To Shape a Dragon's Breath is subtitled "The First Book of Nampeshiweisit" and as that subtitle might lead you to expect, it's the first book in a new Indigenous American-inspired fantasy series.* The story features a 15 year old indigenous young woman** named Anequs who lives on the island of Masquapaug, an island populated by her indigenous people who live otherwise unmolested by the colonizing Anglish as long as they pay their taxes on time and don't come into anything of value to the Anglish. But when Anequs finds a dragon egg, a Nampeshiwe dragon rather than a colonizer dragon, she finds that she has no choice but to go to the Anglish world with her dragon Kasaqua in order to learn about how to properly train and handle the dragon...for her own people's dragons had been lost long ago, together with their own knowledge of how to handle them. Naturally this results in conflict, for the colonizers do not view Anequs and her people as civilized at best, want to exterminate them at worst, and nearly all have little interest in them having a dragon....

*Some places online, like goodreads, list this book as Young Adult, presumably because the story is in some sense a "coming of age" story, features a teen protagonist, and features as a major plot point the protagonist going to a special school. However, neither the publisher website nor Amazon list the book as such and it does deal with adult themes, and I know one reviewer I trust for YA has rejected the distinction for this book. So I will be treating this as adult fiction.*

**Anequs' culture treats adulthood as coming at 13, so despite her age I will be referring to her as a "woman" and not a "girl" in this review.**

The result is a fascinating story, which features a rigid prejudiced, sexist, and classist colonizer society like that of Victorian England (with a Norse-like religion mind you) being constantly interrogated and run up against by the far more liberal and flexible Anequs. Anequs encounters not only colonial power and the aforementioned prejudices, but also has to deal with the Anglish society's rules against queerness (Anequs is Bi and would like to date two different people at once) and its misogynist and ableist teaching in society that lead another friend of hers, an Anglish boy who is clearly autistic, to be constantly bullied and punished. And how Anequs struggles through it all as she tries to learn how to handle Kasaqua and to help her people survive and get use out of the dragon (including trying to figure out the setting's really interesting alchemical/chemistry based dragon magic) is really interesting to read. That said, the book sometimes feels like it makes Anequs too perfect, as if she has the answer to everything such that she can never truly go wrong, which kind of is a personal issue of mine with certain books, even if the book never goes quite too far in this direction to the point of being really annoying....

More specifics after the jump:




Plot Summary:
It had been ages since dragons had been seen on Masquapaug. But when 15 year old Anequs was gathering mussels one day on Slipstone Island, she saw a dragon - one who belonged there, a true Nampeshiwe dragon. That dragon flew off into the sea, never to be seen again, but when Anequs returned to make an offering, she finds an even bigger supply: the dragon had left an egg. And days later the egg hatches and reveals a baby Nampeshiwe dragon, named Kasaqua, who bonds immediately with Anequs.

This is a special moment, one for the whole tribe, but it also presents a few problems. First, there's the fact that the Anglish colonizers, who normally leave Masquapaug alone if the people there duly pay their taxes, are certainly not going to do nothing when they find out the people there have acquired a dragon. And Second there's the fact that the Nampeshiwe have been gone so long that Anequs' people no longer know how to handle such a dragon, especially when it becomes old enough to unleash its powerful breath...a breath that the Anglish and other colonizers are able to use to perform powerful alchemical reactions.

And so the only way Anequs can handle either problem is to do what she never wanted: to temporarily leave the islands to go to an Anglish school for those chosen by dragons so that she can learn to shape her dragon's breath. But the Anglish are a rigid and strict society of a kind Anequs has never dealt with before and many of them would prefer to destroy her people than ever to let them have a dragon, nevertheless to train it, and Anequs will find learning what she needs may not be the most difficult part of her journey, rather than just surviving Anglish prejudice and evil.....
To Shape a Dragon's Breath takes place in a world that's different than ours, but is still very recognizable, with cultures, attitudes, and histories that are inspired by combinations of real Earth cultures...except with dragons. The colonizing nation of Angland is basically a combination of English Colonizers with a Victorian Noble Culture to go along with a religion that is basically Norse with the names of gods filed off. And the Anglish relation to the natives of the continent is just as the American Colonists is and was - disdainful, treating them as uncivilized and peoples who can at best be elevated to "civilized" society and at worst must be eliminated for the good of "civilized" society. Add in the way that black citizens tend to be indentured by Anglish society - and were formerly enslaved - and well, what you get here is a setting that feels very much like early 20th century America (with automobiles just coming into fashion in the hands of the very rich).

