Thank you to NetGalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, an alternative history blended with fantasy. Very relevant to our societal struggles today, and it has dragons!

I love linguistics and this was a very interesting take on language, communication, it's development and acquisition.

The fmc was insufferable, but that's the point. She did go on a journey of redemption and made the right fixes in the end.

Overall an easy to read, intriguing story with some unexpected twists, high drama and dragons!

4.5 stars.

underwhelming. it really wants to be babel and manages the aspiration with absolutely no subtlety. i also think it splits the difference being YA a bit poorly. sorry

I had such high hopes for this book. The description, the title, the cover... I was so excited. Sadly, this fell really flat for me. It felt like a very busy book but at the same time nothing was really happening? I didn't gel with any of the characters so wasn't invested in what happened to them.
I did enjoy the premise and know there will be people who absolutely love this, that's just not me unfortunately. I felt I had to finish this because it was an eARC but I found it difficult to get through.

Wow. This book gripped me from beginning to end. Whilst being a heavily political story, it had sprinkles of romance and a huge dollop of fantasy which I adored. I am a lover of any dragon book and this was no exception. I was absolutely fascinated by learning how the language works and how integral it was to the plot of the book. I was on the edge of my seat, constantly hoping for a good ending and it did not disappoint. I loved the details within the language and I really felt like I was learning it alongside them.

Rated 4.75 stars

Rating: 4.5

An interesting debut fantasy novel, which strong YA vibes. Our main character is someone who has experienced early hardship, with many flaws that a teenager/young adult would experience, providing strong character development as she tries to find herself in the midst of everything that has happened and has yet to happen.

The world building is immense, with a well-thought-out class system and politics. Somehow, the co-existence of dragons and humans is completely well written, despite it being loosely based upon the 1920s. The more I delved into this delicately concocted world, I was drawn more and more into its darkest, deepest depths, where nothing is what it ever seems on the surface. It gave me vibes reminiscent of Babel or Blood Over Bright Haven, where a simple basic thing can connect to so many more matters without people realising.

A very interesting piece of work, I look forward to further pieces by S. F. Williamson.

4.5

I loved this book. The worldbulding. The plot. The characters. Their dynamics. I finished the ARC and went to buy a physical edition right away. I’m waiting for it to arrive to read it again. This political fantasy book is beautifully done. 100% would recommend it.

Thank you to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This had all the makings of a perfect YA fantasy. Dragons, politics, war and an unfair class system. The characters are so well developed. I fell in love with them all, and really enjoyed seeing where the story would take them.

This book is great if you’re looking for an easy intro to dark academia / fantasy / dragons or anything of the sort :)

A fabulous novel that had me gripped from the very first page. S. F Williamson's debut is richly written and celebrates the power and beauty of languages. The set-up is clever, with parallels to WWII, if not a little complex. I loved that the main character was both flawed and challenged and taken on a powerful internal journey. The world was gritty and the dragons were just magnificient. Unique in concept, this is a fabulous YA read with exceptional world-building and real, complex characters. The messages and themes regarding political propaganda, oppression and the danger of human ambition was clear to see.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Harper Collins/Harper Fire for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: child abuse, grief, death, violence, violence, war

London, 1923. In a world where dragons and humanity fought extensive wars before becoming allies, their allegiance to each other is fragile. For Vivian Featherswallow this is a distant problem- she is in the Second Class, will follow all the rules to advance herself and her family and never end up being demoted down to Third Class like her former friend. Dedicated to the study of dragon languages like her parents, Vivian knows her future and she will do anything to protect her little sister. However, when her parents are arrested as traitors and her life is destroyed, Vivian does a desperate thing: she frees an imprisoned dragon named Chumana, unintentionally starting a war between species. In exchange for a pardon for her and her parents, Vivian is forced to take a job at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker deciphering the languages of dragons. If she fails, everyone in her family will die. When her sister goes missing, and it becomes obvious that the dragons have been keeping secrets from humanity for decades, Vivian is forced to reconsider her entire world. She thought she was merely here to find a secret language but it’s much bigger than that- and Vivian has to choose which side she’s going to fight for.

