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sproutedpages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is incredibly rich in its worldbuilding, and with a narrative voice that is especially satisfying to read. Oral storytelling is a vital component of this novel, being the way that a considerable amount of expository worldbuilding is conveyed. There are lengthy stretches of exposition, but because these moments are most often presented as educational moments to Anequs, the protagonist, it very rarely feels like a hindrance to plot progression.
Though decidedly set in another world, this novel feels very much like an alternate history fantasy novel, as there are many clear parallels to real-world events, cultures, places, etc. There is also exploration of the disparity in colonizer and indigenous views of societal expectation, community, and utility, and the struggle to retain cultural identity in the face of (violent, subsuming) modernization and colonization. Nampeshiweisit (Masquisit dragoneers), Anglish dragoneers, and their distinct approaches to working alongside dragons, provide a really interesting fantasy vector for further exemplifying this.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is particularly remarkable in how effectively Moniquill Blackgoose manages to portray the European-inspired fantasy elements as foreign and confusing , despite the likelihood of readers having already had an overexposure to European-inspired fantasy media, European mythology, etc.
Thank you so much to author Moniquill Blackgoose, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel to read and review! All opinions within this review are voluntarily given and entirely my own.
Though decidedly set in another world, this novel feels very much like an alternate history fantasy novel, as there are many clear parallels to real-world events, cultures, places, etc. There is also exploration of the disparity in colonizer and indigenous views of societal expectation, community, and utility, and the struggle to retain cultural identity in the face of (violent, subsuming) modernization and colonization. Nampeshiweisit (Masquisit dragoneers), Anglish dragoneers, and their distinct approaches to working alongside dragons, provide a really interesting fantasy vector for further exemplifying this.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is particularly remarkable in how effectively Moniquill Blackgoose manages to portray the European-inspired fantasy elements as foreign and confusing , despite the likelihood of readers having already had an overexposure to European-inspired fantasy media, European mythology, etc.
Thank you so much to author Moniquill Blackgoose, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel to read and review! All opinions within this review are voluntarily given and entirely my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Police brutality
Minor: Genocide
Anti-indigenous and anti-Black racism, indentured servitude, mention of past slavery, mention of past genocide, threatened hate crime, police brutality (in this case by guards)jainabee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
After reading the hardcopy once and listening to the audiobook twice, my appreciation for the rich complexities and top notch storytelling is even stronger. Magnificent. Listening to the wonderful character voices and accents performed by Charley Flyte brought out the intercultural class differences and complex social nuances more distinctly.
So much happens so quickly in this first installment of the series that I missed a few important details which deepen the characters—such as the look that Frau Kuiper gives Anaqus right before her skiltakraft final. The look that Anequs cannot interpret in the moment. I think I know what it means now, but it took three reads! The complicated social and political layers of this story are profound—and quite relevant to contemporary issues.
Another aspect that took me this long to get (I am white from a colonizer heritage and this tale is told from an Indigenous POV—there’s probably a LOT MORE that I don’t get) is the stylized language throughout the book. Though most of the places and objects in the book are all places and objects that would be familiar to most contemporary readers, they all have abstracted names; English is Anglish, a penny is a pennik, a photographer is a lichtbildmacher, radium is strahlendstone, etc… why all of this confusing terminology??? Other than sustaining the tone of the alternate reality, it also puts a reader who has been educated in a typical American school in the same confusing position as the Indigenous protagonist. The words and customs that the colonizers all take for granted are almost as baffling to the reader as they are to Anequs. If the author had simply used words any typical American would understand, the reader would not be able to empathize with the confusion and frustrations and other obstacles that Anequs must move through.
The final layer I that understood more this time I wrapped in spoiler alerts in the content warning section.
I can barely wait for the next installment!
So much happens so quickly in this first installment of the series that I missed a few important details which deepen the characters—such as the look that Frau Kuiper gives Anaqus right before her skiltakraft final. The look that Anequs cannot interpret in the moment. I think I know what it means now, but it took three reads! The complicated social and political layers of this story are profound—and quite relevant to contemporary issues.
Another aspect that took me this long to get (I am white from a colonizer heritage and this tale is told from an Indigenous POV—there’s probably a LOT MORE that I don’t get) is the stylized language throughout the book. Though most of the places and objects in the book are all places and objects that would be familiar to most contemporary readers, they all have abstracted names; English is Anglish, a penny is a pennik, a photographer is a lichtbildmacher, radium is strahlendstone, etc… why all of this confusing terminology??? Other than sustaining the tone of the alternate reality, it also puts a reader who has been educated in a typical American school in the same confusing position as the Indigenous protagonist. The words and customs that the colonizers all take for granted are almost as baffling to the reader as they are to Anequs. If the author had simply used words any typical American would understand, the reader would not be able to empathize with the confusion and frustrations and other obstacles that Anequs must move through.
