A Language of Dragons starts with a note from the author, which I found very valuable to set the stage for the characters and to use that lens while reading. I found Vivien challenging at the beginning, but I understood her motivations. While I didn't approve of her decisions, I think they were important to illustrate her as a character, and important for the story as a while. S. F. Williamson creates an intriguing world, and weaves the story in a way where it's easy to read and I wanted to keep going to see how the characters interacted and moved throughout the world.

I’d like to begin with the warning that I would not classify this book to be under dark academia, nor slow-burn enemies to lovers. Yes, our main character spends a great deal of time within a school-like setting, but it is not dark academia - in fact, a good portion of this book is barely focused on the academia portion at all. Instead, we spend a great deal of time with our main character trying to decide between her morals and her family, with the work she is doing taking a much-more backseat to the story. As well, her romantic lead and her fairly quickly move to involving themselves with one another, and the closest we get to ‘enemies’ is them having different backgrounds and occasionally disagreeing with them. They are never actually enemies, and the only way I could see this as being “slow-burn” is if you include the fact that they don’t have sex and barely kiss within this novel, which is not what that word means. I feel like this description might have been written by someone who has not read this book, so I would recommend looking elsewhere if that is the only thing about this book that caught your interest as you will be sorely disappointed.

I have not read Fourth Wing, so I can’t speak on any comparisons people have made with that book and this one. I have, however, read Babel and can say I can see where the comparisons come from, but I would say that Babel focuses much more on the actual language/magic learning in the academic setting, while this one has it much more as a background activity to the rest of the novel. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as I found some of the focus on the language in Babel to bog me down a bit, but I do think this book would have benefited from focusing more on the main character being a polyglot - in both human and dragon languages. We are only given a few words in this book that aren’t in English, even during sections where she is not speaking in English, and at times I found it difficult to pick up what language she was speaking until the text explicitly states it. Considering she only speaks to her mother in Bulgarian, and typically switches languages in the middle when speaking with dragons, I think having a bit more focus - and possibly a few words/language learned - would have benefited this story. As it is, there is no difference between this main character being a polyglot and someone who only speaks one language. The closest we get to Robin Swift’s dilemma in Babel about what language he thinks/breathes in, which one is his “first” and “second” language - is at the very beginning where she wakes up thinking of a word in a dragon language that she can’t immediately translate. Otherwise she seems to have no issues speaking over 6 languages and never flubs her words, or mixes up words from the wrong language, which I found to be a bit unrealistic.

It also takes Vivian significantly longer than Robin Swift in Babel to actually choose her morals (about 70% into the book), and yet somehow she was able to make friends and acquaintances have faith in her and trust her with secrets that could get them executed. Her main romantic lead even states that he had faith in her the entire time, despite her telling him over and over again that she would choose her family over the rest of the country. Every single time you thought Vivian was going to (finally) make a decision on who to choose, she’d waffle about it and then choose both and neither at the same time. It got tedious after a while, and I’ll be honest I was almost hoping she’d decide to betray everyone around her to get what she wanted as it would have at least made her character more interesting. Instead, she is allowed to constantly make bad decisions that hurt those around her, but is then forgiven for them anyway.
For instance, in the past Vivian had done something that had ruined her former friends life - but when it comes out, it doesn’t take that friend too long to forgive her actions. It also annoyed me that Vivian’s apology kind of felt like she tried to guilt Sophie into forgiving her, by constantly going, “It’s okay if you don’t forgive me, I wouldn't either.” But then she ruins it by finishing with saying that she’d find a way to forgive herself for those actions - apologizing but then telling that person that you’d forgive yourself for hurting them? Surprised Sophie didn't deck you for that one, girl.

Finally, I felt like this book went a bit too far with the implication that every dragon from Bulgaria was a human-hunting evil monster, despite the fact that the main dragon character was Bulgarian and had severe guilt over her actions in the past. Not to mention that we find out that a lot of those previous evil actions were actually orchestrated by a human government who used the feelings of betrayal of those dragons to manipulate them into doing such violence. It doesn’t absolve it, but it does make it seem a bit suspicious that even after finding this out, our main character still sees Bulgarian dragons as untrustworthy. Vivian even explicitly states that, “Bulgarian dragons don’t ally with humans,” despite working with one this entire time.

