I loved this story, perhaps because it feels really allegorical to current times in terms of how we as a society treat those who are not in the mainstream population. I thought the characters were well developed and there was a realistic sense of adolescent angst v. existential fear in the MCs and their friends. The descriptions of the settings were great- I could see it in my mind. I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and S.F. Williamson for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

In a 1923 London where dragons share the skies and protests disrupts the otherwise orderly class system, Vivian Featherswallow, like most teenagers, has it all figured out - get an internship studying dragon languages, follow the rules, ignore the all-consuming guilt of her choices, and save her sister from growing up Third Class. In the time it takes to listen to the "and nothing can go wrong" TikTok audio, Vivian starts a civil war, watches her family get dragged away, and "joins" a government-run academy as a codebreaker to help the war effort in exchange for everything going back to normal. As Viv begins to notice holes n more than just her translations, she must answer for herself what she's fighting for and what she's ready to believe.

I have never wanted to throttle a book character more than I have Ms. Vivian Featherswallow. This was an absolute delight of a story with the secrets, twists, and turns of an academia YA novel, with vibes of some of our favorite wizard school stories, but it's all 20th century world war themed, and there's a bite of darkness with actual kidnapping, torture, death, and destruction mixed it. But I think what makes this story more unique is that Vivian is completely unlikable - she has the vibes of a know-it-all, which I think a lot of bookish readers can relate to, but she lacks the moral compass/"I'm the main character therefore I am the good guy" one usually expects in these kinds of books, and acts accordingly. Watching Vivian struggle with her own choices and those presented to her is what makes this book so spellbinding - she is the embodiment of "What is better ? to be born good or to overcome your evil nature through great effort ?”. If you like books about dragons, war, secret academies, and especially books with incredibly strong character development, you NEED to pick up this one (and there's a sequel!).

Thanks to Harper Collins for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.

I loved this one! It is a more YA version of Babel with dragons. It wraps dark academia vibes with plucky, young people realizing the harsh realities of the world and coming to grips with who they want to be. Set in an alternate 1920's London, war is looming as the balance of power between humans and dragons begins to slip. Viv, our MC, is the daughter of an immigrant so speaking multiple languages is natural to her. She has learned several dragon languages and is desparate for a position at university. When we join the story she has made some questionable choices to get her there. As decision time comes her world is upended and she's blackmailed into becoming a part of the growing war effort where she faces many more choices that will challenge her view of the world and herself.

I've seen lots of comments that Viv was 'unlikable' at first. That is a silly assessment in my opinion. Just because she wasn't 100% goody two-shoes Hermoine-type did not make her unlikable. She was a product of the society she was raised in with a harsh class system and very little opportunity for advancement. I think she is representative of many of us who don't grow up imagining they will grow up and change the world or become a revolutionary. She was so real in her choices and in her arc. The side characters were all varying levels of good and evil that served as perfect foils to her.

It's definitely more of a cerebral fantasy story than an action packed one. I appreciated no spice as well as completely realistic violence, oppression and some not so happy endings. Also, this one has a real ending which gives room for the story to grow but does not leave you on a cliffhanger.

Definitely enjoyed a new take on dragons! Loved the idea of linguists and learning the dragons languages. Gave great insight into complicated military turmoil in times of desperation and out FMC is perfectly normal. She deals with trying to figure out the best way to survive without being completely morally grey, or black, or pure. She just wants to believe so terribly that promises will be kept and her family safe if she does what they say even if she doesn't necessarily agree. It's a very compelling character and I appreciated the author's note about Viv at the beginning in case it was a trigger point for anyone@! Definitely will be recommending!

3.25⭐️
Such a fun adventure! I enjoyed the dragon aspects and how it had a unique language system for the dragons. That is what made this story stand apart from other fantasy books with dragons and made it not feel repetitive or like a typical fantasy. I don’t know whether there will be a sequel or not, but if there is I will definitely read it!