This is such an original take on dragons and that’s definitely what drew me into it, other than the gorgeous cover. Viv starts out this book as naive but focused, determined not to see the terrible things happening around her, and I found her gradual understanding of the realities of her world super interesting. I loved that her ability to work with languages is so important and how her actions are often so unclear in their motivations. The worldbuilding is really well developed (if confusing when you first start the book) and I really liked the alternative history where dragons aided and fought in the First World War. Viv’s relationship with her family is the driving one of this book- especially her parents, who hid their behaviour and actions with terrible consequences, her cousin Marquis, who ends up at Bletchley Park too, and her little sister’s future- but I also enjoyed the relationships that she builds with her fellow codebreakers and her love interest, Atlas, who is dedicated to keeping his vow to become a priest. Her scenes with Chumana the dragon were some of the strongest, their alliance was so fun to read. She’s forced to face some awful realities and I think she became a better character for it by the end, but she had to lose a lot to be that person. I loved the role that languages and translation played in this book, it was original and different to have someone so driven by how language influences the world. The politics, the theme of accountability for the future and the tension were my favourite parts of this story, especially because everything feels so fraught due to the threat humans see in dragons, and I’m really hoping for a sequel.

A Language of Dragons is a debut novel that blends historical fantasy with political intrigue, set in an alternate 1923 London where humans and dragons coexist under a tenuous peace agreement. The main protagonist, Vivien Featherswallow, a linguist specialising in dragon tongues, becomes embroiled in a complex web of rebellion and codebreaking as she seeks to save her family and prevent war.
I loved the complex world building in this and became so engrossed in it that I found it quite hard to put it down. Enjoyed the setting of Bletchley Park, which cleverly tied in to fact and set the scene perfectly. Main character Vivien is flawed naturally and goes through a difficult time of personal growth throughout the plot and I was really rooting for her to heal and succeed in the task given to her by a duplicitous prime minister. The story brought several tears to my eyes at one point and I am very much hoping this is the first book but not the last as I definitely need to know what happens/happened to some characters. And did I mention - dragons!!!!

“A Language of Dragons” by S. F. Williamson is a young adult fantasy that analyses the importance of languages and culture and how translation can affect the meaning of words. But it is also a novel about freedom and revolution, rights and inequalities. The author did a magnificent job depicting the reality of a world filled with corruption and wrongdoings.

Vivian Featherswallow is the morally grey character par excellence. She’s a young girl who would do anything, sacrifice anyone to achieve her goal: become a renowned polyglot and get an internship studying dragon languages. A loop hangs over her head, the threat of becoming Third class is an ever-present fear that has led her to always be the best.
I loved how Williamson portrayed Viv: she remains faithful to her ideals until the very end, yet her growth is realistic and it doesn’t happen fast. Her character’s development made the plot even more appealing and interesting, I can’t wait to learn more about her!

Even the secondary characters, like Atlas, Sophie and Marquis were well-written and perfectly lifelike. I loved the relationships that bloomed between all of them and how they evolved throughout the story.

The writing style didn’t meet my expectations, I don’t usually like books written in first person and it affected the author’s prose. The descriptions didn’t let the reader grasp the settings and what surrounded the characters, making it two-dimensional.
“A Language of Dragons” is set in an uchronia during the first post-war. The world building focuses on the relation between dragons and humans and how society works. It was such an intriguing context, especially when the reasoning concerned linguistic concepts.

This novel can be easily described as dark academia and it embodies the very essence of “A Language of Dragons”. It isn’t set in a college or university, the background is quite different, but Viv’s research let the reader explore the depth of her knowledge and the accuracy with which the author described her study process.

All in all, “A Language of Dragons” is a compelling young adult perfect for fans of Babel by R.F. Kuang or A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid.

Politics. A Rebellion. War. A corrupt government. Class-system based society. Dragons.

I was a bit hesitant going into this book and I’m not sure why, but probably because of the Babel comparison and the dark academia part, which isn’t really my favourite or something I gravitate towards.

However, this book surprised me with its plot and writing and I very much enjoyed it! Didn’t expected to be so invested tbh.
The characters were great! The dragons (!!!) were great! Very much loved how they were depicted in an alternative 1920s London/UK setting.

As great as this book is, after all, it's YA. It's clear in the general tone of the book & the writing, Vivien’s (FMC) reasoning for her actions, her (limited) view of society, as well as in the actions of other characters.
I can see how some readers might find her annoying and maybe stubborn. I personally think she acted 100% according to her character & personality and had a nice development of such throughout the book. She got constantly challenged in her views by the majority of the characters, and dragons for that matter, and eventually came around.

Furthermore, I think the unsteady pacing made the romance, which was barely existing in the first half but then picked up in the second, feel a bit rushed and maybe not really consistent compared to the rest of the story.

