I'm not surprised at all by how much I loved this brilliant book. It took me a while to read simply because I wanted to give it my full attention and truly absorb every word. One thing is for certain.. These characters, especially Robin, will stay in my heart forever.

Robin's character was my favorite simply because I understood him on a deep level. One of my favorite quotes from him - "He hated this place. He loved it. He resented how it treated him. He still wanted to be a part of it - because it felt so good to be a part of it, to speak to its professors as an intellectual equal, to be in on the great game."

There is so much to unpack in this story and I will add this to the list of books I highly recommend to everyone (including 'The Poppy War' series)! I can't wait to hear others' thoughts on this one.

And finally, a quote that I really loved - "Language was just difference. A thousand different ways of seeing, of moving through the world. No; a thousand worlds within one. And translation - a necessary endeavour, however futile, to move between them."


*Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof.

A fantastically gripping and engaging read right from page one! The Poppy War was such an incredible series, and Kuang has definitely knocked it out of the park yet again.

This thick book is definitely worth wading through it. I love books that take place in academia and due to other books I’ve read, have a love for Oxford and dream of going to the Bodleian Library. The characters were so well written along with the plot twists I did not see coming. Other readers may see them coming as I tend to shut off the predicting part of my brain as I read. I definitely cried during this book. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and any other books this author comes out with.

A book that’s about the magic of language as much as it is literal magic, Babel is a tremendous effort—a meticulously researched period piece, a primal scream from the traditionally unheard, and a story of friendship gone horribly wrong. But its determination to make sure its (admittedly important) message is heard, means a significant chunk of this doorstopper’s 500+ pages feels didactic and lecture-y, rather than fully transformative.

Babel is such an impressive book. Felt a little bit like a version of Harry Potter for older fans. I loved the magical quality mixed with dark academia. Very rarely do a read a book that is so unique and Babel had so many components that felt new and fresh.

From a linguistics perspective I cannot even imagine how much research went in to this book. I loved reading about all of the beginnings of words and how their meanings change over time and throughout different languages. This component really added depth to the historical fiction quality of the book. Babel felt like the author invented a whole new world and I would love to read more stories from it. Great historical fictional/dark academia/magical read! I’m excited to check out more from this author.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of the reasons I like to read is because I crave the feeling of being hollowed out by a story. You can shut the cover, tuck it away into the shelf, but it lingers in you for hours, days, years. It wiggles its way into your bones and your brain and changes the way you live in the real world. That is why I read. And Babel is a perfect example.

It's about a lot of things -- academia, racism, global politics, colonialism, violence, youth, love, friendship. It asks big questions and hardly attempts to answer them, instead presenting reminder after reminder of how complicated things really are. There is never a correct answer. There is only ever a choice.

I don't know what else to say to get you to read this -- you just have to.

5 stars.

This is a masterpiece. R.F. Kuang put so much love and research into this book, and it really shows. I loved diving into language and translation and the politics surrounding them. The different languages in the book were so fascinating to read about, and it was interesting to learn explore their etymology and history. The story depicts the reality of academia and explores colonialism, racism, sexism, oppression, and revolution. This is a very layered story with a gripping plot that forces you to think about the world and how you see it. The character work was phenomenal. They are nuanced, relatable, and wonderfully written. The world building was exquisite, and it was very easy for me to visualize everything as I read. The magic system is unique, creative, and clever. I am in awe of how Kuang constructed this profound novel and the work that she put into it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite books of the year. This book left me speechless. Babel is a historical fantasy that you can just get lost in, swept away with, for days. I learned so much about 1800s Oxford, along with the roots and origins of words. Dark academia at its finest 🖤.

Robin Swift was orphaned by cholera in Canton, and brought to England by Professor Lovell. Lovell forces Robin into the relentless study of Greek, Latin, and Chinese in preparation for Oxford’s translation institute, Babel. At Babel, scholars enhance silver with magical translations that help give Britain the power to colonize the world. Robin loves life as a scholar, but he begins to realize that he is a tool of the colonizer. Will he embrace his role as a translator and betray his motherland, or will he rise up and stand with the revolution?

Babel is a captivating commentary on colonialism, racism, ethnocentrism, imperialism, and the power of words. It also grapples with identity and belonging. The magical realism is seamlessly interwoven into the historical fiction. Definitely giving my silver jewelry some side-eye now 😆👀.

This book will shake you, change you, and leave you feeling smarter in the wake of its brilliance.

Absolutely stunning 🖤.

Thank you to @harpervoyagerus and @netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Babel - R.F. Kuang
5/5⭐️

I absolutely loved this book, while long, it was a total page turner that had me gasping a couple of times. Kuang has built a thoughtful and interesting world, giving her a fascinating new lens to explore colonialism, belonging, friendship, and academia. I loved that the academia in this dark academia was not just set dressing, Kuang truly reckons with the contradictions of the university, and the darkness it can contain.

An orphan from the Orient, raised by an English professor at an alternative Cambridge discovers his situation is not what he expected. The professor is his father, his purpose is to augment the power of the British Empire's magic system. The magic is enchanted silver engraved with words of different languages. The secret is the cognitive dissidence between languages when translated. Betrayal, murder, exploitation of persons and nation make for an intense, dense, well-written tale.

