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

adventurous hopeful reflective slow-paced

4.75

For lovers of Babel and dragon content, this is exactly the book for you! It is nuanced and full of heart, the world building was fun and the Kasaqua was just so cute! This book tackles colonialism, traditional ways of knowing, the “first gen” experience in school, being forced into “professionalism” (i.e. conforming to a culture of white supremacy) in an effort to be accepted, and truly so much more.

In the beginning when I got to the part about fantasy chemistry I was NOT sure about my ability to get through this book because I barely understand real life chemistry, but when we get to Anequs’ epiphany
about how traditional dances were skiltakraft
it was so poignant, it gave me chills! This book stressed the importance of stories and the passing down of knowledge, or rediscovering that knowledge after it was stolen by seeking inner wisdom or that of your community. This aspect was so incredibly moving and something I’ll think about for a long time.

The only reason this isn’t an entirely perfect book for me was because Anequs was exactly that, too perfect. She was wise, kind, smart, and brave from start to finish, so there wasn’t any character growth for her. There was lots or growth happening around her, but I think this could have been more compelling (and would have created more plot conflict) if she felt a bit more like a real 15 year old who made weird choices and wasn’t so fully formed. I also would have appreciated a glossary and/or a list of characters, I found myself losing track of who the teachers were, what the various school courses were, and what the heck a thane is.

Overall though, this book was exactly what I hoped for. Indigenous through and through, delightfully queer, and with great dragon lore, if you’re down for a fantasy that is light on plot and more of a coming of age story, this is the book for you.
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