A review by onegalonelife27
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

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