An intriguing series opening featuring language, a little romance and dragons. Viv's world is shaken to its core when her parents are arrested for being rebels. After her own act of rebellion, she is sent to Bletchley Park to work on decoding the languages of dragons. Viv finds herself working with and against other teens to uncover the required information to free her family.I loved the inclusion of Bletchley Park, infamous for its codebreaking history during WWII, as the setting for this alternative history. I was immediately hooked after reading the first chapter of this title and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

So this book was good, but there were times I was ready to throw my Kindle. I liked the focus on language and how it connects some people/animals and how important emotion is. The political aspect is one seen in other books but interesting. Now toxthe characters. Honestly, Vivian was a tough character to like. She was selfish and really didn't show much redemption until the end. I did like Atlas and their relationship.

I don’t know that I’ve ever really delved into the dark academia genre, dragon politics and human rebellion, but I think I’m into it. Enough so, I’ll definitely be back for book two. This one is for all the Fourth Wing girls searching for more YA writing.

This story felt so original! A young adult, Vivian, has been tasked with decoding a dragon language in exchange for the release of her parents, who have been arrested for rebellion against Britannia. Britannia is a divided country, between 1st, 2nd and 3rd class, and dragons and humans. The world chooses to live alongside dragons, but Britannia’s prime minister Wyvernmire believes that dragons should stay 3rd class citizens.

“So . . . this is a civil war?” I say. “With the government and the Dragon Queen on one side, and the rebels on the other?” “Correct,” Wyvernmire says. “The question now, Vivien, is this: Which side will you be on?”

As Vivian and the many other recruits are put under pressure and threatened to solve the code, many secrets begin coming to light. Undercover people within the program are revealed as part of the rebellion, and Vivian must make a choice on whether to choose the people of the rebellion, Britannia and the dragons or her family.

Language—that’s how we rebel.”

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books and S.F. Williamson for allowing me read A Language of Dragons in exchange for an honest review.

A Language of Dragons by SF Williamson: eBook ARC provided by NetGalley

From the first page, A Language of Dragons sweeps you into a post-WWI London where humans and dragons coexist in a tense, intricately woven world of political intrigue, corruption, and rebellion. SF Williamson doesn’t just write a book; they craft an experience that feels ready for the big screen—or better yet, an HBO adaptation.

This is almost 5 stars!!! 4.5...
The pacing is blisteringly fast, pulling you into each new twist and turn while still giving you moments to savor the world-building and lush imagery. I could see it all unfold so vividly, like I was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the characters in the smoky streets of London or soaring above them on dragon wings.

Speaking of characters, this cast is delightfully flawed and human, growing and evolving in ways that felt relatable and real. The FMC’s journey of discovering that her world isn’t what she thought is a trope I adore, and Williamson executes it perfectly. Watching the puzzle pieces fall into place before the main character herself catches on added an extra layer of satisfaction.

For romance fans, there’s a delicious slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc that simmers just under the surface. While I wouldn’t have minded this theme playing a louder role, its subtlety left me wanting more—in the best way possible. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel because the balance between smart literature and pure enjoyment was so well executed.

I regret being late to the party with this one because it’s that good. If you’re a fan of fast-paced, intricate plots with dragons, political upheaval, and characters that feel like friends (or enemies), pick this up immediately. I’m already eagerly awaiting whatever SF Williamson gives us next!

Bletchley Park meets Dragons? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

I haven’t read Babel or Fourth Wing, so I’m not quite sure how these books would compare with A Language of Dragons, but I enjoyed it immensely. I read it in a day and stayed up until morning to finish it, which I haven’t done since high school.

As someone who is studying languages and linguistics in school, this book was fascinating. I greatly enjoyed Viv’s mental dialogue with herself about the nuances and power that language holds. I also enjoyed her character growth throughout the story and how steadfast her love for her family was.

Some parts seem a bit repetitive, specifically with Viv’s internal dialogue. Also, I really did not see the romance as being enemies-to-lovers at all. It seemed more like a mutual distrust than anything resembling enemies, but I enjoyed it greatly and was quite attached to the characters by the end. However, I think the overall message of the novel is quite clear and shines brighter than the minor flaws I found within the novel. The slow burn romance is cute and I really appreciated the morally gray cast of characters, who all seemed like real people to me.

I am immediately going to go buy a physical copy of this and I cannot wait for a second book!

