The Last Ember

The Aerimander Chronicles, Book 1

By: Lily Berlin Dodd

Narrated by: Sid Sagar

Aerimanders are extinct.

Or so the government would have you think, having centuries earlier destroyed the last of these deadly, dragon-like creatures.

So when wealthy 12-year-old chemistry student Eva Alexander unwittingly purchases an aerimander egg, she becomes the target of the Thieves' Union and its newest member, 13-year-old orphan Dusty St Ichabod.

But Eva is no easy mark, and soon she and Dusty are driven into a maze of sinister threats, betrayals and surprises – all while fighting to keep the egg away from power-hungry hands.

As the unlikely duo races against time, their fates – and that of the whole world – are at stake. Because there's one question no one dares to ask: What happens when the egg hatches?

©2025 Lily Berlin Dodd (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

'Fantasy done right: Fans of The Princess Bride and Terry Pratchett's work will devour this series opener.' (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

'Dodd admirably balances expert worldbuilding with a rip-roaring plot and complicated character interactions that crackle with witty buoyancy.' (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

'Eva and Dusty are an unlikely pair of main characters, and the mysterious, secret organizations are intriguing. I'm looking forward to the book's sequel, and I recommend you try this one for yourself!' (YA and kids! Books Central)