Of course this setting also does include dragons of various types, even if the indigenous people have largely lost their own dragons due to plague and war (although indigenous peoples who are still fighting the colonizers out West are said to still have them). And in a really creative touch, the dragons' breath is known to be usable, in combination with certain formulas and symbols, to create well chemical reactions. It's a magic-like system that resembles real world chemistry, just powered by dragon's breath, and it's really fascinating...especially when the reveal happens about how the indigenous people had come up with their own effective version of the same thing.

For that's a large part of this story. Yes there's a story here about Anequs dealing with school as an oppressed minority full of colonizing students and professors amidst prejudice, and how she helps an autistic student who struggles with crowds and verbal communication and prefers communicating with writing as he deals with bullying and becomes a very good friend. And how she deals with a romance she wants to have with a young black servant girl, despite Anglish prejudices against queerness and societal ranks; and how she deals with a potential romance as well as potential friendship with a fellow indigenous boy with a dragon, the only other one at the school, who was orphaned by fighting and has been raised by the Anglish...and how that boy doesn't know anything about his culture and wishes he could be Anglish even as he knows he never will be treated as such. There's a lot of such things here, and those aspects of the story are done well, but to me they aren't the main focus or what makes this book special.

Instead what makes this book special is how much it shows how indigenous culture has already developed the answers for what problems plague colonizer society...if only colonizer society was willing to listen to them and understand what they consider as "uncivilized" was better. Issues of class and social need are not an issue for Anequs' people, nor are issues of queerness and gender - by contrast the Anglish are so obsessed with social status and gender/sex that those who fit in find themselves either having to hide their true selves and/or twisted into knots. The toxic masculinity that plagues Anglish society, where boys are raised in all boy schools to prioritize dominance instead of helping others, is not a thing in Anequs' culture, and she is shocked to see how the adults of Anglish Society are so willing to let such horrible acts - like bullying an autistic boy who is shy and introverted and won't fight back - go on because they don't know any other way and think that such things are just natural signs of being boys. And well, even the better people in Anglish Culture, the ones who are willing to teach Anequs and have her at the school, find themselves just resigned to this being natural and insisting that Anequs and her people's thinking otherwise is "uncivilized" and something to be changed, even when Anequs' people clearly show a better way if anyone would bother to look at it through neutral eyes.

Indeed, Anequs seemingly has the answers to everything, which to be honest, gets a little bit ridiculous at a point. This is even called out by another character in story, which shows that the author recognizes that, and well, the way Anequs' actions almost always work out as being better is a little beyond belief. But there are countless books about colonizer peoples having all the answers for the indigenous peoples they conquer, so honestly, it's not as much of a problem as it would be in other books for me - and it helps that Anequs and her other side characters are very good and interesting to read about. There's a likable cast here and a story that occasionally defies conventions, which keeps things interesting and less frustrating for me than it could be otherwise. Also this is only book 1 of a series, and while the conclusion to this book is a little bit unsatisfying - there's no clear climax or anything, it just kind of ends - it does lead me to believe that struggles that you'd expect will be coming in future books.

All in all, To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a fascinating novel, and I've barely touched on the characters, some of the themes, and the plot in this review. But I don't like to write too much more, so just take it from me: this book is very very good and well worth your time.

DNF @ 51%.

I love this books for its representations of neurodivergence, bisexuality, and native voices. The main character, Anequs, is both indigenous and bisexual. She is strong and independent. She is constantly scolded for not being up to Anglish standards and treated like an outsider by many of her schoolmates and teachers. But she doesn’t let that bring her down or distract her from her main goals.

This story has an amazing premise and a lot of potential due to it’s many elements that lends to its strong world-building—dragons, steampunk, commentary of racism and xenophobia, LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent representations.

Unfortunately, I DNFed this book at 51%. I took a break from the book and then never found the motivation to pick it back up. Then a month had passed and I just knew I would struggle with getting back into that world. So, I figure that it would be best to DNF.

