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The Aerimander Chronicles #2
The First Flame: The Aerimander Chronicles Book 2
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26The highly anticipated second book in the Aerimander Chronicles flies readers to the Northern Isles with another flame-filled adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats!
Hatching and then hiding the world’s last aerimander kit got Eva Alexander locked up in Byrdhaven, gave Myrnie Wilshins a bad reputation, and left Dusty St. Ichabod a fugitive on the streets of Porttown. With Rubi the baby aerimander missing, and all three of her beloved humans separated, it's hard to imagine a path forward.
When fate leads Dusty back to the Lockwood Inn, he overhears the next stage of Eoin Parnassus’ sinister plans for aerimanders, and knows he must do everything in his power to stop him. But first Myrnie and Dusty need to break Eva out of Byrdhaven. Dodging strict nuns, WANTED posters, and an evil clown on the way, the trio manage to make it to the Northern Isles in search of Rubi. But it's Rubi who finds them first, and introduces them to a secret society living in the mountains of the Northern Isles called the Unruled.
But as Eva and Dusty spend more time amongst the Unruled, secrets begin to emerge that could threaten the safety of them all. With Parnassus stopping at nothing to find them, who can Eva, Myrnie, and Dusty really trust? Filled with humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure, The First Flame explores the deep-rooted bonds forged by flame and friendship, and the lengths people will go to protect those that need it the most.
The Aerimander
The Last Ember
The First Flame
The Sixth Union (coming in 2027!)
Hatching and then hiding the world’s last aerimander kit got Eva Alexander locked up in Byrdhaven, gave Myrnie Wilshins a bad reputation, and left Dusty St. Ichabod a fugitive on the streets of Porttown. With Rubi the baby aerimander missing, and all three of her beloved humans separated, it's hard to imagine a path forward.
When fate leads Dusty back to the Lockwood Inn, he overhears the next stage of Eoin Parnassus’ sinister plans for aerimanders, and knows he must do everything in his power to stop him. But first Myrnie and Dusty need to break Eva out of Byrdhaven. Dodging strict nuns, WANTED posters, and an evil clown on the way, the trio manage to make it to the Northern Isles in search of Rubi. But it's Rubi who finds them first, and introduces them to a secret society living in the mountains of the Northern Isles called the Unruled.
But as Eva and Dusty spend more time amongst the Unruled, secrets begin to emerge that could threaten the safety of them all. With Parnassus stopping at nothing to find them, who can Eva, Myrnie, and Dusty really trust? Filled with humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure, The First Flame explores the deep-rooted bonds forged by flame and friendship, and the lengths people will go to protect those that need it the most.
The Aerimander
The Last Ember
The First Flame
The Sixth Union (coming in 2027!)
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 9, 2026
The First Flame is the second book in the series, and you’ll definitely want to read book one first—jumping in here would be confusing.
This series is aimed at upper middle grade readers, which feels appropriate since some of the themes and situations can get a bit darker than typical middle grade fantasy. The writing is highly descriptive, making it easy to visualize the world and imagine it adapted into a movie.
I enjoyed following the three central characters on another adventure and appreciated that the author kept the core group together rather than splitting them apart. While I still prefer the first book, this is a solid continuation of the series and leaves me interested to see where the story goes next. 📚🐉🔥
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
3.75 rounded up to 4
This series is aimed at upper middle grade readers, which feels appropriate since some of the themes and situations can get a bit darker than typical middle grade fantasy. The writing is highly descriptive, making it easy to visualize the world and imagine it adapted into a movie.
I enjoyed following the three central characters on another adventure and appreciated that the author kept the core group together rather than splitting them apart. While I still prefer the first book, this is a solid continuation of the series and leaves me interested to see where the story goes next. 📚🐉🔥
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
3.75 rounded up to 4
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read the first story and I'm so happy I got to read the next part in the story.
This is a middle grade novel that follows three children: two girls and one boy. This book has short easy to read chapters and is a multiple POV story.
