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

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

Spoilers!

I’d give it more stars if I could. I felt physically sick at the end, my face must have had a fixed horrified/ disgusted expression for so very long. 

This book was so insightful and clever and explored racism and sexism so well, and the brutal part is that it is based on history. Apart from the silver work, obviously. And it was so brutal.

It had a slow build up, but I didn’t mind because it was still engaging, but when Robin killed Professor Lovell was when it really took off. It was so stressful and tense and it never eased off. Not until the last chapter, which was soul sucking and devoid of hope. Kuang is really good at those scenes.

I loved the magic system with the silver and differences in translation and all the tiny nuances. I really loved listening to the audiobook on the bus, the voice actors were very good. The footnotes being in another voice was clever too. That person has a nice voice.

I want a spin off with Victoire continuing the battle against colonisation. And a final encounter with her and Letty where Letty dies, please.

Also, fuck Letty.

‘A great paradox: the fact that, after everything they had told Letty, all the pain they had shared, she was the one who needed comfort.’