Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R.F. Kuang

966 reviews

cayliehausman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

A beautifully written story of revolution in the face of colonization, racism and injustice. Though set in the 1830s, it’s startlingly relevant to the politics and issues of 2024; Kuang tells the fictional history in a way that makes you take a step back and see the bigger picture of the world, and it’s people, in 2024. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Blood, Classism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Vomit, Drug use, War, and Violence

Minor: Torture, Murder, Racial slurs, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Suicide, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

noms01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, War, Death, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Death of parent

Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Slavery, and Suicide

Minor: Addiction

emmerylynn's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious 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

Wow! This is such an incredibly researched historical fantasy. I loved how the author characterized each character so meticulously and I loved the lingustic messages. The anti-imperialism sentiment! The dark academia! The death! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexism

lohock's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, and Racism

This is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.

theasi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Body horror, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, War, Blood, Bullying, Death, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Slavery, Child abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Deportation and Drug use

idabwells's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Probably the most impactful book I've ever read besides Jemisin and Butler.

Manages to capture the devastating scope of colonial genocide while also portraying the courage and brilliance of those around the world struggling to survive and triumph over it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Trafficking, Suicide, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Murder, Police brutality, Sexism, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Misogyny, Racism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, and Kidnapping

Minor: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, War, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail

leonineliterature's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

It had everything that made it a candidate to be amazing. But sadly, it just didn't work for me. I'm not sure exactly why.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Racism

giulia_rossi's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Racial slurs, and Racism

Non credo ci sia davvero un modo univoco per definire questo romanzo, é un’enciclopedia di conoscenze, di storia, di amicizia, di rabbia e di violenza allo stesso momento. L’autrice guida il lettore attraverso la storia dei protagonisti e nelle pieghe degli eventi storici che nei libri di scuola vengono lasciati da parte, non si può uscire da questa lettura senza essere ammirati, arrabbiati e spaventati al tempo stesso. Credo che questo libro verrà annoverato tra i classici della nostra epoca.

xxlynxx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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

5.0

Ow… 5 stars tho

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Classism, and Racism

Moderate: Blood, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and War

dorisko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Another amazing book by R.F.Kuang. You will hate colonialism even more after this.
And if you think any of the characters can stay happy for longer than 1 minute... think again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Colonisation, Racism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism