To Shape a Dragon's Breath

The First Book of Nampeshiweisit

By: Moniquill Blackgoose

Narrated by: Charley Flyte

Length: 16 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “My favorite book of the year . . . a coming-of-age story that is cozy and hair-raising in equal measure.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post

“I tore through it, caught up in an enthusiasm for dragons that I hadn’t experienced since I was a teenager obsessed with Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea and Anne McCaffrey’s Pern.”—NPR

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, PopSugar, Chicago Public Library, Polygon, She Reads, Autostraddle

The remote island of Masquapaug has not seen a dragon in many generations—until fifteen-year-old Anequs finds a dragon’s egg and bonds with its hatchling. Her people are delighted, for all remember the tales of the days when dragons lived among them and danced away the storms of autumn, enabling the people to thrive. To them, Anequs is revered as Nampeshiweisit—a person in a unique relationship with a dragon.

Unfortunately for Anequs, the Anglish conquerors of her land have different opinions. They have a very specific idea of how a dragon should be raised, and who should be doing the raising—and Anequs does not meet any of their requirements. Only with great reluctance do they allow Anequs to enroll in a proper Anglish dragon school on the mainland. If she cannot succeed there, her dragon will be killed.

For a girl with no formal schooling, a non-Anglish upbringing, and a very different understanding of the history of her land, challenges abound—both socially and academically. But Anequs is smart, determined, and resolved to learn what she needs to help her dragon, even if it means teaching herself. The one thing she refuses to do, however, is become the meek Anglish miss that everyone expects.

Anequs and her dragon may be coming of age, but they’re also coming to power, and that brings an important realization: the world needs changing—and they might just be the ones to do it.

©2023 Moniquill Blackgoose (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Imagine a world full of dragons where a newborn chooses you to be its caregiver. Imagine you have to go to a special school to learn how to train it. Imagine that almost no one at the school wants you there. This is how the well-written, compelling tale of To Shape a Dragon’s Breath begins, and once underway it doesn’t let you go.”—New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks

“My favorite book of the year . . . a coming-of-age story that is cozy and hair-raising in equal measure.”—Charlie Jane Anders, The Washington Post

“I tore through it, caught up in an enthusiasm for dragons that I hadn’t experienced since I was a teenager obsessed with Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea and Anne McCaffrey’s Pern.”—NPR

immediate re-listen

I have this on Kindle for when I don't want to wake everyone with the audiobook. I've just finished and will be immediately re-reading to savor it again. A thoughtful, much needed story.

World building

Just upset the second book hasn’t been announced yet
Wonderful story loved every minute
Wish I had this story when I was younger

This was Great

I only take off half a star for slow pacing sometimes that was Too slow, but it’s easy to get past that. Otherwise, this was a wonderful read.

Such a wonderful story the reader was excellent

Loved every minute of the story sad it was over . I hope the story continues

Unreal! I need more!!

I started reading this with a physical copy and ended up also purchasing this audio version so I could continue the story in times I could not physically read!

Moniquill Blackgoose completely enchanted me with this unexpected dystopian story of a world of alchemy and dragons! It’s hard to believe that this is her first book.

To quickly sum this up primarily this is a fantasy story of a young native girl Anequs who finds a dragon egg. Upon its hatching the dragon soon bonds with Anequs and they are sent to a formal academy where they are set to learn all things dragon training and alchemy. This coming of age story has adventure, queer rep, positive polyamory rep, feminism, mythology, and romance.

One of my top reads this year

This book blew me away. I loved this book in ways I can’t even express! The magic/scientific system is truly inspired, the journey Anequs takes through these pages is both terrible and wonderful, and the discoveries!!!!! made about her people’s relationship to dragons! Aaah. I wanted to cheer in the middle of the gym. Kasaqua and Coppers interactions are adorable and endearing, and I cannot wait to see what develops with Theod and Liberty and Anequs. The in depth look into the perspective of the indigenous peoples within the book will make you cry and rage, and I won’t lie and say there’s not some small part of me that wishes they could all join with their cousins in the West and take back their freedoms. The relationships between Anequs and her family are so rich and well done I found myself loving them as much as I did characters who had much more page time. Overall, Moniquill Blackgoose had done a remarkable job of weaving a tale I want to read again and again, and will be anxiously awaiting the second installment of!

The whole story. I was so happy I really want to listen to the next episode

It was well read!! The characters were all discribed wonderfully, A very entertaining story to listen to! We

Love the strong female main character

Good story and details. I recommend it!!
The only thing I didn’t care for were the men’s voices. Maybe use actual men next time?

Love these characters! Love the story!

I love how this story has such a different and beautiful take on the dragon and their person trope. More importantly, how it ties them and the significance of their relationship into the history and culture of the native people, and the struggles that they face in this colonized world.

Positively beautiful

I’ve just finished listening and I’m at a loss for words to express my appreciation.

Social justice themes abound as do refreshing approaches to ethical non-monogamy. The story, the world-building, the character development, and the talented narration are all beautifully balanced and compelling.