Trigger Warnings: death, war, physical assault, violence, classicism, sexism

In London 1923, dragons begin soaring through the skies and chaos has erupted. Vivian Featherswallow isn’t worried though, she’s going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to worry about dropping down to Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

With her parents arrested and her little sister missing, everything Viv has worked for is crumbling. So when a mysterious “job” is offered to her, Viv takes it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, she finds out her mysterious job is codebreaking to help in the war effort. If she succeeds, her family can be whole and safe again. If she doesn’t, they all die.

But, the more Viv learns while codebreaking, the more she realizes what she grew up believing isn’t as safe as it seems. Eventually she must decide if the side of the war she’s working for is the one she really wants to fight.

I really enjoyed the linguist aspect of this novel and the amount of world building Williamson did with it. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Viv, but she is a morally gray character at times, so that makes sense. I did appreciate her growth throughout the series though.

I originally wanted this because of the dragons, and that part definitely did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the fast pace of the plot and the high stakes of Viv’s (and everyone at Bletchley Park) situations. It kept me turning the pages to find out more.

*Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately had to DNF this one. Had high expectations for "babel with dragons" but fell flat. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. This one really stands out in the sea of dragon books that are out. I loved the politics in this one, I felt that even as complicated as they were, they were easy to understand. I found myself switching sides on a couple of occasions because there were at points where each side seemed to have the better intentions. I loved the rebellion and what they stood for. I liked Vivian as a character and thought that she showed good growth as the story continued and the stakes got higher. The dragon languages was my favorite part, I loved the idea that they also had a secret "language" that they kept from the humans in order to keep themselves protected.

I love fantasy with dragons, so was really excited to read this book. This is a YA novel and is heavily focused on language. So if you are looking for something n the vein of the Fourth Wing, this is not it. However, I personally did enjoy this.

Given the backdrop of the current political climate, this book will resonate with many while also annoying others. Vivian is your classic perfectionistic rule follower (brought on by abusive tactics). She lives an otherwise privileged, sheltered and naive existence. She fully believes and supports her government and its existing caste system as a peace between humans and dragons. And just like anyone brainwashed by their upbringing, she doggedly defends it despite multiple experiences to the contrary/ to her detriment. Her character growth is slow as molasses, but it does happen. The story itself is pretty action packed and engaging, the writing is solid, and I loved the interactions with dragons. There were a few too many characters, but the main side characters still stood out. The romance is a subplot and was cute, but don't go into this expecting a whirlwind.The audiobook is excellent as well (I switched over at about 30%). It ends on a minor cliffhanger, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

This is a book about dragons, but also about choices. This story starts with a girl wanting to help a dragon. Nothing wrong with that, right? Except somehow she starts a war from this innocent act.
A language of dragons does a really good job at depicting a world h where dragons are a part of the society and they exist and live side by side with humans. However, I felt like the author could have done more in the details of how that works. For example, how big or small are the dragons? That wasn’t really described well to me.
Finally, I think this was a well thought how first in series and look forward to reading more in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an e arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🌶️- no spice

🤬- little to none

⚔️- 1-2 (some action and fighting descriptions little to no gore)

I have been getting more and more into reading about dragons (thanks to Fourth Wing). So, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by this book!!!

First things first, when they say slow burn they do mean slooowwwww burn and I LOVED every. Single. Second!!!

Not only is the love subplot 🧑‍🍳💋 the actual story itself is seriously delectable 🤭

A few reason why:

The FMC is one that stands out amongst a lot of other heroines for me. She was so set in her thoughts and feelings. She did not get swayed easily and honestly was pretty stubborn. At first I was frustrated with her, but as the story progressed I realized I related to her a lot!

Don’t even get me on started on the DRAGONS 🐉 If you love the snarky and witty comments from Tairn then just you wait… 🤭

Another plus for me was I really felt like the author did a great job with this dystopian/fantasy world building. It gave off hunger games vibes in a way that you can take elements of this story to look at real life and see similarities. (IYKYK)

All in all this was one wild ride and I really enjoyed every twist, turn and barrel roll 😂.

3.5 Stars

This book was right up my alley. I love reading books with dragons in them. I am not a fan of Viv, the main character, but toward the end, she really grew on me. OH! and what an ending!! There better be a sequel! (inserts crying face)

A Language of Dragons started with a bang and ended with a bang. I flew through this in one sitting and was at the edge of my chair the entire time. The stakes were so high throughout. At one point I actually wondered how the novel was going to wrap up because within the first 20 pages something unexpected happens and then maybe 20 pages later something else happens and that continued. I loved the academic and fantasy elements. The dragons were my favorite part of this story but I will say Viv grew on me by the end. I enjoyed the character growth as well as the connections that were made. I do wish the romance element was a little more built out but I still had fun reading what we got! The world building and pace were well done. I’ve been begging for more dystopian novels for years and this did not disappoint. I highly recommend picking this one up if you enjoy politics, dragons, war, and fantasy with a subplot of romance.

