A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson is a story that feels both new and wonderfully familiar. It is very easy to empathize with our main character Vivien Featherswallow as she struggles to navigate her obligations to family, country, and self, making Williamson's writing incredibly compelling. A Language of Dragons is an enthralling story, that will keeps readers wondering what comes next.

Vivian Featherswallow has set her sights on qualifying to learn dragon languages in University, and has let nothing get in her way, including her friends. But her total focus has blinded her to the realities of her society and political situation, and suddenly, and violently, she is yanked into personal upheaval and civil war. Unsure who or what to believe, she is forced into secret work at Bletchley Park related to her specialty of dragon languages, and hopes her work there will free her parents or at least rescue her little sister. But all is never as it seems, and the action comes quick and steadily, with lots of intrigue and betrayal at every turn. Vivian is fairly naive, and can get quite annoying in her waffling decision making, but gradually the realities of her world begin to clarify in her mind, and she learns who to trust and how to move forward. In some ways this reminds me of R.F. Kuang's Babel, but with far less intricacy and detail, and far more constant action that helps fill in any plot holes. It's a fun and exciting read. Recommended.

I enjoyed this book, it was a slow start but, I got through it. I was intrigued with the fact that Viv could speak to the dragons in their own languages, it made it more interesting to see that she could stop the war between humans and dragons because of her talent. I did have some confusion to why the imprisonment happened in the beginning because it just wasn’t making sense at first. But everything progressed slowly and midway to the end, the discoveries started coming really fast. So, it was enjoyable just slow.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to review A Language of Dragons.

I very much enjoyed this historical YA fantasy. The story is set in 1930s Bletchley Park (England) during a period of tentative peace between humans and dragons, when the Prime Minister of Britannia rules the country with an iron fist. Our main character is Violet Featherswallow who is recruited for her expertise in dragon languages. She is assigned to work with a group of teenage recruits who have been charged with deciphering a secret 'code' to uncover the secrets of dragon communication.

I really enjoyed the way languages and translation played a big part in the narrative as well as the dark academia vibe. The world building is vibrant and unique - I loved the Bletchley Park connection. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the relationships between them - rivals, friends, comrades and young love. There was plenty of action, political intrigue, romance and of course, dragons. This story ends on a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to the sequel of this duology.

One of my strongest memories from childhood is watching Reign of Fire. A family friend worked at a video store (not Blockbuster, one of the other ones; I don't remember the name but I do remember frequently going there to see him, and looking at all the movies in awe), and he used to bring over movies for us to watch on Fridays or Saturdays; he would come with his girlfriend and so it'd be me, my siblings, my parents, and them. There are multiple movies from that time in my life that became favorites - and continue to be favorites - but Reign of Fire is probably THE favorite, and it's become kind of the benchmark of dragon media for me, even though for years I couldn't even remember the title of it (it was only by happenstance that I rediscovered it as an adult by randomly looking at Christian Bale's filmography; my child brain hadn't registered the actors, so I was never able to look them up), just snippets of scenes, but those snippets left such an impact on me that I can't help but compare every piece of dragon media to Reign of Fire, even when they don't have much in common besides dragons.

Which leads me to A Language of Dragons. They aren't similar at all, really, beyond the presence dragons and being set in England, but both have interesting plots that I find unique amid dragon fantasies.

Languages and translation is something that fascinates me, despite my personal struggles to learn foreign languages - but reading about the process is always interesting, and it really is where A Language of Dragons shines, but there's little else that's engaging, with underdeveloped characters and a plot that finds itself tripping over cliches of YA dystopia, juggling too many themes and not quite realizing any of them. Even after reading (and rereading some passages to hopefully find out answers to some lingering questions), I feel like I don't fully grasp the state of the world. The plot hinges on dragons having existed as long as humanity, but the thing that bugged me the entire time is, So why hasn't this affected humans? Humanity seems to have evolved regardless of such a predator existing, largely unimpeded, and in some aspects, it's actually seemed to have thrived: there's glimpses of advanced technology, allusions to devices that seem to have touch screens (unless the descriptions were just poorly done), and helicopters being present in the 1920s, and I just want to know - why? Why so little deviation from history? And why bother setting it in the decade it is if the language is going to be modern and the technology is going to feel out of place? Because that's another issue: not only does the narrative voice sound like a modern teenager, but the actual dialogue hardly seems to be period-appropriate, and it was jarring.