Read this book is you like dragons...aerimanders. You like clever children solving problems in unique ways. And you enjoy good vs evil adventures.
Myrnie is a biology genius, Eva is an engineer and Dusty is an orphan who has street knowledge the two girls lack.
The story begins with the kids getting back together to find Rubi after finding out the evil Parnassus has a head start in the search.
Most of the book builds up nicely to the big reveal ls at the end. I had questions about the children at the inns role but finally figured that out before the end.
There were some twists and reveals at the end that have me interested to find out what happens next.
Thank you to the author publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read the story before it was published.
This is a middle grade novel that follows three children: two girls and one boy. This book has short easy to read chapters and is a multiple POV story.
Read this book is you like dragons...aerimanders. You like clever children solving problems in unique ways. And you enjoy good vs evil adventures.
Myrnie is a biology genius, Eva is an engineer and Dusty is an orphan who has street knowledge the two girls lack.
The story begins with the kids getting back together to find Rubi after finding out the evil Parnassus has a head start in the search.
Most of the book builds up nicely to the big reveal ls at the end. I had questions about the children at the inns role but finally figured that out before the end.
There were some twists and reveals at the end that have me interested to find out what happens next.
Thank you to the author publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read the story before it was published.
October 10, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC.
When I finished The Last Ember, the entrancing nature of the whimsical world that Lily Berlin Dodd had created left me wanting more. So as soon as my eye landed on The First Flame's gorgeous cover, I knew I would be in for a wonderful jaunt in the sequel. Although it had been some time since I read the first book, it was easy for me to slip back into the land and I had no problem at all refamiliarizing myself with the characters.
The First Flame opens with a quick summary of the events to come, which I felt was a bit unnecessary as I would like to just naturally enjoy that as the story unfolds. Instead, I would have preferred a recap of the first novel, with a heavy focus on the final chapters to remind the reader of the forced maturity our characters had to endure. Dusty, Eva, and Marnie are on the cusp of teenagedom and feeling the shifting nature of their view of the world.
With Dusty's trauma of the death of his childhood friend, as well as the torture he endured, he is left scrambling to just live to see another day. Meanwhile, Eva has been transferred to yet another boarding school with even more dire circumstances, requiring her to ban books as punishment for supposed crimes such as smiling at another person. Marnie--with her unease and anxiety at being in a group of people-- feels stuck in her role in the world, hoping to pursue the study of nature in any which way she can. All three are feeling listless and at sea in their current roles, before they meet back up together to forge their own destiny.
Although I was really hoping for the whimsical fun of the first novel to be reprised within The First Flame, upon further thought I concluded that it would not have been true to the characters and their current mental states. The First Flame itself does reflect middle book syndrome in that it is more of moving the reader and characters along to the more important conclusion to the story. However, it is a necessary step. There is a lot of foundational groundwork that is laid to fill out the resistance faction as well as setting them up to start their moves against the current regime.
Despite me wanting more of what I originally fell in love with, I still found that The First Flame was easy to devour and would be greatly appreciated by its intended audience. Personally, I feel the chapters need a little more length in them in order to work on developing reading stamina for these young readers. On the other hand, for young readers it may make it easier for them to set a steady pace and natural stopping points if needed. I feel The First Flame would create a wonderful bonding experience between parents and their children if read together, and would lead to important conversations that would encourage critical thinking about growing up and experiencing the natural disappearance of the bright and bushy eyed nature of a child shifting to a much more mature adolescent who is starting to understand the world around them in more depth.
When I finished The Last Ember, the entrancing nature of the whimsical world that Lily Berlin Dodd had created left me wanting more. So as soon as my eye landed on The First Flame's gorgeous cover, I knew I would be in for a wonderful jaunt in the sequel. Although it had been some time since I read the first book, it was easy for me to slip back into the land and I had no problem at all refamiliarizing myself with the characters.
