Reviews

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

pyrotec's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

thekidonherown's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious 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? No

4.5

liquidsticks's review against another edition

hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

chamberofemily's review against another edition

challenging dark informative 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

5.0

lmilfort's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

[a dark academia set in mid-1800s in Oxford, England at the Royal Translation Institute, we follow Robin Swift a Chinese born student who attends the institute with three other students Ramy, Letty and Victorie and he comes to grips with Britains colonialism but with the backdrop of the magical realism in their use of silver] I’m gonna be obsessed with this book for the foreseeable future I love everything about it 

birdghosting's review against another edition

challenging dark informative 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

4.5

This was an utterly fascinating read for a language lover as myself. Every mention of language, translation, etymology, and everything else was there to keep me continuing through the book. While I wouldn't say the book was ever boring at any point, I did notice that somewhere after the halfway point I really couldn't put it down. Besides language, I thought the focus on race and the white man were very well done, especially during that time period. I resonated extremely hard with Robin's moral dilemma of selfishly surviving.

I really had no idea where the end of the story was going to go, but as it loomed nearer it felt like there was only one trajectory. The amount of tragedy and despair packed into the last quarter was not something I came prepared for, but at the same time I'm not sure what else I expected.

All in all, an incredible story to read through.

juliaeconner's review against another edition

dark informative 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

nicklybear's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Violence, Racism, and Child abuse

marybo01's review against another edition

4.0

This book took a long time to properly kick in, but once it did… it was a rollercoaster. 
Also Kuang’s brain is insane for being able to write such a detailed, academic style novel about so many different languages and their sources. I can’t even imagine the amount of research she must have done. I love her. 

mickachu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0