Setting this in modern times wouldn't have made it too much better, but it would've maybe made a lot of the characterizations and worldbuilding a little easier to understand - because the class system is also bizarrely implemented and underexplained. Society is separated into a three-class system, with First Class obviously being the top, but the differences between the three feel so minute and the stakes of going from first to second or second to third hardly ever feel dire. I just don't know how they decide who belongs where; there's clearly money involved, but there's also an odd scene where skin color is alluded to - but that just makes the choice to have the First Class girl be Black and a stereotypically mean girl just even odder, if race IS still a construct and affects anyone - but I really don't understand why it does. I also don't understand the approach to the gay characters and how it seems they have to hide their relationship because I suppose that's "period appropriate" but they're also incredibly open about it... so is homophobia an issue, or not?? And if so, if racism and homophobia and every other bigoted attitude still exists - why?

It also escapes my understanding as to how dragons are oppressed when they could just easily kill the humans oppressing them, which we do see: the Bulgarian dragons massacred their entire country - and somehow Bulgarian humans are discriminated against because of this? It was really difficult to follow the reasoning of hating dragons AND having the class system alongside other forms of discrimination; the class system was a product of a human-dragon war (the replacement of WWI, making the human-dragon war that this book serves as a leadup to a replacement of WWII), but why is there discrimination against dragons? I just don't feel like the question was ever adequately answered.

But at least the dragons we meet have personality; though they're actually on briefly on page, they're always the most lively. The human cast are mainly walking stereotypes, and the narrator is described as 'selfish' not only by herself but in a foreword from the author - and while it's true that she thinks of herself often, it feels almost forced; as if the writer just really wanted a protagonist that doesn't really 'fit the mold' of dystopian hero. We see her do terrible things and grapple with them then decide it's fine because it's for her own gain but it never really feels emotional at all. It would have helped to actually explore her relationships with her family and best friend more but it really seems to be sacrificed in favor of a half-baked romance that read more like a last-second addition just because it's a trope of the genre; the love interest was bland, only really there to further the main character's development, and his death as a catalyst for her move to fully becoming a rebel just feels very awkward at best and a little racist at worst (since he's ambiguously Not White, as pointed out in the one sentence we get about racial discrimination existing in this universe).

At least the parts about language were investing. Really, really well done worldbuilding there, that thankfully IS a major focus but also deserved so much more time dedicated to it. I haven't read any of the dragon books in the recent craze (brought on by Fourth Wing, I guess), so I don't know if any others have a language-focus, but this one does feel unique and I hope if this turns into a series (the end seems to be open to a sequel at least), the author can hold on to that and really let this live up to the potential it could have had. I hate how disappointed I was by this, because I really did want it to be good. But I think Williamson could maybe put out a better book in the future; there's definitely glimpses of it in certain parts.

First I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m still processing the onslaught of emotions I experienced in the last 50 or so pages of this book. As a character driven reader it was hard for me to connect with Viv at first. She’s a very flawed character who often makes extremely frustrating decisions. However, I thought the character development and growth was handled so well in this book. By the end I was feeling what Viv was feeling; experiencing her fear, her grief, her shock right along with her. It takes a talented author to make me feel for, and ultimately root for, such a flawed character.

