Today I’m reviewing A War of Wyverns by S. F. Williamson, which is the sequel to A Language of Dragons. I really enjoyed the first part of this trilogy and was very excited to see what happened next with Vivien. Thank you to HarperFire for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally appeared on The Nerd Daily.
Rebellion happens in the shadows.
Vivien Featherswallow has uncovered the secret language of dragons. Now can she use it to end a war.
Vivien Featherswallow has translated a secret language of dragons – sparking an all-out civil war, with dragons and humans fighting on both sides, in the process.
And after defeating Prime Minister Wyvernmire and escaping Bletchley Park, Vivien has become the reluctant face of the rebellion – and been labelled the most wanted criminal in Britain. But what good is a rebel who must remain in hiding, powerless to help her friends?
Unsure of her purpose, and torn with doubt about the life she thought she was meant to lead, Vivien travels to the remote Scottish Isles to find a mysterious, long-forgotten species of dragon – one which might hold the key to ending the war… forever.
CW: death, murder, war, gore
My Thoughts:
With A War of Wyverns, S. F. Williamson delivers a knockout sequel that heightens my favourite aspects of the first book and expands the mythos, history and scope of this world. This is a must-read for YA fantasy fans.
This is the epitome of an excellent sequel. It expands the world in wonderful ways as we travel to a new location complete with its own secrets for the characters to unlock. This is a setting that is close to my heart so I was predisposed to love it but Williamson conveys it in such a beautiful and intricate way. You get the sense of isolation and how it is like its own world, that sense of timelessness caught in a stunning manner. It has a rich history and lore for Vivien and the ragtag bunch of characters assembled in A Language of Dragons (plus some great new additions) to immerse themselves. I loved the way Williamson lets us explore more of dragon culture and history in this world that mimics our own so closely. There are plenty of topical allusions and the core message of fighting for what is right in a world determined to crush you is one that resonates even stronger in today’s climate. The politics are heightened here as we get to explore life outside of Bletchley a little. Vivien is originally acting undercover until she is exposed and must travel to these remote Scottish Isles. Her subterfuge is an interesting way to explore the social hierarchy from a new lens than that of the bubble of Bletchley.
We also get to explore more of the wider world of this series with a look at the history and the complexity within that. It is a wonderfully detailed fleshing out of the mythos of the world and we get to explore hidden secrets that enrich previous events. Sequels thrive in fantasy when they can deliver this kind of inventive and expansive world-building. It nods to a plethora of unexplored stories in a way that adds depth and texture to the world, making it feel even more real. We learn more about dragon culture and how it has dovetailed with human history and branches off into regional culture, history and legends. I also really enjoyed how it ties in with setting, mirroring our world in plenty of brilliant ways but with a twist.
Williamson is delivering a pertinent message through this trilogy in such wonderful ways. This is a book deeply concerned with the construction and forced upholding of certain narratives. It is a deeply dangerous and murky place, especially for a series concerned with linguistics and the ethical dilemmas held within this sphere. Vivien has been on quite a journey and unfortunately this does not let up here. She is challenged and pushed to her limits once more, testing the strength of her character and beliefs in the face of adversity. Her character arc is phenomenal and I am very interested to see where Williamson may place her by the end. She has become an important figurehead for the movement, but Williamson is interested in unpicking what this means and what actions she must take in order to uphold this reputation. Again, it is the weaponising of language, both literally and in the use of propaganda to keep one narrative dominant. I loved the way Vivien’s intellect is used as a weapon against her at times and how it ensures that she is in a murky place morally, where she is deeply aware of the implications of her own actions.
A War of Wyverns continues to deliver YA fantasy excellence with a firestorm of a sequel that promises yet more twists, turns and turmoil in the next instalment of this excellent trilogy. If you are not already immersed in this world, you are missing a delight.
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