Synopsis
EVERY ACT OF TRANSLATION REQUIRES SACRIFICE
Welcome to Bletchley Park… with dragons.
London, 1923. Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivian Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get an internship studying dragon languages, and make sure her little sister never has to risk growing up Third Class. By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.
With her parents arrested and her sister missing, all the safety Viv has worked for is collapsing around her. So when a lifeline is offered in the form of a mysterious ‘job’, she grabs it. Arriving at Bletchley Park, Viv discovers that she has been recruited as a codebreaker helping the war effort – if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.
At first Viv believes that her challenge, of discovering the secrets of a hidden dragon language, is doable. But the more she learns, the more she realises that the bubble she’s grown up in isn’t as safe as she thought, and eventually Viv must What war is she really fighting?
An epic, sweeping fantasy with an incredible Dark Academia setting, a clandestine, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and an unputdownable story, filled with twists and turns, betrayals and secret identities, A Language of Dragons is the unmissable debut of 2025, from an extraordinary new voice.
Review
5 stars
A language of Dragons surprised me in the best way possible!
It has:
-a unique world building
The story happens in Brittania (hints to England) where humans and dragons coexist. There is a Peace Agreement signed between the dragon queen and the prime minister.
Every “clan” of dragon speaks its own language but they also speak English. They can work at the desk of a bank, as librarian etc. But we soon discover that they are not equal to humans in Brittania.
Some small dragons called Dracovol are used to send messages.
You also have three classes of citizens, the lower class having of course few rights.
-a morally grey FMC
Vivienne is ambitious and she has betrayed her best friend for the sake of her ambition. Granted, she is riddled with guilt but she did it anyway, condemning her best friend to an awful fate.
If that wasn’t enough, she is ready to sacrifice her country or at least, perpetuate the unfair social system to save her family. Even dargons future is at stake if she does what the Prime Minister is asking of her.
It was sometimes hard to read about Viv choices and her will to plow through, whatever the cost to others.
Yet she loves her family dearly, has remorse for her actions, wishes third class people could have an easier time and wants to help dragons. See? Morally grey.
-a quest/ competition
The “recruits” (misfits and criminals) sent to Bletchley must compete to crack the secret dargon code if they hope to get back to their lives and save their loved ones.
I love Bletchley and I love competition!
You also have a sadistic guard, an evil Prime Minister, a sexy priest in training, a rogue dragon…
The pace is just right for the story, the writing is very good, the plot is original and I spent a very good time reading it! I just don’t know if it is part of a series or not.
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
This is my first time hearing about this, and I’m intrigued. I don’t read enough dragon stories!
I think you would like that one Tammy!
This sounds amazing!! Thanks for sharing!!
You are so welcome!
I’ve got this to read! Fab review Sophie!
Thank you Caro! You will love it!
How interesting that the people and dragons have a similar governing structure, but who cares because DRAGONS. I like the idea of a high stakes competition too. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one.