I received an arc of this book. Overall I was rather entertained by the story and the world. But I did have quite a few problems with the book too. I felt like every big moment that had a lot of suspense building up to it was anticlimactic and explained away with an easy excuse in two sentences. On the other hand, the smallest details and plot points were talked about over and over again. The main female character was slightly insufferable with how often she talked about how “bad” she was and I found myself rolling my eyes at her inner monologue often. All of the characters lacked depth and the main male characters attributes felt forced and served no real purpose other than to try to get you to like him, which didn’t really work. I wanted more from so many things in this book and wanted less from everything else. It just didn’t really hit the mark for me, but it did hold my attention throughout.

From the very first page, I was utterly hooked by its intricate world-building, unforgettable characters, and the compelling narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat until the final chapter. One of the standout aspects of this book is its innovative concept of a dragon language as a secret code—which reminded me so much of The Imitation Game Movie. Watching characters decode dragon echolocation while navigating the volatile politics of rebellion was nothing short of mesmerizing. The 1920s-inspired setting added a layer of elegance and nostalgia, reminding me of Divine Rivals vibes, while the dragons brought the high-stakes fantasy drama of Fourth Wing vibes.

Vivian emerges as an unforgettable protagonist. She reminded me of Hermoine in a lot of ways. Her complexity is encapsulated early on with the quote, “I am a bright, ripe fruit: shiny on the surface, but rotten to the core.” As a codebreaker, linguist, and heroine with a dragon-hearted determination (“She’s not stubborn. She’s dragon-hearted,” says Dodie), Vivian’s journey is one of growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The way her languages save her—both literally and metaphorically—is a brilliant recurring theme. Watching her internal battles of what makes a person good vs evil and her struggle with grasping how to fix a broken society structure was interesting to watch. I feel a lot of us can relate to this want of equality among individuals and having to struggle with that mentally that it's much easier said than done to try and get rid of the classism and racism of society.

The slow-burn romance between Vivian and Atlas is another highlight of this story. Atlas, a priest in training, brought a unique dynamic to the narrative with his steadfast faith and strong moral compass. His religious side added depth to his character, making his inner conflict between his devotion to God and his growing feelings for Vivian all the more compelling. One aspect I found interesting was the struggle with being lower class and black in this society and having to explain to Viv how that society won't just magically shift their views towards him even if they change the structure of things. Reading their philosophy and throughs about these deep human natures was very compelling. Their relationship was filled with tender moments that stole my heart, such as his poignant line, “Viv. What if God is calling me to you?” Their chemistry was beautifully developed, and the slow progression of their romance felt authentic and satisfying. Atlas’s kindness and selflessness made him unforgettable, and his tragic fate was a devastating blow that left an emotional ache in the story.

Vivian’s cousin Marquis was another standout character. As the group’s comedic relief, his witty remarks and lighthearted nature offered a delightful balance to the story’s tension. I’m eager to see where Williamson takes his character next, as Marquis’s potential for growth and complexity was subtly hinted at throughout. Another intriguing dynamic in the book was the tension between Vivian and her friend Sophie. Their fractured relationship added emotional depth to the story and was a mystery I was eager to discover from the beginning. Their gradual reconciliation was both heartfelt and realistic. I’m especially excited to see how this newly healed friendship evolves in future installments, as their bond feels poised to play an even greater role.

The book seamlessly weaves together thrilling elements: decoding dragon genetics and echolocation, fire-breathing planes, and the tension of a dragon rebellion. The Department of Defense Against Dragons (DDAD) adds a dash of humor and intrigue. There’s even a magical ball dance scene that added sparkle and a sense of grandeur to an already vibrant tale.

Themes of morality, power, and forgiveness echo throughout. Quotes like, “To control languages, to control words, is to control what the people know,” and, “Peace isn’t peace if it’s only given to some,” are as thought-provoking as they are timeless. The exploration of redemption and self-worth, as seen in Vivian’s reflection (“I can choose to live a life where what’s important isn’t what I can achieve…but the type of person I can be”), left me deeply moved.

In short, A Language of Dragons is nothing short of spectacular, it is a dazzling, genre-blending masterpiece that combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and intrigue in a way that feels completely fresh and unique. Its mix of heart-pounding action, tender slow-burn romance, delightful humor, and thought-provoking themes makes it a book I’ll return to again and again. Fans of historical fantasy, dragon lore, and rich storytelling won’t want to miss this.

