Babel : Or the Necessity of Violence

My first introduction to RF Kuang was Katabasis, which while entertaining left me wondering why it seemed everyone was raving about her. Well, Babel makes it clear. With a very unique take on magic and steampunk-ish technology, likeable characters, and the author actually knowing what Luddites are and were about, what's not to love?

A truly amazing book. The voice is powerful, the vibe immaculate. I hate to compare a wonderful work of fantasy to Harry Potter, but it scratches an itch to have a British magical school story that is so well written. Also of note is the way she writes the main characters friendships, it is the most wholesome display of platonic devotion I've ever read. Between that and her descriptions of life on campus I feel like I lived the life of an academic, and experienced things second hand that I've never gotten the chance to before.