Some things that I don’t really agree with in terms of marketing:
Is it academia? Yes. Vivien is a polyglot and language and linguistic are *her* thing and a big part of the book. But I wouldn’t consider this book to be dark academia.
The romance is a subplot, or maybe even a sub-subplot, and labeling this as ‘slow burn enemies-to-lovers’ is misleading in my opinion. Saying the romance is slow-burn is a (big) stretch. They are barely even rivals, which can’t be said about the relationship between Vivien and other characters, but they are definitely not enemies.

“A Language of Dragons” is a phenomenal debut and I am very excited for the sequel!

A Language of Dragons was absolutely incredible! From start to finish, I was completely hooked by the story. This book is a perfect blend of everything I love. The story takes place in England in the 1920s but with dragons!

The world-building was fantastic, and I loved how the author wove in references to key moments in history, such as World War II, the Enigma code, and the Welsh Not. The historical elements felt authentic and engaging, adding layers of depth to the story. The nods to these real-world events were subtle yet impactful, making the story feel grounded in a familiar history while still allowing the magical and fantastical elements to shine. The way dragons were incorporated into the narrative made sense within this historical context, and it added a sense of wonder that kept me turning the pages.

What really stood out to me, though, was how the book also tackled more serious and thought-provoking issues, especially for a YA novel. A Language of Dragons explores themes of morality, segregation, and political corruption, and I was genuinely impressed by how beautifully these topics were handled. The book didn’t shy away from complex issues, and the way it wove them into the narrative felt natural and meaningful. It never felt heavy-handed but instead invited reflection and discussion, which is not something you often see in YA fantasy. It was refreshing to see such deep, nuanced themes being explored while still maintaining an engaging, accessible story.

Overall, A Language of Dragons was a book that captivated me from beginning to end. Its combination of a rich historical setting, magical elements, and thought-provoking themes made it a standout read. I couldn’t put it down, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a YA fantasy that offers more than just the usual tropes. It’s a perfect blend of history, fantasy, and intellectual depth, and it left me eagerly wanting more.

Grazie a Netgalley per L’ARC del libro.

“a language of dragons” is a very good first installment in a series that has a lot of elements that I personally e joy, such as dark academia vibes, a distopic world (we are in a 20th century steampunk England) and, of course, dragons. Please forget dragon rider or Smaug: this dragons are not made for the human mind and the main danger in the book is the shadow of a incoming war between human and dragon that lives on a fragile peace. Vi is the main character and she study the dragon language, but her parents get arrested for being part of the rebels community: she now has a choice; help the evil prime minister in the discovery of dragon secrets or her family will die.
The pace was good and I liked that it was not uneccesary long! I found Vi a little bit tedious but in the end she was coherent to herself, while I found her cousing and Atlas great characters and the overall idea of the book a great combination of “Babel” with “Eragon” vibes, but in London in 1923.

‘A Language of Dragons’ by S.F Williamson is a freaking masterpiece! Dark(ish) academia meets Bletchley Park meets… dragons?

Vivian Featherswallow is a really interesting protagonist. She’s ambitious and knows what she wants - study dragon languages and be the youngest to do it. And then her parents are arrested for treason and her priorities shift. She ends up taking a ‘mysterious’ job and her life and the lives of her family are literally on the line!

In this world, dragons and humans live alongside each other in a London where humans are split into three classes and can never mix. I found the world building really powerful and so interesting so learn about the segregation at play.

And we have such diverse characters with really unique motivations. We meet some actual rebels and Viv’s world view is really challenged. She has a lot of tough decisions to make and unlike in so many books she actually really thinks about them.

This was just fun! (Apart from the ending, I’m not sure if I’ll ever forgive Williamson for that.) Relationships are done so well here. This is a must for fantasy, academia and dragon fans. It’s a love letter to languages and translating.

A Language of Dragons is an examination of classism, forgiveness, and the sanctity of language. It’s messaging, while a little heavy handed at times for my liking, would suit it’s intended YA audience perfectly, and is wrapped up well in an intriguing and engaging plot, full of dragons, balls, murder attempts and rebel alliances.

**“People shouldn't fear their prime ministers, Vivien. Prime ministers should fear their people.”**

We join Vivian Featherswallow as she quickly pivots in the early chapters from having potential to earn an internship studying dragon tongues, to having potential to earn a death sentence for releasing a criminal dragon and starting a civil war. In an attempt to save herself and her family, Viv accepts an offer from the Prime Minister to join the war effort, and work at Bletchley Park on a mysterious ‘codebreaking’ job. As she works on translating the secret dragon language and learns more about the class system which has afforded her and her family privilege, Viv slowly starts questioning whether she is in fact on the right side of history.

