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Nampeshiweisit #2
To Ride a Rising Storm
Anequs has not only survived her first year at Kuiper's Academy but exceeded all of her professors' admittedly low expectations—and passed all her courses with honors. Now, she and her dragon, Kasaqua, are headed home for the summer, along with Theod, the only other Native student at the Academy.
But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs's notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time a presence which Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people's right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark which may flare into civil war.
But what should have been a relaxing break takes a darker turn. Thanks to Anequs's notoriety, there is an Anglish presence on Masquapaug for the first time a presence which Anequs hates. Anequs will always fight for what she believes in, however, and what she believes in is her people's right to self-govern and live as they have for generations, without the restrictive yoke of Anglish rules and social customs. And fight she will—even if it means lighting a spark which may flare into civil war.
18 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 27, 2026
215 people are currently reading
16598 people want to read
About the author
Moniquill Blackgoose
2 books996 followersMoniquill Blackgoose, an enrolled member of the Seaconck Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and descendand of Ousamequin Massasoit, writes fantasy and science fiction. To Shape a Dragon's Breath is her first novel.
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November 8, 2025
Ever finish a book and go, well sh*t??
The ending was spectacular. And made me need book three.
This series has the most realistic depiction of coming of age in terms of finding your place and having meaningful conversations.
Yes, rejoice! They TALK. Proper, scary, real conversations so everyone understands each other or can learn more.
It is sometimes uncomfortable or hurtful, but it was a depiction of reality in a fantasy world.
There is also realistic character development from side characters who are learning new ways of life. Anequs is becoming more bold in not shying away from barbs and from her own island identity.
Anequs has not been denied a proper education. She simply received a very different one.
We also see other cultures in this one, so Anequs is also on the back foot, yet she goes in with an open and curious mind which sets her up for better friendships.
“Anequs, I love you. I will go on loving you, no matter who else you love.” He turned his gaze to Liberty and said, “Miss Braun, I do not consider you a rival, and bear you no ill will. I think that we’re both in love with a wildly reckless hero, and that we ought to be joining forces to make her see reason.”
We get more romance and conversations about what that means to different characters. We also see different practices of religion.
There is a lot of philosophy in this one. There is literally a society where a group of students (including Anqequs) gather to discuss the nature of humanity etc. It reminded me of prepping for university admissions - indulgent and as if the book is acting as a mouthpiece for the author’s internal debates.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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The ending was spectacular. And made me need book three.
This series has the most realistic depiction of coming of age in terms of finding your place and having meaningful conversations.
Yes, rejoice! They TALK. Proper, scary, real conversations so everyone understands each other or can learn more.
It is sometimes uncomfortable or hurtful, but it was a depiction of reality in a fantasy world.
There is also realistic character development from side characters who are learning new ways of life. Anequs is becoming more bold in not shying away from barbs and from her own island identity.
Anequs has not been denied a proper education. She simply received a very different one.
We also see other cultures in this one, so Anequs is also on the back foot, yet she goes in with an open and curious mind which sets her up for better friendships.
“Anequs, I love you. I will go on loving you, no matter who else you love.” He turned his gaze to Liberty and said, “Miss Braun, I do not consider you a rival, and bear you no ill will. I think that we’re both in love with a wildly reckless hero, and that we ought to be joining forces to make her see reason.”
We get more romance and conversations about what that means to different characters. We also see different practices of religion.
There is a lot of philosophy in this one. There is literally a society where a group of students (including Anqequs) gather to discuss the nature of humanity etc. It reminded me of prepping for university admissions - indulgent and as if the book is acting as a mouthpiece for the author’s internal debates.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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January 17, 2026Indigenous fantasy with all the right elements.
Really enjoyed the first installment, now diving into this!
Big thanks to NetGalley & Del Ray, Random House Worlds & Inklore for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: January 27, 2026
Really enjoyed the first installment, now diving into this!
Big thanks to NetGalley & Del Ray, Random House Worlds & Inklore for sending me this eARC!
Publication date: January 27, 2026
Currently reading
January 18, 2025Ahhhh so excited to see a listing for this. I really enjoyed the first book and have been checking every now and then to see if a sequel had been announced. Can’t wait to read this later in the year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm a HUGE fan of the first novel and I've been eagerly waiting for this second installment.
After the climax in the first book, I thought that this second novel would be elevated. As in, higher stakes and a sense of urgency and danger. And/or Anequs would be more involved in Anglish society (especially in the political or activist sphere) instead of just being a student.
But sadly, this was just an okay read.
I think I hyped myself up too much. Honestly, I probably would've rated this lower, but the last ~20% did A LOT of heavy lifting to bring this up to a 3-star read. No spoilers, but there was actual dragon action! (Having the students treat their dragons like a hybrid dog/horse was getting pretty old.)
Similar to the first novel, this was very slice of life, detailing every instance of Anequs's life and relationships at home and in the Academy. It was pretty much a rehash of book one, but Anequs now has experience under her belt when it comes to dragons, school, and relationships.
We get the usual plotlines: Anequs and Marta fight over Anglish customs and propriety. Theod learns more about his roots. We get more dragon chemistry lectures. Kasaqua isn't tiny and cute anymore, so sadly, there was less of that. Tensions grow and come to a head between theProud Boys Ravens and the rest of society.
Rinse and repeat.
Ngl, I didn't really care much for Anequs's poly relationship. Poor Theod felt like a third wheel (and dare I even say, a beard) while Anequs and Liberty were the main relationship.
It almost felt like I was watching him being bullied with the way that Anequs demanded that he define their relationship. I know some people are into assertive women, but goddamn, let the man breathe and ease into it. He also had to accept the relationship between Anequs and Liberty, and since he grew up strictly heteronormative and monogamous, you'd think that Anequs would try to be understanding. (Lbr, she has a huge problem putting herself in someone else's shoes.)
Anyway. I'm aromantic, so what do I know?
At least the climax and ending were full of nonstop action and had me (mostly) seated until the next book. I'm really hoping that I like it better than this one. Fingers crossed.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
After the climax in the first book, I thought that this second novel would be elevated. As in, higher stakes and a sense of urgency and danger. And/or Anequs would be more involved in Anglish society (especially in the political or activist sphere) instead of just being a student.
But sadly, this was just an okay read.
I think I hyped myself up too much. Honestly, I probably would've rated this lower, but the last ~20% did A LOT of heavy lifting to bring this up to a 3-star read. No spoilers, but there was actual dragon action! (Having the students treat their dragons like a hybrid dog/horse was getting pretty old.)
Similar to the first novel, this was very slice of life, detailing every instance of Anequs's life and relationships at home and in the Academy. It was pretty much a rehash of book one, but Anequs now has experience under her belt when it comes to dragons, school, and relationships.
