Fire speaks in song. At the tender age of sixteen, Aeronwy Silverdream married the spirit of the great volcano, Mount Cináed. But the mantle of Flamekeeper is a heavy one, and the cult known as the Fellowship of the Ardent is an unkind place to grow up for an autistic child. It's only when Aeronwy runs away to the modern capital of Caspora City and the Eternal Library that e finds freedom to be emself-with the help of new friends Siobhan, Inyene, and especially Mairead Moonsea.

Years later, Aeronwy becomes apprenticed to Illuminator Catrina Rosefall, a quirky artist and former circus actor who is determined to help Aeronwy face eir past. Their personalities couldn't be more different, but friction starts fires, and isn't fire what Aeronwy needs the most right now? Throw in an ancestor spirit with an unfinished story, confusion over what "romance" really means, and an increasingly toxic best-friendship, and what started as a spark threatens to blaze out of control.

Creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin, and death is necessary in order to be reborn. As the Flame of Ashes, Aeronwy knows this, but after a life of lies and deception, how does one relearn how to recognize the truth?

For readers who like:

- Found family - Entirely queer cast of characters, including many aro & ace-spectrum - Autistic narrator & AuDHD love interest - Queernorm society - Two aro-spectrum leads figuring out their romance - Polyamory and neopronouns - Magical art, writing, & traditional crafting - Fantasy 1980s setting - Intergenerational mentor/student friendship - Trauma healing - BIG LIBRARY