The First Flame opens with a quick summary of the events to come, which I felt was a bit unnecessary as I would like to just naturally enjoy that as the story unfolds. Instead, I would have preferred a recap of the first novel, with a heavy focus on the final chapters to remind the reader of the forced maturity our characters had to endure. Dusty, Eva, and Marnie are on the cusp of teenagedom and feeling the shifting nature of their view of the world.
With Dusty's trauma of the death of his childhood friend, as well as the torture he endured, he is left scrambling to just live to see another day. Meanwhile, Eva has been transferred to yet another boarding school with even more dire circumstances, requiring her to ban books as punishment for supposed crimes such as smiling at another person. Marnie--with her unease and anxiety at being in a group of people-- feels stuck in her role in the world, hoping to pursue the study of nature in any which way she can. All three are feeling listless and at sea in their current roles, before they meet back up together to forge their own destiny.
Although I was really hoping for the whimsical fun of the first novel to be reprised within The First Flame, upon further thought I concluded that it would not have been true to the characters and their current mental states. The First Flame itself does reflect middle book syndrome in that it is more of moving the reader and characters along to the more important conclusion to the story. However, it is a necessary step. There is a lot of foundational groundwork that is laid to fill out the resistance faction as well as setting them up to start their moves against the current regime.
Despite me wanting more of what I originally fell in love with, I still found that The First Flame was easy to devour and would be greatly appreciated by its intended audience. Personally, I feel the chapters need a little more length in them in order to work on developing reading stamina for these young readers. On the other hand, for young readers it may make it easier for them to set a steady pace and natural stopping points if needed. I feel The First Flame would create a wonderful bonding experience between parents and their children if read together, and would lead to important conversations that would encourage critical thinking about growing up and experiencing the natural disappearance of the bright and bushy eyed nature of a child shifting to a much more mature adolescent who is starting to understand the world around them in more depth.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What worked:
The same main characters from the first book regroup to save an aerimander from danger. Aerimanders will remind readers of dragons, and the main one in this story is Rubi. Dusty and Eva guarded her egg until she hatched, and they still have a connection with her. Eva and Dusty can sense when the aerimander is near, which comes in handy when they try to locate Rubi in the mountains. The story takes a surprising turn when the characters finally locate her, or rather, Rubi finds them.
Dusty, Eva, and Myrna bring contrasting talents to the story. Dusty grew up in an orphanage before escaping, so he has street smarts and physical skills the others lack. He has other abilities and connections thanks to his time in the Thieves Guild. Eva is book-smart and outspoken, so don’t expect her to hold her tongue. She has a keen eye for details and a talent for creativity. Readers find her in a reformatory for problem girls when she enters this story. Myrna is Eva’s best friend, and her strengths are planning and a sensitivity to nature. Eva is rescued from the reformatory thanks to Myrna’s step-by-step plans.
Several elements of the plot will have readers wondering about upcoming events. Myrna is not immune to aerimander flame, like Dusty and Eva, so it’s dangerous for her to be around them. Eoin Parnassus, the story’s evil antagonist, is searching for Rubi and wants to use her as a weapon. He’s nearing the mountains where Rubi is hiding, and he’s dragging a heavy box along with him. It’s obviously not good news, but what is in the box? Dusty, Eva, and Myrna discover people secretly living in the mountains, and the three kids pass a test to join their school. They’ll learn common school topics, but they’ll learn all about the aerimanders. However, these people seem to know everything about the trio, and Eva wonders how that’s possible. There’s a huge secret they’re not being told.
What didn’t work as well:
Rubi’s size may be confusing. On one hand, Dusty can carry her in his arms, but later she picks him up and flies him away to safety. There’s also a scene later in the book where Dusty and Eva wear a protective covering to complete a ceremony. However, Myrna later walks the same path without the same protection. Confusing. However, overall, this is a solid book.
The final verdict:
Readers should begin with the first book, The Last Ember, to fully understand the backstory. I recommend it for lovers of dragons and adventure.
The same main characters from the first book regroup to save an aerimander from danger. Aerimanders will remind readers of dragons, and the main one in this story is Rubi. Dusty and Eva guarded her egg until she hatched, and they still have a connection with her. Eva and Dusty can sense when the aerimander is near, which comes in handy when they try to locate Rubi in the mountains. The story takes a surprising turn when the characters finally locate her, or rather, Rubi finds them.
Dusty, Eva, and Myrna bring contrasting talents to the story. Dusty grew up in an orphanage before escaping, so he has street smarts and physical skills the others lack. He has other abilities and connections thanks to his time in the Thieves Guild. Eva is book-smart and outspoken, so don’t expect her to hold her tongue. She has a keen eye for details and a talent for creativity. Readers find her in a reformatory for problem girls when she enters this story. Myrna is Eva’s best friend, and her strengths are planning and a sensitivity to nature. Eva is rescued from the reformatory thanks to Myrna’s step-by-step plans.
Several elements of the plot will have readers wondering about upcoming events. Myrna is not immune to aerimander flame, like Dusty and Eva, so it’s dangerous for her to be around them. Eoin Parnassus, the story’s evil antagonist, is searching for Rubi and wants to use her as a weapon. He’s nearing the mountains where Rubi is hiding, and he’s dragging a heavy box along with him. It’s obviously not good news, but what is in the box? Dusty, Eva, and Myrna discover people secretly living in the mountains, and the three kids pass a test to join their school. They’ll learn common school topics, but they’ll learn all about the aerimanders. However, these people seem to know everything about the trio, and Eva wonders how that’s possible. There’s a huge secret they’re not being told.
What didn’t work as well:
Rubi’s size may be confusing. On one hand, Dusty can carry her in his arms, but later she picks him up and flies him away to safety. There’s also a scene later in the book where Dusty and Eva wear a protective covering to complete a ceremony. However, Myrna later walks the same path without the same protection. Confusing. However, overall, this is a solid book.
The final verdict:
Readers should begin with the first book, The Last Ember, to fully understand the backstory. I recommend it for lovers of dragons and adventure.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 The book grabs you after the "kidnapping" because so much is happening with that event, from magic to establishing sides, especially the interaction of the characters after the egg fuses to Eva. It's a good start to the series that already sounds promising. The take on the dragons is refreshing, and there is no sense of only bad guys vs good.The characters are constantly on high alert because even allies seem suspicious. It doesn't feel like a kid's book. It pushes a bit further in the danger and they already act and think and act as new adults (showing the finger and being rebellious), making a stand for the society more than just for themselves. I like the relationship between Rubi and the characters. They all have unique extraordinary skills that come from their life experiences, rather than superpowers. For example, one character (Eva) practiced enough that her memory is more accurate at detecting things out of place. Myrnie notices anomalies in nature quickly. Although the egg fuses with Eva. I felt Dusty was a better main character with more growth. He is not from high society as they are, he has more to conquer, and a more natural connection with the dragon which seems stronger. This confused me a bit, as if the author forced the scenes to shift on purpose just to make the female scientist characters stand out more. Great coming-of-age in a very distrustful society.
Looking forward to the resolution of the semi-cliffhanger.
Looking forward to the resolution of the semi-cliffhanger.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Lily Berlin Dodd and Macmillan Publishers for making this book available to read for free through NetGalley. They have not influenced this review.
I had a really good time with The First Flame by Lily Dodd. The pacing was just right for me, and I particularly enjoyed watching the bond between the three main characters develop throughout the story. I also found the Palisades fascinating. The more I learned about the group and its members, the more interested I became in uncovering their secrets. My one minor criticism is that the villain felt a bit one-dimensional, but that's not unusual for middle-grade fiction, so it didn't take away too much from my enjoyment.
Overall, The First Flame kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I'd happily recommend it to readers looking for an entertaining middle-grade fantasy with intriguing mysteries and compelling characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I had a really good time with The First Flame by Lily Dodd. The pacing was just right for me, and I particularly enjoyed watching the bond between the three main characters develop throughout the story. I also found the Palisades fascinating. The more I learned about the group and its members, the more interested I became in uncovering their secrets. My one minor criticism is that the villain felt a bit one-dimensional, but that's not unusual for middle-grade fiction, so it didn't take away too much from my enjoyment.
