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Babel #3
Babel, Vol. 3: The Bewitching Princess in the Birdcage
After the King of Farsas reveals hidden truths about the continent, Shizuku and Erik find a clue that might help her return to Japan. The pair sets out to continue their journey, when a messenger suddenly arrives inviting Shizuku to the great nation of Kisk―a place long plagued by unpleasant rumors. There, as playmate for the notoriously cruel “Demon Princess” Ortia, she is given the important task of coming up with a method to treat the speech disorder illness sweeping the continent. Without her protector, Erik, Shizuku must search for a solution alone...but failure means a gruesome death!
- GenresLight NovelFantasy
388 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2020
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 25, 2025
I preordered this guy because I was Anxious to know what would Happen after the big reveal of the second volume. If you've gotten this far, some past spoilers won't trouble you. You know that Shizuku has been semi-forcibly removed from Erik and Mea in Farsas. Now her travels and travails continue in Kisk where she must demonstrate that she can "cure" the language impediment spreading across the continent with education. By the premise, there is no Erik, so one must wonder whether the story can remain compelling. The new cast members are enjoyable enough that I did not miss him, though that sounds more cruel than I meant it to be. Shizuku is much too busy between teaching a child and managing a violent princess to be worried about anyone else. Locked in as usual, yass kween.
A few spoilers of this book from here:
Speaking of the violent princess, among others, I like that there are not really "good guys" in Kisk. Everyone has their circumstances, but still they have done terrible things, or attempted to, so does their growing kindness make up for it? Should they be forgiven? Should Shizuku support Ortea as she changes or should she face the consequences of her actions? The rulers of Farsas, though humanized in the previous book, are still invading Kisk militarily and causing mayhem. Were they ever "good" or did their incentives only temporarily align with Shizuku's? There are many questions to be asked. Depending on your answer, you might love or be very frustrated by the way the plot goes.
If I have criticisms, they are as follows. First, Shizuku remembers Erik on occasion, but she seems to have forgotten Mea. "Mea culpa," she should say. At least remember the poor girl once in a while. Relatedly, when Rio is taken away, though we learn that she is safe, she doesn't come up again despite becoming so close to Shizuku during their month of living together. Remember her once in a while too.
I must add that I came to this after absolutely slogging through a terrible book and the difference is Tony stark. Reading a book that is good and thoughtful, not stretched out on Procrustes' table of thesaurus words, is extremely relieving and definitely biased my opinion favorably. I would love anything after that. Still, this is a very good third volume and I am excited for the fourth and last volume. I'll preorder that too.
A few spoilers of this book from here:
Speaking of the violent princess, among others, I like that there are not really "good guys" in Kisk. Everyone has their circumstances, but still they have done terrible things, or attempted to, so does their growing kindness make up for it? Should they be forgiven? Should Shizuku support Ortea as she changes or should she face the consequences of her actions? The rulers of Farsas, though humanized in the previous book, are still invading Kisk militarily and causing mayhem. Were they ever "good" or did their incentives only temporarily align with Shizuku's? There are many questions to be asked. Depending on your answer, you might love or be very frustrated by the way the plot goes.
If I have criticisms, they are as follows. First, Shizuku remembers Erik on occasion, but she seems to have forgotten Mea. "Mea culpa," she should say. At least remember the poor girl once in a while. Relatedly, when Rio is taken away, though we learn that she is safe, she doesn't come up again despite becoming so close to Shizuku during their month of living together. Remember her once in a while too.
I must add that I came to this after absolutely slogging through a terrible book and the difference is Tony stark. Reading a book that is good and thoughtful, not stretched out on Procrustes' table of thesaurus words, is extremely relieving and definitely biased my opinion favorably. I would love anything after that. Still, this is a very good third volume and I am excited for the fourth and last volume. I'll preorder that too.
Displaying 1 of 1 review