The final layer I that understood more this time I wrapped in spoiler alerts in the content warning section.
I can barely wait for the next installment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicide, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
autumn33344's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gun violence, Transphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Alcohol
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.25
Flying in with a masterpiece, Moniquill Blackgoose sets up a world with this first instalment of the Nampeshiweisit series. The story centres around Anequs, a young Indigenous woman who discovers a dragon egg on an island near her home. When it hatches, the dragon bonds to her, and the Anglish settlers of her land order that she join a local dragoneering academy.
My favourite part of this book was the worldbuilding! Blackgoose builds a world like our own, but without a Roman Empire or Christianity, the Europeans have a distinctly Norse flair that matches well with the themes of resistance against colonialism. Each character has distinctive features, mannerisms and traits that make them real and powerful parts of the narrative.
Eagerly awaiting the next book of this series, particularly in light of the final handful of chapters!
My favourite part of this book was the worldbuilding! Blackgoose builds a world like our own, but without a Roman Empire or Christianity, the Europeans have a distinctly Norse flair that matches well with the themes of resistance against colonialism. Each character has distinctive features, mannerisms and traits that make them real and powerful parts of the narrative.
Eagerly awaiting the next book of this series, particularly in light of the final handful of chapters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Medical content and War
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Vomit, and Cannibalism
garrettcz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Racism, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Biphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
This one took me a while. Partly because of life but partly because the pace is a bit on the slower side and there is *a lot* of worldbuilding. I also paused frequently to double check how I was hearing character names, consulting the pronunciation guide that the author helpfully supplied.
The story is set against a backdrop of colonialism in progress. The setting moves between the “mainland” and Masquapaug, an island off the coast of, I think, Nova Scotia or the upper northeast coast of what we think of as the United States. The Maquisit and their neighbors the Naquisit are trying to live in peace and preserve their way of life amidst ongoing attempts by Norse and English forces to colonize them. The setting includes some steampunk events as well as magic.
Anequs, the FMC, is a fifteen year old “woman.” I put woman in quotes because the indigenous customs are quite different from ours - she became a woman when she bled at age 13. The story centers on her as she is the first of her people in a long time to be chosen by a dragon and goes off to dragon school on the mainland, which is ruled by, and heavily steeped in the culture of the Anglish, a people of seeming Norse - British hybridity. She’s confident, assertive, and determined to do her best to benefit those whom she loves. She’s a mender in a lot of ways, always trying to repair broken relationships or to befriend those whom others would overlook or discard.
She is surrounded by a full cast of secondary characters, including two love interests, one female and one male. This is not a love triangle. She intends to court them both according to what is permissible in her culture though it should be noted that the neither romance advances very far. Maybe .25 🌶️ for a few swoony moments. The most important secondary character is Kasaqua and she is my absolute fave! A little dragon that acts like a kitten? Yes, please! Their relationship is really sweet to see developing. There is enough depth in Anequs’ friend groups and her brother, Niquiat’s, friend group that I hope we will see lots more of them in subsequent books.
The book has a lot of diverse representation. Anequs, her family, and Theod, Anequs’ male love interest, are all indigenous. Anequs is polyamorous and there is a FF couple among the faculty. There are characters and societies that seem to draw from Muslim and Asian cultures. Liberty, Anequs’ female love interest, is Black and her background seems to draw on some elements of a vaguely African culture.
Not much actually happens in terms of plot. There is a lot of worldbuilding and establishing of relationships. The story mainly revolves around Anequs starting at the school and her struggles with assimilation. There is a bit of political intrigue that develops toward the end, setting the stage for the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I am intensely curious to see where it goes next. I wish a bit more had happened in this book, but what was there was done well enough that I feel good about investing more time in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / .25🌶️
The story is set against a backdrop of colonialism in progress. The setting moves between the “mainland” and Masquapaug, an island off the coast of, I think, Nova Scotia or the upper northeast coast of what we think of as the United States. The Maquisit and their neighbors the Naquisit are trying to live in peace and preserve their way of life amidst ongoing attempts by Norse and English forces to colonize them. The setting includes some steampunk events as well as magic.