Overall, I did feel like this book was a strong debut and did fairly well with the issues brought up in this novel, and I am interested in seeing what comes next. If you like political intrigue, betrayals and secret identities, and dragons (although, much less involved than you’d expect given the title), I would recommend picking up this book and seeing for yourself.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for providing this e-ARC.

The world is on the verge of war and there are dragons! Seriously think WWII with Dragons!!! There is political turmoil, foreign influence, seriously intense academia, and some amazing characters. This should be high on everyone’s TBR.

# A Language of Dragons
# 11/16/2024 ~ 11/27/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

5/5 stars

(Mild spoilers ahead!)

I went into A Language of Dragons having completely forgotten any of the (thankfully) vague premise besides "linguistics" and "dragons," and I'm deeply grateful. I had no high expectations and no comp titles to pit it against until I was already a quarter of the way in.

This book satisfied my craving for something in a similar political wheelhouse to Hunger Games, though not just because "there's a rebellion against a corrupt government." It was refreshing to see protagonist Vivien as imperfect and self-serving, caring only for herself and her family, even at the cost of others, and eventually suffer a crisis of self over it. Viv's POV might have annoyed me if the author hadn't done such an excellent job of undertoning Viv's desperation to cling to the one thing she still holds to be true after her entire world view has already been shattered: the necessity of the Peace Agreement between humans and dragons.

There weren't any moments I felt bored reading, or wanted to rush to get through to the next chapter. However, I wasn't heavily invested in the romantic subplot — mainly because the story elements and worldbuilding were so excellent that I genuinely didn't expect any romance at all! By the time a relationship had formed between Viv and her love interest Atlas, I was almost surprised, having been distracted by the history and politics of this alternate world.

I'm deeply grateful that the romance didn't overshadow Viv's character arc; Viv never forgot that her family was depending on her success, and the reason she convinced herself to take what actions she did.

The highest praise I can give is that this book reminded me why I love reading so much. Every time I picked the story back up, I was immediately sucked in again, desperate to see how the story would unfold.

I highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free digital ARC for my honest review!

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book snagged my attention right from the start. A oppressive government enforcing a corrupt tiered class system that simultaneously persecutes Dragon rights mixed with the academia of languages is such a compelling plot line.

The FMC, Viv, is raised middle class and strives to make it in academia and keep her proud class status. While I understood the need to allow for character development and growth I did find Viv quite frustrating to follow and root for. She refused to open up her perspective on life and kept making the same stubborn and narrow minded choices over and over again until almost every one she cared about was risking their life and she was left alone on her path.

I appreciated the world building of the first world war leading into the truth behind a civil rebellion and connecting it to the uprising occurring in the current timeline. I felt by the end of the book I truly understood the rebellion as well as the nature of the Dragons fighting on both sides. I very much am looking forward to seeing this series develop and learning more about the nature and alliance between Dragons and humans.

DNF

I wanted to like this so bad but really couldn't get over how annoying the FMC was. She wasn't likeable and even the little suspicions we get about her character super early on, it's known that she's done some fairly unforgivable things. I think the world is super cool and I enjoyed the writing. I suspect that if this book was written in anyone else's POV I would have gotten much further into the book and would have enjoyed it a lot more.

I do think that this is a good book for people that like reading about unlikable main characters and prefer darker shades of gray to their MCs; unfortunately that's just not for me.

I was given this ARC from NetGalley. I had no idea what this book was about but seeing dragons on the cover I dived in. This book is one of my favorite books this year! It was absolutely incredible!! I can’t wait for it to come out in paperback so I can ready it again !! If you love dragons, dark academia, war, language and politics you will love this book!

*Living in the world of dragons feels as extraordinary as it sounds.*

Told from the perspective of Maren, a young linguist with an unshakable curiosity, *A Language of Dragons* swept me into a world where words hold immense power—especially the words of dragons. Maren's voice is equal parts clever and uncertain, making her journey feel personal and captivating as she uncovers a hidden language that could reshape everything she thought she knew about her world.

The dragons themselves are as much characters as the humans in the story. They’re majestic and complex, speaking in a way that feels both ancient and deeply thoughtful. I loved how Williamson brought them to life—not just as mythical creatures but as beings with their own culture, motives, and mysteries.