This is probably my favorite fantasy book of the year! While the beginning of the story does a lot of world-building and introduction to characters, the writing is very well done. This helped me stay invested and easily follow along with the plot of the book. R.F. Kuang is such an amazing writer and the way she intricately creates this lush world is astounding. If you want a fantastic fantasy read that will keep you hooked, then look no further. This is it!

Thank you Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.


To be honest, I have no idea how to write this review because Babel took my breath away. Why can’t I rate a book six stars????? Seriously! A five-star scale feels insulting when talking about a masterpiece like Babel. It's the best book I have read in 2022 and that's saying a lot since The Sword of Kaigen crushed my soul a few months ago.

BABEL IS NOW REQUIRED READING IF YOU ARE TO BECOME MY FRIEND

August 28, 2022
I ate this book up, and for a literary fantasy, that's saying a LOT.

I think Babel asks a lot of the reader, but once you're in, you're IN. I'm hesitant to call this book a fantasy just because it's more of a literary historical fiction? The silver and the art of translation feels more sciencey, and part of me feels like it reads more like a literary type work.

Which isn't a bad thing! And obviously fantasy readers will still adore this book. But I do think it differs in that it reads very much like a nonfiction history--a format you tend to see more in historical fic, literary fic, etc. I liked how it was applied here.

I adored the story and I think it's such an important one to tell and champion. It certainly reads slower, but it's necessary and honestly, the more time I can spend with this story the better.

The discussions on empire, colonialism, and who profits off of the labor of the colonized are central to this story and extraordinarily important. I think for those who don't necessarily think about this, whether historically or in our current era, Babel is a good starting point for a depiction, and can hopefully lead to some personal reflection and research on the matter.

I'll be recommending Babel to basically everyone so this is definitely your sign to read it.

Babel is a devastating story, a scathing commentary, and a deeply intelligent alternate history. It is easy to care about these characters, and, in spite of not agreeing with all of their decisions, Kuang has written them in a way that makes their actions understandable. The system of magic is wonderfully unique, although I’ve never been to Oxford, I almost feel as though I’ve studied there via this literary surrogate.

Babel is a masterpiece of speculative fiction/alternative history. A masterpiece. RF Kuang poured her heart and soul into this novel, and her story, in turn, engraved itself on my heart and soul. On one level, the story's world-building is perfect. I could feel myself wandering the 8-floored Babel tower, exploring the books and workshops. How Kuang describes the silver bars, their inscriptions, and the manipulation of languages brought the magic to life. Each of Kuang's characters is wrought with layers of personality, and she gives them time and opportunity to evolve as the story unwinds. More deeply, Kuang's indictment of colonialization and the industrial revolution is searing.

If you are a nerd, love dark academics, or are interested in exploring the amorality of colonization, then I expect you'll enjoy this book. I predict this novel will be short-listed for multiple literary awards this year.

I received from NetGalley a free ebook version of this book in exchange for a review.

Good book and a fantastic story with great characters, wonderful worldbuilding, and an exciting plot.

It was a unique story which I was glad to read by R.F. Kuang

I found this book hard to read in the beginning as so much of the causal racism the main character deals with was too familiar. Even later much for the topics dealt with in the book are heavy and difficult topics. I found myself putting the book down to process many many times. At around the halfway point I suddenly reached a point in the story where I had a hard time putting the book down. I had to continue and see where it went. Overall this was a brilliant and difficult read.

This book was everything. Everything in its complexity, twists, details, world building, magic systems, writing style, and plot.
I didn't keep my heart safe even knowing how R.F. Kuang loves to torture us readers. I should've known better. My heart went through so many emotional rollercoaster, I finished the book with a heart full and shattered at the same time. Excellent storytelling, excellent story. I loved it a lot.

I had the honor of going to see R. F. Kuang at her New Haven talk, and I was blown away by her discussion on craft and industry, along with what makes a great novel. I devoured Babel in all of its glory. It’s rare to see BIPOC historical fiction novels, especially ones that tackle colonialism and empire and even the strength of languages. I loved the magic/silver working system and the steady, slow build that came from first seeing it in action to understanding its mechanics. The characters and settings really came to life, and I could see the echoes of Oxford’s history in Yale’s. R. F. Kuang discussed the difference between the aesthetic of dark academia and the reality of the tragic accounts that linger behind these famous institutions. Truly a wonderful read to dismantle everything you think you know about revolution, colonialism, and the impossibility of assimilation.

It’s taken me weeks to read this because I could only stand to read it in a few dozen pages at a time and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s dense, it’s ambitious, it’s exquisitely detailed. It’s a masterpiece. There’s not really much I can say about the plot other than what is in the summary because any detail given will ruin the experience. It delivers everything it promises and more. There’s a few moments where the story drags but that’s to be expected when you consider the layers of the magic system, story and depth of languages. At first, there’s little details and slivers of plot that seemingly have no connections to the greater story but once you get to the end, they all make sense. I can’t wait to read it again to see the little things I missed.

I will say, the characters (the core four if you will) are my favorite part of Babel. Robin is my favorite, by a lot, but the others are also so good and complex and wonderful.

You have to read this book. Trust me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.