Overall, The First Flame kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I'd happily recommend it to readers looking for an entertaining middle-grade fantasy with intriguing mysteries and compelling characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such an adorable middle grade fantasy, and I liked it just as much as the first installment. I really enjoy how much heart this series has, while still keeping the story full of adventure and fun.
I’d especially recommend this to kids who love fantasy and dragons. The characters are easy to root for, and there’s a lot here that I think younger readers will have a great time with. I’m planning to share this series with my nephew once he gets just a little bit older.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
I’d especially recommend this to kids who love fantasy and dragons. The characters are easy to root for, and there’s a lot here that I think younger readers will have a great time with. I’m planning to share this series with my nephew once he gets just a little bit older.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
Read
September 1, 2026This series is aimed at upper middle grade readers, which feels appropriate since some of the themes and situations can get a bit darker than typical middle grade fantasy. The writing is highly descriptive, making it easy to visualize the world.
I’d especially recommend this to kids who love fantasy and dragons. The characters are easy to root for, and there’s a lot here that I think younger readers will have a great time with. I’m planning to share this series with my nephew once he gets just a little bit older.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
I’d especially recommend this to kids who love fantasy and dragons. The characters are easy to root for, and there’s a lot here that I think younger readers will have a great time with. I’m planning to share this series with my nephew once he gets just a little bit older.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
October 11, 2026
an absolute DELIGHT to read, but who is surprised???? this book carries through the silly but deep air of the first book, allowing us to follow our characters into new lands and treacherous encounters with our antagonists. It’s quick, fun, humorous, surprising, and exploratory of themes all middle grades should encounter to some degree. This series is a romp and a half, and I just LOVE it.
Big thank yous all around to MacKids for gifting this e-arc to me, and I can’t wait for more installations of this stories!!
Big thank yous all around to MacKids for gifting this e-arc to me, and I can’t wait for more installations of this stories!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an exciting fantasy book for tweens and under that I would highly recommend. If you have a Percy Jackson fan in the family then I would recommend this series.
I really enjoy how the MC's are smart- they have brains and work hard. They are role models without being put up a pedestal for our younger readers. There is a little bit of everything in this book- mystery, adventure, chasing evil! It was a fun read even for an adult.
I would highly recommend.
4.25 Stars
I really enjoy how the MC's are smart- they have brains and work hard. They are role models without being put up a pedestal for our younger readers. There is a little bit of everything in this book- mystery, adventure, chasing evil! It was a fun read even for an adult.
I would highly recommend.
4.25 Stars
October 6, 2026
I am enamored with this series! I enjoyed the first one (The Last Ember) and only expected to like the sequel a moderate amount. I was, pleasantly, wrong about that assumption. I found myself unable to put it down and it is one of my top 10 for the year. The characters are much more developed and the story is gripping. Rubi is the absolute most adorable creature to ever grace the pages of a fantasy novel!
August 4, 2026
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reading copy of this book provided by the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this Advanced Reading Copy.
This was an exciting sequel to the first. I liked it much better than the first, honestly. There was constant action, and a few twists. I was so proud of the 3 main characters for sticking together and standing up for what was right. I'm interested to find out if there will be a third book because the story did have some holes that I don't feel were filled. It would definitely be something I'd pick up and read in the future.
This was an exciting sequel to the first. I liked it much better than the first, honestly. There was constant action, and a few twists. I was so proud of the 3 main characters for sticking together and standing up for what was right. I'm interested to find out if there will be a third book because the story did have some holes that I don't feel were filled. It would definitely be something I'd pick up and read in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BEAUTIFUL book! I want to read the first one, now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The second book in a series about a supposed mythical being, the Aerimander, this was even better than the first. Fantastic escapes and rescues, secret schools with secret upon secret!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews