Characters - As the book progressed, I found Vivien (our FMC) to be more and more annoying/intolerable. For somebody who is very intelligent, she can be so SO dumb.

Atmosphere/Setting - This very much had dark academia vibes and felt like an early world war era setting. I knew this had some academia vibes, but the wartime vibes aren't my favorite thing. No major issues here, it was fine.

Writing Style - This book read very easily and quickly. No complaints or notable commentary here.

Plot - Most of my less favorable sentiments about the plot are captured in the other categories, so I'll instead talk about a part of the book I really did enjoy: the dragons! I loved the worldbuilding we had wit the different dragon species, the languages, and their evolution. I wish we had more about the dragons, including more direct interaction with them. I felt as though the direct dragon interaction was on the light side.

Intrigue - Nobody is a rebel but then all of a sudden they're crawling out of the woodwork. It was ok.

Logic/Relationships - The relationship between Viv and Atlas felt really forced. I didn't really feel any emotions towards Atlas throughout the book, and then in the last 20-30% of the book, Viv is making life-changing (idiotic) decisions based on the alleged feelings and connections she has with him. I felt none of those things, so doing things like dropping out of plane (how did she even survive that anyway) to save a dead/dying man feels a bit absurd.

Overall enjoyment - I spent the first half of the book wanting to figure out what was going on (especially with Sophie, as they kept bringing that up and then dragging it out for a very anticlimactic reveal around 70% in). I then spent the second half questioning all of Viv's choices and why she was being so moronic. I get that Viv is supposed to be going through changes and growth and all that, but it just felt like I was screaming at her to finally make the inevitable choice we all knew she was going to make in the end.

Overall I'd give this a 3.5, rounded down to 3 stars. It's unclear if this is a series or standalone. If subsequent books where to come out, I'm not sure if I'd continue on or not.

The best things about The Language of Dragons is that it has a fantastic concept behind it that I really haven't seen done before. To compare it to a book like Fourth Wing would be doing it a disservice because really the only similarities for me was that they both had dragons. I felt books like Babel and Divine Rivals vibes to be more accurate.

This is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy with a corrupt government that tries to control its people by placing them into toxic class systems. Our main character is a prodigy translator of dragon languages and after disaster strikes...essentially has to make a "deal with the devil" in order to save her families lives.

The pacing is really pretty steady and the build is fast. It kind of had this front lines of war type setting...where a rebellion is rising from the people who will no longer stay silent. When war on the horizon is a ticking time bomb and lives are on the line...how far would you go...and who would you step on to get there? I loved getting an insight into the different dragons tongues, echolocation type translation, the history of dragons and their place within society! There are some really fascinating concepts that i'd love more of in book 2.

The main character is someone the villain of her own story but I do think she has some great growth and some fun side characters to help her along the way. This is a story that is cut throat and brutal but can please a YA audience. This book is a more of a politics and worldbuilding first...romance second kind of story, but the romance is sweet and heartfelt and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.

This one has an explosive finish and ends in somewhat of a cliff hanger, so I will definitely be reading the next book at its release!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NG for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

I read the description of this and found myself immediately wanting to get into this. Dragons and languages sounds highly appealing. I'm not the biggest YA reader (albeit depending on what genre) so the beginning of the story took me a bit to get into. That said, once things started moving, I became more invested and had a lot of fun reading this. There is a lot trauma and sadness to this one. I felt frustrated with the main FMC but I do believe that was the point. Also, I love the dragons! Without giving anything away, I loved the approach.

For those that love dragons and a dash of something along the hunger games, I think you would like this. Please be aware, it is a bit slow paced in certain parts but I do believe it was intentional.

Rating: 4 Stars!

Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

I really loved this one! A new favorite for me. Think world war vibes with dragons!

I love the way the world is set up and the way it broaches politics and real issues. And I especially love that for most of the book our main character isn’t the righteous hero. She’s young and she’s selfish and willfully ignorant and she knows it. And I just feel like it’s so realistic to have a character like that.

Without spoiling too much, a war is about to break out in this alternate London and our main character speaks several languages, including some dragon tongues, so she’s recruited by the government to try to break a secret dragon code.