The writing felt too clinical. It reads like an academic textbook, which is fair since this story is mostly set in a school setting. However, even the way they characters talk is like they’re reading straight from a textbook. They talk to each other in winding paragraph forms, which isn’t how people talk normal in real life setting. The writing really kept me from relating to the characters more as it was bogged down by info dumping, extensive fantastical chemistry classes, constant bigotry and racism, and uneventful day-to-day storytelling.

And for a book about dragons, there isn’t a whole lot of interacting with the dragons.

So, ultimately, this book was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this, I was expecting something intense and action packed. Instead it set a leisurely pace, focusing on the the friendships and character development. It’s slow, but never boring. It has the perfect cozy setting of a school, and the cutest baby dragons! Despite being on the low-key side, this book still excels at covering racism and colonization in a meaningful way.

It has alternate history nineteenth century setting, accompanied by a steampunk magic system. The magic system is one the most unique I’m seen in a while, essentially magical chemistry dictated by a dragon breathing on it. The rest of the world building was incredibly thoughtful, there are several holidays and they are all explained by folklore. I really felt immersed in the culture.

I loved the added queerness- a bisexual and polyamorous main character! Another aspect that stood out was the main character has friend who is autistic coded, who almost exclusively communicates through text and uses fidgets. The main character never thinks this is weird, and doesn’t treat him any differently. The friendships and relationships in general were wonderful. The main character has a great relationship with her family, and there is some adorable romantic scenes!

Overall I had fantastic time reading this, and look forward to the rest of the series. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

Definitely recommend to fantasy book readers. To Shape a Dragon's Breath is the first book in a series.

I LOVED this book and I could not think of a single thing that I would change about it either – hence the 5-star rating. That is the question that I ultimately ask myself when I fall in love with a book. There’s a host of LGBTQ+ representation in the book as well as a neurodivergent character and it was al so well done. The world-building and characters in this book were top notch, it’s always a bonus when the side characters are just as engaging as the main character. The school setting & the curriculum were interesting as well, I do wish a little more history was given but I believe those will be integral pieces later on.

Anequs didn’t set out to be a badass but that’s exactly what she’s becoming – she is not content with the way things are, so she is pushing back – with class and all the tools they’ll give her. She is the sort of character that I would love to have as a friend – because when she extends her friendship, it’s like family. You could also classify this book as a coming-of-age but Anequs’ background has definitely matured her beyond the scope of her peers.

I’ll be honest – this book deserves far more spotlight than I’ve seen on social media. It was unfortunately overshadowed by the behemoth of Fourth Wing. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Fourth Wing for what it is too but if this book sounds at all appealing to you – please consider reading it. I would like to thank Del Rey, Moniquill Blackgoose & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful book. I enjoyed every minute & I’ll definitely be checking out book two. All opinions are my own.

WE NEED MORE *Traditionally published* INDIEGENOUS VOICES IN FANTASY. This was a dragon book, with a dragoneer academy, rolled into the colonial discourse akin to Babel by R.F. Kuang. All told in the style oral tradition of storytelling??????? I've never questioned the societal choices of English/Colonial powers so much. Where R.F. Kuang really shined a light on linguistic colonization (among others) Moniquill Blackgoose took a hammer to indoctrination - which makes sense considering the horrors that have been inflicted on America's Indigenous peoples. THIS WAS SO GOOD. It is honestly light fantasy because you really just have to accept the presence of dragons and a scientific study of what the dragon's breath (fire) can be used for so this is arguably very approachable for someone who doesn't read a lot of fantasy - somewhat unlike Babel that still retains a feeling of High Fantasy. The was this book is written is immaculate. Every word has a purpose and there's a beautiful use of repetition that you find in the oral tradition. The plot is....slow? But in a good way? Things happen but there is no extreme climax of events and we aren't left with a cliffhanger at the end. Instead Blackgoose leaves us with a promise of what is to come and intrigue alone is enough to have me waiting, with bated breath, for the next installment. I'm also hoping to do a re-read of this prior to the next release (please Del Ray, GIVE US A DATE) with the audiobook simply because it will enhance my knowledge of the pronunciation guide - though Blackgoose has done a great job with the guide at the beginning. On this note of language I think it's also important to note that the author chooses to spell some things differently and uses different "new" words for things that as a reader we would fully have a word and concept for in this year of 2023...and that is masterful. It forces the reader to understand that while the words are foreign to us the concepts themselves are foreign to the main character so it starts to put the reader at a similar level of discomfort and unfamiliarity as the main character. I don't think I've ever read a book that does this or at least does it so well.

