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

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I'm generally not a fan of period pieces, but the plot and world revolving around fluency in other languages hooked me.  Dovetailing the magical realism into what is almost historical non-fiction makes for an emotional read.