A review by anathereader8
Babel by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

It marked my third 5⭐️ read in 2024 and one of my all-time favorite novels. Swipe right for the blurb and some of the quotes that got my attention.

I heard a lot about the book, and everyone was amused by it, but I hadn't come across any detailed reviews. Still, I spent a fortune and ordered the book. I intended to read it in January, but I started it only in May. 

At first, I was confused. The book turned out to be a linguistic and etymology lecture — luckily, I graduated with a BA in linguistics and translation. Still, it was hard to read the book. It took me 2-3 months to finish 200 pages. I didn't want to give up the book. I am glad now I didn't. 

At around 300 pages the book has transformed into something you cannot put down. One plot twist after another, tens of good philosophical quotes to ponder. 

The main character's development is huge and unexpected. I pitied Robin, supported him, and then questioned and hated him. 

With Babel, I opened a world of dark academia and Kuang as an author. I will definitely read more of her books and dive more into the genre.