We get the usual plotlines: Anequs and Marta fight over Anglish customs and propriety. Theod learns more about his roots. We get more dragon chemistry lectures. Kasaqua isn't tiny and cute anymore, so sadly, there was less of that. Tensions grow and come to a head between the
Rinse and repeat.
Ngl, I didn't really care much for Anequs's poly relationship. Poor Theod felt like a third wheel (and dare I even say, a beard) while Anequs and Liberty were the main relationship.
It almost felt like I was watching him being bullied with the way that Anequs demanded that he define their relationship. I know some people are into assertive women, but goddamn, let the man breathe and ease into it. He also had to accept the relationship between Anequs and Liberty, and since he grew up strictly heteronormative and monogamous, you'd think that Anequs would try to be understanding. (Lbr, she has a huge problem putting herself in someone else's shoes.)
Anyway. I'm aromantic, so what do I know?
At least the climax and ending were full of nonstop action and had me (mostly) seated until the next book. I'm really hoping that I like it better than this one. Fingers crossed.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
September 19, 2025
To Shape a Dragon's Breath was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and to have an opportunity to read the sequel early and submit a review has truly been a dream come true.
Unfortunately, the pacing of this book is absolutely bonkers. The first 100 pages or so is interesting and does further the plot, yes, but we could have done that in like...30-40 pages I think. We also spend a lot of this book reading set up for the third book, which is fine. It seems like the third book is absolutely going to pop tf off but it felt like we weren't focused so much on the plot of this book as a result of all that future set up. The plot felt pretty slow paced overall compared to the previous book with any true action beginning at 80% into the book and a dragon battle and announcement of war at like 98%. Diabolical.
Something else I have to bring up is Anequs is kind of a dick to Theod. One of the side plots to this book is setting up the potential romance between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty. Anequs approaches Theod first with her intent to date both him and Liberty and does spend a significant amount her time annoyed with Theod for wanting time to think about if he wants to be in a throuple and thinks to herself why can't they just talk until the issue is resolved. Anequs, girl, because some people don't work like that. Some people need time to think about what they say before they say it. I also don't really catch a romantic vibe between Anequs and Theod like I do between Anequs and Liberty.
Another thing is at some point Anequs wants to kind of "test" Marta and decides to spring a hang out sesh on both her and Liberty and can you even believe it, it didn't work and everyone hated it. Now, Anequs isn't wrong for calling out the shit Marta said TO LIBERTY'S FACE and I think challenging Marta about her beliefs and privileges also isn't wrong. But then to get mad when Liberty gets upset about it is so bizarre and more importantly for Anequs not to realize how Marta could have jeopardized Liberty and destroyed her life if she'd had an absolute Karen moment was honestly really wild. I think Anequs is going to do a lot of character growth in the third book that we didn't see in this book regarding how Anglish customs directly affect the people she cares about around her, which will be important for her to learn and help to dismantle systemic oppression the smallfolk are experiencing. I think we're going to get there but also I do acknowledge Anequs is both 16 and never asked to be put in the situations she experiences. Another thing (sorry), is I thought the introduction of philosophy in this book was interesting but I personally find philosophy hard to get excited about so reading those bits about the DGT was kinda tough to get through.
Overall though I thought this was another really good installment to the series and I really appreciated the political and civil unrest simmering as a constant undertone beneath the plot before it all comes to an explosive head at the end. I also really liked the introduction of Sadsong to the story to teach Anequs the ways of how someone more from her culture would train, rear, and ride a Nampeshiwei. So all in all, not as good as the first book (in my opinion, if you loved it and have no notes, awesome!), but still a very solid entry in this series.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the pacing of this book is absolutely bonkers. The first 100 pages or so is interesting and does further the plot, yes, but we could have done that in like...30-40 pages I think. We also spend a lot of this book reading set up for the third book, which is fine. It seems like the third book is absolutely going to pop tf off but it felt like we weren't focused so much on the plot of this book as a result of all that future set up. The plot felt pretty slow paced overall compared to the previous book with any true action beginning at 80% into the book and a dragon battle and announcement of war at like 98%. Diabolical.
Something else I have to bring up is Anequs is kind of a dick to Theod. One of the side plots to this book is setting up the potential romance between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty. Anequs approaches Theod first with her intent to date both him and Liberty and does spend a significant amount her time annoyed with Theod for wanting time to think about if he wants to be in a throuple and thinks to herself why can't they just talk until the issue is resolved. Anequs, girl, because some people don't work like that. Some people need time to think about what they say before they say it. I also don't really catch a romantic vibe between Anequs and Theod like I do between Anequs and Liberty.
Another thing is at some point Anequs wants to kind of "test" Marta and decides to spring a hang out sesh on both her and Liberty and can you even believe it, it didn't work and everyone hated it. Now, Anequs isn't wrong for calling out the shit Marta said TO LIBERTY'S FACE and I think challenging Marta about her beliefs and privileges also isn't wrong. But then to get mad when Liberty gets upset about it is so bizarre and more importantly for Anequs not to realize how Marta could have jeopardized Liberty and destroyed her life if she'd had an absolute Karen moment was honestly really wild. I think Anequs is going to do a lot of character growth in the third book that we didn't see in this book regarding how Anglish customs directly affect the people she cares about around her, which will be important for her to learn and help to dismantle systemic oppression the smallfolk are experiencing. I think we're going to get there but also I do acknowledge Anequs is both 16 and never asked to be put in the situations she experiences. Another thing (sorry), is I thought the introduction of philosophy in this book was interesting but I personally find philosophy hard to get excited about so reading those bits about the DGT was kinda tough to get through.
Overall though I thought this was another really good installment to the series and I really appreciated the political and civil unrest simmering as a constant undertone beneath the plot before it all comes to an explosive head at the end. I also really liked the introduction of Sadsong to the story to teach Anequs the ways of how someone more from her culture would train, rear, and ride a Nampeshiwei. So all in all, not as good as the first book (in my opinion, if you loved it and have no notes, awesome!), but still a very solid entry in this series.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2025
ahhh this is one of my MOST-anticipated books and I was soo excited to get an ARC! I love the added worldbuilding! I love Anequs my blunt polyamorous queen!!
I can't believe this doesn't even come out for another 6 months so then how much longer am I going to have to wait for book #3???? oh well I'm sure it'll be worth the wait!
I can't believe this doesn't even come out for another 6 months so then how much longer am I going to have to wait for book #3???? oh well I'm sure it'll be worth the wait!
