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

dark emotional informative reflective tense 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 books is brilliant and important. R.F. Kuang is a talented writer, and her story deconstructs themes of colonialism, and oppression in a masterful way. Using an inventive hard magic system, her setting places the violence and exploitation at the heart of daily life in Empire front and center. Because of this, Babel is an impressive work of literature and one of the best pieces of fantasy to be written in contemporary fiction. 

To be sure, this is not a happy story. Babel is not Hogwarts. And while the book is beautifully written, it is tragic, historically accurate, and unfair to the characters that I grew to love while reading it. But that’s precisely what makes Kuang’s work so compelling. It interrogates and problematizes the tropes, settings, and characters that we take for granted as readers of fantasy. 

SpoilerThe one complaint I have with Babel is how it deals with mental illness, depression, and suicide. The main character clearly (and understandably) suffers from depression. Unfortunately, I found that the resolution of the book glorifies suicide and furthers the myth of noble self-sacrifice in a way that was troubling. The book is a tragedy and never tries to convince you otherwise, so I didn’t dock any stars for this. And the author does present compelling contrary points of view on the subject.
However, readers with a history of depression or suicidal ideation should be careful before reaching for Babel. 
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