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A review by nadas
Babel by R.F. Kuang
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
every single day this book lives in my head rent-free.
Right from the first few chapters I was HOOKED. This had a perfect blend of everything i love seeing in media- academic setting, found family (or are they???), platonic love and friendship, secret societies, a revolution unlike ANYTHING i've ever seen before.
The book reads almost like a fictional textbook packed with research, with the most unfiltered look at academia and the destructive effects of colonialism. While this was a fantasy book, I also think it is not the highlight. This isn't high fantasy. The magic system was so impressive and such an interesting way to show the exploitive nature of colonialsm. Some of the scenes here and some of the things that the characters had to go through made me genuinely sick and so full of rage at the pure audacity of wrecking havoc, raising wars and stripping nations of even their own people for the Empires gains and continue to preach about how they're the smartest most powerful nation for all their "resources".
The ending and the slow build up to it was glorious. You see it coming and yet you keep hoping something will happen and this will end well but it never does. The slow change in Robin's character till the very end was so well written and heartbreaking and honestly the best thing ive ever read in my entire life.
What I found even more impressive is seeing its effect on some people. Reading reviews and the mixed opinions on it from some people who were "uncomfortable" with the subject matter was like a very interesting epilogue to the book.
Overall, genius. I love you RF Kuang.
Right from the first few chapters I was HOOKED. This had a perfect blend of everything i love seeing in media- academic setting, found family (or are they???), platonic love and friendship, secret societies, a revolution unlike ANYTHING i've ever seen before.
The book reads almost like a fictional textbook packed with research, with the most unfiltered look at academia and the destructive effects of colonialism. While this was a fantasy book, I also think it is not the highlight. This isn't high fantasy. The magic system was so impressive and such an interesting way to show the exploitive nature of colonialsm. Some of the scenes here and some of the things that the characters had to go through made me genuinely sick and so full of rage at the pure audacity of wrecking havoc, raising wars and stripping nations of even their own people for the Empires gains and continue to preach about how they're the smartest most powerful nation for all their "resources".
The ending and the slow build up to it was glorious. You see it coming and yet you keep hoping something will happen and this will end well but it never does. The slow change in Robin's character till the very end was so well written and heartbreaking and honestly the best thing ive ever read in my entire life.
What I found even more impressive is seeing its effect on some people. Reading reviews and the mixed opinions on it from some people who were "uncomfortable" with the subject matter was like a very interesting epilogue to the book.
Overall, genius. I love you RF Kuang.