While, for many, this wont be the perfect read to follow up the Fourth Wing hangover I do believe this book is underrated and under exposed. On goodreads, as of July 6th 2023 there are only 824 ratings and 349 reviews. This isn't flashy, or full of romantic spice and tension, but the dragons are well portrayed (but don't speak...), the characterization is amazing and really inclusive and diverse in unexpected ways, and the magic system has a interesting tension between the colonial and indigenous interpretations. This world that Moniquill Blackgoose is building has a lot of promise and I can't wait for more.

Honestly if you love dragon fantasy and you loved Babel by R.F. Kuang you really need to read this. If you don't mind a slower plot, and often a more literary approach to fantasy, and you too struggle with ideas of colonialism, please read this book. I love this book. I want everyone to read this book.

Another great dragon book! I’m really loving anything dragon related at the moment so this was such a good read. There is so much depth and intrigue in this book, I will definitely be picking up something else by this author in the future!

This book was beautiful. It was an absolute gift to be able to read it. Steeped in Indigenous history from a viewpoint that is seen nowhere near as much as it should be. Anequs lives on a remote island with her people. One day she sees a dragon, a rare site after the colonizers came in and either killed them or they fled. She finds an egg the next day and when it hatches, the little creature inside bonds to her.

I absolutely loved this book. Anequs deals with racism. With being forced into the position of being a “model of her people” because others are ignorant of them. She just wants to do what she needs to do and take the knowledge back to her people. There’s a cultural struggle that, although I’m not Indigenous, I was able to identify with.

She goes to a school, an Anglish school that will teach her everything she needs to know to shape her dragon’s breath. And it’s a massive culture shock. There’s only one other Indigenous boy and he’s been brainwashed into hating his own people. There’s slavery and Black people.

Every facet of this book was handled with such care and love. It’s incredible. I was left speechless when I finished it. Not only that, there’s neruodivergency as well. A character fidgets, and is more comfortable writing than speaking. I would say it’s autism and it’s so good. I related to so much of this book that it made me feel comfortable.

I wish I was as strong as Anequs. When people allowed racism to happen about her, near her, she called them out on it. She never let it be. Never let people get away with it. I remembered being a young girl and people saying awful things about me, about my people, and it hurt. I was too scared to say anything.

Anequs has the kind of mettle I wished I had. She is by far one of my favorite characters I have ever read. This book grabbed me and refused to let go. When it was over, I was silent.

If you love fantasy with dragons and dragon schools, you need this book. Even if those aren’t your vibe, I feel like this could convince you otherwise. It’s that good. I absolutely adored it. It gets 5 stars from me.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to them and the publisher.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath is the best book I read the whole year! The author manages to evoke the feeling of ancient storytelling while delivering a completely original fantasy story.

We follow Anequs, a 15-year-old girl who is the first person in her community to bond with a dragon in over 200 years. Because there is no one on her island of Masquapaug to teach her how to control her dragon's powers, she enrolls in an Anglish school for dragoneers. Throughout the course of the book, Anequs makes friends and enemies and is confronted by a new culture and a very different way of living.

The story is set in a fantasy version of a 19th century North American town and several islands and thinly veils the peoples living there, whether they are indigenous, colonialists, or order. This approach makes all groups seem slightly unfamiliar, which allows the reader to look at everyone from a slightly objective point of view and embrace the author's beautiful narrative. I particularly enjoyed the nod to oral storytelling in chapters where a certain character is highlighted and tells a story that is relevant to their backstory or the situation the characters find themselves in. The book also confronts the legacy and reality of residential schools through one character and his family, making this a great introduction for teen readers who are interested in this topic.

More than anything, this book showcases the value of communal living, family values, open communication, and unconditional love. In addition, the characters represent a variety of lived experiences in terms or race, disabilities, sexuality, and more.

This is an incredibly strong start to a series. I will read anything Moniquill Blackgoose comes out with in the future. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this ARC!

This took me forever to read because I kept going back and forth on whether I was into it. Steampunk dragon school with queer, polyamorous Indigenous characters seemed a little too perfect, in a way, too check all the boxes, and I’ve tried a few similar books that over-explained identity.

