Book Review: A Language of Dragons by Jennifer Eve
When I stumbled upon A Language of Dragons by Jennifer Eve, I was immediately intrigued. Dark academia, dragons, and a slow-burn romance? It felt like the perfect concoction for a thrilling read. However, my excitement quickly turned into a perplexing journey through its convoluted plot and lackluster characters, leaving me with more questions than answers. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of the story is Vivien, a character designed to be a “strong, super smart girl,” yet her choices often left me scratching my head in disbelief. The rich tapestry of an alternate British society, populated by dragons who are professors, factory workers, and bankers, had so much potential but ultimately fell flat. Did anyone else wonder just what kind of dragon would willingly be subservient to humans? I mean, come on—dragons are considered gigantic, fire-breathing destruction machines! Yet here we have them tucked away in mundane workplaces, which felt wildly out of sync with their mythos.
One of the novel’s most ambitious attempts lies in dissecting themes of power and morality, but it frequently stumbled over its own contradictions. You’d think a tale about a dragon queen who leads a corrupt regime would explore that contrast more deeply, especially considering the text tells us dragons recently committed genocide against an entire country. The narrative griped about humanity’s flaws while inadvertently showcasing dragons as equal, if not greater, agents of chaos. By the end, I was left feeling, “Who cares? Let them all self-destruct,” staring at an ambiguous ending that seemed to shrug off any moral responsibility.
As for the writing style, it lacked the finesse needed to truly engage the reader. The pacing felt uneven, often meandering through needless subplots, like Vivien’s dramatically underwhelming tension with her best friend Sophia. Their reconciliation was so abrupt that I found myself questioning its necessity in the first place. If you introduce a betrayal arc, shouldn’t it carry weight rather than flutter away like a feather? Instead of building suspense, it merely served as an eye-roll moment.
And while I desperately wanted to connect with the dragons, I found myself growing cold toward them—despite being a self-proclaimed dragon enthusiast! Only the baby dragons and dracovols sparked a shred of affection in me, reminding me what a shame it was that the central dragons didn’t evoke the same warmth. As for the romance? It left me as uninspired as the accompanying plot.
In conclusion, A Language of Dragons is a beautiful cover concealing a muddled narrative and weak characters. If you enjoy dragons and are curious about unique worlds, you might still find some entertainment in the baby dragons. However, those looking for rich explorations of dark academia or a compelling romance may want to look elsewhere. Overall, this experience left me puzzled and a tad disappointed, but perhaps you’ll find a gem within its pages—albeit a very small one.