Babel. An Arcane History (with Illustrated edges). R.F. Kuang

A historical epic fantasy about student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as tools of imperial domination.

1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by a cholera outbreak in Canton, is taken to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, Robin spends years studying Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, preparing to one day enter the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford University, also known as Babel. The Tower and its students are the world center of translation, and, more importantly, magic. Silversmithing is the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation with the help of silver ingots. It is thanks to silversmithing that the British have gained unprecedented power, as the secret craft aids the empire in its colonial aspirations.
For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge trumps power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, he learns that serving Babylon means betraying his homeland. After beginning his training, Robin finds himself torn between Babylon and the secret society of Hermes, an organization bent on stopping the expansion of the empire. When Britain plots an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must make a choice...