Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles, Book 1)

“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

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of My Plain Jane comes a smoldering new fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Kristin Cashore about a girl condemned for defending dragons and the inner fire that may be her only chance of escape.

Mira has always been a symbol of hope for the Fallen Isles, perfect and beautiful—or at least that’s how she’s forced to appear. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret, Mira is betrayed by those closest to her and sentenced to the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles.

Except Mira is over being a pawn. Fighting to survive against outer threats and inner demons of mental illness, Mira must find her inner fire and the scorching truth about her own endangered magic—before her very world collapses.

And that’s all before she ignites. 

• Deadly Prison: Sentenced to the Pit, a prison carved from a holy temple, Mira must survive deadly inmates and even deadlier guards.
• Dragons in Danger: After a lifetime of loving dragons, Mira is condemned for trying to save them from a powerful conspiracy. But her fight is far from over.
• A Heroine with Anxiety: This epic fantasy adventure features authentic mental health representation, as Mira battles not just external threats, but the inner demons of anxiety and panic.
• Found Family: In the darkness of the Pit, unexpected alliances form with a silent boy from a rival island and a disgraced warrior. But in a place built on betrayal, who can she truly trust?

Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the Incarnate Trilogy, the Orphan Queen Duology, the Fallen Isles Trilogy (Harper), and the Nightrender duology and Bye Forever, I Guess (Holiday House). She is also a coauthor of New York Times bestsellers My Lady Jane (now streaming on Prime!), My Plain Jane, and other books in the Lady Janies series (Harper).

Her books have been selected for Junior Library Guild, Kids' Indie Next List, Bookshop Best of, Publishers Weekly Best of, Kirkus Best of, Booklist Best of, Bustle Best of, YALSA Best of, nominated for Tome Society and Young Adult Virginia awards, as well as other honors and selections.

She lives in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.