Perfect for fans of: The Imitation Game, Divine Rivals, Fourth Wing, and books that challenge the mind and ignite the heart.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. When I read a review comparing this to Fourth Wing and Babel, I was hooked. If you like dragons, language and romance, this is the read for you! I was engaged from the first page, and now want to read the next one--hopefully it is in the works.

Petition for authors/publishers to stop releasing books that treat their YA audiences like idiots!

Language of Dragons is heavily reminiscent of the deeply crappy dystopias that were all the rage after the success of Hunger Games – I won’t name names, but if you were reading YA at the time you know exactly what I’m talking about. (Not that all of them were terrible, but let’s face it, a lot of them were.) The 2010 vibes are strong with this one.

Don’t believe me? Society in fantasy-Britain is divided up into three Classes: Class One, Class Two, Class Three. Class One has the most rights, Class Three almost none. You’re born into your Class, but if you fail your big exam at 16, you drop one.

This is, immediately, an unbearably stupid set-up that makes no sense and doesn’t try to. (Why do you wear your all-important Class Pass on a velvet ribbon, Vivien??? Ribbons fray, they BREAK. Why isn’t it the norm to wear them on sturdy chains or something? Why aren’t you just straight-up tattooed after your exam, so you can’t falsify or lose your Pass?) The trend continues throughout the worldbuilding: dragons exist and are sentient, but they’re typically referred to as ‘it’, even once the relevant human knows the gender of said dragon individual. Although things are different in other countries, in our setting, dragons and humans live apart – as in, separate parts of the country, not different districts inside a city – and generally seem to be second-class; why the dragons put up with this as massive fire-breathing creatures of incredible intelligence, is neither explained nor questioned, despite dragons being treated much better in other places, even ruling over humans in some countries. All of this is told to us through clunky telling-not-showing, with bonus exposition-through-bad-dialogue.

And let’s make one thing very clear: this is not a dragon book. The title and cover are a flat-out lie. One dragon appears briefly at two points in the book; we see no others. It’s pathetic, and more than a little outrageous, for a story to be marketed this falsely.

Vivien Featherswallow, our protagonist, has drunk the kool-aid: she is convinced that the Class System and the Travel Ban and everything else are for everyone’s benefit. MCs in dystopias often start out this way; that’s not inherently a bad thing. What makes it very bad writing in this case is that it is immediately obvious to the reader that Things Are Fucked-Up Here.

Hi: this doesn’t work. Naive characters gradually realising how screwed up things are works well only when the book is taking the reader on the same journey of discovery/realisation. When the reader is already well-aware that this is a dystopia, there’s zero impact to the Le Gasp moment when your character works things out. It’s just eye-rollingly stupid – of your character, and of anyone who makes that writing decision. Why would you do this.

This is far from the only issue with Vivien. When her parents are arrested, she does a complete 180: despite previously being a believer, she turns around, makes a bargain with a dragon criminal, breaks the dragon free, and has the prime minister’s house burned down. And, sorry, but you have not come close to making that abrupt about-face believable. It’s absolutely nonsensical for Vivien to do what she does, that fast, that soon after the arrest; that she’s desperate simply isn’t enough explanation. Williamson hasn’t crafted a character who would believably do this; instead, we have a character doing things because if she doesn’t there will be no plot.

That is BAD WRITING.

(As is a criminal dragon being locked up IN A PUBLIC LIBRARY. Why the everloving FUCK would you place a criminal dragon in a library?! ‘Oh, she’s lived so long she can help answer research questions’ WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? YOU’VE IMPRISONED HER: WHAT ON EARTH MADE ANYONE THINK SHE WOULDN’T FLAME ANY IDIOT DUMB ENOUGH TO ASK FOR HELP WITH THEIR HOMEWORK? WTF?

Let’s not forget, she’s locked up with a SWORD in reach! Which is fine because ‘no human would help a dragon’ in a society that kind of reveres them??? When the government KNOWS there are rebel networks out there, who would absolutely free a dragon??? But no, there has to be a sword so Vivien can use it to free the dragon. OKAY.)

Then we really get into the circa 2010 vibes, because there is a Top Secret group of teenagers who are responsible for saving the newly-broken-out civil war. Because that’s definitely something a real government would do, depend on kids for that. And also let the girl who just burned down the prime minister’s house be part of that group. SURE. THAT’S A THING THAT COULD HAPPEN.

