Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

481 reviews

harryjordan42's review

challenging dark informative reflective sad 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? No

3.5

I wish this book was 100 pages shorter and 30 pages longer

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

jordyfrombookclub's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring 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

Wow. A sweeping, powerful and well-researched alternative history of the decline of the British Empire. Driven by a fascinating near-alchemical magic system, flawed and lovable main characters and an engrossing plot line, Babel is a poignant telling of the often brutal necessities of righteous revolution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Torture

readingrinasrealm's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

laffi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

Great work, but I saw about every plot twist coming miles ago

I predicted that

Ramy would die

at the start of the book, I saw the

Griffin/Anthony/Evie/Sterling history

,

Lovell being Robins father

,

Babel being destroyed by the translate-silver-work

, and many more.

Great book nevertheless

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Misogyny, Slavery, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

teawitchontravel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Slavery, Death of parent, and Deportation

Minor: Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Alcohol

bedtimesnack's review

inspiring mysterious 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

4.25

If you were a fan of Harry Potter as a kid, reading Babel might scratch the itch for some magic/dark academia vibes. I was engaged with the plot the whole time, and the magic system was unique and well thought through. I would say the book's biggest fault is that it serves answers and interpretation a bit too readily. Themes of colonialism and racism are handled more openly as part of the plot and dialogue, so there's not a whole lot of poetic subtly going on. If you like to decipher meaning and plot yourself, you might not find what you're looking for with this book. 

That being said, R.F. Kuang does handle the themes well, and portrays several viewpoints on assimilation, resistance, microaggressions, and class consciousness from multiple characters of color. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism

mo_bookshelves's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Slavery

bookb1itch's review against another edition

challenging informative 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? Yes

4.5

I had heard such a lot of good things about how powerful this book was, but hadn't managed to read it.  Was very lucky to pick it up in a free Library whilst on holidays in Alice Springs - this feels even more unlikely now that I have read it.  Although I enjoyed the book immensely, especially its messages about colonisation and the self-importance of Britain, it was very much NOT a holiday read, so it has taken me quite a while to finish.  (eg it was not something I could read on the train, bus or plane, as it requires one's full attention.  Therefore, I have read other lighter things alongside this.). There was an event about 200 pages from the end, where I almost cheered aloud and the ending was as satisfying as it was unavoidable.  R F Kuang is a literary force to be reckoned with, leaving me with many questions about my heritage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

lolelolelolotte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Sexism, Slavery, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

Minor: Suicide, Torture, Toxic friendship, and War

the_bookwormhole_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Alcohol