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

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad 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

Tragic and yet hopeful- a hard balance but God does she make it work. Kuang really knows how to raise the stakes until you think they're at the highest point, and then raise them again. A masterful introduction to the inherent violence of colonisation. The messaging is very on-the-nose but also I think perhaps it had to be- as it says people will take any excuse to avoid seeing what is uncomfortable. Subtext isn't strong enough for white people. 
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