4.5 ⭐️

I enjoyed this read so very much. Coming into it, I didn't have a clue what the story would be about and coming from a linguistics background, was extremely surprised that there was such a great sense of plausibility in the learning of language(s) and dragon human interactions. So much so that it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I, however, was most certainly the target audience.

There was a great deal of nuanced morality and politics that suit the current climate and got me quite fired up at times, I can't lie.

My only qualm was near the end when *possible spoiler ahead* what happened to one of the characters made me question the author's choices. It was almost giving Cho Chang with Harry as an obligatory POC as a temp love interest. The book did seem like there would be sequels given the slightly cliffhanger-esque ending so I guess we'll see what happens.

As always, big thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration.

Thank you @harpercollins for the #gifted eARC!

A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS was my last book of 2024 and it was my final 5 star read of the year. As soon as I started it, I was absolutely hooked.

It’s a fantasy alternative history of post-WWI but with dragons set in London. Second class citizen Viv is given the choice of trying to codebreak a secret dragon language or her entire family will die. She makes the obvious choice to save her family and is whisked away to Bletchley Park where she joins a team of rejects in a secret project to take down the dragons. But the more Viv learns, the more she questions what’s right and what’s wrong and which side of the war is the right one.

One thing I loved about this book was how messy and complicated these characters are. The MC, Viv, is not entirely likeable. She’s incredibly single minded and selfish. She struggles with making the right choice when balanced against sacrifices she must make. She lives in a society where her class and status give her a lot of privileges that others don’t and then turns a blind eye on those with less and their suffering… sound familiar?

I also loved the dark academia aspects that reminded me a lot of BABEL (another favorite of mine). Because this book is technically YA, the issues of translation and what can be lost during translation where presented in a more approachable manner. But it was still incredibly thought provoking.

And finally this is a book about dragons! What’s not to love about that?!

Pick this one up if you like:
- Dragons!
- Spies and codebreaking
- Historical fantasy
- Complicated characters
- A touch of romance
- Corrupt governments

A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS is out now!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7105588364
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2kPlAveEr/

Thank you to the publishers for my review copy of the riveting new YA fantasy A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS!

A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS is a clever dystopian fantasy twist on the code-breakers of WWII. In this world, British society is divided into 3 classes and dragons are relegated to the underclass. Teenage Vivian Featherswallow wants nothing more than to preserve her second class status and enter university to study dragon languages. But when her parents are arrested under suspicion of rebellion, she’s forced to Bletchley Park to undergo a secret mission to help the war effort… The more she learns about her mission, the more she begins to question everything.

This book has an unbeatable setting and very nuanced character development that kept me hooked from the first page. I really felt for and related to Viv. She makes some questionable decisions, but her desperate dedication to her family is completely understandable. I really appreciated how this book posed the question: would you do anything for your family? Even if it harmed others? Where would you draw the line?

There are no easy answers here in A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS. Instead, it’s a slow burn political fantasy with nuanced moral quandaries, a distinctly British academia vibe, and a side of soft romance. Plus… dragons!!! I think the author has created a clever and interesting world and I loved her twist on dragons!

I highly recommend this book for fans of historical fantasy, but you may want a few tissues for the ending… I know this book is technically a standalone, but the ending made me want more! Fingers crossed for a sequel…

I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot more than the first, especially once the kids arrive at Bletchley, By far, the coolest part of the book was the dragons. Vivien was the worst part. As a narrator, she was insufferable. I would have loved a multi-POV version of this story.

4.5 stars. I'm gonna need a sequel. Though this was admittedly a bit slow to start while the world building took place, the resulting novel was a really great debut. WWII codebreakers meets dragon fantasy...who would've thought of that combination?!?! But it was such good fun. Great tension and character building. Some bits of the plot do require suspension of disbelief, but it's a fantasy...so you kind of have to expect that to a certain degree. The plot wraps up well, but leaves SOOOOO much room for this to continue as a series. And I would totally be here for it. That last page....ugh. I NEED to know more.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I was drawn to this book after having read several books set at the secretive Bletchley Park over the last several years. This is set in an alternative London/England, and while it takes some elements from the original Bletchley and codebreaking mission of the park, the war they are fighting is very different. This is not a WWI/WWII historical fiction as one might expect based on the setting, it is a completely different alternative history and fantasy story. There is quite a good bit of discussion about politics, corruption, class systems, oppression, and of course there are dragons.

