A stunning debut novel! The premise of an alternate historical fiction set at Bletchley Park in the 1920 with dragons is a unique concept and worked well. These aren't just beasts that wreck havoc either, but dragons that speak, are of high intellect and at one point lived among of humans as equals. However, due to peace agreements, they've been treated as less than equal and the humans divided themselves into economic statuses that inhibit true progress or equality. This has caused a rebellion to stir, and when our female main character's parents are arrested as traitors, Viv makes a desperate move to protect them that lands her in a world of trouble and forced to aid the prime minister in a negotiation to dismiss the charges against them all and free her family to resume as they lived before. In the process however, Viv discovers not all is as perfect as it once seemed and questions the type of life she really wants to return to. Through new friendships, old friendships and a new love interest Viv finds herself questioning everything she once knew. I particularly enjoyed the linguist elements in the book. Some revelations were a bit hyped while others left you emotionally wrecked. The romance was sweet, but I hard a difficult time being convinced the feelings were as strong as we are meant to believe. The dragons were phenomenal and worldbuilding of their history and how they played a part in this world was intriguing. I only wish Viv didn't flip flop as much as she did even as truths were uncovered. She was a little flimsy and hard to root for at times, but showed a really good character arc for growth,

This was one of those rare books where I made it over halfway through and then DNFed at 53%. This was not something I saw coming at the very beginning; for the first 20% of the book, I was sure that it was going to be a four-star for me. It had great pacing, a unique plot, and a sassy pink dragon. What more could I want?

Unfortunately, by 50%, a lot of that had started to fall apart. The FMC, who started the book as a compelling but ignorant character, was becoming more and more of a naive, immature brat. I appreciate the author's note explaining that this was intentional; however, it became so much of a theme that it really detracted from the plot of the book.

I was also surprised to see that this was being marketed as a YA romance. I would argue that the characters and the romance began to feel progressively less mature as the book went on. By 50%, I felt as though the characters were more middle school-aged than the nearly college-age they felt like at the beginning.

All I gotta say is: WHEN IS BOOK 2 COMING?

Everything about this book is what I love in a fantasy series. Academic setting? Check. Complex characters? Check. DRAGONS? SASSY DRAGONS? check. Dystopian society with a evil ruler...wait that's just our modern society.

The main female characters motivation is relatable to me, and I really appreciate the fact that she makes bad decisions and has annoying moments. As an annoying academic validation craved older sister, I can relate.

I loved the cast of characters in this. I do have to say that I am not a fan of Ralph's character (shocker?) but it's like the writer couldn't decide if he loved the FMC or hated her, wanted to sleep with her or whatever. That's fine, I think we are suppose to be confused by him, but it was why this is 4 stars instead of 2.

Also, Atlas. If I had a dollar for every time I fell in love with a male character named Atlas, I'd probably be rich.

Thank you for Net Galley for allowing me to access this ARC before its release, and to FairyLoot for including it in their Dec YA book subscription. Unlike many fantasy readers, I have never been a fan of dragons in fantasy books.. I think I just changed my mind. This book was so exciting to read, the plot was very much political oriented, and it made it that much more interesting. Viv is a 17-year living in London with her parents and her little sister. Her goal in life is the attend the University of London and to become a translator in draconic languages (she speaks several dragon languages, which is pretty unheard of in 1920s London). Her parents are educated people who have always pushed her to be her best academically. One evening, they received the Head of the Linguistics in their home in the hopes of locking an apprenticeship for Viv. The visit turns into a disaster, and both of Viv's parents are arrested. Viv goes rogue and forgets about civility and goes to greats lengths to save her parents. Little does she knows, her acts are about to trigger and national war.. Being a fan of linguistics myself, I devoured the book; I could relate with a lot of insight the author was sharing with the us. I also very much enjoyed meeting all the side characters (my favorite being Marquis and <3 Atlas<3 )
From what I understand, there is going to be a sequel. I am definitely going to follow this series (or duology) and will re-read ALOD because I am sure this book is even better upon re-read (I will be looking closely at all the foreshadowing).

A Language of Dragons was an absolute delight from the first page. A complex mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and fantasy that blended the emotion and beautiful prose of Divine Rivals with the political turmoil of Divergent.

I was distraught when I reached the last page until I discovered there is a sequel coming in January 2026. I was not ready to leave this rich and immersive world and cannot wait for the story to continue!

YA 🫑

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the early reader copy!

As a reader of history, I have never been a fan of the injustice of the Class System. I was immediately rooting for ‘the rebels’. What politics is this PM all about? Who is Vivian going to support? Does she see that she has options?

Once at Bletchley Park this team of young adults are put to work studying dragons. They are split into three teams. Vivian is assigned to dragon linguistics. Initially she is only concerned with pleasing the Prime Minister so she can save her family and keep her second class status. Things turn tense at the mansion and soon she is shockingly aware that her life is what is in danger.

