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1_800_fuck_off's review against another edition
- 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
it would be a much better place
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Genocide, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Slavery, Transphobia, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
anazap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, and Transphobia
mateyy's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moniquill Blackgoose created a really cool almost steampunk-y Colonial North American setting that lends itself well to the story being told. How Anequs (and subsequently the audience) interacted with the setting worked well and it did not feel like I had to sift through so much exposition.
I think coming into this book with the notion that it was a bit like Fourth Wing but TSADB actively deals with the horrors that Native Americans had to (and still deal with the repercussions) face in a fantasy setting, definitely set me up for a different novel than I got. I think if I read this without that bias, I think I would have enjoyed the book more because the stakes were a lot different than I was expecting.
I am excited to see the story continue in the next installment!
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
saltylane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Some of the scenes were rather detailed to the point that I was a bit bored with them, like a couple of the class scenes wherein Anequs had to learn detailed concepts. It’s possible they were intentionally written that way to have the reader share the confusion of Anequs upon having to learn the complex concepts, but I almost skipped the scene entirely about midway through. On the other hand, some scenes were briefly described when I might’ve liked to read more about them in detail.
The descriptions of the dragons when they first appeared were added in such a way that it was hard for me to actually picture the individual creatures in my mind. The species were almost all described at once, and I couldn’t retain what they looked like after that point because the ideas blended together. The descriptions were thorough, but being introduced to most of them all at once made it harder for me to keep up with what was what afterwards. I would like to see illustrations of them, though, because they did sound interesting to see!
The story itself is inspiring as Anequs faces much adversity in the community she’s thrust into. The analogs to real-world issues can be painful a lot of the time, but it’s informative and inspiring when Anequs fights to make change. The way she becomes an agent for change in those around her with her tenacity and kindness/empathy is heartwarming.
Overall, I enjoyed the read, and I look forward to the sequels.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
_lostinthetrees's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Anequs was such a lovely, dynamic main character. Also, Kasaqua was just the bestest dragon.
As far as books about dragons go, this one is top tier; well thought out descriptions and lore abound.
I loved the varied cast of characters who are in Anequs' orbit; at least, the ones who didn't cause her so much grief, anyways.
Overall, I definitely hope to reread this book one day, to appreciate the story all over again. This one deserves to become a classic, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Death, Transphobia, Violence, and Death of parent
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, Transphobia, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
nicoleas5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Lesbophobia
hawksrye's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Transphobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
taroroot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Slavery, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug use, Blood, and Alcohol
novella42's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Also, I don't know what the audiobook is like, but I can't imagine getting the same effect without a text version. I'm very glad I have the hardcopy so I could page back and forth to the pronunciations, maps, periodic table, etc. I wish I could share photos of the pronunciation guide because it's a sliver of a glimpse of the amount of brainpower Blackgoose poured into this work. I wish I could show you some of the heart, too, but for that you'll need to immerse yourself in the story.
As a lifelong wheelchair-user, I really enjoyed the steampunk wheelchair alternative (though if I were that character I'd probably try and develop some sort of smaller backup mobility aid to allow me to move into all the inaccessible places around the school where the larger device couldn't go). I loved the magical AAC device the neurodivergent character uses to communicate, too! Brilliant and respectful rep for disability, neurodivergence, queer, and polyam characters. I've been recommending it left and right. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Slavery, Suicide, Transphobia, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Pregnancy