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koreydobbert's review against another edition
Low intrigue with the book. I thought the author had an interesting idea but I was not very interested in the way it was done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, and Xenophobia
toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved this book! Really looking forward to more in this series when it eventually comes out. The worldbuilding was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot, and all the characters felt very well developed and complex. Anequs was a great narrator and I enjoyed being in her head, and I loved how her knowledge of her people's traditions is what allowed her to succeed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Gun violence and Hate crime
Minor: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Slavery, Transphobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, and War
alaris's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
I enjoy dragon and school stories, I enjoy "let's point out how silly and limiting the respectable manners are" stories, I enjoy heavy topics that are handled well. The alt history felt realistic. I really hope the second book is going well and is announced soon!
I am wondering where the sequel can go, other than dating issues and maybe a second year - or more about the dragons themselves? This was so much more about colonialism and the assumption of "we're improving the savage" when you're really not, and the dominant society doesn't realize its own issues. Anequs is super mature and outspoken for 15 and she doesn't seem to change or develop, she knows who she is and what she wants, she never has to wonder if she's doing the right thing. Theod got a little more development but not much, since he's always had to be very conscious about acting appropriately.
I really did enjoy this. Dragged a little at the start and I'm not sure why, then it picked up when Anequs decides she has to go to the school.
I am wondering where the sequel can go, other than dating issues and maybe a second year - or more about the dragons themselves? This was so much more about colonialism and the assumption of "we're improving the savage" when you're really not, and the dominant society doesn't realize its own issues. Anequs is super mature and outspoken for 15 and she doesn't seem to change or develop, she knows who she is and what she wants, she never has to wonder if she's doing the right thing. Theod got a little more development but not much, since he's always had to be very conscious about acting appropriately.
I really did enjoy this. Dragged a little at the start and I'm not sure why, then it picked up when Anequs decides she has to go to the school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Genocide and Sexual harassment
heather_harrison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Thank you NetGalley, Moniquill Blackgoose and publisher for my e-arc of To Shape a Dragon's Breath (TSaDB).
This was a fantastic read if you want to continue to dragon/dragon school trend - but want something completely different than Fourth Wing. TSaDB was more aligned with Babel - with young Indigenous woman Anequs is chosen by a dragon hatchling and has to leave her home to train at a coloniser school. There is plenty of exploration around colonisation, identity, sexism, racism, and classism.
It did take a while to become acclimatised to the world - in TSaDB the world has been colonised by Scandi/Norse (known as Anglish). There are Norse myths alongside German phrases and the geography described what I assume is Indigenous America. I would have really enjoyed some illustrations or world maps to go alongside the story. In addition, the story also had a slow start, but once we were well established the pacing seemed to be perfect.
The writing style was descriptive and direct, and I particularly enjoyed it and found it refreshing.
There was plenty of time spent with the FMC focusing on the classes to become proficient in handling dragons and shaping dragon's breath.
I also really appreciated the LGBTQ, poly and divergent representation, alongside the Indigenous FMC.
There were some comments that the love interests didn't seem to have enough conflict, but there was plenty of simmering points of unrest such as the issues with class and race. I think in the next installment when they are all courting then I'm sure they'll be no shortage of conflict as same sex relationships are not the norm in Anglish society, let alone poly relationships.
I am already eagerly awaiting the next book, and was very sad to have to leave the world of Nampeshiweisit.
This was a fantastic read if you want to continue to dragon/dragon school trend - but want something completely different than Fourth Wing. TSaDB was more aligned with Babel - with young Indigenous woman Anequs is chosen by a dragon hatchling and has to leave her home to train at a coloniser school. There is plenty of exploration around colonisation, identity, sexism, racism, and classism.
It did take a while to become acclimatised to the world - in TSaDB the world has been colonised by Scandi/Norse (known as Anglish). There are Norse myths alongside German phrases and the geography described what I assume is Indigenous America. I would have really enjoyed some illustrations or world maps to go alongside the story. In addition, the story also had a slow start, but once we were well established the pacing seemed to be perfect.
The writing style was descriptive and direct, and I particularly enjoyed it and found it refreshing.
There was plenty of time spent with the FMC focusing on the classes to become proficient in handling dragons and shaping dragon's breath.
I also really appreciated the LGBTQ, poly and divergent representation, alongside the Indigenous FMC.
There were some comments that the love interests didn't seem to have enough conflict, but there was plenty of simmering points of unrest such as the issues with class and race. I think in the next installment when they are all courting then I'm sure they'll be no shortage of conflict as same sex relationships are not the norm in Anglish society, let alone poly relationships.
I am already eagerly awaiting the next book, and was very sad to have to leave the world of Nampeshiweisit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, and War
lyndle's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-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
4.0
very obvious 1-to-1 metaphor for the colonization of native American land, down to keeping the same map of the world and 18th/19th century high society, but that helps make the authors point. does a good job of putting you in their shoes to reflect on how their world changed, like anequs's did. kind of wordy at times but a cool "magic" system. also tons of representation, from LGBTQIA to autism spectrum to the color of their skin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Suicide, Lesbophobia, and War
bookish_itineraries's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide and Xenophobia
aiirglow's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism and War
Minor: Homophobia
sicilyjoy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Slavery
geekmom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book is an absolutely unique, utterly fabulous, genre-bending disruption of a novel.
It takes beloved tropes and turns them on their heads.
It is proudly and unapologetically anti-colonialist.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series!
Edit: Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy of this book as part of the 2024 Hugo voting package!
It takes beloved tropes and turns them on their heads.
It is proudly and unapologetically anti-colonialist.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series!
Edit: Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy of this book as part of the 2024 Hugo voting package!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
nerp's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This and So Let Them Burn should be THE dragon books of the decade, but I digress: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath was absolutely fabulous, and I cannot wait for the sequel.
There’s no attempt here to make the cultures in the book unrecognizable, and for a story about colonization, it works. Yet even so, there’s a complexity and acknowledgment of the heterogenous nature of empire that I rarely see, and that was deeply refreshing.
What I also love about this is how unapologetic Anequs is about herself and her people. In some ways, she doesn’t quite grow in this book—just becomes more firm in her convictions and understanding of who she is, while also becoming more savvy in the dance of not stepping on too many colonizer toes for safety’s sake.
Also, the autism rep made me cry.
Absolutely fabulous.
There’s no attempt here to make the cultures in the book unrecognizable, and for a story about colonization, it works. Yet even so, there’s a complexity and acknowledgment of the heterogenous nature of empire that I rarely see, and that was deeply refreshing.
What I also love about this is how unapologetic Anequs is about herself and her people. In some ways, she doesn’t quite grow in this book—just becomes more firm in her convictions and understanding of who she is, while also becoming more savvy in the dance of not stepping on too many colonizer toes for safety’s sake.
Also, the autism rep made me cry.
Absolutely fabulous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Colonisation
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Hate crime, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury