r.f. kuang has truly done it again, babel blew away all my expectations and shattered the standards of the dark academia genre. she outmatched herself really and not just by causing even more extreme emotional damage as tpw trilogy had. kuang put her entire mind, heart and soul into the workings of this one, from the depths of knowledge on translation theory and linguistics to her distinct characterizations. the themes brought to the forefront of student revolution, decolonization in resisting colonial rule and its never ending ramifications along figuring out one’s place, accepting the role rooted in their identity of going against powerful nation of britain. even so, ones in power still looks down upon them and their motherlands deeming them inferior, thinking that they “saved” students uprooting them from their homes that they gave them such privileges of studies and only prioritizing of what would be in britain's best interest as babel students are expendable to them.

trying to write as little spoilers as possible, though definitely want to write out a more thorough review closer to release date, with just endless pondering on my mind like one being my thoughts on our individual characters of robin, ramy, victoire, letty and more. with the way kuang articulated internal struggles on what it is like to be a foreigner in a country where there are people who will never truly accept ones as they are even as much they try to assimilate, it will never be enough for them and one loses their identity in the process of going about attempting to be accepted in their eyes. this being said, also her depictions of white fragility and the realization of how much they have to be comforted when their ideals are proven wrong, kuang wrote it so unerringly exact in the perspectives seen through this story.

from the oxford campus atmosphere to seeing the rigorous language classes, pulling readers in feeling like one were at the college with our main core four. in how they go about their days in classes, at cafes, and familiar of the habits each one has, readers see the cohort of our four grow and depend on another so quickly. the found family dynamic of it all made my heart beyond full even though the early on foreshadowing, having its intended impact, shattered my soul having me terrified for what direction the storyline would go in. following these university students, seeing them at their happiest moments together up until they come to realizations of knowing they can’t be those blissful kids ever again in order to be loyal to their truest selves.

the entire system of silver working that is woven into real times and history, but being fictional spearhead of power that britain holds is complete utter genius down to its very details. simply inexplicable brilliance how it functions, the match-pairs needing two words of different languages but the user saying the term must in fluent in being able to think and dream in said language. the use of silver bars in daily necessities was very much reminder of current times with advanced technology such as ai and self-serve tech putting workers out of jobs. the numerous possibilities with the bars is clear why the characters say they feel like a god themselves when finding a match-pair that is a success.

characters are put through the absolute wringer, particular robin, ramy and victoire. i’m quite sure readers will love robin seeing everything he’s put through and his conflicts at every turn as he grapples with hard choices and develops him tremendously. be sure to expect definite usuals in kuang’s writing style with her impressive use of foreshadowing, as tpw trilogy readers knowing she frankly does not just implement it without reason. additionally, her phenomenal plot twists, as in the beginning i thought i knew where the story was going with many of my theories proven true as the story went on. but all of sudden, rfk takes your head for a spin at precise moments and then you’re at a complete loss for words and terrified, no longer knowing where she’ll take the story and how it would all end.

there’s no way to prepare for this novel at all, let the story and characters captivate your mind and feelings as kuang fills your brain with all things linguistics and the intricacies of translation theory, and gives you characters to love while causing an insane amount of suffering all the same.


Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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01/06/22 update: both the us and uk covers are so stunning, its everything an rfk dark academia book deserves. desperately need it to be august already, its 8 months too far away.
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05/04/21: shaking and crying in anticipation in hopes that this gives me a new brainrot because the tpw trilogy has been causing me breakdowns for the last six months...