**”Living between four walls doesn't mean you're warm or fed,' Sophie says. 'Going to school doesn't mean you learn.”**

The plotting in this was pretty good. I was kept engaged and on my toes, with many of the twists really feeling like surprises. I was also intrigued in the concepts of the echolocation, understanding the class system and political landscape, and learning about the different kinds of dragons. The concept, world and plot all in all felt strong and unique.

**Every act of translation requires sacrifice - it is the harsh truth that made me fall in love. There exists no direct correlation between the words of one language and another, and no translation can be entirely faithful to its original. So, 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.**

In terms of themes explored, important topics were handled extensively and sensitively, if a little heavy handed at times. I’ve seen A Language of Dragons comped to Babel a lot and the discussions around the nature of translation and conveying emotion through communication highlighted the root of those comparisons. I’ve also seen this book paired alongside Fourth Wing though, and while yeah, there’s dragons, and a war, in themes and tone this felt more like a Hunger Games relative to me. It was a group of young adults thrust together from different classes by adults with political standing, who ultimately have to decide whether to fight amongst themselves or come together and take a stand. Tell me that’s not the Hunger Games…

The biggest area where this fell flat for me was the characters, and their relationships. The characters, while relatively well developed, were not likeable. Viv was annoying and whiny, taking no accountability for her actions. Her views were massively flawed, and while I understand that you’re *meant* to disagree with her and learn from that, when it’s the protagonist and you’re meant to be rooting for them, it makes it hard to connect with the character.

**And it's only now, when the study of dragon tongues in being banned for the Second Class, for people like me, that I care.**

I also wasn’t a fan of the relationships. The romance was marketed as slow burn, enemies to lovers and it was literally the furthest thing from that. I saw no connection between the two, they barely interacted before it was full cringe, and the conflict between them escalated out of nowhere and was resolved just as quickly. Other relationships within the story seemed more realistic and believable, such as between Viv and her estranged bestie Sophie, but they weren’t given enough space to make a real impact.

Overall I had a decent time with this. I can recognise that I’m not the intended audience, and a YA reader may not have the same feelings that I did about the characters or relationships, so for that reason I’d still recommend it to younger folks in my life, especially because of how well it handles some important personal and political themes. If a sequel to Language of Dragons is published, the world and plot could be enough to tempt me back in to find out where the story goes…

This book was absolutely amazing!
This book has a very interesting setting and worldbuilding. Historical fiction and fantasy are well balanced and the story was exciting throughout.
I think the definition “Fourth wing meets babel” applies pretty well to this book. It combines the interesting dragons from Fourth Wing with a political, linguistic theme from Babel.

My highlight: a pink dragon!

I was very intrigued by the idea of code breakers based at Bletchley Park ( I live not far away) who are facing not enemies we typically associate with it but instead it’s Dragons ! Well maybe that’s not quite correct as our young protagonist Viv lives in a society that is harshly divided and this book is very much about her experiences as she comes to terms with not only her own inadequacies and failures but also just what should be done to save so many from poverty and war !
This reads very much as YA with just a smidge of emotion and romance . The young characters are pretty much put in a no win situation but Viv stumbles on something that could without a doubt be catastrophic but I liked her dedication and belief that linguistics could be the answer. I think the society and the way it is set up with three classes perhaps didn’t completely always make sense but applaud the author for originality . This could possibly appeal for those who enjoy a mixture of Naomi Novak and JK Rowling perhaps with its Dragons and the idea of teenagers trying to save the world .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

A Language of Dragons is an absolute rollercoaster of a read! The world-building is so immersive and beautifully crafted that I could almost feel the dragons soaring above London. The political intrigue, the corrupt government, and the dynamic between humans and dragons had me hooked from the first page. Vivian's character, though at times a bit frustrating, is still incredibly compelling, and the romance is just the right amount of sweet and raw. I loved every second of it (even if I wished it was longer)! If you're a fan of historical fantasy with a dragon twist, this one's for you.

This book interested me because it had so many aspects that I enjoyed reading; dark academia, alternate history, romantic elements, and dragons! Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I was looking for, though I still found it entertaining. It had plenty of action in parts, and the concept of dragons in the alt-history setting and focus on linguistics was really interesting. Overall, if you enjoy dragon books and alao enjoyed Babel, I could see this being a nook for you.