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 • WINNER OF THE NEBULA AND LODESTAR AWARDS • FINALIST FOR THE ASTOUNDING, LOCUS, AND BRITISH FANTASY NEWCOMER AWARDS • “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

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE NEBULA AND LODESTAR AWARDS • FINALIST FOR THE ASTOUNDING AND LOCUS AWARDS

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

“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

“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

Amazing story

nothing that I can think of at this time. it was a great read for me.

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

Amazing characters

This is the best book I have listened to this year. I can’t wait for the second book to be released.

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.

Perfect

This story is charming and captivating and so rich on so many levels. The world building is beautiful as are the dragons. I'm in love. Read it. You will be too.

Harry Potter BUT BETTER!

This is a fantastic book written by an indigenous author. I really love that this isn’t the same trope of “kid goes to magical (a lot of times non magical) school and solves mysteries”. It’s about a girl and her dragon trying to get by in a prestigious school and all over a whole different world from her own.
Even if you are not Native American you will relate to the character if you’re an immigrant going to another country or a POC going to a mostly white school.

It also covers a lot of other issues involved with colonization. Has glimpses of how Natives feel about LGB and poly relationships all on the a Victorianish setting with dragons. What more can you want?

As for the audiobook itself Moniquill Blackgoose lends a wonderful voice to the story. It reminded me of my Aunties telling me stories which warms my own Lakota heart. If you are white and not use to Native storytelling in written form you may want to give the audiobook a chance.

I cannot wait for the sequel and to read more of Anequs journey. Thank you Noniquill (and also can there be a Lakota type tribe with bison griffins maybe? That’d be cooooool)