This follows Vivien, a polyglot, fluent in several human languages and several dragon languages. Dragons live along side humans, and a Peace Agreement between the British Prime Minister and the Dragon Queen keep their violent natures at bay, atleast outwardly. Vivien hopes to become a famous dragon translator, and will do anything to ensure her future is secure. All of her plans come to a halt when her parents and uncle are arrested for treason and being members of the rebellion. In an attempt to destroy evidence Vivien concocts her own plans to save hwe family, which only sets off events that she never anticipated. She finds herself assigned to Bletchley Park to learn a new dragon language to pay for her crimes against her country and save her family. She and a group of "criminals" have been assigned to the Park to work on various dragon projects to help the Prime Minister save the country from a devastating war with the dragons, or so they think. The longer they are at Bletchley, the more Vivien and her cohort discover that corruption is all around them, and the language she is learning isn't a mere code to break, but something so much more.

I really enjoyed this! Vivien struggles alot with her self-worth and guilt. She was brought up in a class system where performance is everything and the threat of losing your status is worse than death. She is naive when it comes to trusting people, always expecting they will do what they say and hold up agreements. Betrayal is a huge part of her character arc and the reason she has so much guilt. We see Vivien struggle with doing what she knows is right versus doing what she thinks will either get her ahead or later on protect her loved ones. She then has to come to terms with corruption and what is best for the greater good while still trying to figure out what will save her family. I really enjoyed all of the side characters as well that helped Vivien on her journey to crack the dragon code, and figure out what kind of person she truly wants to be. There is a light bit of romance.

I'm not sure if this is the first book in a new series, but it does read as if there will be more to come. I do feel like this installment had a fulfilling ending, but there is still more story to be told. If there is another book, I can't wait to find out what happens next! This was so unique and I'm completely invested in the characters and the plot. I would really like to see more of Chumana the dragon, I really enjoyed her! I also hope to get to know the side characters better if there is another book.

A stunning debut novel! The premise of an alternate historical fiction set at Bletchley Park in the 1920 with dragons is a unique concept and worked well. These aren't just beasts that wreck havoc either, but dragons that speak, are of high intellect and at one point lived among of humans as equals. However, due to peace agreements, they've been treated as less than equal and the humans divided themselves into economic statuses that inhibit true progress or equality. This has caused a rebellion to stir, and when our female main character's parents are arrested as traitors, Viv makes a desperate move to protect them that lands her in a world of trouble and forced to aid the prime minister in a negotiation to dismiss the charges against them all and free her family to resume as they lived before. In the process however, Viv discovers not all is as perfect as it once seemed and questions the type of life she really wants to return to. Through new friendships, old friendships and a new love interest Viv finds herself questioning everything she once knew. I particularly enjoyed the linguist elements in the book. Some revelations were a bit hyped while others left you emotionally wrecked. The romance was sweet, but I hard a difficult time being convinced the feelings were as strong as we are meant to believe. The dragons were phenomenal and worldbuilding of their history and how they played a part in this world was intriguing. I only wish Viv didn't flip flop as much as she did even as truths were uncovered. She was a little flimsy and hard to root for at times, but showed a really good character arc for growth,

This was one of those rare books where I made it over halfway through and then DNFed at 53%. This was not something I saw coming at the very beginning; for the first 20% of the book, I was sure that it was going to be a four-star for me. It had great pacing, a unique plot, and a sassy pink dragon. What more could I want?

Unfortunately, by 50%, a lot of that had started to fall apart. The FMC, who started the book as a compelling but ignorant character, was becoming more and more of a naive, immature brat. I appreciate the author's note explaining that this was intentional; however, it became so much of a theme that it really detracted from the plot of the book.