An alternate history in London where dragons roam the Earth, count me in! I enjoyed the world building that S.F. Williamson brought to this London landscape. Viv captured my attention from the beginning. She finds herself in some precarious situations and I couldn't help but root for her to overcome. I have not read Bletchley Park so I cannot speak to the retelling aspects but after reading this I have added it to my want to read list. Thank you to Harper Collins for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you Net Galley and Publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Wow! What a rollercoaster of emotions. It's hard to write about the good and bad of people. What's right and what's wrong, so I applaud that it was done well here. I hated Viv at times, she was smug and stuckup, naïve, annoying, and self centered. She eventually figured out what was right in the end. And ugh Atlas, he was so sweet and knew what he wanted. Why must I get attached to fictional characters. I loved the dragons and the concept of languages in this book. It dragged at times but really picked up at the end. I'm hoping for more in this universe.

Favorite quote(s):

“Atlas, languages are like that. You can say the same thing a hundred different ways, and occasionally one of those ways is so unique to the translator that it is impossible to reproduce. No other translator will use the same words, the same rhythm, the same turn of phrase ever again. Translating is creating, too.”

“To control languages, to control words, is to control what people know.”

“Peace isn’t peace if it’s only given to some.”


CW: death, war, physical assault, violence, classicism, sexism.

What to Expect:
- Morally Grey FMC
- Dragons x Humans
- Romance sub-plot
- Set in Alternate 1920s London
- Debut YA Fantasy
- Political Intrigue
- Historical Fiction
- First Person POV

Review:

This book was intriguing. Despite a few minor nitpicks in a historical sense, I thought the world-building was interesting. With that, it is supposed to be an alternate version of our world, but with dragons. The class system was also interesting, but there wasn't a huge explanation of it and why it was the way it was. Other than those things, I loved this book! The characters, the academia bits, the dragons, and their differences. I liked the rebellion information and how characters changed their views of it as the story went on. Vivien was an interesting main character, and she could talk with the dragons, which was cool. I was so mad at what happened to Atlas. He deserved better. He was a great character, and I loved how he cared for the dragons. The ending was wild. I can't wait for more and get answers, and discover what happens next.

This book was on my TBR before it was published and I’m thankful for receiving a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. This story had all the things fantasy readers look for, dragons, fighting, character flaws, romance (without too much steam), and all the drama. If you enjoy Victoria Aveyard and Rebecca Yarros type fantasies, this would be right up your alley, but friendly enough to be YA. There are some insufferable characters but the premise of the story is strong enough to keep you entertained the entire time.
I’m interested to read the follow-up novel when it is published in 2026!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy!

3.5/5.0 Stars

Summary: Codebreaking with Dragons! Plus discussion of rigid class structures and a little romance.

Characters: I have mixed feelings about the main character Viv. I liked her internal struggle coping with guilt and the consequences of our actions as that resonated with me. However, in other parts she was very stubborn, selfish and not thinking clearly, despite being a smart and intelligent character. We didn't have a lot of time for the side characters to breathe, but I enjoyed the antagonist as she seemed to have a bit more dimension. I also liked the distinction between dragons, but wish there was more translation of the dragon languages.

Plot: This is where the rating fell for me. In the first half I was loving the Bletchley park vibes and enjoying the pursuit of research, however once the politics came into play the plot because really convoluted and messy. I couldn't understand why the political entities were aligning or taking the actions that they were, so the impact and severity was lost on me. The last quarter of the book was messy and I didn't understand why the characters were making their decisions.

Setting: I enjoyed the 1920's setting, although the plot is contained within a few acres for most of it.

Overall: This book has some great ideas but failed to impact me as intended due to the political plot lines and questionable choices of the characters.

The further I got through the book, the more I fell in love with the characters and their journey. If I had more free time in my schedule, I definitely would have read this book in 1-2 sittings.

S.F. Williamson's "A Language of Dragons" takes place in the fantastical Britain in 1923, and puts a twist on the codebreaking that took place during WWI and WWII. With a dystopian government equipped with a caste system and peace agreement between dragons and humans alike, teenager Viven Featherswallow is forced to make some questionable decisions in order to ensure the safety of her younger sister when her parents are suddenly imprisoned.

Vivien - the equivalent of a linguistic prodigy and fluent in multiple dragon languages - is blackmailed to work as a code breaker for the government alongside other intelligent teenaged misfits. As the story continues, Viv begins to question not only her government but her own morals as she uncovers the truth about the Peace Agreement, the perspectives and experiences of the dragons she meets along the way, and those she is sharing meals and rooms with.

Here are a few more things I wanted to touch on without giving away too much of the story:
Use of Languages: The way in which the author writes about the languages, how they are studied, and how they are "spoken" but the various humans and animals reminded me of R.F Kaung's "Babel", reiterating how powerful languages are and can be when given the proper respect.

Characters: I loved almost every single character. While I may not have agreed with some of the decisions Viv made throughout the book, I understood her reasoning as a teenage girl trying to survive while her sister's wellbeing is dangled in front of her like a carrot. With that in mind, I personally was not a fan of the attempts at romance, and tried my best to skim over the parts to get back to the actual storyline.

