Katabasis: A Novel Hardcover – 26 August 2025

Book received in good condition. One definitely should read this book. I couldn't put down it

It had a little dent at the back. But it’s okay as long it was an original copy.

Arrived in perfect condition!

Good condition and quick delivery

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang is a darkly imaginative blend of academic fantasy, mythology, and high-stakes adventure that plunges readers into a richly constructed underworld. At its heart is Alice Law, a brilliant yet obsessive student of magick whose ambition and mistakes set her on a perilous journey through Hell to rescue her mentor, Professor Grimes. Accompanied sometimes unwillingly by her rival Peter Murdoch, Alice must navigate not only treacherous landscapes filled with monstrous entities and trials, but also the tangled web of rivalry, guilt, and unspoken emotions between them.Kuang’s worldbuilding is exceptional, weaving together mathematics, philosophy, and myth into a narrative that feels both intellectual and visceral. The descriptions of Hell’s architecture and atmosphere are vivid and haunting, immersing readers completely. While the dense prose and heavy detail may occasionally slow the pacing, the emotional tension especially between Alice and Peter keeps the story gripping 😩.The enemies-to-lovers trope adds sparks of vulnerability and conflict, balancing the darker philosophical undertones.Overall, Katabasis is a bold, ambitious novel that challenges the mind as much as it entertains. It’s not just a journey through Hell, but also a profound exploration of ambition, identity, and the lengths we go to for redemption. A profound of thought written up overall.

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang follows two rival graduate students in 1980s Cambridge who descend into the underworld to retrieve their professor’s soul.The journey is guided by unreliable echoes of Dante and Eliot, making it both perilous and fascinating. The prose is rich with literary references and academic depth, yet lighter than Babel, with Alice’s dry humor balancing darker moments.Themes of power, ambition, and navigating male-dominated academia run through the story, alongside a subtle rivals-to-lovers thread. Thoughtful, character-driven, and layered with myth, it’s a rewarding read for fans of academic settings and slow-burn storytelling.

This book is a dark and layered fantasy that follows Alice and Peter, two Analytick magic students at Cambridge, who must journey into hell after their professor’s sudden death. The concept of hell being unique to each person makes the plot unpredictable and engaging, with secrets and tensions revealed along the way. I loved how the author seamlessly wove together mythology, philosophy, culture, and science, featuring figures like Lord Yama, Goddess Kali, Orpheus, and Dante without it ever feeling overwhelming. The story had some slower parts, but the unexpected twists, like the Bridge of Sighs, made the journey worthwhile. Elspeth’s character was particularly intriguing, and the dynamic between Alice and Peter added to the charm, though I wished it had been explored further. Overall, it’s a powerful blend of mythology and magic with strong female characters.

Dust jacked is wrecked. Bought this twice and returned both times because of the bad condition it is being delivered in. Where's the US edition with the art on the edges?