BOOK REVIEW | Babel vs Blood Over Bright Haven – Which Book Should You Read? Book Recommendations

Welcome to the first episode of This or That, the series where we settle the ultimate bookish dilemma: if you only have time (or budget) for one, which book should you choose? Both books are great book recommendations.

In this episode, I’m comparing Babel by R.F. Kuang and Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang — two dark academia-adjacent fantasy novels that dive deep into questions of power, privilege, and the price of knowledge. We’ll talk about what makes each book shine, where they struggle, and ultimately, which one deserves your spot on the TBR.

Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just trying to choose your next great fantasy novel, this episode will help you decide where to spend your precious reading time.

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📖 Books Mentioned:
Babel – R.F. Kuang
Blood Over Bright Haven – M.L. Wang

0:00 Introduction
0:23 The Two Contenders
0:50 Blood Over Bright Haven
1:16 What Works for Blood Over Bright Haven
3:24 What Drags it Down
5:10 Babel
5:34 What Works for Babel
7:49 What Drags It Down
9:54 Which Should You Choose
10:48 Topher's Pick

📚 Want more book reviews and discussions?
Join me on the Fable app under Topher’s Library — where I share reviews, reading reflections, and curated book lists. Let’s talk books together!