A great fantasy book. Very well written and highly addictive. I couldn't put this down and needed to know what was going to happen next.

I feel like any attempt to rate this book would be unfair since I'm definitely not the target audience. This book feels well-served for YA readers in need of stories that show protagonists figuring out that the world is more complex than we think, but as an adult reader it's lacking in any kind of meaningful nuance. The world-building is flimsy at best and nonsensical at worst, and the approach to linguistics somewhat too simplistic for my tastes.

Funnily, my problems here aren't with the naive, unlikeable protagonist - who is actually an interesting character clearly being set up for a solid character growth arc - but everything surrounding her instead.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting too - although the premise was already right up my street, so perhaps it shouldn't have been so surprising! This book is a lot of fun but also manages to touch on a lot of serious issues around class, prejudice, colonialism and forgiveness. Vi is an all-too-realistic character and her social awakening is really well-done, and the supporting cast (inlcuding the dragons!) are also strong. I look forward to more from this author.

I’m not usually a fan of books being published in a real setting (this book being set in London), but this was just too good. I really enjoyed it!
The mixture of real places and dragons was so good as I was actually able to picture what the world looks like and where Viv lived. The concept of the book was super interesting, and the way the character struggled internally with who she was, and who she knew she had to become was really well written.
I enjoyed the ways the characters interacted, however, I wasn’t particularly sold on the way Gideon and Serena were written. I thought the way their characters end up was a bit strange, but in the grand scheme of things and once you learn why they end up in Bletchley, it did make sense.
I’m very interested to see where this story is going to go, and how Viv is going to recover following the ending of this book, especially what is going to happen to the group now! There are a lot of unknowns which I’m excited to see being answered, and all in all, just highly recommend this read!

Things I liked:
- Viv’s character development, and staying true to her class-inflicted thinking
- Atlas’ character (he was written perfectly!)
- The way the world was described, including descriptions of characters, dragons, and places

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

In London in 1923, dragons are everywhere. Some ally with the humans of Brittania according to a Peace Agreement, while others align with rebels who want to dismantle the class system. Vivian Featherswallow is a rule-follower, and as a student of dragon languages, believes in the class system so much that she betrays her best friend just to get ahead. But when her upstanding parents are arrested, accused of being rebels, everything around Viv collapses and in her haste to save her family, she starts a civil war.

Then, the Prime Minister offers Viv a choice: watch her family being executed for treason or go to Bletchley Park and help decode a previously unknown dragon 'language' that may help the government win the war. Viv jumps at the chance. But as she begins to learn more about the system she has helped keep in place, Viv begins to question everything she's believed in.

There is much that frustrated me about this book. I would describe it as a 'Babel' meets 'Fourth Wing' historical adventure fantasy. I enjoyed the focus on dragon languages and the political aspect of the book, but the rest was, unfortunately, an exercise in irritation.

It feels like every second fantasy book now focuses on dragons (thanks 'Fourth Wing'!). Not all do it equally well. While 'A Language of Dragons' features significantly better writing than 'Fourth Wing', the dragons in the former feel a little watered down with much less personality and individuality. In 'Fourth Wing', they're characters. In this book, the dragons are props, caricatures.

Something that's also really been bothering me with fantasy lately is the push for labelling books 'Dark Academia'. Just because something is set at a school or involves students does not Dark Academica it make, and this is really frustrating me. 'A Language of Dragons' does not involve the solving of a mystery (aside from trying to crack the 'code' of the new dragon language) and it does not have the gothic, aesthetic feel of Dark Academia.

As for the self-described enemies-to-lovers romance ... I would NOT call Atlas and Viv enemies. Viv distrusts Atlas because he's of a lower class, but 'enemies' is pushing it. They're not even in the same group at Bletchley so they can't be called rivals either.

Viv is one of the most annoying main characters I have come across in a long time. I have no problem with main characters being unlikeable and becoming better people through character growth as the plot progresses. Viv, however, takes an inordinately long time to wake up and smell the roses. She is repeatedly confronted with the truth about how dragons and lower classes are oppressed and each time, she makes excuses for why she will continue to support the regime. Her redemption arc comes right at the end of the book, and by then, I'd pretty much given up on her.

The ending clearly sets up a sequel, but I don't think I'll be reading it.

I really enjoyed this book - a spot of alternate history and dragons? Yes please. The world isn’t spoon fed, you’re thrown in headfirst, but once you find your feet I enjoyed the pace of the plot versus character development - a very strong entry into a somewhat overcrowded market. The 20th century twist really makes a dragon tale feel fresh!

I really enjoyed the story of this book, it kept me interested the whole way through.

I felt the characters were lacking depth, which made me feel like i wasn't as invested in them as I could have been.

Overall it was an enjoyable experience and I'm looking forward to reading the second one.

A Language of Dragons" immediately pulled me in with its unique blend of historical fantasy and dragon lore. The setting, a 1923 London where dragons are a powerful, independent force, felt richly imagined, and the academic atmosphere of Bletchley Park added a fascinating layer of intrigue. I especially appreciated how the dragons were portrayed; they weren't just fantastical creatures, but a complex race with their own language and motivations. Vivien's journey, as she's forced to confront the political complexities and ethical dilemmas of her world, was a real highlight. The story doesn't shy away from exploring the messy side of power, and Vivien's struggle to reconcile her preconceived notions with the harsh realities around her was compelling.

The political intrigue was a major draw. Williamson deftly weaves questions of morality and accountability into the narrative, forcing Vivien, and the reader, to consider the nuances of right and wrong. I didn't find the world-building dense, but rather layered, gradually revealing itself and adding depth to the story. The exploration of how Vivien's sheltered upbringing shaped her perceptions, and how she's forced to confront her own biases, was particularly well-executed. While the romance subplot didn't resonate with me, the strength of the world-building and the complexity of the characters more than made up for it.

Ultimately, "A Language of Dragons" is a thought-provoking and engaging read. The fearsome portrayal of dragons, the gripping political intrigue, and Vivien's compelling character arc made it a 4-star experience for me. If you enjoy fantasy with main characters forced to confront their own biases or upbringing, and is less obviously trope-driven than a lot of the fantasy market right now, even the romance sub-plot did not stray into the trap of following the cliches of current romantasy trends, then this book is definitely worth your time.

I loved this book. It has dark academia and DRAGONS! What more could you want. I found it easy to read and have recommended it to quite a few people now.

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I couldn't wait to start reading it. My expectations were high! I also didn't realise how political this novel was going to be. I loved the history blended with fantasy aspect and of course the dragons, but I felt the MFC was at times unlikeable. I really liked the writing style and I thought it was written really well, but maybe because my expectations were high it fell flat. I am going to re read this novel at some point again this year to see if it was just because of the hype. I tend to enjoy novels when the hype has died down.

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!!!!