The narration was quite good and I have no complaints regarding that, the story has been described by other reviewer's as phenomenal and a masterpiece, for those reviewer's I am glad but for me this book far from those descriptions

I read this mostly from a physical copy but used the audio book galley to mix things up a little bit and also to relive some chapters in a different way too.

Thoughts on my experience with the audio book aspects first, I wasn't hugely keen on the voice for Letty, I felt Robin and Victoire especially were nicely done though!

Spoilers Ahead

On to the book in general, phenomenal.

RF Kuang is an immensely talented author that manages to get across her points and present her themes in a way that is so central to the plot, but doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. It has a strong anti colonial message and also tackles the social class divide and workers taking action in the form of strikes. Seen as the book is set in the early 19th century, these are some startlingly relevant themes to the current day.

Babel is unapologetically pure dark academia vibes. Their times studying at Babel are written in such a way that can only come from someone that lived that life the way Kuang did. You can feel that she has blurred the lines between fiction and memoir and has based the struggles of fitting in in an elitist society as both a woman and a foreigner on her own experiences doing so. Kuang has put part of herself into this story and it has helped elevate it to the top tier of dark academia fiction. Mysteries, secrets and split loyalties from trying to fit in are hallmarks of dark academia and all feature in Babel.

Kuang has a talent for writing characters, particularly protagonists, who are firmly in the grey when it comes to morality and there are definitely some similarities between Robin and Rin from The Poppy War. Both begin with the best of intentions, both find themselves struggling to identify which side are the good guys and which are the bad guys and both slowly descend further into chaos and instability whilst trying to grapple with the enormity of the task ahead and how small they are in the grand scheme of things. Both embark on revolutions and both fall on their own terms rather than live in a world they no longer see a place for themselves in. You find yourself in a place where you are not entirely sure if you are supposed to be rooting for them to win or not.

I personally love the minimal emphasis on any romance in the story. Instead Kuang prioritises the importance of friendship and platonic love, of having a strong support network when times are tough and of family truly being who you choose and not who you are given.

Babel is a love letter to words, language, translation, the power of reading and books. It highlights the importance of diversity in languages and how some words can only truly exist in their native language. How translation can only ever tell half of the story and how anglifying things can be harmful and limit the true understanding.

This is one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever and will ever give.

Nothing short of a masterpiece. I am confident nobody can read BABEL without having their life altered by it.

**Listened to the audiobook**

So this book was just so complex, and full on that the audiobook just lost me. I couldn't get on with it at all.
The pacing was slow - but I wouldn't have wanted it any faster as I was lost as it was.

The narrator was good, and was great with accents - which made it easier to follow in some aspects.

I would like to try again with this book, but it would need to be the print version.

I loved it! I already had the chance to read Babel prior to the release, and I think the audiobook truly enhanced the reading experience. It is obvious that Babel is R. F. Kuang's passion project. You could feel her enthusiasm in languages and translation and I loved how she made learning fun. If RFK wrote a history textbook i think I'd devour it. The themes here, of empire and decolonialism I think were very well done. Hard-hitting, well-written, and a refreshing take on dark academia. Truly a delight to read and definitely cements R. F. Kuang's position as one of my favorite authors.

I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for a fair review.

Absolutely wonderful. This was one of my most highly anticipated books for 2022. I even suggested to HarperCollins multiple times that I might raid their offices to steal myself an ARC. It did not disappoint. This book is fantastic, but it’s not just a book, it’s one of the most immersive stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of falling into. I’ve already pre-ordered two copies of this book for friends and plan on re-reading this again – something I barely ever do. The world and characters are so beautifully constructed that I would truly expect Babel to be present in Oxford if I were to visit.

This is a book that would certainly make fantasy fans swoon, it’s peak dark academia and sets the bar for the genre so much higher. It’s a true masterpiece arguing the importance of tradition and creativity…. and so insightful into the particular cruelties of the British Empire and how money and weapons control power.

I loved it, five stars, instantly one of my favourite books. I can’t wait to re-read it again and again. The audiobook in particular is so well performed, the footnotes don’t take you out of the pacing and instead immerse you even more. It’s nothing short of excellent. It’s perfect. I thoroughly recommend the audiobook version as you get to hear the correct pronunciations of everything in a book that expresses the importance of language.

An absolute masterpiece from start to finish, R.F.Kuang has woven an intricate tale that kept me hooked from page one, blending dark academia and historical fiction seamlessly. The issues raised in this book were thought provoking and harrowing to read, but important to do so as it's really opened my mind. I assume (well, I'm desperately hoping!) that there will be a sequel!