January 2, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
To Shape a Dragon's Breath was one of my most unexpectedly delightful fantasy finds of 2024, and I have been on tenterhooks for Book 2’s announcement. Is TRARS worth the wait?
In TRARS, Anequs enters her second year of academy in a different state than she’d started her first year. She’s now semi-famous, following the events of the end of Book 1, and as such, has different people wanting to be her friends this year, including an oddball “secret society” at school. But the downside of her newfound notoriety is also that she’s become a sort of lightning rod for the conservative faction of Anglish politics, who not only don’t like what she did in Book 1, but also everything that she represents.
I think one of the main reasons I enjoy this series is because it takes a lot of fantasy elements that I’ve long adored–magic schools, dragons–and does it in a way that’s, well, less problematic than the blockbuster series. The characters of TRARS are diverse; furthermore, the book addresses their differences in direct ways that hold a mirror up to the way in which these dynamics play out in our world.
Anequs has always stubbornly spoken her mind, but in TRARS, we see her struggle more between wanting to say whatever she thinks and being more diplomatic in order to diffuse a social situation or build necessary connections. I like this because in Book 1 she came across as being too perfect in her forthrightness. There’s also more exploration–though not with much forward movement–of her romances, and while I wish those could have been further developed, instead of just, well, talked about, I was still happy with the book’s stubborn insistence on having queer/non-monogamous relationships.
Writing-wise, if you didn’t like the way the story was laid out in Book 1, you shouldn’t read on. TRARS proceeds in much the same way. A title summarizing what happens begins each chapter; for the most part, the book takes us through the minutiae of Anequs’ school life, including who she talks to, what classes she has, what she’s thinking, etc. The tension of the story doesn’t so much as build as rolls along at a steady pace that may be too infuriatingly slow for some. I’m a bit irked that there’s not really a climax to Book 2; rather, a bombshell is dropped in the final paragraph that sets the stakes up for Book 3, but the lack of payoff may be frustrating to some readers.
Speaking of stakes, the main conflict that gets set up here is the widening fracture between the more tolerant and liberal political faction that is currently in power, and the loud-mouthed conservative faction that screams about their human rights being taken away by tolerance of Natives, blackfolks, women, etc. You know the type. Blackgoose, like many speculative fiction writers nowadays, has obviously been inspired by current sociopolitical events, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit… let down that key events in Book 2 adhere so closely to real events, although I’m still curious how she’ll make them play out later.
Although TRARS didn’t go in the way I had imagined, I was still satisfied, still adore this series, and would still recommend this. The accessibility of the prose makes it a worthwhile recommendation for both teen and older fantasy readers. I’m ready for more, Moniquill Blackgoose!
[Pre-review]
AHHHHHH it's happening, it's finally happening!! I've been eagerly awaiting news since finishing To Shape a Dragon's Breath and we now have a title and a GORGEOUS cover and a pub date!!!
To Shape a Dragon's Breath was one of my most unexpectedly delightful fantasy finds of 2024, and I have been on tenterhooks for Book 2’s announcement. Is TRARS worth the wait?
In TRARS, Anequs enters her second year of academy in a different state than she’d started her first year. She’s now semi-famous, following the events of the end of Book 1, and as such, has different people wanting to be her friends this year, including an oddball “secret society” at school. But the downside of her newfound notoriety is also that she’s become a sort of lightning rod for the conservative faction of Anglish politics, who not only don’t like what she did in Book 1, but also everything that she represents.
I think one of the main reasons I enjoy this series is because it takes a lot of fantasy elements that I’ve long adored–magic schools, dragons–and does it in a way that’s, well, less problematic than the blockbuster series. The characters of TRARS are diverse; furthermore, the book addresses their differences in direct ways that hold a mirror up to the way in which these dynamics play out in our world.
Anequs has always stubbornly spoken her mind, but in TRARS, we see her struggle more between wanting to say whatever she thinks and being more diplomatic in order to diffuse a social situation or build necessary connections. I like this because in Book 1 she came across as being too perfect in her forthrightness. There’s also more exploration–though not with much forward movement–of her romances, and while I wish those could have been further developed, instead of just, well, talked about, I was still happy with the book’s stubborn insistence on having queer/non-monogamous relationships.
Writing-wise, if you didn’t like the way the story was laid out in Book 1, you shouldn’t read on. TRARS proceeds in much the same way. A title summarizing what happens begins each chapter; for the most part, the book takes us through the minutiae of Anequs’ school life, including who she talks to, what classes she has, what she’s thinking, etc. The tension of the story doesn’t so much as build as rolls along at a steady pace that may be too infuriatingly slow for some. I’m a bit irked that there’s not really a climax to Book 2; rather, a bombshell is dropped in the final paragraph that sets the stakes up for Book 3, but the lack of payoff may be frustrating to some readers.
Speaking of stakes, the main conflict that gets set up here is the widening fracture between the more tolerant and liberal political faction that is currently in power, and the loud-mouthed conservative faction that screams about their human rights being taken away by tolerance of Natives, blackfolks, women, etc. You know the type. Blackgoose, like many speculative fiction writers nowadays, has obviously been inspired by current sociopolitical events, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit… let down that key events in Book 2 adhere so closely to real events, although I’m still curious how she’ll make them play out later.
Although TRARS didn’t go in the way I had imagined, I was still satisfied, still adore this series, and would still recommend this. The accessibility of the prose makes it a worthwhile recommendation for both teen and older fantasy readers. I’m ready for more, Moniquill Blackgoose!
[Pre-review]
AHHHHHH it's happening, it's finally happening!! I've been eagerly awaiting news since finishing To Shape a Dragon's Breath and we now have a title and a GORGEOUS cover and a pub date!!!
January 30, 2026
First 80% of book: “Anequs, being kind of a dick, has conversations.”
Last 20%: 🤯💥‼️
Last 20%: 🤯💥‼️
December 8, 2025
To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose is the sequel to her award‑winning debut, To Shape a Dragon's Breath. The protagonist, Anequs, and her dragon companion Kasaqua return home for the summer after a year at Kuiper’s Academy, accompanied by another Indigenous student. What should have been a peaceful break turns tense: because of Anequs’s growing notoriety, a foreign (Anglish) presence begins to encroach on her homeland, and the story sets up conflict over autonomy, culture, and resistance, with danger looming and the possibility of civil war.
I'm looking forward to the release!
I'm looking forward to the release!
Currently reading
January 26, 2026this book is out tomorrow!!!!! i’m shaking
January 28, 2026
This book!!! This series!!! To Shape a Dragon's Breath was my favorite book of 2023, full stop, and the sequel was worth the wait. I love how the characters and the world kept developing and I love how this book raised/complicated the already-high stakes. If you might like to read "dragons and the badass teenagers who care for them versus white supremacists" in these times, this is the book for you. An incredible audiobook too - Charley Flyte is a phenomenal narrator.
Please, my coworkers, read this both because it's so fucking good and because I need to yell about the ending!!!
Please, my coworkers, read this both because it's so fucking good and because I need to yell about the ending!!!
January 25, 2026
I HAVE SUCH CONFLICTING FEELINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK.
1. I will definitely continue the series and it’s SO fascinating still to me with the stories woven in and the treatment of dragons. LOVE.
2. The pacing is really off for me and that really impacts my enjoyment. Not enough happens throughout like 85% of the book, and while the relationships are interesting to me, the description of them isn’t enough for the plot. Especially when so much is still left in flux.
3. The ending??? SO GOOD?
So…yeah
1. I will definitely continue the series and it’s SO fascinating still to me with the stories woven in and the treatment of dragons. LOVE.
2. The pacing is really off for me and that really impacts my enjoyment. Not enough happens throughout like 85% of the book, and while the relationships are interesting to me, the description of them isn’t enough for the plot. Especially when so much is still left in flux.
3. The ending??? SO GOOD?
So…yeah
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.
This book is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Listen… To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, book 1 of the Nampeshiweisit series, grabbed a hold of me in a way that is still imprinted on my brain. I LOVED that book. It was one of the best I have EVER read. Ever. Hands down, no question. So even being granted this arc was a dream! But I have to be honest and say that this book did not go at all as I thought it would. In reality, it came close to being a DNF a few times. However, my love for Anequs and this author kept me trying, and whew… am I glad I did!
Let me explain.
Book 1 has a straightforward plot. (BTW, you must read it before even looking at book 2.) You start at point A; then, this thing happens, and because of that, we have consequences, and then bigger consequences and an enthralling story that follows Anequs’ life.
Book 2, as I have now unfurled, has a more indirect plot. The first half of book 2 reminds me of building one of those gigantic puzzles. You know when you are putting pieces together up in one corner, then maybe a bit in the middle, and then some off to the side? You cannot see how it all comes together initially; you are just getting pieces that work here and there. That is how the first 50% of To Ride a Rising Storm felt to me. We got a lot of lore from new countries and peoples. Then there was some romance that builds from book 1. And in between there was the rise of incendiary politics playing in the background. So there were pieces that made you feel a bit lost, and which slowed the pace of the book right down.
After that 50% mark though, this book started to flow and things came together like lightning! All of those little lore stories (which I individually loved, even though I could not grasp the why of them) fit perfectly together and were a foundation for an explosive last 20% of the book.
Book 1 was all about the expectations placed on Anequs. This book was about Anequs deciding she was going to change the world and her realising that she may have to learn how to do that with more diplomacy than force of will. She has some direct confrontations that unveil uncomfortable truths about her peers and friends. Truths that she has to wrestle with and understand if she wants to maintain those relationships.
And amidst that heavy emotional conflict came a deadly turn that changed everything. It was rough!
As I said before though, I am ecstatic that I kept reading To Ride a Rising Storm. The author took me on a complicated journey, which was very much worth it in the end. She tricked me with the simplicity of To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, then swirled me around in To Ride a Rising Storm, only to leave me breathless with anticipation for the third book of this amazing series. She reminded me that reading is not always a clear-cut path, and going off track makes the book plot path a much more interesting one.
I am eternally grateful for the lesson.
This book is 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Listen… To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, book 1 of the Nampeshiweisit series, grabbed a hold of me in a way that is still imprinted on my brain. I LOVED that book. It was one of the best I have EVER read. Ever. Hands down, no question. So even being granted this arc was a dream! But I have to be honest and say that this book did not go at all as I thought it would. In reality, it came close to being a DNF a few times. However, my love for Anequs and this author kept me trying, and whew… am I glad I did!
Let me explain.
Book 1 has a straightforward plot. (BTW, you must read it before even looking at book 2.) You start at point A; then, this thing happens, and because of that, we have consequences, and then bigger consequences and an enthralling story that follows Anequs’ life.
Book 2, as I have now unfurled, has a more indirect plot. The first half of book 2 reminds me of building one of those gigantic puzzles. You know when you are putting pieces together up in one corner, then maybe a bit in the middle, and then some off to the side? You cannot see how it all comes together initially; you are just getting pieces that work here and there. That is how the first 50% of To Ride a Rising Storm felt to me. We got a lot of lore from new countries and peoples. Then there was some romance that builds from book 1. And in between there was the rise of incendiary politics playing in the background. So there were pieces that made you feel a bit lost, and which slowed the pace of the book right down.
After that 50% mark though, this book started to flow and things came together like lightning! All of those little lore stories (which I individually loved, even though I could not grasp the why of them) fit perfectly together and were a foundation for an explosive last 20% of the book.
Book 1 was all about the expectations placed on Anequs. This book was about Anequs deciding she was going to change the world and her realising that she may have to learn how to do that with more diplomacy than force of will. She has some direct confrontations that unveil uncomfortable truths about her peers and friends. Truths that she has to wrestle with and understand if she wants to maintain those relationships.
And amidst that heavy emotional conflict came a deadly turn that changed everything. It was rough!
As I said before though, I am ecstatic that I kept reading To Ride a Rising Storm. The author took me on a complicated journey, which was very much worth it in the end. She tricked me with the simplicity of To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, then swirled me around in To Ride a Rising Storm, only to leave me breathless with anticipation for the third book of this amazing series. She reminded me that reading is not always a clear-cut path, and going off track makes the book plot path a much more interesting one.
I am eternally grateful for the lesson.
October 22, 2025
3.5⭐️
I’ll start my review by saying I’ve been VERY excited to read this sequel! After having To Shape a Dragons Breath be one of my favorite reads of 2024, I was looking forward to delving back into Anequs’s story. While I did thoroughly enjoy my time with it, it unfortunately didn’t quite hit the same peak as the first.
Much of this book (and I’m talking a good 80%) felt quite like reading a personal journal of daily events. While many of the same tensions from the first book remained, joined with the introduction of new cultures and political entities, this book lacked any true action or movement from our characters until very late into its 464 pages. Once we get to the action it is dense and dramatic, though despite this, I still felt that most of what was occurring was happening TO our characters instead of seeing them be active participants in the plot. I would have loved to see more opportunities for our characters to influence the structures that built towards the novel’s peak, and not only that, but to have more evenly paced action throughout the length of the book. Unfortunately I think this book was a prime example of “second book syndrome”, focusing too much energy on setting up future plans, and not enough on the current tale.
