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readingwithtemperance'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? No
5.0
I really loved the representation in this book. There were bisexual/lesbian and neurodivergent/mute characters. As well as polyamory; which is something I haven't really seen in YA.
Anequs was such a wonderful lead. She was constantly advocating for herself/her people. While simultaneously proving the Anglish wrong about their prejudices regarding her capabilities. I especially enjoyed when Professor Ezel had no choice but to pass her and Theod. I also loved that our love triangle was solved via polyamory. And I'm looking forward to that being explored in the sequel! A double marriage would be incredible.
I loved her friendships with Sander and Liberty in particular. And I'm hoping Marta improves in book two because honestly I just found her very annoying.
At times this book was so incredibly heavy. To Shape a Dragon's Breath shone a light on atrocities that happened throughout history to native peoples. Colonization is an ugly beast. The Anglish want nothing more than to strip Anequs and her people of their land and culture.
I thought that the magic system was so interesting. And I'm very eager to see more skiltakraft in book two.
My favorite aspect of this book aside from Anequs' bond with her dragon was the time we spent among her people. I loved learning about her culture and hearing their stories. All of the food sounded incredible!
This was something truly remarkable. I'm so impressed that this was a debut! I cant wait for more feom this world and this author. Sequel NOW!
Anequs was such a wonderful lead. She was constantly advocating for herself/her people. While simultaneously proving the Anglish wrong about their prejudices regarding her capabilities.
I loved her friendships with Sander and Liberty in particular. And I'm hoping Marta improves in book two because honestly I just found her very annoying.
At times this book was so incredibly heavy. To Shape a Dragon's Breath shone a light on atrocities that happened throughout history to native peoples. Colonization is an ugly beast. The Anglish want nothing more than to strip Anequs and her people of their land and culture.
I thought that the magic system was so interesting. And I'm very eager to see more skiltakraft in book two.
My favorite aspect of this book aside from Anequs' bond with her dragon was the time we spent among her people. I loved learning about her culture and hearing their stories. All of the food sounded incredible!
This was something truly remarkable. I'm so impressed that this was a debut! I cant wait for more feom this world and this author. Sequel NOW!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Blood, Death of parent, and War
znvisser's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This wasn’t the fastest read for me; I was a bit impatient for all world building (never my fave) and was happy when Anequs finally arrived in her new environment so the action could get started.
The world building is elaborate but all very…. Neat, I guess? Anequs is a flawless superior child being miles ahead in logic and intelligence from anyone in her new environment (yet her need to show this to everyone who already hates her for her heritage never leads to actual problems - except for me as a reader, being annoyed by her boring superiority); most geography, science and linguistics appear just slight variations of the actual world, and even the racism and kolonialism racisms and kolonialisms precisely as it does in the real world.
In a way this is all fine - it probably made it all relatively easy to follow and helps laying ground for plot, but it also made all of it… quite unsurprising, at some time close to uninteresting? There was little friction, struggle or mystery, and it all just floats on (sometime there is drama over nothing and then it turns out to be… nothing indeed); it made me wish for accelerated plot development but we just kept learning new Anglish words for known concepts (I really would have preferred a glossary over the pronunciation guide). Maybe I’m just looking for more complexity than what YA is for; and these characters sure didn’t provide that, suffering from being either flat or incoherent.
In a way this is all fine - it probably made it all relatively easy to follow and helps laying ground for plot, but it also made all of it… quite unsurprising, at some time close to uninteresting? There was little friction, struggle or mystery, and it all just floats on (sometime there is drama over nothing and then it turns out to be… nothing indeed); it made me wish for accelerated plot development but we just kept learning new Anglish words for known concepts (I really would have preferred a glossary over the pronunciation guide). Maybe I’m just looking for more complexity than what YA is for; and these characters sure didn’t provide that, suffering from being either flat or incoherent.
However, it wasn’t not entertaining either: I was somehow invested enough to see where it would go, and it is a good set up for a further series - let’s see if enough of this sticks for me to be eager to pick that up by the time it comes out. But this did count a lot of pages for it to turn out not much more than a set-up for the actual story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Murder, War, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
cozyscones's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, and War
kwthor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
mysana's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
5.0
I thought this was an excellent book. Blackgoose is definitely an author to watch. The use of language and the balance of tension and relief was really well done. The characters are a delight and I can't wait to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Genocide, Slavery, and Death of parent
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
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️
This was a debut novel?! Moniquill Blackgoose, I'm going to need more of this, please and thank you. :)
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a young adult fantasy novel set in a world that is similar to our own but not quite identical. The main character, Anequs, is a young Indigenous woman who happens upon a dragon egg, and when it hatches, it's clear the dragon chooses her. Unfortunately, Anequs lives in a world where her colonizers, the Anglish, believe that dragons must be registered and their human counterparts must be trained in a certain way. Though they are reluctant, the Anglish allow Anequs to come train at their dragon school on the mainland. Anequs is reasonably hesitant as she hasn't left her home island of Masquapaug in her 16 years of life. When she gets to the mainland, she finds many challenges she could never have expected, including many customs she is expected to know without any education of them. The unexplained rules of the dragon school are even more complex, and Anequs finds that some of the people who are supposed to educate her and help her succeed are purposefully setting her up for failure. Despite all of the challenges Anequs faces, she is determined to learn what she can from the Anglish in order to help her dragon and in turn help her home island.
