A review by laurenleigh
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark 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

Once again, I’m in awe of Kuang’s talent. The hard magic system in this story was excellent and so interesting. It’s really more magical realism than fantasy, as this book is firmly set in Victorian era Oxford. I have a soft spot for books set in famous old colleges. I was super engrossed in the middle of this text (academic settings, secret societies, all my faves), but the ending really dragged. It took me way too long to get through the last 5 hours. There was also a major event in the end that I felt deserved more attention, more reaction. I think I was more invested in the characters than the plot at that point.
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