, The Firefly Review was established as a literary journal oriented around the idea of a small light shining amidst the darkness.

For us, the world operates on the synergy of fantasy and realism, of art and philosophy, of human endeavor and nature. These binary unions, however, are overshadowed by the onrush of a busy, busy world. Art emerges from within the deep quiet, from wonderful patience, much like how the hidden gems of the universe–both imaginable and cosmological–appear once the afterglow of sunlight and artificial light fades. 

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And so, from gentle yet persistent contemplation is borne a symphony of creative minds, each one shining in their own unique way. Traversing the boundaries of space and time, old voices continue to flicker, their embers unwavering; fresh, young voices emerge as new additions to the concert of firefly lights. 

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Conceived as a testament to the brilliance of nightlife, The Firefly Review is a quarterly online literary journal dedicated to publishing aspiring creators who have an internal light they do not always express outwardly. Our mission is to provide a backdrop for each creator to illuminate their wisdom and stories so that they may together beautify a shimmering nightscape.

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Toward that aim, we encourage artists and writers of all backgrounds to share pieces that traverse themes and outlive conventions. Symbolic in Japanese culture, the firefly is the departed soul, a guide for the living. Thus, we look for works that explore the horizon where vice and virtue, where love and war, meet. Through the circulation of multiple perspectives, we hope to uncover the bifurcating nature of the human condition, of humanity's love for aesthetics, the tragedy, and the myth. 

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So show us you–every imperfect side of you, the masks you hide behind and the truths you struggle to forgive. Show us the suffering and stillness that pervades existence.