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To Shape a Dragon's Breath
The First Book of Nampeshiweisit
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Narrated by:
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Charley Flyte
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Written by:
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Moniquill Blackgoose
About this listen
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.
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What the critics say
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
What listeners say about To Shape a Dragon's Breath
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-06-07
Different Yet Enticing
Starting this book was like testing the water of a lake that, as you adjusted to the language patterns, enveloped you in its story and made you want to stay in its embrace. Anaqus was a fantastic main character, rational and kind, but most importantly, she was strong. Viewing her story through her gaze was a pleasant experience and eye-opening. I do not wish to spoil the story for anyone, so if you are interested in a coming-of-age story involving Dragons and a girl finding friendship in an unlikely place while battling against backward political attacks; I hope you pick this up for a listen.
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- Molly
- 2023-11-24
Such a cool and creative book!
Amazing creative story with fascinating characters. I have never read/listened to anything quite like it. There were some slow bits and it did take some time to get used to the narration, but I cannot emphasize enough how cool this book is. From the Indigenous perspectives to the DRAGONS to the neurodivergent characters and the steampunk influences - Such a creative and cool read! I am already looking forward to the next in the series.
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- Aimee
- 2024-01-13
Heartfelt characters, a poignant allegory to colonial subjugation and discrimination of indigenous peoples
Well done, an enjoyable read. Set in Victorian-era, but one with dragons who are bonded to humans. Classic bureaucracy, dragons and their dragoneers are regulated like driving and owning a car. This clearly collides with an indigenous girl and her new dragon and the colonial occupiers who view her and her people as less-than-human savages.
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- Novalla
- 2023-11-22
Phenomenal book! I was hooked from start to finish
This story was sooo beautiful and brilliantly written was hooked from start to finish and my only complaint is that book two isn’t out. Loved the combo of history and culture to fantasy and set in an incredibly cool area just overall a great and original book! 10/10 recommend
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- Lauren H.
- 2023-12-05
Dragons and Steampunk from an indigenous pov
Loved the plot and the reading of this book- can’t wait for the next book in the series!
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- Tyne
- 2024-01-15
I can’t wait for book 2!!!
This was such a wonderful book. I want to write a long winded account of all the ways in which it is wonderful — but just get the book and read it. Reading my review is wasting valuable time in which you could instead be reading this profoundly beautiful book.
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