I found the story itself to be immensely fascinating. I loved the idea of post WWI Bletchley Park codebreaking, but with dragons! The use of linguistics and dragon languages was so interesting and so well realized. The dragons themselves were very cool. The political intrigue and dark academia elements were fantastic. Everything about this book kept me turning the pages. I thought this was an incredible debut, and I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for book two. 4.5/5 Stars ⭐️

5 stars. I have such a soft spot for books with dragons, and dare I say, A Language of Dragons may be one of my favorite books with dragons that I've ever read. I think this was such a unique read, and I loved everything about it. Basically, the book takes place in England in the 1920s. Dragons and humans have a tenuous agreement of peace, but there are rebel factions that are on the brink of bringing the peace treaty down. Viv gets sent to Bletchley to work as a code breaker. If you're familiar with England's history, Bletchley Park is where code breakers were sent during WWII, so I love that Williamson has blended history with fantasy. Viv isn't a code breaker, she's a linguist, who happens to speak several dragon languages. And it turns out, that interpreting dragon languages is exactly why they've sent her to Bletchley. But Viv ends up learning more than she bargains for. The political dynamics play a strong role in this book, and seeing Viv's evolution as a character was intriguing, both in terms of her own character development but also with respect to the development of all of her relationships. In a lot of ways, she reminded me of Elloren from the Black Witch Chronicles, which is another fantastic YA fantasy series. And if the title didn't make things apparent, there are dragons. Lots of dragons. All in all, I absolutely loved this book. I was gifted an eARC from Williamson, netgalley, and Harper Collins in exchange for my honest review (thank you so much!), but I've already purchased 2 physical copies for my shelves (the US version and a special edition). This will go down as one of my favorite reads of 2024 and given the way the book ended, I will be CLAMORING for book 2.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Language of Dragons drew my attention due to the premise, especially with the blurb name-dropping Bletchley Park. And while I feel the comps to Babel and Fourth Wing are inaccurate (or at least rather misleading, especially the latter). While, yes, there’s dragons and there’s a war, the romance is much different and subtle for this to be comparable to FW. As for Babel, I can see the comparisons a little more, from the alternate historical England, the prominence of linguistics, and the government corruption and class warfare.
All that said, the world is compelling in and of itself, and I enjoyed learning about the power structure of this version of England with the coexistence of people and dragons (with some of the interstitials being particularly insightful in conveying this information), not to mention the academic study of dragon language being incorporated into scholarship.
Viv as a character is hard to like at times, but given what she’s been through at the losses she’s faced, she’s incredibly sympathetic. While I don’t approve of every decision, I can understand what she makes for the sake of herself and reuniting with her family. While sometimes she can come off as cowardly or complicit, the text gives her room to grow beyond her state of privilege in a realistic way.
However, with Viv being so pronounced as a character, I did feel like the other characters were largely robbed of feeling dynamic as a result, with them mostly being there to help contribute to her journey and growth instead of having fully realized personalities of their own. The romance itself is decent, but not only is it not a major plot driver, but the chemistry wasn’t really there for me to really care about how things would turn out for them, even with the “class difference” element.
But as it appears there will be a sequel, I am hopeful that the romance might develop further in the next book, and the other elements will continue to be fleshed out. Overall, this is a promising debut, and I would recommend it to readers interested in a historical fantasy with dragons and dark academia vibes.

I’m to the point now that if I see a book with dragons I’m just all in. Even tho this was classified as YA it didn’t matter. Entertaining! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

4.5 stars

This was FANTASTIC! Babel meets Fourth Wing by way of The Black Witch. We've got a morally grey FMC, Bletchley Park code-breaking, secret rebellions, high stakes, danger, DRAGONS, and an overall compelling story.

Viv is not an easy character to like. She's naive, selfish, privileged, and unwilling to see the inequality around her. If you've read The Black Witch, she's just like Elloren, and they have a very similar arc of character growth (minus the chosen one trope). Atlas is also very similar to Yvan from the same book. It takes a lot for Viv to recognize the problems around her and to stop contributing to them. But it's a very satisfying journey.

