hm13jp's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"To Shape a Dragons Breath" is basically a mix of Harry Potter and the history of indigenous Americans and the colonists. But an alternate reality where Norse were doing the colonizing vs the British. The story fills the voids the the HP series leaves as well as the currently popular Fourth Wing story. This may be my favorite young adult fantasy. Highly recommend.
breading_books's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
leahjanespeare's review against another edition
4.5
In an alternate historical fantasy world, Anequs chooses to leave her remote island village and join the steampunk-esque world of the Anglish. As she trains with her dragon at an esteemed Anglish academy, the contrast is stark between these two colliding worlds. Anequs' story is a bildungsroman reminiscent of The Name of the Wind, but enhanced with commentary on colonialism, and queer, Indigenous identity.
billie_the_book_babe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
dachshundmom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
neminaf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I loved this!! I was pretty anxious throughout the whole book because but I should have trusted the author. <3 Also I wanted to slap so many people in this book. Except Sander.
Spoiler
I kept expecting the Anglish to go kill everyone because...yeah
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Colonisation, Ableism, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Genocide, Police brutality, Death of parent, Bullying, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
jenniferavignon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rachachisaur's review against another edition
Oh my god I have never been so bored with a book in my entire life. If I wanted to relearn high school science in excruciating detail but with all the names of things changed, I would possibly have been able to keep reading. I don’t know how this got past multiple people to publishing, but chapters of straight up science lectures don’t make for good fantasy writing.
So far the book has been almost all tell through dry dialogue and almost no show. I love dragons and steampunk fantasy settings but I absolutely cannot listen to any more high school classroom teaching. The first third of the book has been little but comparisons about how different the cultures are and the re-explaining of common things under the guise of new fantasy names. I genuinely tried to stick it out.
So far the book has been almost all tell through dry dialogue and almost no show. I love dragons and steampunk fantasy settings but I absolutely cannot listen to any more high school classroom teaching. The first third of the book has been little but comparisons about how different the cultures are and the re-explaining of common things under the guise of new fantasy names. I genuinely tried to stick it out.