A Language of Dragons starts at a good pace. The mystery was slowly unveiled, with more unexpected connections. People, dragons, places and events were described in great detail but not so much as to weigh down the writing.

Emotionally, I was right there with the characters in the middle of their political / legal messes. I experienced a mix of grief and outrage, followed by a proudness at their courage and camaraderie. Thou they are pressured with this enormous task of breaking the dragon language code and staying alive there was time for personal growth and even a little romance.

Reading this has inspired me to read other retellings of events in history.
I recommend this to book to both teens and adults who enjoy a fantasy version of history with a mix of politics, intrigue and action.

I am grateful for this ARC provided to me via NetGalley.All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Language of Dragons was surprisingly full of politics and subterfuge for a YA novel.

The world was rich and vivid, and I would love to see more stories in this world - I enjoyed the interplay of the human and dragon politics, and the consideration of how they affected one another.
The main character was immature in some ways, which makes perfect sense for a child of her age and station, and her interactions with the other characters she encounters at Bletchley felt realistic and well considered.

I loved the way languages and translation were woven through the book, and the idea of the different kinds of dragon languages.

Overall, I enjoyed A Language of Dragons and would read more from this author in the future.

An action-packed YA fantasy about Vivien Featherswallow, a teen girl who would do absolutely anything to save those she loves. Set in an alternate 1920s England where humans and dragons must find a way to co-exist, Vivien learns she’s been lied to by society her whole life. There’s so much going on in this book, and if you subtract the fantastical elements you’re left with parallels to history and reality. Lots of focus on linguistics, politics, and war. The protagonist is a bit unlikeable at the start, but it’s hard to blame her for being the naïve rule follower she was raised to be, and she improves once her eyes are opened to the oppression of the lower classes. The best characters, as usual, are the dragons.

I enjoyed this and plan to continue the series when the next book is published.

4.25 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This was a total 5 stars for me, it was so impactful and welldone (and a debut!) I was blown away by the story and its depth.

“People shouldn’t fear their prime ministers. Prime ministers should fear their people.”

The story itself gives 1984, Ray Bradbury and V for Vendetta type vibes but with dragons and dark academia style aesthetic - which I *loved*. This novel does get graphic and deal with dark themes, so please check the trigger warnings before engaging! However, the plot of this novel was very much in line with the quote above - discovering the corruption and reality of the world/government etc but in a YA setting with dragons. Which, honestly, may be the best way to learn or read about this type of trope, as someone who is completely enamored with Dragons. The story also moved quickly and ruthlessly, there were surprises around every corner and suspense that had me reading past my bedtime.

The atmosphere was absolutely suspenseful for most of the story, with a dark academia/military school vibe. We had intrigue, secrets, and a lot of mystery. The novel had so many layers and so much depth & the set up of the atmosphere and emotion was a big part of that.

The growth of our FMC, Vivian, is evident as our story progresses. She has come into the story with a certain lens and functionality of how her world works, and it becomes shattered over the events that quickly happen in the beginning of the story. This is one of those very poignant coming of age tropes when you realize that the world is not what it seems or how it’s been shown to you as - it’s powerfully done within this story. Another of my favorite characters is Atlas, who I was skeptical of at the beginning but really ended up loving, and of course Magnus is another character I absolutely loved in this novel. The “villains” in this novel are not *so* obvious and not even so villainous, but desperate people we all have known and maybe even been at some point. We also had romances in this novel that I really enjoyed and that really lended themselves well with the plot - nothing gratuitous.

The writing is so well done that I am curious if this is really SF Williamson’s debut novel? The powerful themes interwoven into a YA novel with dragons is supreme and an author I will now be watching out for as more books are released.

I truly really enjoyed this novel and this may end up being one of my favorite novels of 2025. Highly recommend this to both adult and young adult fantasy lovers!

I love how young adult books are filled with such detail and imagery. You immediately feel part of Viv's story and find yourself reading as if you are handling the challenges she faces. Viv is young, not wealthy and hopeful for her future and/or what she can accomplish. While naive she is also wise and observant. I enjoyed watching her navigate each situation she faced. The book pacing was perfect for keeping my attention. Definitely can see why any are doing special editions of this book. But also... dragons! I mean is there anything better?! Nope!

S.F. Williamson's A Language of Dragons is loosely inspired by the events of the codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II, with a fantasy twist, where instead of breaking the German code, a group of teenagers must learn the secret language of dragons. S. F. Williamson was inspired by her work as a literary translator. The story mixes dragons with politics and action with linguistic studies and academia. A Language of Dragons is a love letter to dialects, language, and how something is always lost in translation.