This is complete crap; it’s not even trying. The Babel-comparison is so unjust it’s offensive: this is not a book about linguistics, and I’m not sure Williamson knows much about linguistics either, because the Shocking Secret is that dragon languages have dialects, which. Is such a normal thing for languages to have that I don’t understand how I’m supposed to take this seriously.

(Don’t get me started on ‘we don’t let just ANYBODY study dragon languages, because most of the rebels we’ve found have contact with dragons. Our dragon languages students have no dragon teachers or classmates and never test their skills on dragons BUT STILL, THE TOUGHEST OF BACKGROUND-CHECKS FOR YOU MISS FEATHERSWALLOW.’)

I am so mad at this book, at everyone who picked the title and made the cover(s) and just straight-up lied about what this book is and is about. As for what it actually is: Language of Dragons is an insult to the intelligence of YA readers. It is trash. If I’d been given a paper arc, it would be defenestrated into the snow. Don’t waste your time with it.

3.5 stars. This was a young adult fantasy with a different take on the dragon and human relationship based on languages. Overall I enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and held my interest but some of the pacing was an little off for me. Also the FMC was insufferable at times and it made it hard to stay invested. I like the way the end came together to set us up for a sequel and I look forward to continuing the story.

“Every act of translation requires sacrifice- it is this harsh truth that made me fall in love…While a person can more or less bridge the gap between languages using words, there is always some deeper meaning left unsaid, a secret invisible to those who only have one language with which to navigate the world. A translator, on the other hand, is a creature that flies with several pairs of wings.”-A Language of Dragons, S.F. Williamson; uncorrected ARC edition

A Language of Dragon is an amazing YA addition to the historical fantasy genre. At first, this was very much a cover read for me; I fell in love with the gorgeous cover art. However, I loved the story inside even more!

Vivien Featherswallow is one of the top students of her class in a 1920s London where humans exist in a strict class society and have a tenuous treaty with the dragons living around them. Vivien has studied dragon languages her whole life, intent on being the best student she can be and keeping her family from being relegated to a lower class. But when her parents are arrested as rebels plotting against the government, Vivien is given an ultimatum to save her family: she must go work for the government at a top secret code breaking base. There, Vivien begins to discover that maybe her government truly is corrupt; and she and her new friends just might hold the key to tearing it all down.

If you are a fan of historical fantasy, you should read A Language of Dragons. Even if you don’t normally lean toward YA, I think you will still enjoy this book; it is very well-written, and the world-building is fascinating. I don’t often see historical fiction set during this era, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I would recommend A Language of Dragons to fans of Babel and the Temeraire series, and to readers who enjoy historical fantasy, depictions of dystopian societies, or (of course) dragons.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an arc. The thoughts and options stated in this review are my own.

I DNF'd this.

And while I did, I don't think that means that it's a bad book.

I think that a lot of people will really enjoy this. Dragons are so popular right now because of Fourth Wing. Include an element of Harry Potter-ness? I'm sure plenty of people would eat this up.

But once I started reading it, I didn't want to continue reading it. I didn't really enjoy the main character. Any main character that I need to be persuaded to like is usually not a book I'm going to keep reading for long.

Beautiful cover though, and I'm SURE this book will be a favorite of many.

The premise is what drew me in. Dragons in 1920s London?? But what i wasn’t fond of was the main character. The author warned us in the beginning that her main character would be selfish and have character growth. But it just took too long for that character growth. Her willful denial of what was right in front of her for no good reason became nails on a chalk board.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really intriguing to me. It's set in 1923 London and follows Vivien Featherswallow, the girl who started a civil war.

I almost finished this book in one sitting, it was so good. It took a lot of elements of popular fantasy books but melded them together to make a fascinating story. I loved Williamson's use of a caste based dystopian world, mixed with corrupt government, rebellion, morally gray characters, and a small romance subplot.

I also really liked the codebreaking of a secret dragon language, it was fascinating and well thought through.

I think that most people might see the main character as being insufferable, but I saw Vivien as relatable. She, like everyone, struggles with morals, but especially so as a teenage girl. I thought it was great to see a character struggle with this, maybe even refreshing.

I think this book will be great for those who love dragons and politically based reads!

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson.

This is a fantasy novel. 4+*; dragons, cast systems, academy vibes, friendships/betrayal.