Thank you to Harpercollins and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

A Language of Dragons marries fantasy and historical in a way that I really enjoy, and I think we need to see more of in the future. Vivien Featherswallow is forced to make some extreme decisions under pressure in order to save her family.

I really liked the unique take on dragons -- looking at dragons in fantasy from an academic lens where they are (or had been) very much integrated into society and had jobs and things was a take that I haven't seen before, and I thought it was very cool and well done.

I certainly wanted to see where the story would go, and had my guesses. Reading it from the perspective of 2024 America, it added a layer that maybe I wasn't ready for at the moment. The story also showed its hand a little early with some of the backstory and explanations for what brought Vivien and Sophie to be where they are, and I think that would have been better served in a different way. It came up so many times as well that I sort of threw me off. Vivien was hard for me to relate to and I had a hard time with some of her characterizations.

Overall, I think it has potential to continue to go in a great direction, but it just wasn't for me at this time.

Enjoyed this book during the winter season! A book full of world building and coming of age drama.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my hoenst review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

"To control languages, to control words, is to control what people know."

Vivian Featherswallow dreams about getting an internship studying dragon languages. Everything falls apart after her parents are arrested and accused of being part of the rebellion. After making an impulsive decision, she is offered a job as a codebreaker to save them, but only if she can uncover the secrets of hidden dragon languages. The closer she gets to discovery, she learns that some secrets should stay hidden.

“A Language of Dragons” is a dark academic story set in alternate post-war 1923 London, where dragons and humans coexist. This story does something unique with dragons and focuses on languages, the power of languages, their importance in society, and the imbalance of power created when withheld from some. It also focuses on politics with a corrupt government, where people are put into unfair class systems, and the rebels are fighting back against it.  

“The penalty for a coup d'état is death.”

Vivian is ambitious, determined, and extremely loyal to her family, but she often makes decisions that are beneficial to herself and can sometimes be blinded by her privileged life. Fortunately, throughout the book, she learns some hard truths; and ends up having an amazing growth by the end.

The romance is a subplot to the political aspect.
There were some sweet moments, but the romance was a little undeveloped. I think if we had the MMC’s POV it would have made a difference.

"Someone requested I keep my teeth to myself. Otherwise, human girl, you might already be rotting at my feet."

I found the dragons very intriguing, each with their personalities, and I found it fascinating how they were incorporated into society. The interactions between Vivian and Chumana (a Bulgarian PINK dragon) were some of my favorite moments in the book. I hope the second book goes deeper into the dragon culture.

Final thoughts, the world is unique and I think this book is well-written, with a steady pace throughout that builds to an action-packed ending. It highlights the importance of languages; It’s how we communicate, it’s how we learn, and without it, it creates an imbalance of power between those who understand and those who don’t.

“Language is as crucial to war as any weapon.”

In an alternate, post-WWI London, dragons and humans coexist. Vivien Featherswallow looks to make a name for herself and help elevate her family name by earning a spot in a prestigious dragon language program. After her parents are arrested and a misguided attempt to clear their name, Vivien’s only option is to join a top secret program as a codebreaker. Her life, and her family’s, are dependent upon her success. Through her training, Vivien realizes not everything is what it seems and she must make a choice between what she has believed her whole life and what she is witnessing first-hand.
I love, love, loved this! The political intrigue, the high stakes, the forbidden romance, dragons… I couldn’t put it down! I loved this take on dragons and their languages; it was something I haven’t read before. The characters had depth and I was pulling for Vivien from the very beginning. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the e-ARC!

A language of Dragons is a fascinating book. Set in a fictional England we follow Vivian, a young woman hoping to study dragon languages. She finds me life up ended when her parents, her uncle, and her beloved cousin are arrested for being rebels. In desperation she makes a deal with Chumana, a murderous dragon imprisoned in the university library, to destroy all the evidence of her family’s crimes. While Chumana is successful Vivian is caught and forced for make a deal to save her and her families lives, she must work at Bletchely park with several other criminal youths to crack the dragon’s secret language in order to advance the war effort. While at Bletchley Vivian finds herself questioning the morality of what she is doing and the system as a whole.