But this was a pleasant surprise. I stayed for the author’s wonderfully vivid writing style, for the immersive descriptions of Indigenous culture and food in this alternate earth in which dragons are bonded to their riders from hatching. But in the world of the conquering Anglish, the riders own the dragons and must be trained, licensed and registered.

Dragons haven’t appeared on Mack Island for generations, until Anequs sees one and rescues one of its eggs. The Anglish find out about the unregistered dragon hatchling and send her to a prestigious school to be trained in the art of dragoneering and shaping a dragon’s breath into something constructive instead of destructive.

Reading this felt like what the experience of Indigenous children at residential schools must have been like, with the attempt to assimilate “savages” into “civilization” without understanding or accepting the rich depths of their culture. The passages about prejudice, class differences and the racist students inquiring about eugenics were hard to read but very well done. I also liked how the author showed that some Anglish wanted to change things and make a more equal, peaceful society.

I also loved the chemistry between Anequs and her two love interests, another Indigenous student at the school and a servant girl. It was refreshing that it wasn’t a love triangle but the author still built tension in the vastly different ways all three were brought up.

Finally, a strong sapphic offering. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy, apologies for taking so long to review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book so much and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series. The bond between the main character and her dragon is one of my favorite parts of the book. I appreciated how unique all of the dragons were. I thought that the world building was successful, complex enough to hold my interest but not overly confusing. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and the political world of this book. I thought that the writing was beautiful and captivating without being overly flowery or distracting. Overall I can't wait to continue the series. I will say I think this is probably more of a YA book than an adult fantasy. It's certainly appropriate for YA readers and adult readers, but I think it reads much more YA. I can't tell for sure if Del Rey is an adult or YA imprint, I'm getting mixed results online. Overall I would recommend it for teens and adults who enjoy reading YA. Very enjoyable and I look forward to the next book!

To Shape A Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
My Rating: 4.5
A thought-provoking novel that blends alternative history and fantasy featuring a Native American girl and her dragon at a challenging school in an oppressive regime.
Thank you Del Ray, Random House Publishing for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Aneques’s life changed the moment she saw a Nampeshiwe dragon on her island. These native dragons had not been seen on Masquapaug for years, ever since the great disease supposedly wiped them out. When the ancient beast leaves, Aneques finds a dragon egg it left behind. The village celebrates this new change, and, when the egg hatches, the newborn baby immediately bonds with Aneques. Both can mentally share their thoughts with one another, and Aneques is content with being the new Nampeshiweisit (partner) of the dragon, whose name is Kasaqua.

Then, Aneques brother, Niquiat, returns home with some troubling news. The Anglish conquerors have a mighty set of rules concerning dragons, including that all dragons and their dragoneers must attend specialized academies to properly train both parties. Many villagers grow upset, but Niquiat emphasizes that the Anglish do not care and will destroy them for disobeying their laws, as they have done with other native cities. With great reluctance and little choice, Aneques agrees to attend a nearby dragon academy. She encounters the mainland’s Anglish culture and, expectedly, hostility as she learns the “proper” schooling and dragon care. There are many who don’t want her there at all, and they start to use nasty and oppressive tactics to destroy her. But Aneques is intelligent, courageous, and not going to back down. Through self-taught studying and forming alliances in unexpected places, Aneques resolves to excel in the dragon academy that wants her failure, facing academic, social, and political clashes head-on,and refusin to become the dainty Anglish girl they want. Instead, Aneques and Kasaqua will change this colonized world, one challenge at a time.

What I Liked: The world-building is intricate and compelling. Based on Native American culture & history, the “discovery” and settlement of America, and European (English and Norse) colonialism, the world feels real yet different enough from the real world that makes it exciting. The diverse array of characters (both in terms of their ethnicity and personalities) gives the story variety, and most are interesting/add something to Aneques’s journey. Both the world-building and the characters create a very immersive story, and readers can easily get lost in the history, culture, tension, and plot of the book. Everything felt like Blackgoose thought out every little detail to ensure the originality and depth of the narrative. Aneques & Kasaqua themselves are the best characters. Aneques especially, as she is very intelligent and clever, determined, courageous, and not afraid to stand up for her people. She must learn how to survive in the Anglish world, yet refuses to be fully colonized the way they want her to be. She learns academically through all her studies, socially by talking to many different types of people, and emotionally as she bonds with important people and Kasaqua. Overall, this is a very well-done start to a fantasy series.

