Its hard to even begin to review this book. So much life (and death) is packed into what you wish was an even longer book. She writes so beautifully, and each character is someone who you have probably met before. Their personalities, drives, and backgrounds are so well executed. Her love of language pours out of this book. I love how she incorporated translation into this magical re-imagining of London. How she so perfectly described the feeling of thinking in multiple languages, the notion of dreaming in another tongue, the dificulty and impossibility of a true translation. I find that happens in my daily life too, when a saying i know in one language cannot be accurately or even remotley said in the other.
Its the feeling of the words that are missing, the entire cultural context from one language lost or jumbled when converting to another. A feeling which she then personified in the characters she wrote. People from one place and their transformation from loss in another.
"...unlike the alchemists, we've actually figured out the key to the transformaion of a thing. It's not in the material substance. It's in the name."
So, let's begin with our main character Robin Swift. A boy from Canton who changes his name. It's poetic and cruel that we never learn his real name. The loss he feels, his desperate need for family and connection, and the inability to pick a side until it's too late, seals his fate. DON'T even get me started on him and Ramy. They deserved more years together. They deserved time to figure out life outside of the silver prision that was Babel. He is quite the tragic Greek figure- he even says so himself. His downfall begins with a confrontation we all saw coming. I was ELATED when he killed his fuck ass father. FUCK that dude. Now i thought he would've just beat his ass. I mean, i feel like a physical confrontation would've felt better honestly. But as we know this is a book about words, languages, and translation. Of COURSE the man who forced him into this life, is shot down by 2 simple words spoken by his own son. I know Griffin probably grinned and got drunk af when he heard that. I would've bear hugged Robin if i was him fr.
OMG There are just so many great characters that i wish we had more of, Griffin being one of them. And to think he was right all along (obviously) and if he had been there he'd have had London cowering within 48 hours. Robin got sexy the min he started impersonating him i won't lie. LIke yesss take control make London fall to it's knees baby you have nothing to loose anymore. Desperation mixed with intelligence is a good look for him. Ultimately, it was too much for him in the end which i still wish wasn't true. He and Victorie should've escaped and continued the fight. His heart just wasn't in it anymore. He couldn't tread any longer.
Victorie was, in the end, the true hero. Destined to continue on the fight, determined to find a sense of happiness in a world that tried to deny it from her at every turn. Her confession to Robin may be some of the best lines in the entire book. (it's hard to choose as each word is so carefully placed and the entire book is really one big amazing quote). Her one true desire defies all that they expect of her and she refuses out of sheer will and drive to fall into the trap of martydom. Good for her. She's the realest bitch here. Ramy would have agreed with her. Why let them take you down if you have a choice to live and fight another day? If just your mere existence is restistance to them? How could you let them take that from you? Your life?! For what?
I loved her view on death. I never thought it a reprieve either. For what being truly wants to die if the other option is to live?
She was the strongest one of them all, intelligent, witty, brave, and a true rebel. I saw someone write how it's because she does it for a want of a better world, not soley for vengance or hatred. She wants to see something better even for just one day, even if its just for herself. Is that not what we all strive for? A good day, even if it's just for us? She never let herself fail, she never succummbed to despair. She couldn't. Not that she didnt ever feel sad, depressed, angry, or vindictive. She was all of those things too. But i think she learned a long time ago that she only ever had herself, at the end of the day. If she wanted to survive, she just had to take it day by day.
But Robin cannot be brave or selfish in the same way that Victorie is. He faces a familiar feeling, and sees the one person he probably missed the most. His mother. That nearly broke me. He was always just a scared and lost boy. Just like Griffin said. And Robin found truth too late, when everyone he ever loved either betrayed him or died. And sadly even Victorie was not enough to have him stay. I truly believed if Griffin had lived, if he got to read the envelope, Robin would've stuck it out. The death of Ramy ramped up the violence, hatred, loss, and sadness Robin felt and the death his brother cemented his refusal to continue on. Because there was truly nothing left for him. He knew Victorie was strong enough to carry on without him, what a terrible burden he left her.
Ok. Lets talk about Ramy. WHEN I CATCH YOU LETTY PRICE I SWEAR TO G- I cannot believe what happened. It was so sudden, he didn't even get a LAST WORD! Ramy!! The boy who couldn't shut up to save his life (well not shutting up is precisely what does make him succsessful) didn't even get to say anything to the boy he loved most and his best friend. I loved him too! So why on earth would you kill him off KUANG?? We don't even get a smooch? A kiss on the cheek even? I'd settle for a tight embrace at this point wth.
But its so perfectly done, the subtlety of their affection. Covered under layers of societal standards and bigger more important things that take their attention away from each other. UGH! I loved his deep sense of loyalty. I love a loyal bitch downnn in friendships or relationships. The best type of people are ones who remain loyal to you even if they are mad, even if you are no longer friends they still have your back and respect you. Like when they reach Canton and Ramy is still checking in on Robin despite his anger. That's love, care, and acceptance right there. Ramy deserved to live. And i think that fact made Robin loose his mind. I wish he did rip Letty to shreds.
Letty Price. Do i even need to speak on her? Do i have to? Yes, because FUCK THAT BITCH. Are you kidding me?? The thing that kills me, is that she couldv'e just left, not said a word, and never came back. She comes back ARMED? READY TO KILL? Then she fuckin shoots Ramy in the fucking HEART? Doesn't even have enough guilt to fall to her knees begging for forgivness?? It was on purpose. And Robin knew it. Anthony was right (of course he was he's never did anything wrong). Can't trust an English bitch. I mean its the 1830's did they really expect her to be chill with this? Why didn't she just go fucking around with some white boys and leave our precious 3 babies alone?? Then she comes back and has the GALL to call Robin Birdie?! Bitch are you on opium?? What are you on? You didn't have to stay but you sure as hell didn't have to betray your only friends. FUCK YOU. Then her pathetic interlude to give us context into how she felt. IDGAF! Talking about oh its so hard being a girl here why don't they get it... yeah they do understand. Victorie was also a woman but had deal with insane racisim thrown her way on top of sexism which you NEVER cared to see or defend her from. YOU SHOULD BE MAD AT HOW THEY TREAT HER & YOU! Just because you're born there and white doesn't mean shit, you'll still never get a piece of the pie because you're a girl! Open your third eye Letty. They all hate you too! What a dumb, daft, and stupid woman. Of course she lived, ugh. I don't believe she ever truly loved Ramy. She was infatuated. That's it. Idk about you but I certainly wouldn't MURDER someone i loved simply for disagreeing with me and being a part of a secret society to help other people and stop colonization.
I think i will have to stop here. I'll get into the other moments in a different post. Overall, this was an amazing book, and i think maybe the best one i've read in 2026 so far.
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