Plot: While many stories can be considered "slow" at the beginning while the author sets up the plot, settings, and characters, that was not the case with "A Language of Dragons". Readers are quickly sucked into 1923 London with Viv and her new and old acquaintances. However, once Viv settles into her new code breaking position, the story slows down a bit. Yes, Viv and her team are getting a lot of work down and learning new information and trying to navigate a life where you don't know who is friend or foe, but there is not a lot of action. However, the last 15-20% of the book takes a turn into action-packed, with dragons and people fighting, flying, and falling at every new paragraph.

I would like to thank NetGalley, S.F. Williamson, and the publishing company for providing me with an ARC of "A Language of Dragons" in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to what comes next for Viv and S.F. Williamson.

I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

what a fun book! i’d say like a solid 3.5? i want to know asap if it was supposed to be a standalone or not! because i feel like that would affect my rating quite a lot lol. like.. this book was so good, but sometimes it was quite confusing.. also that ending!? suRELY it’s not a stand alone right?!

i liked the characters, and i felt like the longer i read the more i began to understand them. i wouldn't say i fully know what happened and why it happened, but in a way i think i like that. during the big finale ending i did find myself getting confused on who was who though lol. but like i said i quite enjoyed learning about each character. i liked the dragons a lot. and the main girl and atlus. i have so many thoughts about the main characters tbh. but also somehow no thoughts at all lol.

the plot of this book was so complex at times. it reminded me a lot of several other books i quite enjoyed if i’m being honest. it reminded me of things like fourth wing, only a monster, narnia lol. idk lots of things. i found lots of moments of intrigue but also there were so many times where i wasn’t necessarily bored, i was just confused how we got to certain parts. that definitely could’ve been on me though.

anywho i would absolutely recommend this book and i am so so so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books! thank you so much for the opportunity!

I love books that feature an alternate history, especially when there is a fantasy element thrown in. A Language of Dragons is a fine example of this and a very imaginative read. I’m a sucker for books with dragons so this book was a must read.

A Language of Dragons follows Vivien Featherswallow, who has been studying dragon languages. When her parents are arrested for being rebels, Vivien accidentally starts a civil war when she tries to help clear their name. Because of her knowledge of dragon languages, she is tasked with being a codebreaker with the promise that if she finds out how dragons communicate by echolocation, she and her family can go free.

However the closer she comes to figuring out the secret dragon communication, the more secrets she uncovers. She begins to realize the treaty between humans and dragons is not as great as she thought. It harms both species and needs to be changed. Vivien joins forces with her fellow codebreakers to stop the secret project they’ve been working on before the peace between humans and dragons is irrevocably damaged.

I loved the dark academia vibes in this one. The story seemed to flow well and I didn’t feel like it dragged. I really enjoyed the alternate history and the spy element of the story. There is a nice slow burn romance as well. The ending definitely left me wanting to see what happens next with these characters.

Promised to be Dark Academia with Enemies to Lover romance trope plus Dragons! and Languages! set in an alternative WWII setting, I was sure that A Language of Dragons was going to be a favorite.

Unfortunately, although this book did in fact contain dragons and languages, it did not really contain Dark Academia, but instead a not-so-super-secret government department charged with unlocking not-so-hidden-secrets of the dragons in order to win the war. Using a Hunger Games stylized approach, the recruits are asked to complete their tasks before other recruits else their loved ones and they themselves will be killed.

Now, I'm not an expert on war by any means, but recruiting and relying on barely legal young adults with criminal and suspect backgrounds to complete complicated codebreaking seems like a unintelligent idea from the start. The idea that they will imprison one of the best polyglots and instead recruit her daughter to complete her research seems implausible. Not to mention that Vivian Featherswallow is an absolute idiot. From the get-go, the recruits are told not to share their work with anyone else, yet at the first dinner they all talk openly about what they have been asked to do for the war effort. Where the spies and betrayals occur, the reader is completely unsurprised except our MC is all shocked Pikachu face during any "reveal".

Then we have the romance - or lack thereof. This was not in any way, shape, or form an enemies to lovers romance, but rather a forbidden love trope (he is planning on becoming a priest). To even call it a romance is a stretch. There is minimal kissing and the "love" comes completely out of left field. I did not buy their relationship at all and there was zero chemistry.

The politics between the dragons and the humans did not make any sense. If I was the dragons, I would have destroyed the humans and asked questions later rather than sign a "peace agreement" that basically enslaves dragons who are clearly larger, smarter, and much more powerful than human beings.

What I did enjoy about this book as the dragon lore and where I normally do not like academic info-dumping, in the case of this book I would have welcomed it. Language development and evolution is a strong interest of mine and I was fascinated by the dragon anthropology and physiology and wanted so much more information on that.

Overall, this is a great introduction into dragon fantasy for an upper Middle Grade reader (5th grade+) to early YA who wants a clean, political/spy thriller with dragons and minimal to no romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and S.F. Williamson for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author and HarperCollins Children's Books for a free advanced reader copy of this book.

Babel meets dragons in a YA fantasy that will keep you engaged from start to finish. I read this in one sitting.

my one critique is that I feel like the relationship developed a little too quickly for me.