A review by thymeiord
Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

I'm most impressed by the worldbuilding - creating a universe with a magic system that is the perfect starting point for conversations around the experience of immigrants, race & racism, and colonialism. Kuang takes her premise of silverworking and draws out every possible implication of a world where multilingualism is real, tangible power and demonstrates how western society is founded on injustice & inequality. It takes place in an alternative, fantasy 19th century England, but the themes are devastatingly relevant to today. A challenging read for me as a white person but wholly worth it.
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