Ratings45
Average rating4
With the final page turned and the curtain now closed, I'm happy to report that The Books of Babel is one of the greatest fantasy series I've ever read. Bancroft's prose continues to possess a unique flavor with dashes of charm, wit, biting humor, and heart that are unmatched by others in the genre.
Throughout this final book, I cared about certain characters more than others, found some story threads more compelling than others, and preferred the quieter, more contemplative moments to the dizzying action sequences and set pieces. Despite my mileage varying on certain aspects of the novel itself, all of the elements coalesced into something wondrous and satisfying in the end.
We've been taken on a wild ride since Thomas Senlin first set foot in the magnificent and mysterious Tower of Babel. And while I'm sad to leave this world and cast of characters behind, I'm excited to see what else can be plumbed from the depths of Josiah Bancroft's imagination. Frankly, I'd devour whatever he writes next – whether that's a shopping list, appliance manual, esoteric textbook, or (ideally) a new novel!
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.