Early twentieth-century England is rendered unflinchingly, with reflections on the arbitrary distinctions between classes—as Viv goes from risking it all to avoid falling into Third Class to realizing that the whole system must be torn down. London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies, and protests erupt on the streets, but 17-year-old Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class.

Except Viv is not a good person. She's selfish. She lets a boy intentionally feel her up to enhance her goals of not falling into Third Class, and she betrays her best friend Sophie to pass an examination that determines her class status and future as a dragonic translator. Now, that former best friend is missing. After her parents and her cousin Marquis are arrested for being suspected rebels and conspiring with the dragons. She is intent on keeping her little sister Ursa safe and freeing her family, no matter the cost. Viv intentionally releases a chained dragon named Chumana, which destroys the peace treaty between humans and dragons.

After meeting with the villainous Prime Minister Wyvernmire, she receives a lifeline in the form of a job offer; she seizes it. Living at Bletchley Park, she soon discovers that she is recruited as a codebreaker aiding in the war effort. If she succeeds, her family goes home; if she fails, they die, and her sister disappears. Initially, she believes that uncovering the hidden dragon language is achievable, but the more she learns, the more she realizes nothing is as it seems. Viv's attraction to Atlas, the rakish young priest in training from Third Class, sparks a forbidden and morally fraught romance, intertwined with the fantastical war, perfect for romantasy readers.

As the dragons rise and Viv is swept into a war she knows little about, she quickly learns that no one can be trusted—not even her own family who may have unlocked a key secret they've tried to reveal, only to be destroyed by powerful politicians. As Viv discovers the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it.

*Conclusion* Here is the reason for my rating: Perhaps is was my misunderstanding, but I thought this was a standalone novel. However, the ending leaves questions, and no answers as to what happens next. It would benefit the author to write a sequel to this novel so that the answers left behind could be wrapped up. As I said, Viv is not a nice person until she opens her eyes. She's insufferable most of the time. It's really hard to root for a self-centered, ignorant, absolutely blind character; literally, most characters all but yell at her about the pain and suffering that goes on in the world, and she couldn't care less about anyone else but herself and her family. The ending is also very emotional. I would also say this leans more towards the upper YA genre due to some gory and violent scenes in the book.

A promising start with room to soar

S.F. Williamson's "A Language of Dragons" presents a fascinating premise: a world where dragons and humans coexist, and language itself holds the key to understanding and peace. The world-building is imaginative, blending historical London with fantastical elements.

The characters, particularly Vivien, are intriguing, and the exploration of dragon languages and their impact on society is thought-provoking. However, the plot occasionally felt a bit predictable, and the pacing could have been more consistent.

As someone who works with languages myself, I found the concepts presented here fascinating if a bit uneven. “Every act of translation requires sacrifice” does to some degree strike me as true but the idea that “There exists no direct correlation between the words of one language and another, and no translation can be entirely faithful to its original” feels somewhat (perhaps reasonably as this is fiction?) dramatic.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "A Language of Dragons" shows real promise, especially as a debut novel. Williamson has crafted a unique and captivating world, and I'm eager to see what she does next.

4.5 ★

“When you oppress a community for centuries you can’t exactly be surprised when it rises up against you.”

In 1923 London, where dragons soar and tensions rise, Vivian Featherswallow dreams of a safe, stable life, but her world crumbles when her parents are arrested and her sister goes missing. Desperate, she accepts a mysterious job at Bletchley Park, tasked with decoding a secret dragon language to aid the war effort. As she uncovers hidden truths and faces impossible choices, Vivian realizes the stakes are far greater than she imagined, and her fight for survival could change everything.

This book is an exceptional start to the series, with a compelling depiction of government corruption that added layers of intrigue. The dragon language was impressively developed. The themes evoked the complexity of Blood Over Bright Haven and the political tension of The Hunger Games—two books I deeply admire. While the narrative occasionally felt YA due to the dialogue and Vivian’s introspection revealing the characters’ ages, it didn’t detract from the overall impact of the story.

I believe this is a book that adult fantasy readers will appreciate just as much as YA fans. I can’t wait for the sequel, to see where the story goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love dragons, not as mindless beasts, but as creatures of beauty and awe, of magic and wonder. Imagine dragons all over the world all speaking their own languages. Imagine learning to speak them. What a world! But not that simple. People and dragons are all governed by an agreement, one that creates a strict class system for both humans and dragons. And one girl is about to get a really deep look at what lies beyond the curtin and have to ask herself just how wrong right has to go before right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right. It is a wild ride, and one I look forward to reading more of, if, in fact, there is a sequel like the end sets up. I definitely recommend this book. I got hooked early and was kept entertained the whole way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: 4 Stars!

Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

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

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

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

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

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

I can’t wait to read the next one!

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this book!