Fireborne (Book 1 in the Aurelian Cycle)

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone–even the lowborn–a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs


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*Signed copies available through The Lynx Bookstore. Please specify in order comments. Personalization available upon request; please allow extra time for us to coordinate. Thanks!


Praise for Fireborne

★ ★ ★ ★ Four Starred Reviews
A 2019 CYBILS Award Winner

An Illinois Reads 2020 Selection
A 2020-2021 Maine Student Book Award Selection

“This series opener thrills with dragon action, from aerial tournaments to wartime battles . . . a near-perfect work of high fantasy with wide appeal.”     Booklist, Starred Review

“Drawing inspiration from The Aeneid and Plato’s Republic, debut author Munda generates a plot that moves quickly, tempering fate-driven elements of classical tragedy with hope.”    Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review

“[Fireborne] pulls readers in with political intrigue and action. What keeps them invested, however, are the complex relationships between many cast members… Full of drama, emotional turmoil, and high stakes.”      Kirkus, Starred Review 

“Recommended for both teens and adults who enjoy a mentally stimulating novel and for those who wish to lose themselves in a world full of dragons.” School Library Journal, Starred Review 

“From action fans to romance fans, political junkies to fantasy lovers, many different audiences will find something rewarding here.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Fireborne is everything I want in fantasy: deep world-building, fierce and vivid characters, heartbreaking choices, and dragons, dragons, dragons.”        Rachel Hartman, New York Times bestselling author of Seraphina and Tess of the Road

“It’s been a long time since a book made me this happy. Fireborne is my new favourite dragon book.”        Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara

Fireborne moved me, it surprised me, it thrilled me, it enraged me, it made me cry, it made me think. I know my teenage self would have LOVED this, but its heady mix of fantasy, politics, philosophy, and yes, a dash of romance feels entirely fresh.”          Bridget Tyler, author of The Pioneer


Listen to a sample of the audiobook

Winner of the Audiofile Earphones Award


Delve deeper into the world of Fireborne

Head over to Resources for discussion guides, background information about influences on Fireborne, the writing process, and a map!


Read the Sequel

The second book in the Fireborne trilogy, Flamefall, is out now. Find it where books are sold including Amazon, B&N, and Rosaria’s Bookshop.*

*Support the author by ordering through Rosaria’s affiliate page on Bookshop.org, which will divide a percentage of proceeds between the author and independent bookstores.