I was also surprised to see that this was being marketed as a YA romance. I would argue that the characters and the romance began to feel progressively less mature as the book went on. By 50%, I felt as though the characters were more middle school-aged than the nearly college-age they felt like at the beginning.

All I gotta say is: WHEN IS BOOK 2 COMING?

Everything about this book is what I love in a fantasy series. Academic setting? Check. Complex characters? Check. DRAGONS? SASSY DRAGONS? check. Dystopian society with a evil ruler...wait that's just our modern society.

The main female characters motivation is relatable to me, and I really appreciate the fact that she makes bad decisions and has annoying moments. As an annoying academic validation craved older sister, I can relate.

I loved the cast of characters in this. I do have to say that I am not a fan of Ralph's character (shocker?) but it's like the writer couldn't decide if he loved the FMC or hated her, wanted to sleep with her or whatever. That's fine, I think we are suppose to be confused by him, but it was why this is 4 stars instead of 2.

Also, Atlas. If I had a dollar for every time I fell in love with a male character named Atlas, I'd probably be rich.

Thank you for Net Galley for allowing me to access this ARC before its release, and to FairyLoot for including it in their Dec YA book subscription. Unlike many fantasy readers, I have never been a fan of dragons in fantasy books.. I think I just changed my mind. This book was so exciting to read, the plot was very much political oriented, and it made it that much more interesting. Viv is a 17-year living in London with her parents and her little sister. Her goal in life is the attend the University of London and to become a translator in draconic languages (she speaks several dragon languages, which is pretty unheard of in 1920s London). Her parents are educated people who have always pushed her to be her best academically. One evening, they received the Head of the Linguistics in their home in the hopes of locking an apprenticeship for Viv. The visit turns into a disaster, and both of Viv's parents are arrested. Viv goes rogue and forgets about civility and goes to greats lengths to save her parents. Little does she knows, her acts are about to trigger and national war.. Being a fan of linguistics myself, I devoured the book; I could relate with a lot of insight the author was sharing with the us. I also very much enjoyed meeting all the side characters (my favorite being Marquis and <3 Atlas<3 )
From what I understand, there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely going to follow this series (or duology) and will re-read ALOD because I am sure this book is even better upon re-read (I will be looking closely at all the foreshadowing).

A Language of Dragons was an absolute delight from the first page. A complex mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and fantasy that blended the emotion and beautiful prose of Divine Rivals with the political turmoil of Divergent.

I was distraught when I reached the last page until I discovered there is a sequel coming in January 2026. I was not ready to leave this rich and immersive world and cannot wait for the story to continue!

YA 🫑

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the early reader copy!

As a reader of history, I have never been a fan of the injustice of the Class System. I was immediately rooting for ‘the rebels’. What politics is this PM all about? Who is Vivian going to support? Does she see that she has options?

Once at Bletchley Park this team of young adults are put to work studying dragons. They are split into three teams. Vivian is assigned to dragon linguistics. Initially she is only concerned with pleasing the Prime Minister so she can save her family and keep her second class status. Things turn tense at the mansion and soon she is shockingly aware that her life is what is in danger.

A Language of Dragons starts at a good pace. The mystery was slowly unveiled, with more unexpected connections. People, dragons, places and events were described in great detail but not so much as to weigh down the writing.

Emotionally, I was right there with the characters in the middle of their political / legal messes. I experienced a mix of grief and outrage, followed by a proudness at their courage and camaraderie. Thou they are pressured with this enormous task of breaking the dragon language code and staying alive there was time for personal growth and even a little romance.

Reading this has inspired me to read other retellings of events in history.
I recommend this to book to both teens and adults who enjoy a fantasy version of history with a mix of politics, intrigue and action.

I am grateful for this ARC provided to me via NetGalley.All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Language of Dragons was surprisingly full of politics and subterfuge for a YA novel.

The world was rich and vivid, and I would love to see more stories in this world - I enjoyed the interplay of the human and dragon politics, and the consideration of how they affected one another.
The main character was immature in some ways, which makes perfect sense for a child of her age and station, and her interactions with the other characters she encounters at Bletchley felt realistic and well considered.

I loved the way languages and translation were woven through the book, and the idea of the different kinds of dragon languages.

