A review by littlecake
Babel by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This book resonated with me on a deeply emotional and political level. It felt really personal, touching on themes that are both important and highly relevant today, especially with the ongoing genocide in Palestine. 

 At the heart of the story, set within the dark academia and fantasy genres, are deep themes like colonialism, imperialism, revolution, and language.  Babel Tower in Oxford serves as a powerful metaphor for colonialism, while the Hermes Society captures the essence of every revolution - a small force trying to tip the balance. R.F. Kuang could have turned these topics into an academic essay, but weaving them into a novel made them more accessible and tangible. The dark fantasy elements support her narrative. The dark fantasy elements really support her narrative, and I especially enjoyed her magic system. It felt original, well-crafted, and thoroughly researched. 

The characters had a big impact on me.  As a South Asian, I really understood Robin’s struggles with the weight of the "model minority" label. I related strongly to Ramy, as an Indian Muslim, and Victoire moved me as a racialized woman. Letty broke my heart, reminding me of many of my white female friends, both past and present. Their character arcs were perfect yet so painful to witness. Griffin also captured my heart— —his rage and the burden of being the eldest child really resonated with me. The sibling relationship and the abusive father are central themes in the book that hit close to home.

 While Babel deeply moved me, it’s not without a few small flaws. The world-building could have been more developed, but the narrower focus actually made sense given Robin’s perspective and heightened the “ivory tower” effect of academia. Some characters, 
especially those involved in the siege (Ibrahim, Yusuf, Julianna, and Professor Craft)
, could have been fleshed out more.  The fifth act (Book V) needed more space to breathe so we could get to know some of the secondary characters more deeply. But despite these small flaws, the book is still brilliant. It was a real challenge to tackle such complex topics in a compelling novel, and Kuang nailed it. 

I could write endless essays on this book, from the abusive parent dynamics between Robin and his father, to the fragile friendships within the group, to the brutal reality of academia, the necessity of violence in revolution and the disappearance of languages. There’s just so much to unpack and discuss.

And this is why, despite its flaws, Babel deserves a full 5-star rating. I felt represented. It makes you think, makes you feel and this is what I expect from a good book. 
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