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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
fast-paced
I really enjoyed the idea of this book with dragon languages and that dragons are essentially just people too.
I hated Viv! Like girl, are you seriously this naive and dense? You are trusting the government? You want to use the excuse you did 2 bad things in your life, so that's the excuse? If I could reach through a book and slap a character, I would.
Also, maybe stay away from using Altas shrugged...made me think about the Ayn Rand book every time.
I will keep this book because the edges are pretty but do not need to read the next book in series.
I hated Viv! Like girl, are you seriously this naive and dense? You are trusting the government? You want to use the excuse you did 2 bad things in your life, so that's the excuse? If I could reach through a book and slap a character, I would.
Also, maybe stay away from using Altas shrugged...made me think about the Ayn Rand book every time.
I will keep this book because the edges are pretty but do not need to read the next book in series.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I stumbled across this randomly in a bookshop, and I just couldn't resist the sheer beauty.
See some pics of my pretty edition here: https://bsky.app/profile/kitvaria.bsky.social/post/3logxztcvtk2q
The Language of Dragons is a fun and thoughtful YA fantasy that blends the magic of dragons with the quiet power of words. While it didn’t quite blow me away, it had enough dragins, action and heart to keep me engaged.
Set in an alternate London sometime after the First World War, dragons are no longer majestic, untouchable forces of nature—they’re integrated into society in uneasy ways, bound by restrictive treaties and riddled with political tension. That backdrop adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
The concept is strong: a world where language, spoken, written, and felt, has real power, and dragons are deeply intertwined with it. Our protagonist isn’t a warrior or a chosen one, but rather someone who begins to understand just how influential communication and translation can be. That aspect, the way language was woven into the story, worked beautifully. The reflections on the weight of words, on meaning and intention, added depth that I really appreciated.
Of course, I found myself comparing this to To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, another recent YA dragon novel that also blends science, politics, and magical creatures. That book felt a bit more mature, with themes and writing that could easily appeal to readers of all ages. The Language of Dragons, on the other hand, feels firmly in the YA space, more accessible and lighter in tone. That’s not a criticism, though. As someone who still enjoys YA at an older age, I found a lot to like here.
The characters, while enjoyable in their own right, sometimes fall into tropey territory. There's the gifted protagonist who needs to find her tre self, the brooding rival, the love interest that seems to be off limits, and the over-the-top villain whose evil is more theatrical than threatening.
The dragons hoewever were fascinating, even if their role in society was a bit inconsistent. In one country they are clearly oppressed under a fragile “peace treaty”; in another, one is perched on a rooftop abroad, casually ordering a drink. The logistics, like, say, size of drink and how to deliver to a rooftop, are glossed over, which might bother some readers, but I chose to roll with it. Their dialogue and the glimpses into how dragons think were some of the book’s highlights for me. I especially enjoyed the more science-based tidbits scattered throughout. Journal entries and reports that added a layer of realism to the dragon lore and hinted at a deeper world behind the scenes.
The romantic subplot, which seems almost required in YA these days, was thankfully quite minor. It never overwhelmed the story, and while it was a bit underdeveloped, I far preferred that to pages of drawn-out angst and miscommunication. The focus instead stayed more on friendships, loyalty, and those small but meaningful moments of connection, new bonds forming, old ones being tested, that gave the story a bit of emotional weight.
Yes, the plot treads familiar YA ground: a rebellion against a corrupt government, an unfair class system, and a group of teens standing up when adults can't. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While seasoned fantasy readers might find the setup a bit predictable, for the intended younger audience, it’s a solid introduction to these themes, and there are some delightful moments along the way.
In the end, The Language of Dragons may not be a genre-redefining masterpiece, but it’s an engaging read with some original touches, especially in its handling of language and magic. If you enjoy YA with dragons, smart protagonists, and a gentle sense of wonder, this one is worth picking up.
See some pics of my pretty edition here: https://bsky.app/profile/kitvaria.bsky.social/post/3logxztcvtk2q
The Language of Dragons is a fun and thoughtful YA fantasy that blends the magic of dragons with the quiet power of words. While it didn’t quite blow me away, it had enough dragins, action and heart to keep me engaged.
Set in an alternate London sometime after the First World War, dragons are no longer majestic, untouchable forces of nature—they’re integrated into society in uneasy ways, bound by restrictive treaties and riddled with political tension. That backdrop adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
The concept is strong: a world where language, spoken, written, and felt, has real power, and dragons are deeply intertwined with it. Our protagonist isn’t a warrior or a chosen one, but rather someone who begins to understand just how influential communication and translation can be. That aspect, the way language was woven into the story, worked beautifully. The reflections on the weight of words, on meaning and intention, added depth that I really appreciated.
Of course, I found myself comparing this to To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, another recent YA dragon novel that also blends science, politics, and magical creatures. That book felt a bit more mature, with themes and writing that could easily appeal to readers of all ages. The Language of Dragons, on the other hand, feels firmly in the YA space, more accessible and lighter in tone. That’s not a criticism, though. As someone who still enjoys YA at an older age, I found a lot to like here.
The characters, while enjoyable in their own right, sometimes fall into tropey territory. There's the gifted protagonist who needs to find her tre self, the brooding rival, the love interest that seems to be off limits, and the over-the-top villain whose evil is more theatrical than threatening.
The dragons hoewever were fascinating, even if their role in society was a bit inconsistent. In one country they are clearly oppressed under a fragile “peace treaty”; in another, one is perched on a rooftop abroad, casually ordering a drink. The logistics, like, say, size of drink and how to deliver to a rooftop, are glossed over, which might bother some readers, but I chose to roll with it. Their dialogue and the glimpses into how dragons think were some of the book’s highlights for me. I especially enjoyed the more science-based tidbits scattered throughout. Journal entries and reports that added a layer of realism to the dragon lore and hinted at a deeper world behind the scenes.
The romantic subplot, which seems almost required in YA these days, was thankfully quite minor. It never overwhelmed the story, and while it was a bit underdeveloped, I far preferred that to pages of drawn-out angst and miscommunication. The focus instead stayed more on friendships, loyalty, and those small but meaningful moments of connection, new bonds forming, old ones being tested, that gave the story a bit of emotional weight.
Yes, the plot treads familiar YA ground: a rebellion against a corrupt government, an unfair class system, and a group of teens standing up when adults can't. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While seasoned fantasy readers might find the setup a bit predictable, for the intended younger audience, it’s a solid introduction to these themes, and there are some delightful moments along the way.
In the end, The Language of Dragons may not be a genre-redefining masterpiece, but it’s an engaging read with some original touches, especially in its handling of language and magic. If you enjoy YA with dragons, smart protagonists, and a gentle sense of wonder, this one is worth picking up.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the plot but I struggled to connect with the main character, she was insufferable for 80% of the book.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Autistic coded FMC and ahhh war