A review by laraloops
Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book absolutely destroyed me. It's my first try in dark academia and it does not disappoint but it does make me very sad. It's very well written and very much wears the author's experiences in Oxford on its sleeves. Oxford is it's own character and the author has alot to say about it and the imperialist powers at work in Oxford and in England as a whole.
I do very much appreciate a book that does not hold its punches back with the imperialism and blatant racism of the time period. There are times that fantasy can be an escape from reality but this book shows the very real evil that comes with the white imperialist, capitalists that the British and other European powers were and what they absolutely would do if provided with magic.
The magic in the story is cool but the real magic in this book is the language - something that can be found in our own world. This book may feel like an academic paper at times but the beauty really shows in how the author describes language, translation, and etymology. Like the main character I found myself wondering at the meanings of words I used daily after reading this book.
You can feel the way the author really wants to pull you into their world and experiences and I enjoyed it though I needed a box of Kleenex to get me through it.
I do very much appreciate a book that does not hold its punches back with the imperialism and blatant racism of the time period. There are times that fantasy can be an escape from reality but this book shows the very real evil that comes with the white imperialist, capitalists that the British and other European powers were and what they absolutely would do if provided with magic.
The magic in the story is cool but the real magic in this book is the language - something that can be found in our own world. This book may feel like an academic paper at times but the beauty really shows in how the author describes language, translation, and etymology. Like the main character I found myself wondering at the meanings of words I used daily after reading this book.
You can feel the way the author really wants to pull you into their world and experiences and I enjoyed it though I needed a box of Kleenex to get me through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, and Xenophobia