To Shape a Dragon's Breath Audiobook By Moniquill Blackgoose cover art

To Shape a Dragon's Breath

The First Book of Nampeshiweisit

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To Shape a Dragon's Breath

By: Moniquill Blackgoose
Narrated by: Charley Flyte
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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.

©2023 Moniquill Blackgoose (P)2023 Random House Audio
Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy Fiction United States World Literature Dragons
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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

Indigenous Perspective • Rich Worldbuilding • Excellent Narrator • Unique Dragon Story • Wonderful Voice
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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.

immediate re-listen

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

World building

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Awesome read. I will be recommending this book to all my fantasy friends. It’s wonderful to see the friendship she develops and the challenges she has to face.

Enjoyed!

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interesting with great characters development. performance was good as well kept the interest, original content

will be waiting or sequel

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

Amazing story

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Politics, cultural clash, dragons. It has everything I wanted in a fantasy story and I can’t wait for the second book

Love it

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This book blew me away. Such a unique perspective with lots of great insights that shed light on our own world.

Great indigenous LGBTQ book!

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I have been waiting for a book like this for ages.

World building is good, story is good, a fresh take on the dragon rider school… but the best is the native perspective. Finally a book where a native plainly speaks up for their own civilisedness without preaching…

Fantastic…

Make a movie of this one!

Everything done well

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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.

Love these characters! Love the story!

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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.

Positively beautiful

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