A review by youreawizardjerry
Babel by R.F. Kuang

emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

Ambitious. The good parts I adored, but somewhere amidst all the ambition and intertwining genres and concepts Kuang got lost in the sauce. Tried to be so much that it diluted a lot of the initial punch and heart by the end. I appreciate holding to the constraints of the time, but it left me unfortunately feeling less inspired, and more deflated. In many ways I understand that direction, in others I genuinely don’t think I’d recommend it to other bipoc. Also

I really don’t appreciate storytellers killing off the darkest guy first and also #2 kuang have the boys kiss already how dare you lead me on like this