Scan barcode
mateyy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.75
This felt like a fresh breath of air. I was so absorbed from beginning to end following Anequs battle her way through a world that wishes for her to fail at every turn.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Lesbophobia, Genocide, Sexism, Murder, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Homophobia, Xenophobia, War, Transphobia, and Slavery
courtnoodles's review
challenging
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Gun violence, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Ableism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
svangleboyer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.5
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is an interesting fantasy that takes place in an alternative timeline where North American is colonized by Anglish conquerors. Anequs, an Indigenous woman living on the island Masquapaug, finds a dragon egg that hatches and becomes bonded to Anequs. Anequs ends up going to a dragon academy on the mainland to learn to shape her dragon, Kasaqua, breath so that the dragon doesn't accidentally hurt anyone. Anequs has to fight against the prejudices from the Anglish who see she has nothing but a savage while trying to learn how to be what Kasaqua needs to survive and thrive in the world.
I enjoyed gaining more perspective into the Indigenous culture that Anequs belongs too. Some of my favorite chapters were hearing old stories from their culture. I find their storytelling to be so magically and feel like I am experiencing it along with the characters. I actually wish we could have had more focus on her culture as opposed to the Anglish trying to convert Anequs. I also love all the various dragon breeds because each one is so unique and have their own personalities that I find so endearing. I admire Anequs for sticking to her culture and not letting the Anglish try to convert her to their way of thinking and trying to make her a proper lady. It was nice to see a strong female who is not afraid to stand up for herself against authority and not letting others insult her and her people for being different from what society says is normal.
While I wanted to love this novel, I was a little disappointed, so I had to give it fewer stars. One major issue I had is that this novel is just too long. The author did a wonderful job world building but there was quite a bit of info dumping that just didn't need to be in the novel. I believe it could easily have been 200 pages short and still made a strong impact. There were several times I put down the book because it was a little overwhelming. I mean if you are going to give us multiple chapters about the actual class lessons, maybe provide some images to accompany the actual lessons specially the various skiltas that is essential to shaping a dragon's breath.
The other major issue I had was that this book had me sold from the beginning because I am a sucker for dragons. While there are dragons throughout the novel, there are more just there, and you don't really get to see what they can do. I would have liked to see the dragons have a more active role in the story besides just being with their owners.
I will be reading the sequel because I am interested to see what comes next for Anequs.
I enjoyed gaining more perspective into the Indigenous culture that Anequs belongs too. Some of my favorite chapters were hearing old stories from their culture. I find their storytelling to be so magically and feel like I am experiencing it along with the characters. I actually wish we could have had more focus on her culture as opposed to the Anglish trying to convert Anequs. I also love all the various dragon breeds because each one is so unique and have their own personalities that I find so endearing. I admire Anequs for sticking to her culture and not letting the Anglish try to convert her to their way of thinking and trying to make her a proper lady. It was nice to see a strong female who is not afraid to stand up for herself against authority and not letting others insult her and her people for being different from what society says is normal.
While I wanted to love this novel, I was a little disappointed, so I had to give it fewer stars. One major issue I had is that this novel is just too long. The author did a wonderful job world building but there was quite a bit of info dumping that just didn't need to be in the novel. I believe it could easily have been 200 pages short and still made a strong impact. There were several times I put down the book because it was a little overwhelming. I mean if you are going to give us multiple chapters about the actual class lessons, maybe provide some images to accompany the actual lessons specially the various skiltas that is essential to shaping a dragon's breath.
The other major issue I had was that this book had me sold from the beginning because I am a sucker for dragons. While there are dragons throughout the novel, there are more just there, and you don't really get to see what they can do. I would have liked to see the dragons have a more active role in the story besides just being with their owners.
I will be reading the sequel because I am interested to see what comes next for Anequs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Colonisation, Misogyny, Bullying, Mental illness, Classism, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Sexism, Slavery, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, War, Homophobia, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Murder, Sexual harassment, and Forced institutionalization
shector1's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I love this book!!! I hope it reaches more people. I feel like words can't describe how I really enjoyed this book. I want Anequs to get everything she wants so BADDDDDDDDDD. I enjoyed the moments between Liberty and Anequs so much and I really wanted more. Theod definitely grew on me especially his time spent with Anequs. I am very interested to see where this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
ezwolf's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
I always struggle with what to say when I really enjoy books and I really enjoyed this one.
Anequs is a fantastic protagonist and I loved her relationship with her family and her people and also the way she gathered other students. Her refusal to conform to Anglish societal rules and her dedication to wanting to learn only to help manipulate her dragon's breath to help her village. I wasn't sure what to make of Marta at first, but I'm glad that she was held accountable for her actions by the author and by Anequs.
The dragon's mythology was unique and made me consider aspects of bonded to a dragon I hadn't thought of before. Another thing I found really cool was the way the author presented a story told by a character. It would have its own separate chapter titled "This is the story that ____ told".
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Anequs is a fantastic protagonist and I loved her relationship with her family and her people and also the way she gathered other students. Her refusal to conform to Anglish societal rules and her dedication to wanting to learn only to help manipulate her dragon's breath to help her village. I wasn't sure what to make of Marta at first, but I'm glad that she was held accountable for her actions by the author and by Anequs.
The dragon's mythology was unique and made me consider aspects of bonded to a dragon I hadn't thought of before. Another thing I found really cool was the way the author presented a story told by a character. It would have its own separate chapter titled "This is the story that ____ told".
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Blood, Ableism, Bullying, Classism, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Genocide, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal death, and Transphobia
More...