Anequs, the FMC, is a fifteen year old “woman.” I put woman in quotes because the indigenous customs are quite different from ours - she became a woman when she bled at age 13. The story centers on her as she is the first of her people in a long time to be chosen by a dragon and goes off to dragon school on the mainland, which is ruled by, and heavily steeped in the culture of the Anglish, a people of seeming Norse - British hybridity. She’s confident, assertive, and determined to do her best to benefit those whom she loves. She’s a mender in a lot of ways, always trying to repair broken relationships or to befriend those whom others would overlook or discard.
She is surrounded by a full cast of secondary characters, including two love interests, one female and one male. This is not a love triangle. She intends to court them both according to what is permissible in her culture though it should be noted that the neither romance advances very far. Maybe .25 🌶️ for a few swoony moments. The most important secondary character is Kasaqua and she is my absolute fave! A little dragon that acts like a kitten? Yes, please! Their relationship is really sweet to see developing. There is enough depth in Anequs’ friend groups and her brother, Niquiat’s, friend group that I hope we will see lots more of them in subsequent books.
The book has a lot of diverse representation. Anequs, her family, and Theod, Anequs’ male love interest, are all indigenous. Anequs is polyamorous and there is a FF couple among the faculty. There are characters and societies that seem to draw from Muslim and Asian cultures. Liberty, Anequs’ female love interest, is Black and her background seems to draw on some elements of a vaguely African culture.
Not much actually happens in terms of plot. There is a lot of worldbuilding and establishing of relationships. The story mainly revolves around Anequs starting at the school and her struggles with assimilation. There is a bit of political intrigue that develops toward the end, setting the stage for the next book.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I am intensely curious to see where it goes next. I wish a bit more had happened in this book, but what was there was done well enough that I feel good about investing more time in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / .25🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying and Genocide
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Gun violence
trips's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
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? No
4.5
Wow! I wish more people were reading this book! I know there is a dragon craze right now (in 2023 as I'm writing this) so please pick this up!! Its got dragons!! Small bits of romance!! Written by an indigenous author with an indigenous MC!! Cute dragons!!
This was a wonderful YA debut. There were a lot of aspects of this book I thought would bother me but ultimately they didn't by the end of this book.
-I initially felt eh about the colonizers being called the Anglish but honestly, I kinda loved how Anequs kinda lumps all the Anglish as one amalgamation of culture from her perspective, cause that is exactly how we see Native American culture being represented in white media...
-I was worried Anequs would be whisked away to dragon school and we wouldn't learn much about her people and culture, but, without spoiling much, I'm happy to say this wasn't the case! I'm super happy with how this played out in the story.
-I loved that Anequs has loving parents and siblings that all love and support her. I feel like this is so rare in YA fantasy. It honestly brought a tear to my eye as it was so nice to see a young girl with a huge worldly burden with a family that totally had her back.
There were some parts that really did feel like "Baby's first worldbuilding" but the events and plot of this story wholly makeup for it.
This was a wonderful YA debut. There were a lot of aspects of this book I thought would bother me but ultimately they didn't by the end of this book.
-I initially felt eh about the colonizers being called the Anglish but honestly, I kinda loved how Anequs kinda lumps all the Anglish as one amalgamation of culture from her perspective, cause that is exactly how we see Native American culture being represented in white media...
-I was worried Anequs would be whisked away to dragon school and we wouldn't learn much about her people and culture, but, without spoiling much, I'm happy to say this wasn't the case! I'm super happy with how this played out in the story.
-I loved that Anequs has loving parents and siblings that all love and support her. I feel like this is so rare in YA fantasy. It honestly brought a tear to my eye as it was so nice to see a young girl with a huge worldly burden with a family that totally had her back.
There were some parts that really did feel like "Baby's first worldbuilding" but the events and plot of this story wholly makeup for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Bullying and Classism
hawksrye's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
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
novella42's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Such a phenomenal read, and my favorite speculative fiction book of the year! Indigenous otter dragons!!! Moniquill Blackgoose made a truly audacious worldbuilding choice I have never encountered before, and which took me something like 70 pages to understand. But once it clicked, I felt in awe of her. I won't spoil it for anyone, but the risk she took and the monumental effort she put into her worldbuilding absolutely paid off on multiple levels.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
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
rockyroadbutch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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
4.75
Wonderful, interesting, compelling. A bit slow to start but worth it. Love the diverse representation and the opportunity to get to know such a powerful main character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism