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blakeandbooks'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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Ableism, Classism, Lesbophobia, Mass/school shootings, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, Police brutality, Murder, Sexism, Racism, Colonisation, and Misogyny
Moderate: War, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
thecatconstellation's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.75
This was really enjoyable. A decent amount of plot and a lot of excellent world building. I enjoyed the various folklores, the representation of queer and poly relationships, and the autistic representation. The dragons! So many different dragons. I love reading about them. I also love the bond that they have with their chosen people. The pronunciation guide at the beginning is super helpful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Colonisation, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Hate crime, Genocide, Racial slurs, Death, Classism, Transphobia, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
novella42's review
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: Emotional abuse, Racism, Misogyny, Gun violence, Colonisation, Sexism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, Ableism, Violence, Biphobia, Racial slurs, and Genocide
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, War, Slavery, Transphobia, Body shaming, Murder, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Medical content, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse
rockyroadbutch's review
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: Blood, War, Homophobia, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Child abuse, Classism, Slavery, and Lesbophobia
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
overall I enjoyed the book. It had an interesting premise of a magic school for dragons interwoven with indigenous culture and discussions of colonialism. I think I was expecting more of a fantastical setting, so my feelings about the book are a little skewed because of that. I did enjoy Anequs and her friends, I thought they were good characters and I liked the dynamics she had with each of them. I thought her friends had distinct personalities and that they were fleshed out really well. So often I read stories where the friends fade in the background. I adored Niquiat, he is a good big brother and I enjoyed his storyline of wanting to be an engineer and the conflict he had with his father
because of it.
I also appreciated the discussion of queerness and how it’s celebrated by the indigenous, and that Anequs was queer and it wasn’t a big thing. I was pleasantly surprised that Anequs simply decided that she liked Theod and Liberty and would just be courting them both when the time was right. I haven’t read many books with polyamory (especially done positively) so I did really appreciate that aspect.
because of it.
I also appreciated the discussion of queerness and how it’s celebrated by the indigenous, and that Anequs was queer and it wasn’t a big thing. I was pleasantly surprised that Anequs simply decided that she liked Theod and Liberty and would just be courting them both when the time was right. I haven’t read many books with polyamory (especially done positively) so I did really appreciate that aspect.
I also appreciated that Anequs and her friends challenged each other. That the ingrained racist beliefs of Anequs’ friends and classmates wasn’t allowed to just be. It made me think a lot about the actions of white people and how they can perpetuate racism, even if they are well-meaning (like how many of the adults thought they were so magnanimous for elevating Theod from living with “savages”, or Marta using her charity/sympathy to feel better about herself- although Marta did improve a lot by the end lmao).
I also really enjoyed Anequs’s character growth of resisting Anglish culture and that by embracing her own culture and traditions, she became a stronger Nampeshiweisit. I liked how this tied into the larger plot of Anequs advocating for her people and demanding an equal place in the world. Overall, I did enjoy the plot, even if it took a little while to become clear. It mainly centers Anequs navigating her new school and Anglish society, although there is no shortage on fun/sweet moments with her friends and family. I will say, don’t expect the world to be super fantastical/magical because there’s dragons. There’s a lot of connection to science and alchemy throughout the book, so if you were expecting something else you might be disappointed (once I realized what it wasn’t I enjoyed it more lol)
If you’ve ever seen any of my reviews before, I usually complain about lack of worldbuilding but with this book it was a little much for me to keep track of. I mainly struggled with the overall setting of an alternative history of our world, with both magic and steampunk elements. I personally am not a big fan of steampunk but it wasn’t as prominent as I feared. The only thing I really disliked was the vast amount of terminology related to the magic and science of the world. I personally had a hard time keeping track of it and I did wish there was a glossary or something. I kind of just zoned out every time that came up, the only significant thing I got out of it was that the skilta’s were connected to the traditional dances of Anequs’ peoples from their bonds to the dragons long ago. So much of it was based on real chemistry so all the skiltakraft lessons kind of made me want to cry bc I understood absolutely none of it just like real chemistry 🫠🫠🫠. The rest of the world took a little while to get used to, in regards of the place names but it wasn’t that distracting to me. It was mainly just the science stuff I didn’t understand.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting story and I loved the characters. I am looking forward to the next book to see how Anequs continues to grow as a Nampeshiweisit and where her path to change the fate of her people will lead her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide and Racism
Minor: Violence, War, and Murder
mallorypen's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
There were a few things I liked about this book:
- Dragons intersecting with Native culture
- Folklore playing a heavy role in daily society
- Native culture prominently featured in a steampunk setting
- Bisexual main character!
Beyond those things, I was not overly impressed. The story arc was largely flat, and didn’t seem to be building towards a climax. The main character was an awesomely strong woman, who was delightfully bisexual and polyamorous, but she was largely a Mary Sue. The steampunk and geopolitical elements were detailed to the point of incomprehension, and there were sections of the skilkraft that I found myself glazing over because it wasn’t explained in a way that I could follow.
I will not be reading the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Ableism, War, Genocide, and Murder
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
eguare's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racism, War, Homophobia, Ableism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Bullying, Murder, Slavery, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Death of parent
The book takes place in a fantasy version of 1840s "America" under colonization, with main characters including a young indigenous girl, a young indigenous boyreadingwithkaitlyn's review
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Violence, Genocide, Ableism, Classism, Racial slurs, Bullying, Hate crime, and Colonisation
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Child abuse
Minor: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, and War
2treads's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a beautiful book! If it wasn't for the characters, it would be for the way Blackgoose has taken Indigenous history, identity, and experiences to weave their very own epic fantasy. There's a dragon school, familial tension, unlikely friendships, and maybe, hopefully, a healthy, multi-partnered romance.
What I love about our main character is her staunch defiance in the face of conformity, racism, and a general lack of respect for her people's way of life and worldview. Anequs refuses their attempts to mold her and strip away who she is and who she will become to fit their societal definition of proper and civilized. She is truthful, brave, generous, and always willing to treat others with respect.
Anequs continuously corrects when they aim to belittle her by not using her name, by saying her people have no knowledge of dragons and the ways in which they are to be 'used', and the pushback against her even being allowed to attend the school. Blackgoose does an amazing job of capturing the effects of colonial perceptions and violence and what resistance can result in.
What I love about our main character is her staunch defiance in the face of conformity, racism, and a general lack of respect for her people's way of life and worldview. Anequs refuses their attempts to mold her and strip away who she is and who she will become to fit their societal definition of proper and civilized. She is truthful, brave, generous, and always willing to treat others with respect.
Anequs continuously corrects when they aim to belittle her by not using her name, by saying her people have no knowledge of dragons and the ways in which they are to be 'used', and the pushback against her even being allowed to attend the school. Blackgoose does an amazing job of capturing the effects of colonial perceptions and violence and what resistance can result in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, Bullying, and Racism
Minor: Misogyny, Murder, and Gun violence