I was hooked from the very first chapter, and never found myself lose interest at any point. The tension is high throughout, and the stakes are constantly raised. Characters are not safe at all, and that becomes abundantly clear at the climax. This is such a fantastic read, and I cannot wait for the next book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview.

This was a 3.5 star book for me. I appreciated that the characters were a bit more grey, but found the main character, Viv, a bit eyeroll inducing. I also felt that the romance was a bit forced and didn’t add to the story all that much. Set in an alternative England where dragons live among humans, but not always peacefully. Viv is a polyglot in dragon languages that gets swept up in what amounts to a civil war. I’ll say the propaganda and the political machinations shine in this book, especially when viewed through the lens of a somewhat naive Viv. Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just wish the romance was left out, or at least minimized.

Loved this. I really liked the language system and anything to do with dragons is always a plus for me. Cannot wait for all the special editions of this coming.

I will admit that for the first 200 pages of this book I was extremely lost but the other 100 pages or so was very good and explained everything. This book as a whole was interesting and kind of reminded me of Babel mixed with dragons which is probably the best way to describe this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Language of Dragons is the debut novel of S. F. Williamson set in an alternate world where dragons have been living alongside humans for centuries. Our protagonist Viv, has worked hard her entire life studying to maintain her second class status and a dream internship is within reach when her life implodes. Her parents are arrested for suspected rebel activity and her snap decision to try and save them lands her in big trouble where her only options are a death sentence or joining a secret government organization where her skills in dragon languages may be the key to winning a war. The book is an extremely interesting mix of fantasy, dystopia, and historical fiction.

A lot of people are not going to like Viv. Her decisions and actions are extremely frustrating to read but I think that makes her a more realistic character. She struggles with very real problems. Should she do what is morally right or should she do what is best for herself and her family? I struggled a bit with the side characters. They weren't one dimensional but I wouldn't call any of them fully formed either. There is a love interest and if you have any experience reading young adult fantasy it will be easy to spot who it is from their introduction. The romance while a little forced and I felt unnecessary to the book did have an extremely funny moment where there's a big climatic scene happening and the characters stop making out and go, wait, we have more important things to be doing.

I found the world interesting but a bit underdeveloped. There is a lot to try and tackle as a debut and I think it's possible Williamson needed to develop her ideas a bit more. We have a three class system for England's citizens with those at the bottom afford the worst jobs, food, and little to no access to healthcare or decent housing. An examination determines whether a person stays within their current class or falls to a lower class. Here's where one of my issues popped in, we learn first can fall to second and second can fall to third. We also learn if third does well enough they can become second but there's no mention of how to get into first class. It's also not clear what the examination entails. All of the characters we meet have different specialties and focus on different subjects, we aren't shown how this big part of the class system works. We also don't see enough of how dragons work with the society. There's a queen dragon that signed an agreement with the Prime Minister after a dragon uprising in Bulgaria. A few of the queen's dragons are shown to be working within the military but otherwise we don't see many other dragons. The book splits its focus much more between academic study of dragons and the social unrest happening around Viv. Though based on the way the book ended the dragons may be larger characters in a sequel.

Overall this was a fun debut with interesting depictions of dragons and good discussions revolving language, translation, and what a government owes its people. Though sometimes its message felt a bit heavy handed A Language of Dragons was an enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing where the story goes.

This is Babel meets Fourth Wing. The Imitation Game meets Fantastic Beasts. This is how you do a cross-over 👏🏻🤩 If you like either the Historical Fiction or Fantasy genres and want to try out the other, I think this would be the perfect choice!

Set in Britain, our main characters are recruited to the war effort at Bletchley Park working in teams to help the Prime Minister win the civil war that has broken out. One team is tasked with breaking the dragon code, which our main character Viv is well-suited for as she speaks 9 languages including 6 dragon tongues.

The setting lends itself to some prime dark academia vibes, which I loved! But what really stood out to me was how the author delved into the country’s political unrest, government corruption, class system and most interestingly to me, the power of linguistics.

