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Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
7 reviews
pandact's review against another edition
- 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
It hits all the right notes If you like magical realism that combines science and mysticism in an alternate history world with multicultural mythologies foreshadowing worldbuilding. The dragons and Skilta system could be developed more, but it almost qualified as math magic and still didn't distract me too much with trying to figure out if it was chemistry or alchemy...
Graphic: Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Bullying
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Minor: Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
star_charter152's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, Lesbophobia, Ableism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Bullying, Hate crime, Violence, and War
Minor: Slavery, Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
cadence99's review
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Bullying, Colonisation, Racism, and Ableism
Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Animal death, Animal cruelty, War, Classism, Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Genocide
garbutch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I want to note that I have tagged this polyam and romantic not because it is a romance book (this isn't a major theme in the book, but it is present) but because the protagonist intends to court two people by the end of the book, and it's implied that this will be developed further as it goes on. There is also a secondary character (friend of the protagonist) who prefers to communicate with a magic AAC device who, IMO, was written so well too. A teacher as well who uses a stand-in for a wheelchair. There isn't an identity I have or experience I have had that wasn't represented with care and accuracy, though I can only speak as a white settler queer disabled (neuro + physical) person who uses a mobility aid, and the author surely knows the relevant cultures and dynamics featured more than I could.
Graphic: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Confinement, Classism, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Grief, and Forced institutionalization
svangleboyer's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
tmdreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
There are a lot of themes around colonialism explored in this fantasy. The world is similar to ours but imagine our world with dragons, dragons that not only fly but do chemistry. Anequs lives a peaceful substance life on her island before she finds a dragon’s egg and becomes a Nampeshiweisit -a person that belongs to a dragon. She must attend an school on the mainland and learn about the ways of those who colonize this land to keep her dragon.
Graphic: Colonisation, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, War, Ableism, and Homophobia
Minor: Death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, and Hate crime
boglord's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Spoiler Free Summary: Anequs, a young woman from an indigenous community on the outskirts of Anglish country, becomes Nampeshiweisit when she is gifted a dragon egg by one of the indigenous dragon species thought to be extinct by her community. Faced by the threat of prosecution by local Anglish laws, Anequs must take Kasaqua, her dragon, to an Anglish dragoneering school in order to properly master Kasaqua's breath, a powerful force when unshaped. In the course of her first year at the school, she makes friends, falls for two different people at the school, and deals with racism and bigotry. In the end, this is a character-driven novel that investigates the relationship marginalized communities have within this fictionalized 19th century America.
I really enjoyed this book. The relationship Anequs has with her friends was constantly touching, and I was thoroughly impressed by the author's ability to fit so many important discussions on racism, homophobia, ableism, and colonialism in a very digestible yet meaningful format. I've seen other reviews speaking of the book as though it was boring; I was never bored. But I did not know what to expect coming into this book- if you're looking for a fantasy adventure this is not one. The book focuses on Anequs in her attempt to figure out how she can exist genuinely in her indigenous identity in a society that wishes she would assimilate. If you're looking for a story of a brave young woman struggling to assert herself in a world that's trying to put her down, while uplifting other marginalized people who she befriends along the way, this is a feel-good, hopeful story that shows how strong we can be when we are together.
I have to say that the plot struggles at some points near the end. The culminating action that takes place in the last couple chapters feels extremely rushed and I wished that some major plot points weren't glossed over, as they would have not only been extremely exciting bits of action to read, but they also would have been great instances to interact with what all the characters who are introduced think and feel as the story wraps up. As it is, I think that the author leaves a lot unsaid, where throughout the rest of the story we are entrenched in the characters' thoughts and feelings.
At times I also struggled with the intense academic nature of the story- there was one chapter near the beginning of Anequs' story that was incredibly difficult to read and digest. Later in the book it became clear that this was intentional to highlight how difficult it was for Anequs to understand, also an outsider to the germanic technical terms used throughout.
I recommend this book and give it 4 stars! I am very excited for this series to continue as I can imagine many ways that the story might progress now that Anequs has grown into a mature and determined young woman.
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Racism, Ableism, Homophobia, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Genocide, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War