What I Didn’t Like: This book is long. Everything on the page was interesting - from great world building details to compelling interactions between characters - but at least 100 pages could have been cut, especially in the middle. Thankfully, the chapters were short, which helped to break up the narrative and move things along. I also wish the book had a glossary in addition to the pronunciation guide.

Who Would I Recommend This To: Older teens and new adults who like magic schools, dragons, and Native American-based fantasy.


Review Date: June 30, 2023

the world picked up fourth wing when this exists?? vastly superior to many YA and NA fantasy i've tried recently. very pleased to report this.

Thank you for the advanced copy, I actually purchased a finished copy and read that version of this book. I really enjoyed this book and I'm very much looking forward to continuing it, It had a few things that I always love, like dragons, and training academies. I really enjoyed reading this from Anequs' point of view. There was definitely some information dumping in the form of Q&A dialogue between some of the characters. I just really liked Anequs. She wasn't raised with any of the Anglish's ridiculous customs and she speaks out against things that are wrong. She's constantly underestimated and uses that to her advantage. There's also a sort of love triangle that I'm pretty confident is going to be a poly romance between all three of them in the future. I cannot wait. Please I cannot recommend this enough.

2.5 stars (I am obviously in the minority here. This book is obviously a great book and for many other readers.)

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray publishing for an eARC in exchange for am honest review.

To Shape a Dragon's Breath is a YA historical fantasy that is strongly inspired by both past and present real-world societal issues. Anequs is an indigenous woman who wants nothing more than to remain with her family on Masquapaug, but she finds herself at a dragoneer school owned by the Anglish colonizers. The Anglish people all have different expectations of the indigenous communities and if they should be accepted into "civilized society" or not, and Anequs is clever and determined enough to represent her people amongst all the controversy.

I generally enjoy when fiction novels take inspiration from current societal issues, and while they were well done in To Shape a Dragon's Breath, I felt the novel was ONLY about exposing these issues. I would be interested to see where this series goes, and if the writing style might change some on future sequels, but I'm still undecided if I'll continue because, unfortunately, I was largely bored during most of this book. The author did an excellent job of portraying societal issues and making you infuriated by them, rightly so, but I felt it lacked a plot and enticing pacing.

Writing: The writing is very matter of fact and to the point. It felt like we were just having the list of things that occurred told to us, rather than being in the moment with the characters. There were some scenes that felt more descriptive and like we weren't just passing by, but they were few and far between- which also led to the odd paced feeling.
It is evident even from the book synopsis that Blackgoose is creating names similar to real world/historical places and names (ex. the Anglish and the English). It felt a little silly at times, but I feel that this was possibly to put even more emphasis on the fact that the issues in the book are so similar to our historical and current issues. Whether or not that was a success, I'm not so sure.
It often felt like we were actually in a lecture, learning what the dragoneer students are required to learn, and while I am in awe that someone put that much effort into their worldbuilding, it also made for some pretty boring chunks of writing. However, the shorter chapters did help with this.

Characters: I adored Anequs, and she is probably my favorite thing about this novel. She is clever and strong-willed. She tries to learn all she can about Anglish society simply to survive, but she refuses to change who she is to fit in. Theod gets better development in the later part of the story, and Sander was an exceptionally created neurodivergent character. There was also representation of polyamory and bisexuality.
The little we got of the dragons, I did enjoy, and I cannot wait to see more of them, especially Kasaqua. I have a feeling Anequs and Kasaqua are going to be a badass duo.
I would have liked more development on the romances.

Plot: There was a lack of plot in this book. The climax was very brushed over, and then suddenly the book was over. It's definitely more character focused or more focused on showing all these wrongs in society than creating an intricate plot. It hits on how flawed the political system is, sexism, classism, homophobia, racism, slavery/indentured servitude, colonialism, erasure of history, and how those who are "winning" rewrite the story to make themselves look like they're in the right.

To Shape A Dragon's Breath is everything that I never knew that I wanted out of a dragon novel. The depth of the storytelling, the richness of the characters and the world; it's all executed beautifully. Anequs is an incredible main character, and her tenacity is what so many other authors likely wish they could pull off so flawlessly. Where this novel truly shines is in its social commentary. It says exactly what it means to say in exactly the way it means to say it. I wish more people would read this instead of/along with another popular dragon book that was recently released.

