Descriptions, Reviews, etc.
Description:
A New York Times Bestseller! Impossible Creatures meets The Mysterious Benedict Society in this epic, fast-paced upper-middle grade fantasy full of dragon-like creatures, heroic hijinks, battle-forged friendships, and sharp humor.
★ "Expert worldbuilding with a rip-roaring plot." ―
Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Reminiscent of
The Golden Compass." ―
Booklist, starred review
★
"Fans of
The Princess Bride and Terry Pratchett's work will devour this series opener." --
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Highly recommended for middle-grade collections." --
School Library Journal, starred review
New York Public Library Best Book of the Year - Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year - Junior Library Guild Selection - New York Times Bestseller - Vermont Golden Dome Nominee
Aerimanders are extinct. Or so the government would have you think. Centuries ago, the Kingdom of Glaucus decreed the destruction of these dangerous, dragon-like creatures whose deadly flame could level entire cities and upend world orders.
But when twelve-year-old Eva Alexander, a wealthy chemistry student in the city of Porttown, walks into a fashionable department store and walks out (accidentally) with the world's last aerimander egg, everything changes. Suddenly, Eva is the target of unwanted attention--including from the Thieves' Union, a mysterious organization with a rebellious streak and fingers in every pie in Porttown. The Union orders its youngest member, the orphaned dairy delivery boy Dusty St. Ichabod, to steal the egg from Eva. Which is far easier said than done.
When Eva and Dusty meet one autumn night under extraordinary circumstances, an epic game of cat and mouse unfolds across the Kingdom. Initially at odds, the unlikely pair must come together to navigate a maze of sinister crime syndicates, elite boarding schools, and an incredibly slow getaway pony named Gourd--all while fighting to keep the egg out of the hands of power-hungry Eoin Parnassus, Director of Kingdom Secrets. As the duo races against time, their fates and that of the whole world are at stake. Because there's one question no one dares to ask:
What happens when the egg hatches? The Last Ember is the first installment in an action-packed fantasy adventure about a powerful creature, those who seek to exploit it, and those who are willing to protect it at all costs.
With stained edges, a map, and 6" x 9" trim, the book's package is as lush as its storytelling.
The First Flame: Aerimander Chronicles Book 2 takes flight in Fall 2026!
Brief description:
Lily Berlin Dodd is a California-born, Brooklyn-based writer. In 2022, she graduated from Yale University, where she was a recipient of the Theron Rockwell Field Prize. Her previously published work includes Search and Rescue, a novella produced for Audible. When not writing, she works in education, including with the literary nonprofit Writers and Artists Across the Country, which sends children's and YA authors and illustrators to under-resourced schools. The Aerimander is her debut novel.
Review Quotes:
A New York Times Bestseller
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
Indie Next Pick
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
Vermont Golden Dome Nominee
★ "Fantasy done right: Fans of The Princess Bride and Terry Pratchett's work will devour this series opener, thanks to the lush worldbuilding and wry humor permeating every page." --Kirkus, starred review
★ "Dodd admirably balances expert worldbuilding with a rip-roaring plot and complicated character interactions that crackle with witty buoyancy. Themes of queer identity, wealth disparity, and moral philosophy are threaded throughout this incendiary fantasy adventure." --
Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ "The seamless integration of scientific principles and magical theory, reminiscent of
The Golden Compass, will leave readers inspired to persevere in dark times. A fiery opening to what promises to be an epic series." --
Booklist,
starred review ★ "The strong dialogue that reveals character motivations and the uncertainties behind a human's heart thicken the plot and add to the suspense... A powerful novel that breathes a fantasy world of dragons to life while balancing the dark realities of greedy rulers and society's structural inequities; highly recommended for middle-grade collections." --
School Library Journal,
starred review
