In the jagged cliffs of New Pythos, the defeated dragonlords have regrouped, ready to reclaim their city and crush the revolution that drove them out. Their first strike has left Callipolis starving, its people divided. Now, they're sending their dragons to finish the job. Annie, the youngest Firstrider in Callipolan history, is tasked with defending her city against the looming threat. But the responsibility weighs heavy - rations are running out, tensions are rising, and every decision she makes could spark rebellion in her own streets. Lee, scarred by betrayal and the price he paid for loyalty, questions where he belongs. Supporting Annie means upholding the system that cost him his family, while joining the rebels means tearing apart the world they fought to build. Griff, a lowborn dragonrider serving the Pythian lords, knows his life has no value to those in power. But when a fateful mission puts him in Annie's path, he's forced to confront a choice: continue fighting for a future that will never include him, or risk everything by siding with his enemies. With famine tearing their city apart and war closing in, Annie, Lee, and Griff must decide who to trust and what to sacrifice to save the people they care about. But every choice comes with a cost - and this time, survival might not be enough. Full of high-stakes action, shifting loyalties, and heart-wrenching decisions, this sequel is a thrilling ride through the flames of war and the bonds that define us.

Rosaria Munda grew up in rural North Carolina, studied political theory at Princeton and Oxford, and lives with her family in Florida. She is the author of YA trilogy The Aurelian Cycle (Fireborne, Flamefall, and Furysong) and the middle grade series Confessions of a Junior Spy (Feiwel & Friends, 2025).