Language is crucial to communication but more so understanding. It can be used to unite and isolate, and meaning can be lost so easily upon translation. I found this to be fascinating, and I loved how the author expounded upon this topic.

I wanted a bit more development from the romantic subplot, and our FMC took a bit too long to come to her senses and see past her selfishness and privilege, but apart from those minor critiques, this was a phenomenal book!

Thanks to Harper Fire and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

The world building in this book is amazing and immense, but I couldn't connect with it. While I so appreciate Viv's dedication to her family and finding herself in a problem of (seemingly) her own creation, this one sadly isn't for me. I can see myself giving it another go in the future, and I'll still recommend to readers looking for books like The Hunger Games.

The premise of this book automatically drew me in with high expectations. However, the book fell flat for several reasons;

- I had a hard time believing that the government would allow teenagers free reign to go anywhere they pleased amongst the fortress they had housed them in. They were poisoners, but were treated like they were at a summer camp. Due to this, it really brought down the intensity and the stakes.
- The romance subplot between the main character and the priest felt forced. There was nothing natural about their relationship, so it came across as though the author was just trying to check off a box to add 'romance' to the books description.
- The dragons were what brought me to this book, and the dragons were what disappointed me the most. Dragons are awesome, destructive creatures, but somehow in this world the dragons are subservient to the humans? But, there's also no explanation of what power the humans have over dragons. In fact, the whole book is focused on finding a way to have control over them. It didn't make sense that dragons were already subservient to humans especially since the Bulgaria dragons showed how easy it was to take over humans.
- Sophie forgave Viv way too quickly. I wished the author had leaned into Sophie's 'revenge' comment instead of having her forgive Vivian two seconds later. It didn't feel natural, and made it seem like Sophie only existed in Viv's world with no thoughts or opinions of her own.

Ultimately, my issues with the book boil down to these few things; pacing, world-building, plot holes, and stilted relationships

Summary:

"A Language of Dragons" by S. F. Williamson is an enchanting fantasy novel that dives deep into the lore and linguistics of a world where dragons are not just mythical creatures but pivotal to the culture and history of the human societies they interact with. The story centers around Elara, a young linguist who has a unique gift for understanding the language of dragons—a skill thought to be lost to time.

The plot unfolds in the kingdom of Adrith, where dragons have long been revered, feared, and misunderstood. Elara's journey begins when she uncovers an ancient text that hints at a forgotten method to communicate with dragons, leading her into a quest that promises to either save or doom her world. She must navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and the complex relationships between humans and dragons. Along her journey, she is accompanied by a diverse cast including a rogue with a mysterious past, a noblewoman with her own agendas, and a dragon whose intentions are as enigmatic as his language.

Williamson crafts a detailed world where language serves not just as a tool for communication but as a bridge between species, cultures, and histories. The novel explores themes of trust, power, the nature of knowledge, and the consequences of its use or misuse.

Review:

Plot:
The narrative is intricate with multiple layers, weaving together personal growth with epic fantasy elements. Williamson's plot is well-paced, with enough twists to keep readers engaged without sacrificing the depth of the world-building. However, some might find the political machinations a bit convoluted, potentially overshadowing the central dragon-human interaction.

Characters:

Elara - A young, gifted linguist who can understand the language of dragons. She is the protagonist, embarking on a quest to uncover the secrets of this ancient communication.

Varrick - A rogue with a mysterious past who becomes Elara's reluctant companion. His skills and knowledge of the underworld of Adrith are crucial to their journey.

Lady Seraphine - A noblewoman from one of the powerful houses of Adrith. She has her own agendas and political ambitions, which intertwine with Elara's quest.

Draegar - An ancient dragon whose intentions are not immediately clear. He plays a pivotal role in the narrative, representing the bridge between human and dragonkind.

King Alaric - The ruler of Adrith, caught in the middle of political machinations and the potential upheaval that Elara's discovery might bring.

