First Impressions: Why A Non-Fantasy Reader Is Finally Tackling Babel

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The "What Next" Paralysis (By Stani)

I did it. I actually finished a book in under a week.

If you read our recent review of The Inheritance Games, you know that finishing that book felt like a huge victory. I felt productive and like a "real" reader again.

But then the doubts started showing up again.

The problem with finishing a great book is that you immediately have to choose the next one. And if you are a mood reader like me, picking the wrong book can send you straight back into a slump for months.

I stood in front of our bookshelf for twenty minutes. I narrowed it down to three choices:

1. They Both Die at the End (Alex already reviewed this, so I wanted to be able to discuss it with him too).

2. You Deserve Each Other (A book that I’ve wanted to read for a while now).

3. Babel by R.F. Kuang.

I looked at Babel. It is huge. It is a fantasy book. It has footnotes.

Against every instinct in my body, I picked the scary one.

Why Did I Pick Babel? (The Alex Factor)

I am not a fantasy reader. I usually stick to romance, thrillers, or contemporary fiction. So why on earth did I pick up a 500+ page alternate-history epic about linguistics and silver working?

There were three main reasons.

1. Alex Won’t Shut Up About It Alex has been bugging me for a while now to read it. It was the first book he ever chose to host an in-person book club for, and it was a massive success. He has been talking about the mid-book twist for ages. His enthusiasm is infectious and I wanted to see what the big deal was.

2. The "Dark Harry Potter" Vibe I kept hearing this book described as "Dark Academia." I love the idea of secret societies, foggy university campuses, and old libraries. The Inheritance Games gave me a taste of that "wealthy people in big mansions" aesthetic, and I wanted to chase that feeling. Babel felt like the grown-up, sophisticated version of that.

3. The Challenge I want to push myself this year. I don't want to be the "slow reader" forever. I want to see if I can actually handle a complex fantasy world without getting a headache.

The First 10 Pages: A Reality Check

I am currently on page 12. Here is my honest, unfiltered reaction to the very beginning.

It Startled Me I expected a cozy introduction to a magic school. I expected robes and maybe a wand. Instead, the book opens with a cholera outbreak in Canton. It is graphic and sad, describing death and sickness in a way that I was not prepared for. It was a slap in the face that said "this is not a children's book."

It Is Readable This was my biggest fear. I thought the writing would be too dense or too "academic" for me to enjoy. And while it isn't as breezy as a YA mystery, it flows. R.F. Kuang writes in a way that pulls you in. I am not struggling to understand the sentences. I am just reading slower than usual. So for now, we’re good to go!

The "Fancy" Factor I was right about the aesthetic. Even in the first chapter, there is a sense of importance to the story. It feels like reading something substantial.

Alex’s Take: Why I Pushed Her to Read This

Okay, Alex here.

I know Babel looks intimidating. It’s a brick of a book. But I honestly believe it is the perfect gateway book for non-fantasy readers.

Here is why I advised Stani to pick this over the other choices (although I reaaaaally want her to finish They Both Die at The End at some point, because reading that was one of my absolute highlights last year!):

• It takes place in the real world. It’s Oxford in the 1830s. You don't have to memorize a map of a made-up continent or learn the names of twelve different fae kingdoms. You already know what the city looks like.

• The magic makes sense. The magic system is based on translation and silver bars. It’s logical and feels more like science than "abracadabra."

• The start is heavy, but it sets the stakes. That opening scene in Canton is crucial because it shows you exactly what the main character, Robin, is trying to escape. Trust the process. Once he gets to Oxford, the "Dark Academia" vibes kick in full force.

The Goal: Can I Finish This Monster?

I am only 10-12 pages in. That is basically 1% of the book.

But I am committing to it. I want to see if I can finish a "Fantasy" novel and actually understand it. I’m quite nervous about the footnotes and the length, but I am also really curious to see where Robin goes next.

I will be posting updates on our Instagram as I go. Not going to lie - I’d really appreciate some support!

Stani's Reading Status

• Current Page: 12
• Confusion Level: 3/10 (So far, so good)
• Intimidation Level: 8/10 (It's still very heavy)
• Vibe Check: Scared but feeling fancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Babel hard to read for beginners? It is more challenging than a standard thriller or romance novel. The prose is academic and there are footnotes explaining historical context. However, the story is very character-driven, which makes it easier to follow than many high fantasy books.

Is Babel part of a series? No. Babel is a standalone novel. The story wraps up completely at the end, so you don't have to commit to a 5-book series.

Is it similar to Harry Potter? Only on the surface. It features a boy going to a magical school in England, but the tone is much darker, more mature, and focuses heavily on history, colonialism, and the consequences of power.

What should I read if I liked The Inheritance Games? If you want to see what else we recommend for fans of puzzles and secrets, check out our list of 10 Books Like The Inheritance Games.

Are you reading Babel? Or are you too scared to start? Let me know in the comments so I don't feel alone!