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Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic friendship
Minor: Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Classism
I love a book that makes me think and feel, and boy howdy did I. I really liked the premise because not only does it provide an interesting angle on colonization (with the idea of plumbing a foreign language for its differences compared to English in the same way countries are currently and have historically been plumbed for natural resources) but also about the impacts colonization has on culture (and individuals themselves) through language. As a language learner with an interest in translation as well, I really appreciated the more philosophical discussions about translation theories too. There was also the theme of academia serving as a weapon of empire, which isn't something I've seen explored often in fantasy settings.
Speaking of setting, I loved the twist this book took with adding language-based magic to a historical era. It was easy for me to see how Britain, even in a world with magical elements, could construct an empire in the same way it historically did due to violence, coercion, and a monopoly of resources, all of which the book took great care to explain.
The beginning and the latter third were a lot stronger to me than the middle, which felt like it dragged at parts. I also felt like most of the relationship development between the four main characters was told rather than shown, and what parts were shown through dialogue seemed to contradict what we were being told, especially regarding Letty. While I do think Letty was a good demonstration of
With that said though, there was never any point in the book that I didn't understand Robin himself as a character. There were many times along the way where I found myself thinking that I might have acted similarly as him, and it made me reflect on my own morals. Also, the part where
Overall I think the book did an amazing job at tackling so many difficult themes, and doing so in a way that balanced character development against dense academic explanations of its magic system. It challenged my own understanding of myself, my morals, and my privileges - often in uncomfortable ways - and left me with a haunting ending that asks hard questions with no easy answers.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexism, Torture, Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War
Like it feels so real. Ofc magic doesn't exist in the real world but everything else does. And it is so wrong. The amount of thinking about the world brought by this book is just impossible to describe!
It feels like Poppy war but seen by the people of colonised country living in England. To me the books complete themselves perfectly (and are amazing)
I highly recommend reading Babel and Poppy war !!
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexism, Islamophobia, War
Minor: Gun violence, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Slavery, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, War
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexism, Murder