5 out of 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alternate fantasy world exploring colonialism but WITH DRAGONS!

This is honestly one of my new favorite books and I am recommending it to anyone who is even mildly interested in fantasy, dragons, social commentary, academic settings, strong female characters or LGBT and indigenous representation.

I think this book is so well done, the main character has a strong sense of self which is really refreshing. I love the parallels to our own history, science and society and think the commentary made throughout the book was very poignant. The pacing was great for me with short chapters that flew by. You get some slice of life and academic plot as well as an overarching one with higher stakes.

I loved learning about the indigenous culture featured in the story, and the heartbreaking events and details that hit close to home and our own history. I think the mark of a great story and author is when a book ignites a multitude of feelings, and I got happiness, anger (on behalf of the characters), sadness and warm found family feelings.

I think this is an amazing book (at least for me) and I am so excited for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In alternate America were the Vikings colonized America, Teenage Anequs finds a dragon egg. The dragon hatches and impresses on Anequs. Aneques island community have not had a dragon for years. The dragon is named Kasaqua. Anequs and Kasaqua must go to a school on the mainland to learn how harness her dragon’s power and register for the state. Anequs has to maneuver in Anglish society and at the same time learn the science of dragons. This is a fascinating world. This engaging but it seems to be a setup for the rest of the series which I want to read.

Among the many stories of teenagers being sent to magical academies, To Shape A Dragon’s Breath is a unique and inspiring parallel history, reclaiming Indigenous culture, and depicting the lived experience of colonization and racism. A central idea of the story, the idea of connecting traditional dance, folklore, healing, dragons and magic was so interesting. I found it comforting reading about Anequs recovering lost parts of her peoples’ traditional knowledge.

I loved meeting Anequs’ close friends and family, particularly Sander who is neurodivergent and prefers to communicate via a magically powered wax tablet. I would have been happy learning more about the technology unique to this historical timeline.

I found the sections where Anequs is learning scholarly topics like skiltakraft somewhat difficult to follow. This was not helped by the many neologisms and use of German words.

Nevertheless I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you for making this book available for Hugo voters. While I haven’t had the chance to read the entire book yet, I have voted for it based on the first few chapters.

I recently read To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Monquill Blackgoose! I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book overall, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who's looking for an Indigenous fantasy YA, anyone who likes alternate history YAs, and anyone who likes books involving magical schools and dragons.

Plot: in the 1800s in what seems to be a Viking colonized version of the Northeast, 15 year old Anequs is an Indigenous teen from the island of Masquapaug, and she becomes the first of her people to find and bond with a dragon in many generations. She enrols in an Anglish/coloniser run dragon school.

There wasn't anything I disliked about this book! A lot of the specific things I liked: The vivid descriptions- especially of outfits, the steampunk elements, the alternate history, use of chemistry/science in the magic, the challenges the characters faced and how they responded, the overall concept and execution, the relationships between the characters, the romance subplots. The worldbuilding felt very complete. I'd give it 4.75/5 stars.

This will be the first in a series. It doesn't end on a big cliffhanger, but I'm excited to see more of this world and these characters in book 2!

#toshapeadragonsbreath #netgalley #fantasybooks

Delightfully fresh spin on the magic school trope. Blackgoose's indigenous protagonist is wonderful in her own right, but the author's grappling with an alternate history that still shares many of the prejudices and crimes against indigenous populations of our own history takes this to the next level of thoughtful and thought-provoking. At the same time, it's a fantastic adventure with memorable characters. I'm looking forward to the next one!

I requested this copy as part of the 2024 Hugo packet.

I absolutely adored this book!. I so very much want to read the next part of the story. For me it was a look at the Indigenous side of colonialism, a view that should be seen more. I hope the follow up books are written and published. I'll be looking for them!

In the flurry of current dragon books this one stands out. This is a vivid look into indigineous culture and how they endure injustices. Anequs is a spectacular protagnist who overcomes a great deal in becoming a dragoneer. The Academy serves as a great setting for Anequs to adapt to a world outside of her own. There are times went the story slows in its pacing but the overall experience was superb.

This is a great addition to dragon literature.

Thank you NetGalley, Moniquill Blackgoose and publisher for my e-arc of To Shape a Dragon's Breath (TSaDB).

This was a fantastic read if you want to continue to dragon/dragon school trend - but want something completely different than Fourth Wing. TSaDB was more aligned with Babel - with young Indigenous woman Anequs is chosen by a dragon hatchling and has to leave her home to train at a coloniser school. There is plenty of exploration around colonisation, identity, sexism, racism, and classism.

It did take a while to become acclimatised to the world - in TSaDB the world has been colonised by Scandi/Norse (known as Anglish). There are Norse myths alongside German phrases and the geography described what I assume is Indigenous America. I would have really enjoyed some illustrations or world maps to go alongside the story. In addition, the story also had a slow start, but once we were well established the pacing seemed to be perfect.

