The First Flame, Lily Berlin Dodd
The First Flame, Lily Berlin Dodd
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The First Flame
The Aerimander Chronicles Book 2

Author: Lily Berlin Dodd

Narrator: Sid Sagar

Unabridged: 7 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/17/2026


Synopsis

The 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.

About Lily Berlin Dodd

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.

About Sid Sagar

Sid Sagar is an award-winning actor, writer and narrator. With over 60 audiobooks narratedto date, Sid has lent his voice to a wide range of genres, from literary fiction to historicalepics to cosy crime. He has won AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narration of SalmanRushdie’s Victory City, Natasha Pulley’s The Hymn to Dionysus and Janice Hallett’s TheMysterious Case of the Alperton Angels. Sid effortlessly shifts between tones, dialects andemotional textures. His narration style has been praised for its clarity and warmth, makingeven the most complex material feel alive and accessible. Beyond audiobooks, Sid regularlyworks on stage and screen. He won an Eastern Eye Award for Best Actor for hisperformance in Kenneth Lonergan’s The Starry Messenger in the West End. Other creditsinclude Cabaret (West End), Ballet Shoes (National Theatre) and Slow Horses (Apple TV+).As a writer, his work includes Middle Men and John from Hemel (BBC Radio 4), BakedBeans (BFI NETWORK), and Biting Point (Hull and UK tour, published by Faber).


Reviews

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Quotes

Praise for The First Flame:

★ "Fantasy fans, rejoice. Dodd’s follow-up to The Last Ember (2025) is an exciting romp from beginning to end—a sophomore outing that’s far from sophomoric... [Dodd] masterfully combines wry humor and moxie with biting social commentary on myriad topics, including inequality, authoritarianism, and war... A fast-paced, witty, and delightful read that’s layered with astute insights." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review


Praise for The Last Ember:


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

★ "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 Reviews, 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