The pacing does stumble in places, with some sections dwelling a bit too long on Maren’s internal struggles, but it pays off in the emotional depth it adds to her arc. The supporting cast is a mixed bag—some characters shine brightly, adding layers of warmth or tension, while others fade a little too easily into the background.

But what truly stands out is the theme of communication—how language bridges divides, uncovers secrets, and forges connections. It’s a beautifully crafted story that leaves you wondering what you’d say if given the chance to speak with a dragon. Fans of imaginative worlds and thought-provoking tales will find much to admire here.

I need more from this author. Much, much, more.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an incredibly well written book. I loved every single minute of this book and could not put it down.

“A Language of Dragons” was a very well thought out and planned book as far as character development and world building. I would hope that there is a second book coming. I loved our FMC characters development throughout the book. There is a huge motive of finding yourself through her that you get to know.

Overall S.F. Williamson did an amazing job on the development and portrayal of this book I cannot wait to read what is next.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved A Language of Dragons. I loved the alternate world where humans and dragons can communicate and live together-so interesting. This book was exciting, fast paced and thrilling. The struggles of the main character were believable and well developed. This book made me have all the emotions-anger, terrified, hope, frustration, and love. I am looking forward to more in this world.

I thought the whole dragon languages studies and echolocation was fascinating. Also liked that the dragons were basically their "own people" with their own forms of communication and their own governments and choose their own fights.
The world building was great and I loved that nod to Bletchley park as the location for spy networking!
The story had some good twists, some great side characters and intense moments.
The biggest problem I had with it though....was the fact that I couldn't stand the MC 😅
Vivian was a selfish, self righteous, and judgemental girl. Even when PROVEN wrong she'd be in denial to keep excusing her behavior. She said she "had no choice" and that she had to for "her family", but her own family choose to fight for what's right. I doubt they'd be very happen with her decisions. She could care less if whole races or species died so long as she had HER family. Time and time again she made the wrong choices.....through 81% of the book.
She did eventually have a change of heart but by then.....I just didnt care for her.
I do admit that once she was on bored, the battles and strategies got better and she did try to make things right. Maybe she'll grow on me in book 2, but still on the fence about her right now.
Rest of the book was good👍
Too bad it was mostly about Viv tho, or I would have rated higher 😅

Overall the book was good. I would have liked more depth and descriptions and time. Everything seemed to happen quickly and it didn't give me enough to fall in with the characters.

"A Language of Dragons" by S.F. Williamson is a story of adventure, of family, of loss, and of self discovery. Set in fantasy world in 1920 London, the story follows the path of Vivian Featherswallow as she tries to bring her war torn family back together. The story is reminiscent of the Hunger Games in the way that its political system is set up and the consequences the youth face for failure. It also has elements of the Divergent series, as it is set in an academy with very strict factions. However, the similarities stop there. The story uniquely develops based on Violet's ability to speak many languages, included those of dragons.

I would classify the genre as dark academia fantasy and recommend to fans of Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Lord of the Flies, and others. It is filled with philosophical themes, twists and turns, games and trials, betrayals and secret identities. To top it all off, there is a wonderful love story that burns in all the best ways.

Bravo on a wonderful debut!

3.5 Stars

I was thoroughly captivated by A Language of Dragons, a unique and sweeping tale set in an alternate 1923 London where dragons and humans teeter on the edge of war. Williamson delivers a stunning world where political intrigue, class struggles, and forbidden romance are all interwoven around a young girl's fateful decision that shatters a fragile peace.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the representation of a corrupt government. The tension between the dragon and human factions, and the manipulation at the highest levels, creates a palpable sense of danger and conspiracy. Vivien Featherswallow is thrust into the heart of it all, and her journey is nothing short of riveting. The political intrigue is killer, and I loved how Williamson expertly navigates Viv’s descent into a dangerous world where loyalty is uncertain, and betrayal is lurking around every corner.

The worldbuilding in A Language of Dragons is rich and immersive. From the intricacies of dragon language to the social divides between the classes, the setting feels alive and detailed. Bletchley Park, where Viv is sent to break codes, is a perfect backdrop for the tension and mystery. I was also drawn to the way the story blends dragons, language, and codebreaking—it’s a unique concept that was executed beautifully.

That being said, I did feel that the pacing dragged a bit in the middle. While the buildup is intense and the stakes are high, there were moments where the plot seemed to slow down, making it a bit harder to stay fully engaged. However, this didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

In the end, A Language of Dragons is an exciting and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend for fans of intricate worldbuilding, political tension, and compelling characters. I can’t wait to see where Viv's journey takes her next!

