Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

Reader be warned: this series has the potential to take over your entire life. 

The Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda (Fireborne, Flamefall, and Furysong in order) is the political dragon fantasy readers crave. The first book is told from two points of view: Annie and Lee, who were both children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone the chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders. Annie, having been born into lowborn status, watched as her entire family was executed by dragon fire on orders of the former regime; while Lee was born into the aristocratic family that ruled–and was subsequently massacred during the revolution. After ending up in the same orphanage following the deaths of their families and then testing into the elite class of dragonriders, the two are close friends and rivals as they compete for the top spot of First Rider in their dragon-riding military fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city by any means necessary. Both Annie and Lee must make a choice: Lee has to decide whether to kill his only remaining family or betray everything he’s come to believe in; and Annie must choose between protecting the boy she loves or stepping up to be the champion her city needs. Stakes are made even higher with every single installment. 

If this series could be summed up in just one word, it would be tense. There are: morally ambiguous characters that are fully fleshed out, grasping hearts and making them ache with the motivations, circumstances, and choices these teenagers are forced to encounter; political machinations that show the underbelly of the corruption of power; and so much suspense that carries throughout each book–with twists and turns readers never see coming and life-or-death stakes that have them on the edge of their seat. Not to mention the romantic tension that will have readers going back and forth with who they want to see together until they simply give up and enjoy the ride (which feels so realistic and refreshing in a YA book). 

This series is filled with moments that will leave people crying, gasping, and screaming–with the occasional giggle thrown in. The pacing throughout all three books is masterful, the plot will never feel boring or unsatisfying (quite the opposite actually), and the characters round this all out to be a series that readers won’t soon forget.