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Quick answer: If you loved Babel by R.F. Kuang, try The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley and Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.
Babel, subtitled The Necessity of Violence, is set in an alternate 1830s Oxford, where the Royal Institute of Translation uses silver bars engraved with matching words in different languages to power the British Empire. Robin Swift, a Chinese orphan raised in London, joins the institute and slowly realizes the empire’s debt to colonial exploitation. R.F. Kuang’s novel is an angry, ambitious blend of dark academia, fantasy and history. The picks below share its elite universities, language magic, rebellion and critical eye on empire. Most are adult fantasy or literary fiction.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Babel
Readers love Babel because it takes a classic dark academia setting and asks who pays for it. R.F. Kuang, who studied at Oxford, writes with deep knowledge about translation, etymology and the real history of British colonialism, and the footnotes add humor and detail. The magic system is built on the way meaning shifts between languages, which makes it original, and the friendship between Robin and his three classmates gives emotional weight. It has also sparked debate among readers about violence and resistance, which makes it a rich book club choice.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Babel: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Fantasy | More R.F. Kuang |
| The Secret History | Donna Tartt | Literary thriller | Elite colleges and secrets |
| Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell | Susanna Clarke | Fantasy | Alternate British history |
| The Atlas Six | Olivie Blake | Fantasy | Rivals in a secret society |
| The Ministry of Time | Kaliane Bradley | Science fiction | History and empire |
| Yellowface | R.F. Kuang | Satire | Sharp modern satire |
| Katabasis | R.F. Kuang | Fantasy | Academics in the underworld |
| Piranesi | Susanna Clarke | Fantasy | Strange, brilliant puzzles |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | Magical school with danger |
| Ninth House | Leigh Bardugo | Fantasy | Secret societies at Yale |
| If We Were Villains | M.L. Rio | Literary thriller | Theatre students and Shakespeare |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Fantasy | Epic worlds |
| The Grace of Kings | Ken Liu | Fantasy | Epic politics |
| A Memory Called Empire | Arkady Martine | Science fiction | Language and empire |
| The Left Hand of Darkness | Ursula K. Le Guin | Science fiction | Thoughtful classics |
1. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and discovers her power. It’s dark, brutal and gripping. Content note: war crimes.
2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A group of classics students at a Vermont college commit a terrible act. It’s the classic of dark academia.
3. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
In an alternate Regency England, two magicians bring magic back. It’s long and wry, with footnotes.
4. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six magicians compete for a place in a secret society guarding ancient knowledge.
5. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
A civil servant becomes the minder of a man from the 1800s who was rescued from a doomed Arctic expedition. It’s funny and moving.
6. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
A struggling writer steals her dead friend’s manuscript and publishes it as her own.
7. Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Two graduate students descend into Hell to retrieve their advisor. It’s a dark-academia fantasy.
8. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
A man lives in a vast house of statues and tides. It’s strange and beautiful.
9. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
At a school where monsters hunt students, a sharp-tongued sorceress fights to survive. It’s funny and exciting.
10. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
A survivor of trauma joins a secret society that polices magic at Yale. It’s dark and gripping. Content note: assault.
11. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
Seven Shakespearean actors at a conservatory become entangled in a murder. It’s atmospheric and tense.
12. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Dragons, queens and an ancient evil fill this standalone epic.
13. The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Two allies rise to overthrow an emperor in a world inspired by Chinese history. It’s sweeping.
14. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
An ambassador to a vast empire uncovers a plot. It explores cultural assimilation and language.
15. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
An envoy visits a world where people have no fixed gender. It’s a landmark of science fiction.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Babel
- Want more Kuang? The Poppy War and Katabasis.
- Want dark academia? The Secret History and If We Were Villains.
- Want magical schools? A Deadly Education and Ninth House.
- Want language and empire? A Memory Called Empire.
- Want something strange and short? Piranesi.
- Check content notes. Many include violence and assault.
Content Notes and How to Read Babel
Babel includes racism, colonial violence, death and strong anger. The footnotes are an important part of the experience, so read them as you go rather than skipping them. They explain etymology, history and sometimes jokes. If you like its themes, R.F. Kuang’s Poppy War trilogy is a darker fantasy about war, and Yellowface is a contemporary satire of publishing. Babel works as a standalone novel with no sequel.
Related: books like Yellowface and best fantasy books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Babel?
The Poppy War and Katabasis by R.F. Kuang, plus The Secret History, are the closest matches.
Do I need to read the footnotes in Babel?
Yes. They add history, language notes and humor.
Is Babel a standalone?
Yes. It has no sequel.