A War of Wyverns book review

A War of Wyverns by S.F. Williamson
Series: A Language of Dragons #2
Published by Harper Fire on January 1, 2026
Pages: 416
Goodreads

REBELLION HAPPENS IN THE SHADOWS
Vivien Featherswallow has uncovered the secret language of dragons. Now can she use it to end a war?
The extraordinary sequel to the instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, A Language of Dragons
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.
An epic, sweeping, unputdownable fantasy, A War of Wyverns is the unmissable sequel to the instant #1 Sunday Times Bestseller, A Language of Dragons.

After really enjoying A Language of Dragons, A War of Wyverns was an anticipated release. I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go and I was worried that the main character was going to be a little tiresome. There were definitely moments of that throughout but I actually really enjoyed the story and the fact it was focused more on the actual rebellion was a win for me. Please please don’t read this review if you haven’t read the first book, I would hate for you to be spoilt.

Viv has survived Bletchley Park and has now been made into The Sparrow, the face of the rebellion. She finds herself thrown into a new mission, leading to more complex moral arguments, new dragon species and dealing with grief in a whole new way.

This book shook me to my core, and I don’t think there has been a YA that has done that in a really long time. I think A War of Wyverns is the perfect mix of action and political intrigue, and I adored every minute of it. There were so many moments where I had to catch my breath. It was definitely a completely different vibe to the first one, this one has a faster pace and there’s so much happening that you can’t quite keep up. One part I really enjoyed was meeting the kids that had made the islands their home by figuring out ways to survive the dragons that hunt them, seeing the different camps and how they each operate was a great sideline and addition.

The politics that run all the way through this book are a lot deeper than the first one and there’s an bigger nuance that underlies it all. We learn of new species of dragons and their worlds, but also the bigger intricacies of the Bulgarians and where the rage and anger they feel comes from. It makes the problems of the first book come into focus a little more, and also brings a lot of the worries and concerns feel more real.

I do however think that there was a huge predictable twist. HOWEVER, I do think that was ruined by the fact that I have read a lot of fantasy, and I’m also a lot older than the target audience. It was easy to see where the story was heading, and although I didn’t realise the smaller details I realised what was going to happen before it happened. It did make the last section of the book drag just a little bit but the last chapter really pulled it back for me.

The next book will have a lot to live up to when it comes to following this one, especially as it has promised a lot more action and drama. I am a little worried to see if Viv becomes more annoying or whether she will grow up a little bit and lose the dramatics. Fingers crossed.