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A review by bookshelfmonkey
Babel by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh god R.F. Kuang's broken my heart again.
Having read the Poppy War trilogy and sobbed for 30 minutes straight after finishing it, I should have been at least somewhat prepared for this, but R.F. Kuang broke down my emotional walls, got me attached to these characters and invested in their lives and futures and relationships and made me fall a little bit in love with this magical, corrupted, broken world, and then did... that.
Having read the Poppy War trilogy and sobbed for 30 minutes straight after finishing it, I should have been at least somewhat prepared for this, but R.F. Kuang broke down my emotional walls, got me attached to these characters and invested in their lives and futures and relationships and made me fall a little bit in love with this magical, corrupted, broken world, and then did... that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Addiction, Child death, and Abandonment