The writing style was descriptive and direct, and I particularly enjoyed it and found it refreshing.

There was plenty of time spent with the FMC focusing on the classes to become proficient in handling dragons and shaping dragon's breath.

I also really appreciated the LGBTQ, poly and divergent representation, alongside the Indigenous FMC.
There were some comments that the love interests didn't seem to have enough conflict, but there was plenty of simmering points of unrest such as the issues with class and race. I think in the next installment when they are all courting then I'm sure they'll be no shortage of conflict as same sex relationships are not the norm in Anglish society, let alone poly relationships.

I am already eagerly awaiting the next book, and was very sad to have to leave the world of Nampeshiweisit.

This was a good book, and I think anyone looking for a dragon book that is NOT like Fourth Wing might like To Shape A Dragon’s Breath. However, this is not just a dragon book and it is not even mostly about dragons. It is more about colonialism, racism, and sexism. If you like heavy, global topics like that, you will like this book. The dragons do not do a lot other than being cute in this book. If you are looking for a more action-heavy dragon book, this is not for you. People who like school settings will also like this book.

That being said, the talk of colonialism, racism, and sexism does not go very deep and feels black and white. Anequs continuously points out what is wrong with white/anglish(clearly likened to real life english) culture (points I wholeheartedly agree with) without considering the good parts of the culture or the negative aspects of her own culture. Multiple times in the book Anequs is shown to be frustrated with her culture’s stubbornness about adapting to modern culture and her family’s reluctance to allow her to choose her own path in life, but she never reflects upon this.

The other weak point was the lack of an arc with Anequs. I felt that her personality and her beliefs were the stagnant throughout the book. And from the beginning, she always knew that she was doing the right thing, so there was no tension of her having to make a tough decision. The characters who I thought had interesting arcs were Marta and Sander. Theod maybe could have been included in that list but I just didn’t really like him.

After listing these negatives, I have to mention that I really liked seeing Anequs venture into the Anglish world for the first time, and I liked hearing her thoughts about the many social customs. And I l like what she chooses to do with her career as a dragoneer (no spoilers!) . Additionally, the description of the dragons and their attachments to their dragoneers was wonderful. Kasaqua was so cute and I could sense her bond with Anequs.

I loved the sound of this book as soon as I saw I it. The main character is chosen by a newly hatched dragon and becomes bonded to it. She is from a small island and is regarded as a savage by the Anglish people. By law, she must register her dragon and attend an academy for learning to control her dragon's breath.

The book deals well with the themes of alienation, home, and colonisation. It challenges the concept of indigenous people needing to be 'civilised' by other people's standards and norms.

It was an enjoyable read and was well-written. I had had it in my mind that the dragons would play a larger role in the book, involving action or battles at the school and learning to control them in that way. It was much more academic than that, though. The main theme was definitely the conqueres and Anequs' fight to be understood.

I think that this book is an excellent terrain in the fantasy world for examining racist ideas of what it means to be civilised. The bond between Aneques and her dragon was very cool.

It was also lovely to read LQBTQIA+ characters and an autistic main character.

Babel found dead in a ditch

Since I have to have a review longer than that, I will elaborate: this did everything Babel is trying to do conceptually (comment on colonialism, imperialism, sexism -- all the isms -- while doing some fun magicky things, plus alternate history, and also really scratch the linguistics center of my brain), but *better*. The alt-history is more "alt." The magical elements' implications on society are more thoughtfully integrated. The characters are more nuanced. The characters even pay attention to going to class and learning at their magic school! Take that, Harry Potter! Altogether it comes across as a work by a more mature author than R.F. Kuang, not in a 'this is intended for mature audiences' sense but in the sense of taking a more sophisticated, adult perspective on the world. The characters are not setting out to overthrow "Colonialism" in a single book, because it is ridiculous to attempt something on that scale, and where some people might read Babel and enjoy the "boo-yah, take that" escapism of that kind of plot it seemed a little childish to me, looking for a tidy resolution for systemic problems that are much larger than a plucky group of teens. This is book one of who knows how many, so it's possible that the series could go that direction. It wouldn't be the first time that sequels take the stakes to a heightened "it goes all the way to the top!" kind of thing. But I appreciate that Anequs is not complacent with the way things are, and is seeking to improve her world (her people, the Anglish society they are surrounded by, and the way the two interact) in ways that are both groundbreaking and grounded. I'm eagerly waiting to see where it goes.

A fantasy adventure with dragon bonded to a girl, dragon school and the adventures that follow. Suggest it would appeal most to younger YA/ teen readers. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Wow, wow, wow, I enjoyed this more than I imagined I would; solid 3.5 for me. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.

