Description

“A fiercely imagined world!” —Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of the Remnant Chronicles

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of My Plain Jane comes the second book in a smoldering fantasy trilogy about a girl who must embrace her latent power or lose the dragons she loves. Perfect for fans of Julie Kagawa and Kendare Blake.

Mira the Dragonhearted is on the run with her friends following a fiery escape from the prison where she’d been condemned for speaking out against dragon trafficking.

And she wants answers. Has the treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sold out the Fallen Isles to their enemies? Did her own parents lie to her? Will she lose control of her power and hurt the ones she loves?

The only way to find the truth is to go home again, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust. Home, where she must learn to rise above her fears. Or be consumed.


  • A Powerful Heroine on the Run: Mira the Dragonhearted has escaped prison, but freedom is far from guaranteed. With warriors on her trail, she must rely on a band of unlikely allies to survive.
  • Dangerous Latent Magic: An explosive power is waking inside Mira, one she can’t control. Can she master it before it consumes her and hurts the ones she loves?
  • A Found Family of Fugitives: From her loyal protector to the silent boy she freed from a neighboring cell, Mira’s circle of friends is the only thing she can trust in a world of lies.
  • Dragons in Peril: The fight against dragon trafficking is what landed Mira in prison, and now she’ll risk everything to protect the magnificent creatures she loves.
  • A World of Betrayal: The treaty bearing Mira’s name was meant to protect the Isles, but it may be a devastating lie. To find the truth, she must confront the one place she never wanted to return: home.

About the author(s)

The Lady Janies are made up of New York Times bestselling authors Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows. They first met in 2012, when their publishers sent them on a book tour together, and they hit it off so well they decided to write My Lady Jane so they could go on book tours together all the time. Between the three of them they’ve written more than twenty published novels, a bunch of novellas, a handful of short stories, and a couple of really bad poems. They’re friends. They’re writers. They’re fixing history by rewriting one sad story at a time. Learn more at ladyjanies.com. 

Reviews

“Mira is a fascinating and flawed heroine who tilts the world on its side. I loved her and this fiercely imagined world.” - Mary Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles

“A fully realized fantasy world complete with dragons, treachery, and flawed characters discovering their courage. I couldn’t put it down!” - C .J. Redwine, New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen

“Complex world-building and luminous storytelling. Mira will sear a mark on your heart long after the final page is consumed.” - Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon and The Secret of a Heart Note

Praise for Before She Ignites: “...fast-paced, with surprising twists and turns. This richly written fantasy—the first in a trilogy—will keep readers asking whom to trust and wondering what’s true.” - School Library Journal

“The complex political system is compellingly built, and Mira’s characterization is admirable. Hand to fans of rich world building—and, of course, fans of dragons.” - ALA Booklist

“Meadows portrays acutely Mira’s insecurities about not living up to the demands of her station or to her mother’s expectations…while exploring issues of inclusivity and discrimination. Fans of Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series or Julie Kagawa’s Talon books will be delighted.” - Publishers Weekly

 “Meadows sows the seeds for an exciting follow-up and creates a rich, vivid world with characters who blossom on the page…. A page-turner that promises future intrigue, special powers, and dragon adventures.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Meadows weaves a taut narrative of loss, betrayal, and friendship, building a politically and environmentally fascinating world that readers who are looking for fantasies that center on people of color will especially appreciate. Readers struggling with mental health issues will be especially heartened to see a heroine whose anxiety doesn’t define her.”  - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Meadows weaves a taut narrative of loss, betrayal, and friendship, building a politically and environmentally fascinating world that readers who are looking for fantasies that center on people of color will especially appreciate.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

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