Before She Ignites

Gr 9 Up—Mira Minkoba, nicknamed the Hope-Bearer, is seen as the living representation of the Mira Treaty. The treaty united and brought equality to the six island-nations of the Fallen Isles; each island (populated by people of color) is connected to a different god who bestows gifts to its people. Mira, used to being the mouthpiece of The Luminary Council, is thrown into prison, known as the Pit, when she discovers dragons have gone missing and makes the mistake of bringing it to the council's attention. Away from her best friends, wingsister Ilina and protector Hristo, who disregards his islands' peaceful ways, Mira must rely on herself for the first time. Living with anxiety, the protagonist has learned to cope with breathing exercises and panic pills. A secret obsession with counting everything turns shame to skill when learning to communicate with prison mate Aaru in code. Relying on her belief in the treaty, and the ways of her island gods Damyan and Darina, the lovers, Mira works to survive and make allies. Interspersed with flashback chapters, the novel is fairly 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. For fans of Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas, and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.