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theshelfarchive 's review for:
A Language of Dragons
by S.F. Williamson
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a ride this was. The opening hooked me immediately with its high stakes and fast pace, throwing me headfirst into a world where dragons live alongside humans and tensions simmer just beneath the surface. It was bold, intriguing, and full of promise. But as I kept turning the pages, I found myself increasingly tangled in frustration—mostly aimed at the main character.
Vivien is one of the most obnoxious protagonists I’ve read in a long time. I found her to be stubborn, naive, competitive to a fault, and not that likeable. The narrative seems to intentionally lean into these traits to pave the way for eventual character growth, but that doesn't make the reading experience any less exhausting. Even as the world around her reveals layer after layer of political corruption, she clings to her ideals with an almost wilful ignorance. Her arc is meant to show development, but it feels like she gets dragged to enlightenment kicking and screaming, and not in a way that was particularly satisfying to watch.
Her emotional swings didn’t help either.One moment, she’s ice-cold towards Atlas; the next, she’s kissing him after finding out that he’d been looking for Ursa for weeks. And while her motivations are technically clear—save her family, win her apprenticeship—at times, I genuinely couldn’t tell if I was supposed to root for her or shake some sense into her.
The pacing in the last quarter is relentless and chaotic, which kept things exciting—and me turning the pages as fast as I could—but it also meant there was little time to absorb one plot point before another hit. Big, emotional beats or twists would land, and just as I was starting to process them, the story had already leapt to the next crisis.
Despite my issues with the main character, there were elements I really enjoyed. The concept of dragon language, especially how it ties to emotion and history, was fascinating. I found the deciphering aspects far more engaging than the political ones, which tended to drag as the story went on and often felt repetitive—particularly when circling the same debates about who to trust and which side to take. And while many of the side characters didn’t leave much of a mark, the core premise and world-building were strong enough to keep me curious.
It wasn’t a perfect read, and I’m not sure I’ll ever revisit it, but I do want to see where the story goes next. There’s a compelling world here—even if it’s frustratingly filtered through the eyes of a protagonist who makes you want to yell into the void.
Vivien is one of the most obnoxious protagonists I’ve read in a long time. I found her to be stubborn, naive, competitive to a fault, and not that likeable. The narrative seems to intentionally lean into these traits to pave the way for eventual character growth, but that doesn't make the reading experience any less exhausting. Even as the world around her reveals layer after layer of political corruption, she clings to her ideals with an almost wilful ignorance. Her arc is meant to show development, but it feels like she gets dragged to enlightenment kicking and screaming, and not in a way that was particularly satisfying to watch.
Her emotional swings didn’t help either.
The pacing in the last quarter is relentless and chaotic, which kept things exciting—and me turning the pages as fast as I could—but it also meant there was little time to absorb one plot point before another hit. Big, emotional beats or twists would land, and just as I was starting to process them, the story had already leapt to the next crisis.
Despite my issues with the main character, there were elements I really enjoyed. The concept of dragon language, especially how it ties to emotion and history, was fascinating. I found the deciphering aspects far more engaging than the political ones, which tended to drag as the story went on and often felt repetitive—particularly when circling the same debates about who to trust and which side to take. And while many of the side characters didn’t leave much of a mark, the core premise and world-building were strong enough to keep me curious.
It wasn’t a perfect read, and I’m not sure I’ll ever revisit it, but I do want to see where the story goes next. There’s a compelling world here—even if it’s frustratingly filtered through the eyes of a protagonist who makes you want to yell into the void.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Torture