Again, did I mention this book has dragons?! And pretty awesome ones at that.

There’s also some romance, though it’s more of a minor plot.

I can’t wait to read the next one!

Arc Review! Thank you to Harper Collins for the Arc
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3.5/ 5 stars

I'm somewhat mixed on if I really liked this book or if I didn't.

The biggest dislike, the MC was annoying af until around 80% ? She was so indecisive and even though it makes sense I was still so annoyed at her through so much of this book. She's supposed to be intelligent and clever, but most of the time she doesn't seem to be anything more than niche smart and very rule bound. Some of it feels painful from an Indigenous standpoint in terms of cultural erasure and punishment for speaking Indigenous languages, but it feels purposeful instead of ignorant. The author is Welsh/ Scottish so the punishment of the dragons reads as an allusion to how those people (and other colonized peoples) were persecuted by their governments and portrayed as uncivilized. It's more or less a dis to colonization and the ways in which a government will abuse its people for power and control. I liked this aspect of the book and thought it was well done by the end of the book.


The writing style at the beginning wasn't my favorite (lots of telling not showing and oddly short sentences), but it got better after the 30% mark which helped me pick up speed and wanting to read the book.

Overall, it feels less FW and more similar to Divine Rivals. The tech and setting feels more like pre-WWII than the medieval part of FW. I would assume the FW comp is because of dragons + academia, but I don't think the vibes are really the same.

The enemies-to-lovers designation is very off-base. The MC and love interest aren't ever quite enemies....even rivals is a bit of a stretch. I think the dragons are very well done. Very much their own characters with their own thoughts and motives. I'm looking forward to the next book for more dragons in this vein!

If you like your stories wrapped up in a tidy bow with morally idealistic narrators, this is not it! This book is messy and complicated, with a narrator who wants to make the right choices but at the same time would do anything to succeed and protect her family, including betraying her best friend.

In an alternate 1920s London, Vivian Featherswallow is a brilliant young polyglot trying to get an internship studying dragon languages. When her parents are arrested for secretly rebelling against the current system, Viv tries to save them and accidentally kicks off a civil war. Facing dire punishment, she accepts an offer to work as a codebreaker at an institute inspired by the real life Bletchley Park project tasked with codebreaking during WWII.

I absolutely loved everything to do with deciphering the dragon communications (no spoilers but I loved the direction this went,) the dark academia setting, the political debates. The world-building was quite well-done, very cinematic descriptions.

The main character was so frustrating, highly intelligent but so naive to everything around her, even when faced with evidence. I understood that the author was giving her room to grow and forgive herself for poor choices, but it was difficult to root for her! I also would have liked the slow-burn romance to have been more developed.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-are of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. It sucked me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. It had The Hunger Games vibes, but with dragons and set in England in the past right after WWI. The world created in this book was so interesting and different from anything I’ve read before.

The main character Viv was definitely a flawed character, but that was the point. She was meant to be naive and sheltered. As a member of the second class she had no reason to know how bad things were for the third class. She definitely made some choices that were horrible, but with how their world is, she felt like she didn’t have any other choice.

I think that seeing her growth throughout the story was one of my favorite parts. She took a while to figure it out, but in the end she did. I loved the friendships/romances that were formed between the recruits. This book had me laughing at times and crying at other times.

This book reminded me of the dystopian YA books I used to love reading when I was in high school and college. There haven’t been many solid YA dystopian books out in the last few years so this book made me really happy!

I highly recommend this book!

I picked this book since it combined two genres I love fantasy and historical fiction. I couldn't put it down and the ending is a cliffhanger so hopefully there is a sequel in the works. It has social issues, romance, dragons, and adventure. I'm still trying to decide on 4.5 or 5 ⭐️ rating since there was a little bit of drag in the beginning.

A Language of Dragons felt like Babel had a baby with a classic YA dragon fantasy in the best possible way. “Every act of translation requires sacrifice” hit me right at the beginning and really set the tone.

I could really tell this author had a passion for languages and a really deep understanding of how they work and the process of translating and learning languages. I’m glad I read the author’s note about Viv being an unlikable FMC, but I still wanted her to come to her conclusions faster.

