Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this first book in the Fallen Isles trilogy, a young woman who is looked upon as the heart of her seven-island nation must stand up for what she believes after being bitterly betrayed. When 17-year-old Mira Minkoba discovers governmental treachery, she speaks out and is sent to the Pit, the most notorious prison in the Fallen Isles. At the mercy of Altan, a vicious guard with an agenda, Mira works to survive in order to save the dragons she loves and trains, see her family and friends again, and protect new allies she makes in prison. The narrative shifts between Mira-s harrowing time in the Pit and her pampered former life; Meadows (the Orphan Queen series) doesn-t instantly transform her into a ready-to-fight warrior, and she portrays acutely Mira-s insecurities about not living up to the demands of her station or to her mother-s expectations. Meadows leaves room to flesh out Mira-s island world in future books while exploring issues of inclusivity and discrimination. Fans of Naomi Novik-s Temeraire series or Julie Kagawa-s Talon books will be delighted. Ages 13-up. Agent: Lauren Macleod, Strothman Agency. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 9 Up-ira 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 fantasythe first in a trilogywill 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. VERDICT A must-have for YA collections, especially where the author and fantasy is popular.Rebecca Greer, Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, FL

ALA Booklist (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Mira Minkoba is used to being seen and heard. Born the same day as the peace treaty that was named for her, Mira is the mouth of her government, helping to ease tensions between six island nations. Her beauty is cultivated, and her speeches written for her, but Mira's real love is her work with the dragons protected under the treaty. When Mira stumbles upon a dangerous secret about these dragons, she is sent immediately to the Pit, a huge, frightening prison. Mira's life has never been anything but soft, and her struggles with crippling anxiety threaten to overwhelm her as she faces life as a prisoner. But the dragons are still in danger, and Mira will have to summon inner strength she never knew she had if she's to be more than a mouthpiece. Pacing can be slow, as Mira is imprisoned for the bulk of the story, but the complex political system is compellingly built, and Mira's characterization is admirable. Hand to fans of rich world building d, of course, fans of dragons.

Kirkus Reviews

In this series debut, a young girl uncovers information that threatens to shake the foundation of her world.Mira Minkoba is known as the Hope-bearer. On the day she was born, a treaty uniting the six island-nations of the Fallen Isles was named after her. As the face and voice of the Luminary Council, her island's governing body, Mira lives life in a gilded cage. The only time she feels free is when she's with the dragons in the sanctuary. When Mira and her friends uncover a sinister plot involving the dragons, Mira takes it to the Luminary Council, but instead of addressing it, they banish her to the Pit, a tightly guarded underground prison. Faced with crippling anxiety, strange cellmates, and a cruel guard who will stop at nothing to uncover her secrets, Mira must keep her wits about her to survive, especially as it becomes clear that the dragon plot goes deeper than she ever imagined. In this first of the Fallen Isles Trilogy, Meadows sows the seeds for an exciting follow-up and creates a rich, vivid world with characters who blossom on the page. All of the novel's characters are brown, but so far this detail—punctuated with numerous mentions of hair and braids—feels surface deep; however, there is variance in culture from island to island, and as the novel progresses, discrimination becomes a topic of concern in the Fallen Isles. Meadows also hints at other clans and kingdoms beyond the six island nations. A page-turner that promises future intrigue, special powers, and dragon adventures. (Fantasy. 12-16)

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Mira, "the Hopebearer," represents peace and unity: she was born the year a treaty was signed among the Fallen Isles nations. When Mira uncovers and reports illegal dragon trafficking, she expects action but is instead thrown into a gruesome prison. Mira's unpleasant abuse in the Pit is balanced by her fierce will to survive and her compassion for the exploited dragons in this genre-trendy new fantasy series.