Synopsis:
"A Language of Dragons" by S. F. Williamson blends fantasy in a YA Dark Academia setting. Set in London, 1923, Vivian Featherswallow is thrown into chaos when her parents are arrested, and her sister goes missing. Recruited as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during a civil war, Vivian must unlock the secrets of a hidden dragon language to save her family. This debut novel features a slow-burn romance and a plot rich with twists, betrayals, and secret identities, for fans of dragons and adventures."

Things I liked:
• Dragons
• The Cast System
• Academia / YA Vibes

I recommend it to anyone who likes dragon-fantasy YA books.

When Vivian Featherswallows' parents are arrested, she devises a plan to free them, which includes setting loose a dragon to destroy the government building. Upon being arrested, she is given an option. Join her parents in prison, leaving behind her younger sister defenseless or to become a translator for the government to stop the rebellion of dragons. The choice is obvious and Vivian starts working eagerly to save her family, until she learns about how corrupt the government is and begins to become persuaded to rebel.

I loved this book! It as the fantasy break I needed! It included everything I loved including a dystopia, rebellion, conflicts of interest, and dragons. The adventure and rebellion in this book were also amazing!

I really enjoyed the romance between Atlas and Vivien. I also really enjoyed how none of the characters were perfect. They acted like real human beings in difficult situations. For example, Vivien always strived to get ahead in the beginning, even if it meant betraying her best friend. This allowed for character growth and just made the book as a whole feel a lot deeper.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes fantasy, dystopian, or adventure books!

Before you dive into this book there is one thing you need to know. It is a LOT. Prepare your brain to need to sit with the immersive world building and the weaving plot! If you go in expecting a quick fantasy book you're going to be in for a surprise and this book is so good that I WANT you to be ready for it! So what are you in for? 1920's London, Bletchley park codebreaking, dark academia vibes, a morally grey FMC, and best of all dragons! This book is what I wanted when everyone got hyped for Fourth Wing (not hate to that series! Love a franchise that gets more people reading it just wasn't for me and THIS WAS!)

5 stars

Dragons, codebreaking, a morally grey main character, slow burn enemies to lovers romance, and a dark academia setting? Sign me right up!

The main character, Viv, had me wanting to grab her and shake her until her teeth rattled for what she did to her best friend, and for the terrible decisions she made. At times, I wasn't sure if I was reading a redemption arc or a villain's origin story. It could easily go in either direction, and I was hooked.

The story is less about traditional codebreaking and focuses more on learning the different languages and ways dragon's communicate with the hopes of using the knowledge to help win the war. I loved the world-building and various types of dragons we are introduced to. The romance was sweet without taking center stage, and despite Viv's flaws, I found myself caring a lot about the characters.

This book is an engrossing debut with an ending that left me excited for the next book in the series. I hope Williamson is hard at work on book two. Bring on the dragons!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this book.

Vivien Featherswallow starts a civil war that involves dragons without even knowing what she is doing. This book has intrigue, alternate London in Bletchley Park, dragons...how can you go wrong? This is perfect for the younger set who may like Fourth Wing. I also agree this is for fans of Babel. There is some discussion about language, especially with the dragons. This was such a great read. I couldn't recommend it more.

As someone who majored in Linguistics and who loves fantasy books about dragons, I thought that A Language of Dragons sounded exactly like the kind of book I would like, and I was right. I loved this novel and enjoyed every minute spent reading it.

This book is doing a lot, but I think it balances all the facets of the story well. Inside this story you will find:

—A historical setting of Bletchley Park in London in 1923. You know the codebreakers working there during that time? Think that, but the code they’re trying to break is a dragon-made code!
—An academic setting with dark academia vibes.
—Clean slow-burn romance.
—Incredibly strong familial relationships, especially between sisters.
—So many different types of dragons. Including a bright pink one!
—Linguistics! And draconian linguistics! Lots of discussion of languages and word meanings and the art of translation. I personally really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
—Lots of political intrigue, secret identities, rebellion, and betrayal.
—Intense action scenes with high stakes.
—A very morally gray female main character who I loved.

This book is marketed as YA, and I don’t really read of lot of YA anymore, but I thought it was a strong crossover title that would be good for adults and youths alike. The characters are on the older side of their teenage years since they’re getting ready to go off to university.

