R. F. Kuang has blown me away before, and Babel truly did not disappoint. This has got to be the best book I've read this year if not the best book I've ever read. It was unique, it was well-written, it addressed prevalent issues, it was captivating; pretty much any praise you can think of I'd like to bestow upon this book. Even though it took me a while, it was worth every minute. Babel is a story that makes you truly think about the world and your place in it, and although it isn't necessarily happy, there is a strong undercurrent o hope for the future. I would recommend this book to anyone for both the actual story and characters and the amazing message.