Norah Crimson's whole life has revolved around becoming a mage like the rest of her family. However, on Choosing Day, a freak twist of fate propels her into the world of dragon riders. Norah must learn to navigate this new society and overcome training challenges to find her place among the skies. But something lurks beyond the islands that people believe to be stories.

The world as humanity knew it was gone. In its place was a radioactive wasteland, scorched by nuclear furnaces. The third millenium passed unmarked and uncelebrated by those in the safezones. The rich took to the oceans, and to the skies, leaving everyone else behind. Stranded in the isolated "safe zones", with no knowledge of the worlds above their heads. Igor Jonovich changed everything. Nanotechnology, long thought to be impossible, flourished under his genius. Even as the walls of their radioactive cage closed in, humanity pushed back, harnessing Jonovich's creations to explore the radioactive wastelands. To challenge the twisted creatures that lurked in the ashes of their former glory. Humanity thought they, at least, knew this scarred earth. It turns out even that was a lie. Yesterday Jared found a message hidden within Professor Jonovich's greatest work that changed everything.