I absolutely ADORED Atlas and Marquis and only wish there had been more interactions with dragons! This was a really great start to a new series and I’m excited to read the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you @harpercollins @harpercollinsch for the advance copy!

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson is a gripping young adult fantasy set in 1923 London, where class divisions and dragon-human tensions simmer beneath the surface. Vivien Featherswallow, determined to protect her younger sister from the harsh realities of third-class life, hopes to keep her head down and secure an internship studying dragon languages. However, her seemingly simple plans unravel when she inadvertently sparks a civil war.

With her family arrested and her sister missing, Vivien accepts a dangerous job at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker. Her task: decipher a hidden dragon language to aid in the war effort. Success could reunite her family; failure could mean their deaths. But as Vivien delves deeper into the mysterious language and the secrets of the fragile peace treaty, she discovers that the safety she believed in was an illusion, and the cost of survival may be far greater than she imagined.

Packed with twists, betrayals, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, this academically charged fantasy explores themes of rebellion, propaganda, and moral sacrifice, making it an unputdownable read for fans of intricate world-building and emotional stakes.

A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson

This novel digs into class relations and political rights of different classes and dragons. It reminded me of the political elements in Wicked. This is an intriguing story that follows Vivian as she works to secure a future for her family during unrest. I read this without reading too much of the summary and I don’t want to spoil too much.

I really enjoyed this one set in an early 1900s England where dragons are citizens like humans are to a certain point. There is a lot of character development and themes of how to find redemption in oneself. Williamson does a great job building a world and characters that draw you in. It is a longer read but not that one that feels like it which I had encounter in some reads.

For fans of other popular dragon centered novels with political themes this one is a great counterpart. Even if you aren’t a fan of those series this one isn’t just another dragon book, it is so much more.

S.F. Williamson’s A Language of Dragons transports readers to an alternate 1920s London where dragons and humans coexist amidst social upheaval, political intrigue, and the secretive halls of Bletchley Park. With its Dark Academia vibes, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an exciting story of rebellion and espionage, this debut novel is a exciting start to what I hope is a series.

Vivian Featherswallow, the protagonist, was a character I struggled with at first. Her initial decisions were frustrating, but as the story progressed, I came to appreciate her complexity and determination. Her growth felt authentic, and by the end, I was rooting for her success. Atlas, on the other hand, was a standout from the start—his courage and compassion made him my favorite character. I was also fascinated by the backstory of several secondary characters.

One of the novel’s highlights was Chumana, the dragon, whose relationship with the humans around her added a unique and emotional layer to the story. Her dynamic with Viv and others was a delightful surprise and one I hope is explored further in future books.

The world-building is impressive, seamlessly weaving together dragons, rebellion, and the art of codebreaking. Williamson’s ability to balance tension and intrigue kept me turning the pages, and the twists and betrayals kept me guessing. While the ending tied up the main plot, it left tantalizing threads that suggest more stories in this universe—something I am hoping for.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, Viv’s initial infuriating moments held me back from giving it five stars. However, the blend of action, mystery, and character-driven storytelling makes this a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and dragon lore.

A Language of Dragons is a strong debut, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys intricate plots, layered characters, and, of course, dragons.

I liked the concept of this book more than the execution. It started off pretty strong, and I liked the dragon translator plot, but once they got the park it all kind of fell apart. The romance was rushed and unbelievable. I feel like the author wanted to capitalize on the Fourth Wing romantasy wave going on, and threw in a romantic storyline on top of the finished story. It was unnecessary, and actually reduced my enjoyment of the book because it wasn’t fleshed out enough to be believable.

I really enjoyed this book!! It's a unique YA fantasy and a great debut 🩷 It took a bit to get into, but once Vivien arrived at Bletchly, I was hooked! The plot was really unique too; can't say I've ever read a book centered around dragon linguistics before this one 🤷🏼‍♀️

Only reason it wasn't a full five starts for me was Viv's romantic relationship. It didn't seem deep enough on page for the events that happen throughout the novel. Her relationships with her friends and family were well done though!! 🩷

I'm very excited to see where the next book takes Viv! Big thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for my copy 🩷

I absolutely loved this book by S.F. Williamson. A Language of Dragons was a beautiful book about dragons, family, history, standing up even when everyone else is sitting down and finding the courage within your own self when the time comes. I absolutely loved the writing style from S.F. Williamson.

