Babel is easily one of the most intelligently written novels I have ever read. This is my first book Ive read by the author so I cannot speak to the Poppy War Trilogy.

I first tried to read Babel in physical format and found I was struggling and getting rather caught up in the finer details. I switched to the audiobook and was golden. Chris Lew Kum Hoi is an outstanding narrator. 

Babel is what I would call a dark academia themed book. The story is told predominantly from the viewpoint of Robin Swift. He has been orphaned and brought to London to begin learning classical languages. He is told by his guardian that he will enroll into Oxford Univeristys Royal Imstitute of Translation. This is where knowledge is power and this power is translated literally into silver bars which the British Empire uses to essentially make life easier and more pleasant.

It is at Babel that Robin begins to see the British effects of Colonialism, racism, violence, and loss of identity all at once. As he starts to see more and more of this, Robin is introduced to the Hermes Society which is in direct opposition of all that is being taught at Babel.

Kuang does a fantastic job fleshing out the characters and many themes throughout the novel and there is great plot and character development. This book is full of DEEP themes and Kuang doesn't shy away from anything.

"But that's the beauty of learning a new language. It should feel like an enormous undertaking. It ought to intimidate you. It makes you appreciate the complexity of the ones you know already"