Any fan of historical fantasy or dragons should pick up A Language of Dragons. This was a strong debut novel that I highly recommend. I really loved this book and I thought it was written very well. It had a satisfying conclusion that wrapped up the story but also left a gap for the potentiality of more to come. I hope it remains a standalone novel, but I wouldn’t be opposed to reading more about these characters either.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with the eARC!

Babel but with dragons? Say less! I knew that I would really enjoy this book when I stumbled upon the synopsis and I was not disappointed at all. This one is for the httyd, Babel, and fleabag girlies. Rich in world building, politics, scheming, and conspiracy, A Language of Dragons is an engaging read. I especially enjoyed the main character’s development as we see her leave her life of privilege and become confronted with the harsh reality of those of the lower class. The world is cutthroat and vicious as everyone must pass the examination for a chance at a peaceful life. I appreciated seeing Viv dismantle her blinders and working to help the people around her.

My favorite part of this book were the code breaking scenes! I loved reading about the different dragon languages and dialects and their special way of communicating with each other. I also appreciated how the society’s treatment of dragons was largely a metaphor for colonization.

The relationships between the recruits were also interesting and rife with tension given they were all from different social classes. I loved Atlas so much and how he always stayed true to his morals while trying to bring out the best in Vivian.

The ending was explosive, insane, and heartbreaking and after that trauma I desperately need a sequel. Overall, I would give this 4 stars and I had so much fun with this one.

ARC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

A Language of Dragons is a YA fantasy that takes place in 1920s England, but adds dragons to the mix. Viv is a product of an unjust class system whose family is now accused of working with the rebels. Viv is forced to work for the government in order to save her family. What is she willing to sacrifice to get them back?

The dragons in this story are absolutely amazing. I loved the different politics and cultures within their species. I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book, because they were far more interesting to me than our main character. Whew, Viv was an infuriatingly ignorant main character with some snails pace growth by the end. She is intentionally frustrating, but it still is hard to read her repeated bad decisions. The side characters are much more like-able which helped me get through. I think this book definitely touches on some important issues of inequality and is a thought provoking read. I do feel like this was a solid base for the next book even with the hiccups, so I will be picking up the next one.

A Language of Dragons is out January 7th, 2025

Thank you #netgalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this arc.

Set in early 1900s Great Britain, with dragons and a bright young woman setting off a civil war. How could one not enjoy? There are comparisons to a few books out there, only one of which I’’ve read (Hunger Games). I get it, but I don’t… beyond older sister protecting younger sister, and evil people at the top of government, there isn’t much else to compare.

The MC, Viv, is just 17 - naive and highly intelligent, the perfect combo to set things in motion. Politics and power have motivated people for all of history, how else could we have good vs. evil, the gray area in between, heroes and villains? Toss in some young love, compromised friendships, and dragons (yes, I’ve already mentioned the dragons, but… dragons) and you have a compelling and interesting story.

I also enjoyed the study of linguistics, the idea of communication between species.

Ok, so I went into this book blind, intiruged by the title only. I was expecting to have an enjoyable ride through a vibrant world with dragons, humans, and sweet woodland creatures. What I got was so much more! This world is London but in an alternate universe where dragons are common place. An ambitious young woman by the name of Vivian Featherswallow gets herself mixed up in matters that she doesn't truly understand. She makes some mistakes, finds love, and has to make the biggest decision of her life to save everyone. This book was gritty and emotional and dangerous and thought provoking. This is the deepest dragon centered book I have ever read. The conflict, world-building, and character-building was well executed, the mission and tone of the book was consistent from beginning to end, we opened with action and kept on rolling!
THE ENDING...ATLAS???...OMG! There has to be a second book on the horizon...I will definitely be on the look out for it.

This was everything I never knew I needed in a dragon book!

Thank you, Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and S.F. Williamson for the ARC of this amazing book. I am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily and without coercion.

I loved this book! The alternate history started with a very dystopian vibe, having strict class divisions in early 1900's Britain. The story begins fast and with full force, plunging you into a world rife with political tension and on the verge of war. The story quickly shifted to a war-time feel of attempting to build the enigma machine, with spies and a deep mystery to unravel. And all with a backdrop of impending death looming, while navigating interpersonal relations with a team that is also being forced to compete against one another ... or face death. It was all so intense and engaging. I couldn't put it down!

The writing was beautiful, the characters were complex and multi-faceted with intense backgrounds. And the importance of language and communication is woven throughout. Just an overall wonderful reading experience.