I am completely blown away that this is a debut novel. Moniquill Blackgoose effortlessly combines a multitude of difficult and controversial topics--colonization, ableism, queerness, homophobia, cultural appropriation, racism--in a way that is easily consumable and highly empathetic.
In some ways, this novel reminds me of Babel by RF Kuang. Both authors emphasize issues of colonization and racism that have been prevalent in our past, and present, in a historical setting. Though these novels are fictional, they have so many similarities to our own history and are written in ways that allow readers of all backgrounds and identities to understand how deeply rooted racism, cultural appropriation, and unrealistic expectations are in our systems and societies.
I highly recommend this novel to readers looking for a book to challenge their views on society and expectations as well as readers looking for a unique story about a young Indigenous woman going to a dragon school. To Shape a Dragon's Breath is simultaneously revealing and entertaining.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath hit home for me in so many ways. I haven't seen news of a second book, but I am highly anticipating what Moniquill Blackgoose has in store for Anequs and her friends and family in the next installment of the Nampeshiweisit series.
This was a debut novel?! Moniquill Blackgoose, I'm going to need more of this, please and thank you. :)
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a young adult fantasy novel set in a world that is similar to our own but not quite identical. The main character, Anequs, is a young Indigenous woman who happens upon a dragon egg, and when it hatches, it's clear the dragon chooses her. Unfortunately, Anequs lives in a world where her colonizers, the Anglish, believe that dragons must be registered and their human counterparts must be trained in a certain way. Though they are reluctant, the Anglish allow Anequs to come train at their dragon school on the mainland. Anequs is reasonably hesitant as she hasn't left her home island of Masquapaug in her 16 years of life. When she gets to the mainland, she finds many challenges she could never have expected, including many customs she is expected to know without any education of them. The unexplained rules of the dragon school are even more complex, and Anequs finds that some of the people who are supposed to educate her and help her succeed are purposefully setting her up for failure. Despite all of the challenges Anequs faces, she is determined to learn what she can from the Anglish in order to help her dragon and in turn help her home island.
I am completely blown away that this is a debut novel. Moniquill Blackgoose effortlessly combines a multitude of difficult and controversial topics--colonization, ableism, queerness, homophobia, cultural appropriation, racism--in a way that is easily consumable and highly empathetic.
In some ways, this novel reminds me of Babel by RF Kuang. Both authors emphasize issues of colonization and racism that have been prevalent in our past, and present, in a historical setting. Though these novels are fictional, they have so many similarities to our own history and are written in ways that allow readers of all backgrounds and identities to understand how deeply rooted racism, cultural appropriation, and unrealistic expectations are in our systems and societies.
I highly recommend this novel to readers looking for a book to challenge their views on society and expectations as well as readers looking for a unique story about a young Indigenous woman going to a dragon school. To Shape a Dragon's Breath is simultaneously revealing and entertaining.
To Shape a Dragon's Breath hit home for me in so many ways. I haven't seen news of a second book, but I am highly anticipating what Moniquill Blackgoose has in store for Anequs and her friends and family in the next installment of the Nampeshiweisit series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Violence, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and War
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
📖
This was amazing. I had a fabulous time reading it and I'm so excited to read more. I loved the characters and their relationships. The worldbuilding and the lore and the dragon/magic system are excellent.
This was amazing. I had a fabulous time reading it and I'm so excited to read more. I loved the characters and their relationships. The worldbuilding and the lore and the dragon/magic system are excellent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and War
ethuiliel's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
onegalonelife27's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.25
Anequs is the first in hundreds of years of her people to be chosen by a dragon, after the Great Dying when settlers came and wiped them out. And now her whole world is changing with it.
This a slower read, we are learning about the Anglish society along side Aneqes. I mean I was six hours into the audiobook and Aneques was on her second day of school. I'm not sure if I recommend the audiobook or print more, since with the audiobook I got pronunciation but with the print-I finally realized the world was based on our world, with a world map, pronunciation guide and everything. Depends on what you would prefer how to prefer to take in this journey.
The author does a great job so setting up how the cultures of the world vary, especially by way of stories shared by characters. Masaque dragon story is that of partnership. Anglish’s dragon story is that of conquering. Also have to say “Freya’s Tits” best fantasy swear, I’ve read in a while.
I feel like there’s a turn in the story. Anequs finds herself insulted-not for the first time by one of the Anglish students at the school, but this time he goes too far and Aneques slaps him, much to my relief and joy. Which of course sends her to the headmistress’s office. It’s there she learns it’s not just the dragoneering school that have an eye on her-seeing if she’s fit to keep her dragon, but all of the Anglish society around her. They expect her to bend to their ways, but Anequs refuses, holding onto her people’s ways. That’s when there’s more drive in in Aneques, a new found determination to show them who she is and to succeed. This scene left me really rooting for her success!
Also, Sanders is the best autistic boy and if anything happens to him, I’m gonna kill everyone in this room and then myself.
This is a start of a new series, and I’m curious to see where it goes. Since the story does take place on the east coast of the continent, while the west coast has Nakkies still having dragons and giving the Anglish settlers there trouble. It’d be curious to see what would happen in the two sides ever met.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Transphobia, Death of parent, and War