While I certainly noted these pacing issues, I did still enjoy my time in the characters world. The strength of their established personalities carried over well, making me happy to follow their daily lives through classes, daily routine, and discussions of political upheaval, both within and beyond the academy’s walls. I certainly look forward to seeing where Anequs’s story is building to in future installments.
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for this eARC
I’ll start my review by saying I’ve been VERY excited to read this sequel! After having To Shape a Dragons Breath be one of my favorite reads of 2024, I was looking forward to delving back into Anequs’s story. While I did thoroughly enjoy my time with it, it unfortunately didn’t quite hit the same peak as the first.
Much of this book (and I’m talking a good 80%) felt quite like reading a personal journal of daily events. While many of the same tensions from the first book remained, joined with the introduction of new cultures and political entities, this book lacked any true action or movement from our characters until very late into its 464 pages. Once we get to the action it is dense and dramatic, though despite this, I still felt that most of what was occurring was happening TO our characters instead of seeing them be active participants in the plot. I would have loved to see more opportunities for our characters to influence the structures that built towards the novel’s peak, and not only that, but to have more evenly paced action throughout the length of the book. Unfortunately I think this book was a prime example of “second book syndrome”, focusing too much energy on setting up future plans, and not enough on the current tale.
While I certainly noted these pacing issues, I did still enjoy my time in the characters world. The strength of their established personalities carried over well, making me happy to follow their daily lives through classes, daily routine, and discussions of political upheaval, both within and beyond the academy’s walls. I certainly look forward to seeing where Anequs’s story is building to in future installments.
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for this eARC
October 29, 2025
Fantastic continuation of the series! Everything that To Shape a Dragon's Breath did well, this one carries forward beautifully.
For anyone just seeing this for the first time, this is the second in a trilogy about Anequs, a young indigenous woman who bonds a dragon to become Nampeshiweisit. She is required to join a dragon rider's school to be educated in the "proper" Anglish way. That goes about how you might expect.
We've got colonialism, we've got racism, we've got classism, we've got sexism. All the -isms are explored in this series, set in an alternate New England where dragons exist, cultures collide, and politics simmer under the surface. The characters feel very solid and well fleshed out, and I'm emotionally invested the entire time.
That said, there's a bit of the middle-book slowdown. The plot begins to lag a bit in the middle, and I felt like we didn't really get many of the school/class scenes, which I kinda like in my academia stories. Still, the action picks up in a big way towards the end, and I can tell it's really ramping up for that third book to pop off.
Anequs is a great main character, not perfect, very flawed, at times she treats some of the other characters really unfairly in this book. But she's learning and growing and you can see the character growth. (Also, I really enjoy the non-traditional relationship dynamic they're building here. Love it. And slow burn romance is always better in my mind.)
And there's more dragon time in this one! Slow spots aside, I was deeply satisfied with this book and eager for the next one. Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ARC and give a review!
For anyone just seeing this for the first time, this is the second in a trilogy about Anequs, a young indigenous woman who bonds a dragon to become Nampeshiweisit. She is required to join a dragon rider's school to be educated in the "proper" Anglish way. That goes about how you might expect.
We've got colonialism, we've got racism, we've got classism, we've got sexism. All the -isms are explored in this series, set in an alternate New England where dragons exist, cultures collide, and politics simmer under the surface. The characters feel very solid and well fleshed out, and I'm emotionally invested the entire time.
That said, there's a bit of the middle-book slowdown. The plot begins to lag a bit in the middle, and I felt like we didn't really get many of the school/class scenes, which I kinda like in my academia stories. Still, the action picks up in a big way towards the end, and I can tell it's really ramping up for that third book to pop off.
Anequs is a great main character, not perfect, very flawed, at times she treats some of the other characters really unfairly in this book. But she's learning and growing and you can see the character growth. (Also, I really enjoy the non-traditional relationship dynamic they're building here. Love it. And slow burn romance is always better in my mind.)
And there's more dragon time in this one! Slow spots aside, I was deeply satisfied with this book and eager for the next one. Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ARC and give a review!
October 23, 2025
In this sequel, Anequs returns to school with a mind to learn as much from this Anglish education to bring back to her people, as well as with romantic intent with Theod and Liberty. I loved the openness of the way Anequs and her family saw the world in its dynamics and relationships, and how she attempted to translate that into her current world. Her dragon, Kasaqua, grows in size and intelligence and it’s been lovely to see Anequs’ relationship with her grow, especially as it differs from the other dragons at school— there’s so much respect and mutual understanding.
There are underlying themes of privilege, classism, racism, and how to maneuver in a restrictive world not meant for you— and I think it’s very smartly done. Story-wise, I found this book a bit long and dry to read. The action was minimal, and I wish there was more depth to see in our characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
There are underlying themes of privilege, classism, racism, and how to maneuver in a restrictive world not meant for you— and I think it’s very smartly done. Story-wise, I found this book a bit long and dry to read. The action was minimal, and I wish there was more depth to see in our characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
Want to read
June 26, 2025Update: THE BOOK GODS HAVE SMILED DOWN UPON ME AND I HAVE BEEN GRACED WITH AN ARC! This is literally the most exciting ARC I have ever been granted
I need this IMMEDIATELY
I need this IMMEDIATELY
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded up.
After absolutely loving To Shape A Dragon's Breath, this book became a highly anticipated read. What brought down the rating was the first 80% of the book felt very slow and dialogue-heavy to me without much action. There were a lot of moments when I wished I knew more about what was happening outside of Anequs' POV, given the rising political tensions that were developed at the end of book one and continue into this book. The last 20% of the book redeemed the entirety of the novel for me, and set up the next book really well.
Regarding characters, I liked that this book introduced new characters-- specifically two other adult dragoneers who do not fit the same mold as the dragoneer academy professors-- so that Anequs can interact with other dragoneering perspectives and see how not everyone wholeheartedly buys into the "proper" way of things. Anequs also has a new roommate, Jadi, and she's a fun new character as well. Now that Anequs is more well-known after the events of book one, she's interacting with more people in the school and we see how the politics of the outside world influence the students even more.
When it comes to relationships, I was a bit disappointed. While I greatly appreciate Anequs' headstrong and practical personality and refusal to compromise her ways and zero hesitancy to call out the Anglish nonsense, it became frustrating when she just assumes her friends/love interests would agree 1000% with her time and time again. This bogs down the plot quite a bit throughout the book because a repetitive pattern emerges: Anequs decides on principle someone else should have a conversation about something that she feels strongly about and the conversation goes poorly because that person doesn't share her perspective completely, and then she has to have another conversation about said thing all over again about why that went poorly.
