I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
by Peter S. Beagle
I had previously read Beagle’s classic The Last Unicorn so couldn’t resist to see what his latest novel involving Dragons was like. I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons reads a bit like a fairy tale in some ways with a handsome prince and beautiful princess, but the prince struggles with bravery and the princess secretly wants to learn to read as much as find her true love. In the mix is also a lad of humble birth who along with two friends works as a dragon exterminator, despite a fascination with the creatures and secretly keeping a few as household pets. When an evil sorcerer threatens the kingdom, it will take all their collective skills to save the land. I felt the book held my interest more earlier on with its quirky depiction of a dragon infested castle and dragon market than later when it became somewhat more predictable in the climatic battle, but If you enjoyed The Last Unicorn you will also likely be charmed by this sweet coming of age tale.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
by Moniquill Blackgoose
We read To Shape a Dragon’s Breath as part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group in March. The group enjoyed the novel which although marketed as Young Adult (it was picked by a member who is a school librarian), still has plenty to appeal to adult fantasy fans. Blackgoose is of Native American descent and she works in issues of colonization and differing worldviews into her story about a teen girl, Anequs, attending a dragon academy. Beyond Native Americans there is also diversity in many of the other characters represented including one student who is neurodiverse. What I enjoyed was that this is done in an authentic feeling way and doesn’t read as simply tokenism and even characters we route for have their own flaws so one culture isn’t all perfect. There is a surprising twist on the typical romantasy love triangle and some Steampunk elements are included since her brother and his friends are part of a collective of inventors interested in “enginekraft.” The most unique concept though in the book was the way in which dragon fire is used to manipulate matter; it can both be used to split things apart as well as form new things depending on what the dragon’s companion, called Nampeshiweisit by Anequs’s people and Dragoneers by the Anglish, has them do.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 
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