Reviews

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

kayla_kamldecker's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book felt profound, and I could absolutely see it being taught alongside the classics in classrooms of the future.

My only complaint is that it was very slow, and seemed to drag. I think this book could have easily been split into two or three separate books.

zeev's review against another edition

4.0

as a mild translation nerd this magic system was very cool to me

crookedmidnight's review against another edition

5.0

Really interesting, intense and thought provoking story and despite its length it keeps you interested in finding out what’s going to happen. At some points the author includes “foreshadowing” where she says things that will happen later in the book which I thought was creative

aliciablack's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

katnivera's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

elwood's review against another edition

5.0

6 ⭐️

This book is so brilliantly perfect. So intellectual but also so gripping !!!! Did I understand everything that happened? NO. Do I care ? ALSO NO.

I think this may be the best book i’ve read, ever. Like EVER.

A new ABSOLUTE IMMEDIATE FAVOURITE. I’m going to have to reread this by the end of 2023.

I can’t even put into words how this made me feel.

saltpeanut's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book was absolutely beautiful. I’m pretty picky with my dark academia but the prose, the characters and the magic system brought this version of our world completely to life. 

Did the main character annoy the ever loving heck out of me? Yes. Was the narrator of the audiobook absolutely excellent and I highly recommend doing this in audio over physical or ebook? TRIPLE YES!

If you’re wanting a meaty, sink-your-teeth in discussion about race set in the backdrop of Oxford University with language based magic then please do yourself a favour and read Babel.

There were multiple times through this book that I needed to just sit down and think about what had been said and process the weight of it - Babel won’t leave me any time soon.

ehenry501's review against another edition

adventurous

4.5

mementomoriiv's review against another edition

dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism

Moderate: Blood

chloethereadingnurse's review against another edition

adventurous informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0