A review by lillymacantire
Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

I am amazed by this book. The intensive research that must have lead to its development absolutely paid off. I am in awe at the creation of the world—so honest, so gut wrenching in its implementation. The magic system, while at times confusing, is truly one of a kind. The characters were captivating, the history rich, the settings well-researched, and the story captivating. Written in an eloquent, clear prose which balanced the limited perspective of the character with the omniscience of a narrator who must speak on the larger world, the novel is an exemplar in so many ways I struggle to even put into words. Every detail in this book matters, every line feels important—something vital in a longer work. Even details I had long forgotten found there way into the intricately layered plot. This book reminded me of the power fiction can hold and serves as an inspiration for what I only hope my own writing can become. I will be reading more works by this author very, very soon. To the author: thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand times over.
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