The book does a great job at expanding the various Anglish political spheres and I liked how this book set up for the next one. I also loved seeing the dragons we knew from book one grow up more and become more of their own. I'm definitely looking forward to book 3! A huge thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and Colleen for buddy reading this with me :)
After absolutely loving To Shape A Dragon's Breath, this book became a highly anticipated read. What brought down the rating was the first 80% of the book felt very slow and dialogue-heavy to me without much action. There were a lot of moments when I wished I knew more about what was happening outside of Anequs' POV, given the rising political tensions that were developed at the end of book one and continue into this book. The last 20% of the book redeemed the entirety of the novel for me, and set up the next book really well.
Regarding characters, I liked that this book introduced new characters-- specifically two other adult dragoneers who do not fit the same mold as the dragoneer academy professors-- so that Anequs can interact with other dragoneering perspectives and see how not everyone wholeheartedly buys into the "proper" way of things. Anequs also has a new roommate, Jadi, and she's a fun new character as well. Now that Anequs is more well-known after the events of book one, she's interacting with more people in the school and we see how the politics of the outside world influence the students even more.
When it comes to relationships, I was a bit disappointed. While I greatly appreciate Anequs' headstrong and practical personality and refusal to compromise her ways and zero hesitancy to call out the Anglish nonsense, it became frustrating when she just assumes her friends/love interests would agree 1000% with her time and time again. This bogs down the plot quite a bit throughout the book because a repetitive pattern emerges: Anequs decides on principle someone else should have a conversation about something that she feels strongly about and the conversation goes poorly because that person doesn't share her perspective completely, and then she has to have another conversation about said thing all over again about why that went poorly.
The book does a great job at expanding the various Anglish political spheres and I liked how this book set up for the next one. I also loved seeing the dragons we knew from book one grow up more and become more of their own. I'm definitely looking forward to book 3! A huge thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and Colleen for buddy reading this with me :)
January 31, 2026
4.25
I very much enjoyed the second installment in the Nampeshiweisit series! This series is very much a character driven and world building forward novel, and so readers looking for explosive action will be disappointed. To Ride a Rising Storm feels very similarly to book 1, To Shape a Dragon's Breath, in pacing and tone. It's been a few years since I read book 1 so some of the world building, while so incredibly cool and well done (obsessed with the way Norse/Icelandic and English and now Jewish mythology is woven in), was a bit challenging to get back into. We spend a majority of this book with Anequs in the first months of year two of her dragon riding school experiencing life through her eyes. In a lot of ways, it is very monotonous and yes, a lot of page time is spent breaking down the effects of racism and colonialism with Anequs' white classmates. The thematic work here was excellent and really drives home all of the ways that colonialism deeply affects both Anequs' and our world. It is easy to get frustrated with Anequs' headstrong but sometimes naive idealism from time to time, but I really enjoyed her moments of character growth when needed, and overall really admire her refreshing courage and honesty, especially at the age of 16.
I think this a great YA book for fans of slow political fantasy with lots of character development. (Think Babel and Assassin's Apprentice)
I think there are some pacing issues, and the introduction of a character late in the book felt a bit chaotic and a means to add more world building, but ultimately I think this series is just going to keep getting better and better, and I can't wait for book 3 to resolve the explosive cliff-hanger ending!
Thank you to NetGalley and DelRey books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
I very much enjoyed the second installment in the Nampeshiweisit series! This series is very much a character driven and world building forward novel, and so readers looking for explosive action will be disappointed. To Ride a Rising Storm feels very similarly to book 1, To Shape a Dragon's Breath, in pacing and tone. It's been a few years since I read book 1 so some of the world building, while so incredibly cool and well done (obsessed with the way Norse/Icelandic and English and now Jewish mythology is woven in), was a bit challenging to get back into. We spend a majority of this book with Anequs in the first months of year two of her dragon riding school experiencing life through her eyes. In a lot of ways, it is very monotonous and yes, a lot of page time is spent breaking down the effects of racism and colonialism with Anequs' white classmates. The thematic work here was excellent and really drives home all of the ways that colonialism deeply affects both Anequs' and our world. It is easy to get frustrated with Anequs' headstrong but sometimes naive idealism from time to time, but I really enjoyed her moments of character growth when needed, and overall really admire her refreshing courage and honesty, especially at the age of 16.
I think this a great YA book for fans of slow political fantasy with lots of character development. (Think Babel and Assassin's Apprentice)
I think there are some pacing issues, and the introduction of a character late in the book felt a bit chaotic and a means to add more world building, but ultimately I think this series is just going to keep getting better and better, and I can't wait for book 3 to resolve the explosive cliff-hanger ending!
Thank you to NetGalley and DelRey books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
January 30, 2026
Overall, this book left me with very mixed feelings. On one hand, the worldbuilding and the treatment of dragons are still fascinating. I loved the academic setting, especially the classes and dragon riding, and I enjoyed meeting more dragons. The final stretch finally delivered real dragon action, and the nonstop climax and ending did a lot of heavy lifting, pulling the book up to a solid three-star read and making me interested enough to continue the series.
On the other hand, the pacing really hurt my enjoyment. For roughly 85–90% of the book, not much actually happens, and it often feels like the story is circling the same conflicts without meaningful progression. Tension keeps building but doesn’t truly pay off until the very end, which made large portions of the book hard to stay engaged with. The familiar plot threads repeat, and while the relationships between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty are meant to be interesting, they often feel underdeveloped compared to how much space they take up. The poly relationship, in particular, felt unbalanced, with Theod frequently coming across as sidelined while Anequs and Liberty felt like the primary pairing, and Anequs’s assertiveness sometimes crossed into discomfort rather than growth.
In the end, this was fine, maybe even good in places, but it struggled to live up to what came before. Strong ideas, enjoyable classroom scenes, and an exciting finale couldn’t fully make up for the slow pacing and uneven emotional execution. Still, it was compelling enough that I’ll keep reading and hope the next book finds a better balance.
On the other hand, the pacing really hurt my enjoyment. For roughly 85–90% of the book, not much actually happens, and it often feels like the story is circling the same conflicts without meaningful progression. Tension keeps building but doesn’t truly pay off until the very end, which made large portions of the book hard to stay engaged with. The familiar plot threads repeat, and while the relationships between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty are meant to be interesting, they often feel underdeveloped compared to how much space they take up. The poly relationship, in particular, felt unbalanced, with Theod frequently coming across as sidelined while Anequs and Liberty felt like the primary pairing, and Anequs’s assertiveness sometimes crossed into discomfort rather than growth.
In the end, this was fine, maybe even good in places, but it struggled to live up to what came before. Strong ideas, enjoyable classroom scenes, and an exciting finale couldn’t fully make up for the slow pacing and uneven emotional execution. Still, it was compelling enough that I’ll keep reading and hope the next book finds a better balance.