I absolutely loved this book. The book starts out with a bang, and continues the high stakes and stress throughout. I loved the characters even when I didn’t like them, Vivian is a complicated character to be in the head of, she’s been conditioned to believe the system that keeps the lower classes and dragons oppressed is good while being forced to confront the fact that it isn’t. While it’s hard to be in Vivian’s head and point, and at points I didn’t believe she would do the right thing, It was very compelling and I was constantly hoping that Vivian would do right even when she made me doubt it. I loved how language was incorporated in the book, as a polyglot myself I always find it interesting how language and the history of languages is shown and depicted in books and this book did a excellent job with showing those aspects.

The ending was heart wrenching and after finishing the book, and souring the web for information I’m relieved to say that this should in fact be a series. I greatly look forward to what ever comes next from S.F. Williamson and this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

I have never read anything like this! I absolutely loved the blend of historical fiction and fantasy (a genre that I am quickly learning is my favorite). I also loved our academic main character, as I am getting tired of all the "kick-ass" heroines. Everything about this book was a great change of pace. My only qualm is that I wanted more!

In a fantastical version of 1920s London where humans and dragons once lived side-by-side, Vivian Featherswallow is a linguistics student striving to overcome her Second Class background and become a master linguist of draconic tongues. When an encounter with the law makes her a criminal, she unexpectedly finds herself at Bletchley Park, tasked with solving a dangerous mystery of dragon communication.

The linguistics focus and somewhat dark academia setting has and will draw inevitable comparison to R.F. Kuang’s Babel, which is unfair to both books. They share some related themes around the power of translation and what’s lost from it, but they are ultimately very different works.

Vivian is an interesting main character in part because she is unlikable. When we first meet her, she’s perfectly willing to align herself with a fascist regime and ignore the plight of dragons and working class humans when it serves her. She has also committed an unspecified crime against her best friend Sophie which has caused Sophie to drop from Second Class to Third Class. The character reminds me somewhat of Kyr in Some Desperate Glory. And like Kyr, we get to see Vivian slowly overcome her assumptions.

I found it an enjoyable read with great world-building and solid character development. My main complaint is that it feels like it could be a standalone but is actually the first book in a series.

I love the storyline of this book - Dragons in 1923 London. A fictional world where dragons and humans interact and work together is really awesome. I definitely will be purchasing it for my high school library. The students are going to love it. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review..

Vivian Featherswallow (17) is set to go to the University so one day she can be a Draconic Translator. She already speaks several human languages and more dragon languages, but things don't go as planned when her parents, uncle, and cousin, Marquis, are arrested for being rebels against Prime Minister Wyvrenmire and Queen Ignacia of the dragons with their Peace Agreement. The Peace Agreement is meant to keep humans and dragons peaceful and the humans separated into 3 classes. Viv believes in these, but she makes a deal with Chumana, a criminal dragon, to destory the evenidence against her parents that sparks a civil war between the Prime Minister and the Coalition. Viv is sent to Bletchley Park, working with others like Marquis, her ex-friend Sophie she betrayed, and Atlas King, the first young man she has feelings for. As a code breaker, set to figure out the echolocation dragons use to speak to each other that humans can't here, Viv's strong beliegs in the system and what she was raised to believe begins to unravel with each new secret she discovers. This historical novel is set in the WW2 era, but instead of Nazis, it's civil war - with dragons. The book is layered with action, mystery, emotions, difficult choices, and having your whole world and beliefs torn apart. What will Viv choose to do? Join the Coalition and fight against the Prime Minister, leaving behind the Peace Agreement and the future she saw for herself? The book is nuanced with layers of secrets, set in the historical Bletchley Park used in WW2 for codebreakers, but uses dragons instead. A good read for those liking alternate history with fantasy thrown in and those with the patience with Viv and her always second guessing herself, her beliefs, and what she needs to do.

I was attracted to this because it included dragons. Some of the violence was tough to deal with. I really liked Viv and Alex and Chamuna. It obviously is a commentary on today's society and racism. I thought this was rather poignant. " inequality is so deeply entrenched in the foundations of our society that it is going to need to be dug out. Rock by prejudiced rock" my one negative is the book was longer than I think it needed to be.