Dragons! What more so I need to say?! The cover drew me in but the words are what kept me coming back for more! This was a very unique read!

Fifteen year old Anequs lives with her people on a remote island, living a life her people have lived for many generations. They have a longstanding, difficult relationship with the Anglish conquerors who see Anequs and her people as uncivilized barbarians. To have a dragon is a rare thing, and there has been no dragon among her people for many years. She finds a dragon egg, and the new born dragon bonds with her. Her brother, who has left the island, tells her, There’s a ministry for dragons. The Anglish have a ministry for everything. Dragons are supposed to be registered, and dragoneers need to be tested to prove they’re competent, and teach their dragons to use their dragon breath safely. .Anequs enrolls in the academy and is sponsored by the Headmaster.

An Indigenous person with a dragon is not something the Anglish dragoneers approve of, but there are some individuals working to change perceptions of the Indigenous people. Anequs is enrolled and she and her dragon are asked to represent her people in order to change perceptions and rule of law with the Anglish. Only one other girl is enrolled, and only one boy from an Indigenous people. We see what life is like on the island for Anequs and her developing relationship with the other indigenous boy. . We learn about their food their drink and how they live and support themselves. We listen to their stories. And watch their dances and festivals. Their lives are fulfilling and they want to live in peace with the Anglish.

Once Anequs makes it to school, she is put to task , and discriminated by others, causing her to be defensive and outspoken. Most of her teachers and fellow students don’t want her there. They invent rules for her and the other Indigenous boy But she is also very intelligent and capable, and she learns despite the odds against her. The story is about colonialism more than a dragon story. The dragons, though great, are secondary in this story.

I enjoyed To Shape a Dragon’s Breath very much. I did find the long names and spellings difficult to read, and shortened them in my mind for my ease of reading. Lots of characters and lots of “indigenous “ names. But Its strengths were the characters and we learn a lot about family, relationships and community. There is a great deal of world information and history of both the groups, which to me was long and repetitive towards the middle of the book, it does slow the story down. But that said, it was interesting and enjoyable and I read it quickly.

I was a Dragon Kid.

I read the first Eragon book to tatters, and obsessively read the third around four times a year. Dragonology was my favorite -ology book. It was Lady Trent’s Memoirs, a series about dragon naturalism, that broke me out of my four year reading slump.

I haven’t read a good dragon book in a while, but I’ve been itching for one. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is exactly what I needed to scratch that itch.

WORLDBUILDING

The story is set in an alternate history version of America based upon not Christian English beliefs but Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, and Old English religion and culture. I loved how Blackgoose reinterpreted and structured these inspirations; for example, the political system is a cross between the real world early American democracy and the Anglo-Saxon aristocratic system with a king, thanes, and halls.

The magic system, too, is so well-done. It’s more of a magical alternate science system, which I would describe as a cross between chemistry and alchemy. Though the vocabulary is different (for example, iron is called isen and elements are called skiltas), the foundational concepts are the same, making it easy to follow as we learn about it beside Anequs.

I adore dragon fantasy stories that reinterpret our own history and natural science through its own lens. That’s no easy feat to accomplish, much less do it well. With To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, Blackgoose has created not only a fantastic science fantasy but also one of the best dragon fantasy books I have ever read.

FOLKLORE IN TO SHAPE A DRAGON’S BREATH

I could write an essay on the way Blackgoose implements folklore into her storytelling. However, this is a book review, and as such I shall restrain myself to a few paragraphs.

Folklore—more specifically, the telling of stories—is a major theme in To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. More than one chapter is a story within a story, framed by Anequs asking another character to tell her a story or telling a story herself. It’s obvious to me that Blackgoose is passionate about folklore, reinterpreting lore from real-world cultures with care.

Even the presentation of the novel itself has links to folklore. The chapter titles, when considered together, read as a bare-bones bedtime story version of the narrative. It’s so clever, and I absolutely cannot wait to see how Blackgoose continues the theme of folklore in the rest of the series.

PLOT

I sometimes struggle to enjoy some fantasy titles, as they tend to incorporate tropes and narrative beats I find tiring (for example, the love triangle and poorly handled fantasy racism).