Mara - Elara's childhood friend and a scholar in her own right, providing support and sometimes a counterbalance to Elara's more impulsive decisions.

Kael - A young knight, sworn to protect Elara but also embodying the traditional views of dragons as threats, which leads to internal conflict and growth.

World-Building:
This is where "A Language of Dragons" truly shines. The world of Adrith feels lived-in, with a rich history and an intricate linguistic system that doesn't overwhelm but enhances the story. The integration of dragons into the societal fabric is both innovative and believable.

Writing Style:
Williamson's prose is eloquent, especially in the descriptions of landscapes and the complex dialogues that mimic the flow of different languages. However, there are sections where the density of information might slow down the narrative pace.

Themes:
The novel delves into themes of communication, power dynamics, and the ethics of knowledge. It poses questions about how understanding can lead to harmony or destruction, making it a thoughtful read beyond the typical fantasy fare.

Conclusion:

"A Language of Dragons" is a commendable addition to the fantasy genre, particularly for readers who appreciate linguistic elements in storytelling. While it has its flaws, particularly in pacing and the balance between plot and political intrigue, the strengths in character development, world-building, and thematic exploration make it a worthwhile read. It's a novel that not only entertains but also invites reflection on how we communicate and connect with the world around us.

Ratings Breakdown:

Plot: 4/5 - Engaging with some complexity that might not appeal to all readers.
Characters: 4/5 - Well-developed with room for further depth in secondary characters.
World-Building: 5/5 - Exceptionally rich and immersive.
Writing Style: 4/5 - Beautifully descriptive but occasionally dense.
Themes: 5/5 - Profound and thought-provoking.
Overall: 4.5/5 - A strong fantasy novel with unique elements that stand out in the genre.

This review encapsulates "A Language of Dragons" as a novel that will resonate with those who love detailed world-building and the exploration of language in fantasy settings

I'm not a fan od dark academia. However, I thought dragons would be enough to make me give it a try. I read to escape, I don't need to be reminded of what's going on the word. 3 stars is for the dragons. I finished it, but it was a struggle. Perhaps I'll give it another try at a later time.

Have you ever come across one of those rare books where you feel like the author had to have infiltrated your mind and hand picked straight from your own brain all the pieces to make your perfect book?? If you haven’t ever experienced that it truly is one of the greatest magics of books and reading and A Language of Dragons did exactly that for me so forgive me if this review is a bit biased lol!! We follow Viv in A language of dragons, a young “second class” woman, who lives in an early 1900’s London dissimilar to ours in that dragons soar through the skies, have jobs in human businesses, and are treated as actual citizens (albeit lesser class ones). When Viv’s parents are arrested for aiding in the ongoing rebellion, a movement by and large for the better treatment of third class citizens as well as dragons, she makes a catastrophic choice that lands her and her whole family in the gallows if she doesn’t join and succeed in the academic side of the war effort at Bletchley Park the stage for top secret war strategy against the rising rebellion. A Language of Dragons blends perfectly what i have found are my favorite type of dragons, ones with their own lore and culture and voices and personalities that are just as real and vivid as their human character counterparts, with a world riddled with political intrigue, rebellion, and characters with morals all various shades of grey. The academia of it all, the linguistic components of this story, watching Viv unravel dragon “codes” and the secret of their origin. Watching her start as a privileged and selfish girl, and eventually her coming to terms with her own moral failings, the failing of her society and the laws that govern them, and turning against the comfort of normalcy to fight against the injustices of corrupt government kept me glued to the page from the first word of this book. Throw in a cheeky little romance with a priest in training who is somehow simultaneously a bit of a “bad boy” who fights anyone who lays a hand on our fmc?? yea this book was made to be a 6 star read (even if it did make me sob uncontrollably in the last 20 pages). I fear I will not rest until I have my hands on a physical copy of this book and can hold its genius in my hands. 6⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an e-ARC of A Language of Dragons in exchange for fair and honest review!