To start with, the comp titles are a bit weird; the only thing fourth wing-y about this is that dragons exist. I’d honestly call this a less sophisticated version of blood over bright haven, more than anything else. The Babel comparison is fair ish.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the political struggle and watching the characters grow class consciousness and become radicalized by witnessing the evils. The discussions of language, translation, and power were interesting to read and made the story richer. I also enjoyed the dragon-human relations and all the complexity there.

I think the politics of this book were a bit underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Some of the characters were a bit too cartoonishly evil. I also found myself a bit annoyed with our main character, due to how slowly she developed. I can tolerate a selfish and ignorant MC, but she took so long to accept the new reality. Her backstory and betrayal of her friend were also hard to get over as a reader, so I didn’t empathize as much with as I like to in a YA book. The romance was also wholly unnecessary.

Still, this book was worth reading and opened up an interesting political fantasy world. I’d like to see more development from Viv in the next book, though I am worried her arc got sped up in the last few chapters (would have preferred leaving her a bit flawed).

“To control languages, to control words, is to control what people know.”

A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:13+
Spice:none

Thank you Netgalley and S. F. Williamson for this arc! This book was incredible. The plot was so interesting and I haven’t read many books like it. The way language was worked into it was so beautiful and I loved every bit of it. The setting was great and it felt like I was there the whole time. Also the DRAGONS!!! They were so cool and fun to learn about. And I loved how they had personalities and could talk. It was so fun. The characters were fascinating to reading about, especially the main character Vivian. At times I found myself wanting to slap her and other times I just wanted to give her a hug. I loved how complex she was and that she struggled with making very bad decisions. Her journey of forgiving herself was really well done. I really grew to love these characters and felt very connected to them. I felt every emotion they felt. At one point as I was reading I was curled up under my blankets with tears streaming down my face. They just felt so real. The romance we got in this book was so great. While there wasn’t a lot of it I ate up every second of it. The twists throughout the book were so well done and I found myself gasping so many times. The ending was amazing and had my complete attention. I literally zoned in and plowed through the last few chapters. I can’t wait to see where the series goes and will definitely be picking the next one up. I’d you’re looking for a ya fantasy with some dragons you should pick this up!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-Arc

"A Language of Dragons" was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, but it ended up being a bit of an underwhelming experience. This book didn't present anything I haven't already read in other fantasy books. I don't think it's a bad book and in fact, I believe it's a solid one that will find a receptive audience in the Young Adult market.

But I find myself very distanced from this read. I did not care about any of the characters, I could appreciate the main character's growth throughout the book, but at no point did I find myself rooting for her.

I liked the academic aspect of the language of dragons, the linguistics, and the whole process behind dragon communication and reproduction.

This is a very political book with themes of social classes, limited social mobility, corruption, and rebellion, so if you're looking for a YA fantasy with academia, politics, and dragons, this might be right up your alley.

A Language of Dragons is an absolute masterpiece! It has magic and dragons, while also relating back to our own world history and our political/societal struggles. I really liked the steampunk aspect to the story, and the fantastical take on code breakers. It’s a complex story with a very heavy topics. I can honestly, say I feel a little wrecked after finishing the book, and I still loved it.
The line between “you are what society forces you to be” and “you are responsible for your choices” is such a thin one, and it is a crucial topic in A Language of Dragons. Vivian is definitely a flawed heroine and - for me at least - she was not very likable character for 95% of the story. She is a product of her society and the pressures it puts on children to excel on the test, no matter the cost. She’s done horrible things for the sake of her ambition as a result . However, I feel like she uses her “rottenness” as an excuse to continue being selfish, rather than doing what is right. She gets there in the end but she sure did cut it close to the wire.
All in all, I highly recommend ALOD to everyone but caution the reader to know it is HEAVY and you don’t necessarily get a happy ending. Definitely read this if you are a fan of books like Bright Over Moon Haven

A huge thank you to SF Williamson and NetGalley for the arc opportunity!🫶🏻