Nothing really happens in the story but a lot of foundation is built for the next (plz just be a duology)?? Once I realized that this volume served as a set up for more to come, I enjoyed it more. One element I really loved was our FMC, Anequs, whom is and says exactly what she promises and stands on business when it comes to protecting herself, her loved ones, and her morals. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t an ounce of a damsel in distress in her and that she understood the differences in the culture but also questioned them with every breath of hers. Each time someone referred to her customs as “uncivilized” or “vulgar,” she had a come back and comparison for something different in their own culture.

One thing I didn’t like was the length of the book; yes, this is an ARC and not the final copy but I found many parts too long winded and way too much telling and not enough showing. It made parts of the story harder to get through. I really enjoyed the stories included about the FMC and the Anglish people’s gods but felt that there were a bit too many? I was both intrigued with them but also confused because it deviated from the story for like 20-minutes.

Overall I really enjoyed the premise, the characters, the action (of what little there was besides the end) and the non-cringey additive of a blossoming queer (possibly poly) romance. It’s not something I’ve seen in the fantasy YA age group category in a long time but it felt done in a very tasteful manner. I feel like I could write way more about this title but I don’t want to give more away.

I’m really looking forward to the next book and can’t wait to see how the drama will unfold.

Everyone hyped up this book so much, I went in having very high expectations.
Alth0ugh the concepts were fascinating, the story had some really nice turns, i was not as impressed as anyone else. Things happen, but also nothing happens. This mostly felt like the setup for the next book, which isnt bad per say, but i felt like something was missing.

This was a great book, I'll just list everything that I liked :

The main character Anequs hoes through a flat arc, which I think suits her and the story - she's very steadfast in what she believes, which is necessary when she faces all the colonialist bullshit.

Loved all the different dragon species, wish we had illustrations for them. Also loved the worldbuilding, like the magic-alchemy-chemistry you can do with a dragon's breath - so good.

Appreciate a fantasy school book where the characters actually go to their lessons - also liked that we had a glimpse of them (though sometimes they ran a little too long).

Different stories are told by different characters, and they all show distinctly whatever culture they were raised in, which is pretty cool. I love getting to hear the traditional stories from fantasy cultures.

Finally, the poly queer romance was very much appreciated, away with the love triangles, give me this instead.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Anequs is a strong character, and I fell in love with her. The language was absolutely beautiful, and I adored how lyrical and poetic it was.

I am hoping to read the next book in the series!

This book was a bit difficult for me to get into. The first half was really slow, and felt very info-dumpy. It felt like reading a textbook and made me consider DNFing because I was just constantly confused. HOWEVER IM SO GLAD I CONTINUED. The second half of this book was much easier to digest. We finally got to see personalities of all the characters. I enjoyed the side character appearances a lot more. The story progressed really nicely, and I liked the ending. I will definitely be reading the next book to see how the story continues!

“The shapeless medicine of a dragons breath is change.”

It’s hard not to compare any new dragon book to Fourth Wing and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath is no exception. Of course, this is YA so the subject matter is younger but I truly loved the writing style, world building, and characters of this book. There was a lot of diversity, including queer representation and I love to see that in any book I read.

As I got through the first few chapters, I summed up the plot like this: An old wives tale version of fourth wing with hints of fairytales (think Mulan) thrown in. And I mean that in the best way possible. I felt like I was immersed in this story, which sometimes can be hard in a fantasy because there is so much going on. The dragons were described almost how we treat our let dogs and I really liked the visual that created in my mind.

There was one point where dragons bones were described as being lightweight to aid in flight and as I was listening to this “fact” being described I thought to myself, “huh, is that true?” because I entirely forgot dragons are in fact, not real. That experience is a huge testament to how well done this book is and how well it pulls the reader right into Masquapaug.

This was a great start to a new YA Fantasy series and I can’t wait to continue to watch this story unfold with the expansion of the Nampeshiweisit series.

5 stars, spoiler-free review
To Shape a Dragon's Breath is one of my favorite discoveries of 2024. This magical, moving novel swept me into a different world and kept me there. Culture, dragon lore, alliances, family, history, coming of age, danger, love, and loyalty weave together during a complex time of change. Strong moments show the contrast of actual savagery contrasted with racist ideas that cast the land's original people as "savages."
It's a rich experience, full of the wonder of dragons and the challenges of going away to school as an outsider. The LGBTQIA+ depictions were refreshing and the intimate moments felt completely right for the characters.
There's great fun in the book with gamboling young dragons, humorous aspects of culture clashes, and wonderful details of young inventors and the heroine setting about to forge the future from their visions. There are many strong characters bringing this story to life, and the places are wonderfully vivid.
The heroine acts with courage, honor, and dignity in the face of ignorance and hostility, a true hero of her time. The many parts of her journey, culture, and studies come together in a deeply satisfying way. This is a book that will stay with me and that I'll enjoy reading again.
Highly recommended for adult and YA readers, including those who might not usually read Fantasy. This is an extraordinary book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Ransom House Publishg Group Ballantine / Del Rey for the eARC for consideration. These are my opinions.