February 3, 2026
This is a book, and series, that I appreciate more than I actively like. I respect Blackgoose's commitment to a debate based combative environment rather than punching each other in the head. The issues of race, gender, sexuality, relationships, and so much more are explored through Anequs's continued existence as the Nampeshiweist forced to attend a coloniser dragon school in order to keep her dragon. One of the things I enjoyed was the natural evolution to the world-building, with the opinions and persons of the school changing in consequence from book 1. Something that works to the book's benefit and deficit is that it conveys the helplessness of not being in power; the ambiguity of events, the impossibility of affecting them, and the lack of autonomy to be truly involved, is all conveyed exceptionally well. Nevertheless, that also leads to the first half of this book feeling extremely slow as we are reintroduced to characters, and explore love and relationships for the first half, before events suddenly escalate. Hence, my feeling of appreciation over love. I appreciate that we focus on the small-scale, but what we did explore didn't entice me in the way it could do for others.
September 12, 2025
I loved this book as much as the first one. I love the characters, the dragons, and the perspective the book is told from. I wish this was getting as much attention and recognition as that other dragon book the internet is wild about.
Can't wait to see where this series goes next.
Can't wait to see where this series goes next.
January 25, 2026
I guess I’m back on my “reading a book in a day” track. Full review to come
January 30, 2026
2026: 5.0
Rounded up
Rounded up
January 11, 2026
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath was recommended to me by an embarrassing number of my friends before I finally jumped in and had to admit that they were correct and it was not overhyped. I was, therefore, thrilled to be offered the sequel To Ride a Rising Storm as an ARC for review. I am so jealous of all the teens these days who have such a diverse array of young adult titles to choose from.
I enjoyed a lot of things about To Ride a Rising Storm--the world continues to be the best part of this series, which is an alternate America where there is significantly more Norse influence. The changes Blackgoose has made to world history are thoughtful and unique--another “the south won the Civil War, this is not. Additionally, Blackgoose has masterfully threaded the needle of “just enough information to make it feel like there’s an entire world out there,” and “oh god why am I wading through this massive lore dump.” Everything feels logically consistent, and I always leave these books wanting to know more about the world.
The pacing on this one felt a little less smooth than the pacing on the first one, but it read easily and that was my only complaint. Recommended for fans of the Scholomance series, the Percy Jackson books, and Tamora Pierce.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
I enjoyed a lot of things about To Ride a Rising Storm--the world continues to be the best part of this series, which is an alternate America where there is significantly more Norse influence. The changes Blackgoose has made to world history are thoughtful and unique--another “the south won the Civil War, this is not. Additionally, Blackgoose has masterfully threaded the needle of “just enough information to make it feel like there’s an entire world out there,” and “oh god why am I wading through this massive lore dump.” Everything feels logically consistent, and I always leave these books wanting to know more about the world.
The pacing on this one felt a little less smooth than the pacing on the first one, but it read easily and that was my only complaint. Recommended for fans of the Scholomance series, the Percy Jackson books, and Tamora Pierce.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Want to read
January 25, 2025Jan 25/25: I know its Jan but I need it to be October 14 NOWWWW
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose.
This was solid but it did not live up to the perfection that was To Shape a Dragon's Breath. If this was a first book, I would have liked it more, but with how much I loved the first one, it did feel noticably different. My biggest complaint is the pacing. The whole story felt like it was creeping towards a big reveal and nothing happened till literally 95% of the way in. I was at 90% through and wondering if I somehow wasn't sent all the chapters because I didn't think the author could fit anything that notable into the last 10%.
I did like the academic setting. Their classes, specifically dragon riding, were super fun to read. I liked watching the relationships progress between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty. It was very sweet and just the right sprinkle of cutesy romance without being a major part of the story. I loved Kasaqua and was excited that we got to meet more dragons in this book.
Overall, I just had a hard time staying present while reading this. It was fine, maybe even good. But, the first one was just really hard to live up to. 3 Stars.
This was solid but it did not live up to the perfection that was To Shape a Dragon's Breath. If this was a first book, I would have liked it more, but with how much I loved the first one, it did feel noticably different. My biggest complaint is the pacing. The whole story felt like it was creeping towards a big reveal and nothing happened till literally 95% of the way in. I was at 90% through and wondering if I somehow wasn't sent all the chapters because I didn't think the author could fit anything that notable into the last 10%.
I did like the academic setting. Their classes, specifically dragon riding, were super fun to read. I liked watching the relationships progress between Anequs, Theod, and Liberty. It was very sweet and just the right sprinkle of cutesy romance without being a major part of the story. I loved Kasaqua and was excited that we got to meet more dragons in this book.
Overall, I just had a hard time staying present while reading this. It was fine, maybe even good. But, the first one was just really hard to live up to. 3 Stars.
Want to read
May 7, 2025THE SEQUEL EXISTS!!!
and it's so beautiful too 💙
and it's so beautiful too 💙
dnf
November 13, 2025Sadly a dnf at around 20%. I really want to love this series, but it finally got too repetitive for me to bear anymore. For a series about dragons, they really don’t seem to do much besides ‘croon’ at their riders when they’re upset. I love the lore, and learning about the traditions on Masquapaug and seeing the similarities to Native culture, but hearing the same stories over and over of how Anglish people paid for an egg to hatch, and why that’s problematic gets quite grating. Could be a wonderful fit for lovers of cozy fantasy, but I do not think I am in that target audience.
January 28, 2026
To start off, I want to expicitly say thank you to Moniquill Blackgoose, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of this book is still exciting, even though I'm about to evicerate Anequs.
Next, I want to clarify that I found Anequs infuriating in this book and I'm giving this book four stars anyway, mainly because I'm 90% sure it is entirely on purpose. I need to believe that this is all opportunity for Anequs to grow into a worldly adult, and that Moniquill Blackgoose is showcasing that being a multi-faceted minority doesn't preclude you from being insufferable.
I still love the premise of Nampeshiweisit, with an exceedingly rare point of view as an indigenous young woman from North America going to school to learn dragon husbandry. The story-like approach to chapters (including chapter titles like, "This is the story that Jadi told") is endearing and evocative of a storyteller writing an encyclopedia of experiences that the people around them share, to the benefit of everyone.
In the last book, Anequs was injected in Anglish society for the first time without any well-wishing tutor/mentor to educate her about the cultural differences in this new world before she is punished for breaching any etiquette. I thought that, for a fifteen-year-old, she did an excellent job of standing up for herself while learning to navigate an entirely alien culture, and she managed to make friends and educate them about how not everyone is cut from the same cloth, all at the same time.
She takes on a completely different stance in book two. Part of me gets it: Anequs joined the school under duress and outlined explicit goals for herself of what she wants to learn. She ends up spending a huge percentage of her first year navigating cultural differences, managing the disappointment other people feel when she refuses to adopt the agendas they project on her, racism, sexism, the whole nine yards. In her second year, she tells the reader that she is done with that. "[Marta] had a keen interest in making me into a proper lady of Anglish society, a peer to Anglish dragoneers who came almost exclusively from moneyed families. That wasn't the kind of woman I was, nor the kind I wanted to be. But it had taken trying it on to know that." (emphasis mine) Honestly, completely fair. Last year she was forced to conform to Anglish rules. Now that she (thinks she) has a handle on those rules, she is determined to stick to her own beliefs.
Early in the book, I was on board with her attitude and could relate to it, having been an angry teenager in a place I didn't fit in culturally once upon a time. But as the book progressed, it became evident that any grace for anyone who won't adopt her or her family's attitudes were completely eradicated in this book. It became Anequs' way or the highway. (Minor spoilers follow; skip the bullets if you don't want the spoils.)
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-
-
-
-
There are quite a few more examples, but hopefully this is more than enough to showcase the point. What drove me the most crazy, though, is that no one truly confronts Anequs for her inflexible attitude until 2/3s of the way through the book (to the point where I thought it wouldn't happen)... and it's Liberty, the only non-family member Anequs seems to truly respect. Liberty calls Anequs out, and Theod enthusastically thanks her, saying he couldn't verbalize why it was so difficult to get Anequs to understand. Then Marta throws a fit at Anequs' attitude, and Jadi mediates and explains to Anequs how she was wrong. (FWIW, Jadi does the same to Marta too.) But waiting so long for anyone to call Anequs to heel was torture, and most of the reason why it took me a month to get through the book.
And that brings me to the reason why I'm almost positive this is all happening for a reason. People DID call Anequs out and help her understand how, even if SHE won't conform to major Anglish society, that doesn't mean the people around her must agree with her. It just took too long in the book for any of that calling out to happen. So here are my fingers crossed that next book shows again that characters also need space to mature, and we can see Anequs grow in this regard.
Finally I want to close with, I found the last tiny bit of the book thrilling, because there's a big dragon fight. But the fight happens within the last twenty or so pages (guessing here, since I was on e-book) of the book. The pacing really needs improvement. There is a substantial amount of politics in the book too, but a lot of it is throwing names around in correspondence and during class. Slogging through Anequs being an annoying teenager with heavy politics for only one or two chapters of action is not sustainable, in my opinon. And while I still enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one, I find it understandable that others would choose to put it down.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading and thanks again for the opportunity to read an early copy of the book. I want this series to be a success, and hope that my bit serves as a preparation for the difficult parts as opposed to a turn-off.
Next, I want to clarify that I found Anequs infuriating in this book and I'm giving this book four stars anyway, mainly because I'm 90% sure it is entirely on purpose. I need to believe that this is all opportunity for Anequs to grow into a worldly adult, and that Moniquill Blackgoose is showcasing that being a multi-faceted minority doesn't preclude you from being insufferable.
I still love the premise of Nampeshiweisit, with an exceedingly rare point of view as an indigenous young woman from North America going to school to learn dragon husbandry. The story-like approach to chapters (including chapter titles like, "This is the story that Jadi told") is endearing and evocative of a storyteller writing an encyclopedia of experiences that the people around them share, to the benefit of everyone.
In the last book, Anequs was injected in Anglish society for the first time without any well-wishing tutor/mentor to educate her about the cultural differences in this new world before she is punished for breaching any etiquette. I thought that, for a fifteen-year-old, she did an excellent job of standing up for herself while learning to navigate an entirely alien culture, and she managed to make friends and educate them about how not everyone is cut from the same cloth, all at the same time.
She takes on a completely different stance in book two. Part of me gets it: Anequs joined the school under duress and outlined explicit goals for herself of what she wants to learn. She ends up spending a huge percentage of her first year navigating cultural differences, managing the disappointment other people feel when she refuses to adopt the agendas they project on her, racism, sexism, the whole nine yards. In her second year, she tells the reader that she is done with that. "[Marta] had a keen interest in making me into a proper lady of Anglish society, a peer to Anglish dragoneers who came almost exclusively from moneyed families. That wasn't the kind of woman I was, nor the kind I wanted to be. But it had taken trying it on to know that." (emphasis mine) Honestly, completely fair. Last year she was forced to conform to Anglish rules. Now that she (thinks she) has a handle on those rules, she is determined to stick to her own beliefs.
Early in the book, I was on board with her attitude and could relate to it, having been an angry teenager in a place I didn't fit in culturally once upon a time. But as the book progressed, it became evident that any grace for anyone who won't adopt her or her family's attitudes were completely eradicated in this book. It became Anequs' way or the highway. (Minor spoilers follow; skip the bullets if you don't want the spoils.)
-
-
-
-
-
There are quite a few more examples, but hopefully this is more than enough to showcase the point. What drove me the most crazy, though, is that no one truly confronts Anequs for her inflexible attitude until 2/3s of the way through the book (to the point where I thought it wouldn't happen)... and it's Liberty, the only non-family member Anequs seems to truly respect. Liberty calls Anequs out, and Theod enthusastically thanks her, saying he couldn't verbalize why it was so difficult to get Anequs to understand. Then Marta throws a fit at Anequs' attitude, and Jadi mediates and explains to Anequs how she was wrong. (FWIW, Jadi does the same to Marta too.) But waiting so long for anyone to call Anequs to heel was torture, and most of the reason why it took me a month to get through the book.
And that brings me to the reason why I'm almost positive this is all happening for a reason. People DID call Anequs out and help her understand how, even if SHE won't conform to major Anglish society, that doesn't mean the people around her must agree with her. It just took too long in the book for any of that calling out to happen. So here are my fingers crossed that next book shows again that characters also need space to mature, and we can see Anequs grow in this regard.
Finally I want to close with, I found the last tiny bit of the book thrilling, because there's a big dragon fight. But the fight happens within the last twenty or so pages (guessing here, since I was on e-book) of the book. The pacing really needs improvement. There is a substantial amount of politics in the book too, but a lot of it is throwing names around in correspondence and during class. Slogging through Anequs being an annoying teenager with heavy politics for only one or two chapters of action is not sustainable, in my opinon. And while I still enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one, I find it understandable that others would choose to put it down.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading and thanks again for the opportunity to read an early copy of the book. I want this series to be a success, and hope that my bit serves as a preparation for the difficult parts as opposed to a turn-off.
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