Dragons at Bletchley Park! That definitely appeals to my interests. The book turns out to be an Orwellian fantasy in which the government can’t be trusted unless, of course, you are in the government. A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS is the key to controlling or fighting the massive, savage dragons that exist in this world.
London, 1923, and the Great War was fought between humans and dragons. The largest and most vicious dragons live in Bulgaria, and they have overrun that country, so refugees, such as the parents of Vivian Featherswallow, fled to England. Aged seventeen, the girl is hoping to gain acceptance to college, to study dragon languages. But we learn that the government observes anyone with this inclination. The Fitzrovia life of Vivian’s family in Second Class contrasts with the deprivation of Third Class. Riots are a new occurrence, the poor are getting restive.
When her family is targeted, Vivian pretty much starts a civil war. I consider this to be the best part of the book. Afterward, she is taken off to be a trainee Codebreaker at the secret establishment in Bletchley Park. A fragile Peace Agreement was signed between the Dragon Queen and the government. Learning if the dragons have a secret way of communicating is being given top priority.
The students are a recalcitrant mix, unable to trust one another and closely guarded. They are all here under threat, and can’t leave. At this point, the tale reminds me of Divergent with the factions, resentments and striving to be first. There is still time for attraction, these are teenagers after all. But much time is spent arguing about state propaganda and how people should treat dragons. Suffragettes don’t seem part of the picture.
There is a considerable amount of violence and some strong language in the novel, so it’s hard to assign an age group. I recommend calling it a New Adult story which would suit older YA readers too.
A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS is the first book by S.F. Williamson, which combines academia with dystopia and more than a hint of Jurassic Park. The author has worked as a literary translator and has clearly enjoyed bringing her creations to life. These are extremely vivid dragons, with a range of natural behaviours and no great wish to be polite. They are hungry. People are edible. Given this, we understand why the state wishes for tight control. Read it if you dare.
In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.
Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but 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. She just has to free one dragon.
By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.
With her parents and cousin arrested and her sister missing, Viv is brought to Bletchley Park as a codebreaker—if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.
As Viv begins to discover 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.
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