Viv is insufferable and at every turn I wanted to grab her and shake her and scream at her to just listen to reason. She spent the entire book whining about how much of a terrible person she was and it grated on my nerves.

The book opened up with some strong nods to Babel and A Natural History of Dragons, but I felt like those comparisons did the book a disservice. Especially without the heart and likability of the main characters.

That said, I found the premise to be really cool and I enjoyed the linguistic pieces to it.

From a storytelling and plot perspective this was a solid 3.5/5. From a “did I enjoy it” perspective I’d give it a 2-2.5.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars

I really enjoyed the magic and story background for this book. It was really different and interesting. The class system was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the different dragons.

Viv was a very frustrating MC. She didn’t think things through logically and instead was like I don’t care about anything but my own interests. Which made it really hard to root for her. On top of that she didn’t really have much empathy for others. She literally made a decision that ruined her friend’s life and she was ready to do it again.

Overall I enjoyed the premise and story building of this book. The main character had a few flaws in my opinion but overall it was interesting.

This book completely caught me off guard in the best way. The concept of an alternate 1920s London where dragons and humans coexist felt fresh and full of potential, and I was impressed by how well the author integrated linguistics into the story. Vivien’s goal of becoming a Draconic Translator added a unique spin that I haven’t seen before, and it really gave the book a distinctive edge.

One of the most intriguing parts of the story was how it wove intellectual challenges like language and translation into a narrative full of political intrigue and personal stakes. Vivien is a compelling protagonist, navigating a complex world that often feels just a little out of reach for her—a tension that drives much of the book.

That said, I did find the pacing a bit uneven. The story starts strong but slows down in the middle, and while the dragons are definitely a highlight, I wish they’d appeared more prominently earlier in the book. Still, when they do enter the scene, they bring so much energy and wonder that it’s worth the wait.

This is a great pick for readers who enjoy intelligent fantasy with layers of complexity. It combines a love of language, history, and magic in a way that feels thoughtful and rewarding. If you’re looking for something unique, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

This was a great YA read. It reminded me of a Hunger Games and Fourth Wing mash up. It was quick paced in the beginning, hit a lull for a few chapters in the middle and then had a great paced ending. Thank you for the ARC, it was greatly enjoyed!

This reminds me of Babel by RF Kuang, but in a fresh, clever way that had me intrigued right from the first page. I originally picked it up becauase of the current craze for dragons, expecting something easy to read and something that wouldn't need me to think terribly much, but oh my god I'm so happy I was wrong. Books like these should be mandatory learning just because of how thought provoking they are, especially in our current political climate where people are hunted for being different. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for more of the authors books!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars of out 5 stars

Summary of the plot:
Vivien Featherswallow is a Second Class citizen and is training to become a dragon translator. Everything is all good for her until one night, her parents and uncle are arrested for being rebels with the dragons. In order to free her family, she releases a captured dragon to destroy the evidence incriminating them of treason. As a result, a peace treaty between humans and dragons are broken, so Viv is recruited, with a bunch of other misfits, to resolve the issue. If she can crack the dragons' code, her family gets freed.

Thoughts on the book:

1. Overall, I thought this was a decent read. It was interesting to see how linguistics played a huge role in this story and I loved seeing how the author explained the nuances of language. For example, even when you translate one word to another, there is some meaning still lost, some emotion that isn't translated. I wouldn't say this is as well written as Babel by K. F. Huang, but it's a toned down version of it.
2. Not going to lie, I thought all the characters were pretty boring and all sounded the same to me. In my opinion, none of them had personalities that separated them from another.
3. Some plot points felt really convenient, unnecessary, or cheesy. (For example: pitting everyone against each other by only allowing one person from each team to go home if they crack the code/are most helpful. Everyone else goes back to living as a Third-Class citizens. Which... if you're in a war, I would like to think teamwork is the best way?)
4. Not a huge fan of the romance. It felt a little forced to me. And enemies-to-lovers where? They weren't even enemies.
5. I do like how Viv learns that the world isn't as black and white as it seems. She is very ignorant about how the world works in the beginning, but then slowly (too slowly?) learns that everything has gray zones.

There are probably other things that I missed, but those are my high level points.