To Shape a Dragon's Breath: The First Book of Nampeshiweisit (Nampeshiweisit, 1)
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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Community Reviews
Some parts were slow and the name game was a little dizzy at the end but I absolutely loved the story and can’t wait for the next book!
This book is perfect for a young adult. As I am an "old" adult, I like books with nuance, character development, and some excitement. Oh, and dragons --- I was promised dragons.
It's not a 'bad' book, it's just not for me.
Oh this world is gorgeous. The magic is very interesting; the world is tumultuous and I love the main character so much. I have given it a 9 because at times—the narrative feels a little too straightforward, and I feel like I’m being told things that I wish I could have been shown. But our narrative is direct and her thoughts streamlined—so it’s not out of place. But I long for some moments of colorful prose, because I am who I am. That being said, I love this book. At its heart—it’s a book about overcoming colonialism but embracing change. It’s a book that is familiar with racism and political assholes, but a better and more interesting war is being taught by our main character and her family. How can them embrace the change of technology; keep their ancestors proud but ensure they have a future together? That’s the more interesting tension in this book. Between learning how to shape a dragons breath and falling in love and growing up and understanding who you are; who you want to be and still be proud of who you were before. I cannot wait for more books in this series!
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