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A review by kelsyer
Babel by R.F. Kuang
dark
tense
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
3.5
Babel is a good book.
The first half was really good, I enjoyed the setting and learning about the magic system.
I really liked the dark academia vibes, the translations and the world that Kuang made with her alternative Oxford.
She touched upon topics that she does well, racism, sexism, unfairness, orphans etc.
However.
Either I read it too soon after her trilogy or I am just not in the right headspace to connect fully with her characters, because I did understood everything up until a point and could argue on their side of the coin, but when we got past that point, I had to push myself fo finish it.
I also found the major plots predictable. I would much rather read more about how our ending affected the world politics and what other members of Hermes were doing in the world while we were in Oxford.
The first half was really good, I enjoyed the setting and learning about the magic system.
I really liked the dark academia vibes, the translations and the world that Kuang made with her alternative Oxford.
She touched upon topics that she does well, racism, sexism, unfairness, orphans etc.
However.
Either I read it too soon after her trilogy or I am just not in the right headspace to connect fully with her characters, because I did understood everything up until a point and could argue on their side of the coin, but when we got past that point, I had to push myself fo finish it.
I also found the major plots predictable. I would much rather read more about how our ending affected the world politics and what other members of Hermes were doing in the world while we were in Oxford.