64.4k reviews for:

Babel

R.F. Kuang

4.34 AVERAGE

catrinaplace's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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: No

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o tiktok estava certo, este livro é INCRIVEL

mckay_kozielski's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous hopeful reflective

sharon22flowers's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

tmonson's review against another edition

5.0

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“Babel” is a staggeringly great accomplishment by R.F. Kuang. This book is clearly a massive undertaking of research, and also a labor of love. Kuang’s skill as a writer is on full display here and it’s so good it should be impossible. I’ve never read any of her books before now but I will be checking out The Poppy War as soon as I can.

I really don’t think I’ve loved a book this much in a very long time. I’m obsessed with the blend of the dark academia/wizard school aesthetic with the brutal honesty of white racism and British imperialism in the 1800s. It strikes a balance of having powerful themes without overwhelming the reader. Shockingly, it’s also very witty and readable. I took my time reading this book because I never wanted it to end.

The characters are vibrant and grounded (all my love for Robin and his friends) and their relationships are complicated and believable. I loved watching their journey through the institute of translation and how it shaped the views of every one of them.

Gosh it’s just so good. Babel is my easily my favorite book of 2022 and also one of my all time favorites. I’ve been pushing it on all my friends as urgently as I can. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll gasp at all the twists, it’s just wonderful and powerful. Go read it, please!

samb216's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark 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: Complicated

08lissy01's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

vern's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sarahcrane's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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: Complicated

lmarshall's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

zuzuhumphrey's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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: Yes