Overall, I enjoyed A Language of Dragons and would read more from this author in the future.

An action-packed YA fantasy about Vivien Featherswallow, a teen girl who would do absolutely anything to save those she loves. Set in an alternate 1920s England where humans and dragons must find a way to co-exist, Vivien learns she’s been lied to by society her whole life. There’s so much going on in this book, and if you subtract the fantastical elements you’re left with parallels to history and reality. Lots of focus on linguistics, politics, and war. The protagonist is a bit unlikeable at the start, but it’s hard to blame her for being the naïve rule follower she was raised to be, and she improves once her eyes are opened to the oppression of the lower classes. The best characters, as usual, are the dragons.

I enjoyed this and plan to continue the series when the next book is published.

4.25 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This was a total 5 stars for me, it was so impactful and welldone (and a debut!) I was blown away by the story and its depth.

“People shouldn’t fear their prime ministers. Prime ministers should fear their people.”

The story itself gives 1984, Ray Bradbury and V for Vendetta type vibes but with dragons and dark academia style aesthetic - which I *loved*. This novel does get graphic and deal with dark themes, so please check the trigger warnings before engaging! However, the plot of this novel was very much in line with the quote above - discovering the corruption and reality of the world/government etc but in a YA setting with dragons. Which, honestly, may be the best way to learn or read about this type of trope, as someone who is completely enamored with Dragons. The story also moved quickly and ruthlessly, there were surprises around every corner and suspense that had me reading past my bedtime.

The atmosphere was absolutely suspenseful for most of the story, with a dark academia/military school vibe. We had intrigue, secrets, and a lot of mystery. The novel had so many layers and so much depth & the set up of the atmosphere and emotion was a big part of that.

The growth of our FMC, Vivian, is evident as our story progresses. She has come into the story with a certain lens and functionality of how her world works, and it becomes shattered over the events that quickly happen in the beginning of the story. This is one of those very poignant coming of age tropes when you realize that the world is not what it seems or how it’s been shown to you as - it’s powerfully done within this story. Another of my favorite characters is Atlas, who I was skeptical of at the beginning but really ended up loving, and of course Magnus is another character I absolutely loved in this novel. The “villains” in this novel are not *so* obvious and not even so villainous, but desperate people we all have known and maybe even been at some point. We also had romances in this novel that I really enjoyed and that really lended themselves well with the plot - nothing gratuitous.

The writing is so well done that I am curious if this is really SF Williamson’s debut novel? The powerful themes interwoven into a YA novel with dragons is supreme and an author I will now be watching out for as more books are released.

I truly really enjoyed this novel and this may end up being one of my favorite novels of 2025. Highly recommend this to both adult and young adult fantasy lovers!

I love how young adult books are filled with such detail and imagery. You immediately feel part of Viv's story and find yourself reading as if you are handling the challenges she faces. Viv is young, not wealthy and hopeful for her future and/or what she can accomplish. While naive she is also wise and observant. I enjoyed watching her navigate each situation she faced. The book pacing was perfect for keeping my attention. Definitely can see why any are doing special editions of this book. But also... dragons! I mean is there anything better?! Nope!

S.F. Williamson's A Language of Dragons is loosely inspired by the events of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II, with a fantasy twist, where instead of breaking the German code, a group of teenagers must learn the secret language of dragons. S. F. Williamson was inspired by her work as a literary translator. The story mixes dragons with politics and action with linguistic studies and academia. A Language of Dragons is a love letter to dialects, language, and how something is always lost in translation.

Early twentieth-century England is rendered unflinchingly, with reflections on the arbitrary distinctions between classes—as Viv goes from risking it all to avoid falling into Third Class to realizing that the whole system must be torn down. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies, and protests erupt on the streets, but 17-year-old Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class.

Except Viv is not a good person. She's selfish. She lets a boy intentionally feel her up to enhance her goals of not falling into Third Class, and she betrays her best friend Sophie to pass an examination that determines her class status and future as a dragonic translator. Now, that former best friend is missing. After her parents and her cousin Marquis are arrested for being suspected rebels and conspiring with the dragons. She is intent on keeping her little sister Ursa safe and freeing her family, no matter the cost. Viv intentionally releases a chained dragon named Chumana, which destroys the peace treaty between humans and dragons.

After meeting with the villainous Prime Minister Wyvernmire, she receives a lifeline in the form of a job offer; she seizes it. Living at Bletchley Park, she soon discovers that she is recruited as a codebreaker aiding in the war effort. If she succeeds, her family goes home; if she fails, they die, and her sister disappears. Initially, she believes that uncovering the hidden dragon language is achievable, but the more she learns, the more she realizes nothing is as it seems. Viv's attraction to Atlas, the rakish young priest in training from Third Class, sparks a forbidden and morally fraught romance, intertwined with the fantastical war, perfect for romantasy readers.

As the dragons rise and Viv is swept into a war she knows little about, she quickly learns that no one can be trusted—not even her own family who may have unlocked a key secret they've tried to reveal, only to be destroyed by powerful politicians. As Viv discovers the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it.

*Conclusion* Here is the reason for my rating: Perhaps is was my misunderstanding, but I thought this was a standalone novel. However, the ending leaves questions, and no answers as to what happens next. It would benefit the author to write a sequel to this novel so that the answers left behind could be wrapped up. As I said, Viv is not a nice person until she opens her eyes. She's insufferable most of the time. It's really hard to root for a self-centered, ignorant, absolutely blind character; literally, most characters all but yell at her about the pain and suffering that goes on in the world, and she couldn't care less about anyone else but herself and her family. The ending is also very emotional. I would also say this leans more towards the upper YA genre due to some gory and violent scenes in the book.

A promising start with room to soar

S.F. Williamson's "A Language of Dragons" presents a fascinating premise: a world where dragons and humans coexist, and language itself holds the key to understanding and peace. The world-building is imaginative, blending historical London with fantastical elements.

The characters, particularly Vivien, are intriguing, and the exploration of dragon languages and their impact on society is thought-provoking. However, the plot occasionally felt a bit predictable, and the pacing could have been more consistent.

As someone who works with languages myself, I found the concepts presented here fascinating if a bit uneven. “Every act of translation requires sacrifice” does to some degree strike me as true but the idea that “There exists no direct correlation between the words of one language and another, and no translation can be entirely faithful to its original” feels somewhat (perhaps reasonably as this is fiction?) dramatic.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "A Language of Dragons" shows real promise, especially as a debut novel. Williamson has crafted a unique and captivating world, and I'm eager to see what she does next.

4.5 ★

“When you oppress a community for centuries you can’t exactly be surprised when it rises up against you.”

In 1923 London, where dragons soar and tensions rise, Vivian Featherswallow dreams of a safe, stable life, but her world crumbles when her parents are arrested and her sister goes missing. Desperate, she accepts a mysterious job at Bletchley Park, tasked with decoding a secret dragon language to aid the war effort. As she uncovers hidden truths and faces impossible choices, Vivian realizes the stakes are far greater than she imagined, and her fight for survival could change everything.

This book is an exceptional start to the series, with a compelling depiction of government corruption that added layers of intrigue. The dragon language was impressively developed. The themes evoked the complexity of Blood Over Bright Haven and the political tension of The Hunger Games—two books I deeply admire. While the narrative occasionally felt YA due to the dialogue and Vivian’s introspection revealing the characters’ ages, it didn’t detract from the overall impact of the story.

I believe this is a book that adult fantasy readers will appreciate just as much as YA fans. I can’t wait for the sequel, to see where the story goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love dragons, not as mindless beasts, but as creatures of beauty and awe, of magic and wonder. Imagine dragons all over the world all speaking their own languages. Imagine learning to speak them. What a world! But not that simple. People and dragons are all governed by an agreement, one that creates a strict class system for both humans and dragons. And one girl is about to get a really deep look at what lies beyond the curtin and have to ask herself just how wrong right has to go before right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right. It is a wild ride, and one I look forward to reading more of, if, in fact, there is a sequel like the end sets up. I definitely recommend this book. I got hooked early and was kept entertained the whole way.