A review by kurtwombat
To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 There is Fantasy to escape and there is Fantasy to step outside to better look back upon ourselves. TO SHAPE A DRAGON’S BREATH takes a serious approach within the young adult fantasy genre to reflect the failures of our world. A thinly veiled but richly imagined alternative history of earth with enough sign posts to keep you on track—an indigenous culture clashes with a European white culture. Dragons happen to be the sticking point here but as with all such clashes, the dominant culture will always find something. I quickly became engrossed in the characters and indigenous cultures are my soft spot so the 500 pages immersed and swept me away.  This avoids the nonsensical romantic fawning prevalent in young adult lit—instead tenderly sketched relationships mesh together people who care about each other. The world will not end if hearts are broken—the stakes are indeed much higher than that. For which I am immensely grateful. Would love this tale of a non-white non-superhero young girl taking on the world so far with only her wit and guile to gain more traction. Appreciate that a series spotlighting dragons dared to have an entire first book with a dragon too young to fly. That is confidence in your story telling—when you don’t have to rely on something flashy to bail you out. You may be surprised how little happens over 500 pages but more surprised by how much you don’t mind. Waiting for the next. (I should also mention that it is LGBTQ friendly in fantastic and non-patronizing ways)