However, Blackgoose not only avoids these tropes but actively challenges them. In example, although Anequs is interested in two characters, she plans to pursue both of them, avoiding a tiresome love triangle that so often drags books down for me. She also handles racism and bigotry on several levels. For example, by reflecting problematic tropes and narratives present in real-world literature through in-world books Anequs encounters, and exploring how those racist narratives effect Anequs’ life and relationships.

And now we come to the only caveat I have to say about To Shape a Dragon’s Breath.

The plot is largely concerned with worldbuilding, society, and culture. If you’re expecting a high-octane adventure fantasy, you will be disappointed. There are no sky battles or magic duels or special ancient weapons.

I’ve seen some other reviewers complain that nothing happens in this book. I disagree.

Things do happen, it’s just that those things concern cultural, scientific, and political worldbuilding, the navigation of social settings, and the development of character relationships.

At its core, To Shape a Dragon’s Breath about exploring a world through the eyes of an Indigenous teenager living in a colonial world and moving through a restrictive social structure she refuses to assimilate into.

The plot, therefore, is about what she learns and who she learns it with. For someone expecting dragon battles or a fantasy boarding school mystery, it may feel as though nothing is happening.

But something is happening: an exploration of the crossroads of race, gender, religion, class, and culture in this fictional setting throug nuanced, well-written dialogue between diverse, well-written characters.

It is a slow paced book, but like a good hike, the pleasure is in the journey and who you’re walking with.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath provides a breathtaking trail and excellent company.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After finishing To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, I already missed the characters and the world. This is the first installment in a series, and I cannot wait to see what else Blackgoose has in store for us.

If you love dragons, science fantasy, or well-written diverse characters, I cannot recommend To Shape a Dragon’s Breath enough.

Thank you to Del Ray for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley.

This book did not work for me quite as well as I had hoped it would. There were plenty of things I liked, but they were overshadowed by just how boring and drawn out the story became. It didn’t help that the writing was incredibly matter of fact and detached, which kept me from becoming emotionally attached to the main character.

The world-building was a bit of a mixed bag. I really loved it at first even though there was a steep learning curve. The alternative history and culture of both the Indigenous people and the Viking colonizers were incredibly fascinating. I enjoyed learning about it all from context and experiencing it alongside the characters. Unfortunately, it got stale after a bit. Pretty much the entire story was just teaching the main character about the culture of the colonizers and having her think it was weird. This repeated over and over again with different customs, and it just got old and boring long before the book reached its end.

I also really wanted more of the academics and dragons. The book focused so heavily on Anequs’ social life and her adjustment to the culture shock. Everything else seemed like an afterthought, which was a shame because there was a lot of interesting stuff in this book. The magic system was so unique, a blend of dancing, drawing, and chemistry, but it was used so little in the story. Furthermore, there were only one or two actual dragon lessons in this entire book about a dragon school. It was a huge disappointment because I definitely wanted more dragon action.

My favorite thing about the book was how it compared the motivations and day to day life of the two very different societies, one Indigenous and one Western. It called into question the very notion of what it means to be ‘civilized’ and left me thinking about how progress can be conceptualized in radically different ways by other cultures. The story illustrated just how unnecessary, and a bit ridiculous, many of the excesses of capitalism truly are. It also highlighted an alternative way of life to the chasing of endless growth and showed one way to live more in harmony with nature. It was all very thought-provoking.

I cannot end this review without commenting on the characters. The main character, Anequs, was headstrong and had a solid understanding of her identity. She was unwavering in her beliefs, and I liked that she didn’t bow to the pressure of the colonizers. However, it also left her as a bit of a one note character because not much about her or her reactions really changed over the course of the book. She felt like more of a steady change agent that altered the people and institutions around her, which was interesting but kept me from building a strong emotional connection to her. I loved her friends, though. They each had compelling character arcs, and I loved the little found family unit of outcasts they created at the school.

Overall, this was a really interesting read with so many great elements. They just didn’t all come together in a completely satisfying way for me. If you enjoy stories with indigenous influences or centered around critiquing the status quo and colonialism, you will most likely enjoy this book. Just don’t go into it thinking it will be an action-packed tale with tons of dragon action. That is not this book’s vibe. I thought this one was okay but not a page-turner. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.