a lifetime to process this. I obviously love Rebecca's writing style, even though I don’t understand most of it! 😅 My head was spinning throughout the book, so I applaud the cover artist for their perfect portrayal.

Now, let’s dive into the book itself. This concept of hell doesn’t align with my beliefs, but setting that aside, the book is really good. It’s very different from Kuang's previous works, yet somehow still similar. It discusses the experiences of women in academia, how they are treated, and how this treatment affects their mentality and self-worth. It touches on the competitive nature of people in academia and how easy it is to create divisions among them in the name of science. This environment significantly alters one's perspective on friends and peers.

Alice and Peter are prime examples of this environment. They start as friends, but slowly, very slowly, they become rivals. Their journey to hell ultimately leads them to realize the toxicity of their surroundings and the feelings they have for each other that they’ve always had. Peter is obviously sweet and caring. We only have one chapter from his POV, and I kept just oohing and aahing while reading it.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Guys I'm either dreaming or hallucinating. I actually got approved for the ARC 🤯 Thank you so much Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager🥹🫶🏻🫶🏻

3.5 stars

Unfortunately as a big fan of all of R.F. Kuang's previous books, I found this one disappointing. While the premise is very interesting, the execution never managed to grip me. In her previous works, I've been drawn in by the characters and the prose but here, the characters were flat until the climax and the prose made no impression on me. Interestingly enough, for a book about traveling through Hell, the most engaging aspects came from the backstory; I find that I would much rather read a whole book about everything that led up to this one.

While this obviously wasn't my favorite, I will always be a fan of Kuang's work and I will especially always admire her versatility and exploration--she has never done the same thing twice.

I imagine this book will be very divisive among readers. Katabasis is an absolute fever dream of a book, but what else is appropriate for a story about descending into Hell? Above all else, it needs to be praised for taking a classic story and making it so utterly original and unique. I have never read anything like it, and I know it will stay with me for a long time to come.

Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, post-grad students at Cambridge, venture to hell to retrieve the soul of their professor so his recommendation can land them esteemed jobs in their field.

I love Rebecca’s writing style, and will read anything she ever writes. I think that she creates fascinating main characters. We root for them while acknowledging they are making poor decisions, for reasons which feel right to them at the time. While reading so many of her books, I find myself frustrated with the characters but empathizing with the decisions they make under their specific circumstances. I felt the same with Alice throughout most of this book. I loved Peter’s character, and wished we had gotten more of his POV (though I understand why it was withheld).

I might feel differently about this if I had a better understanding on logic equations and paradoxes, but from my amateur point of view sometimes the ways Alice and Peter solved a problem was a little too deus ex machina. It felt like they would be trapped in an unsolvable problem but then out of nowhere they would remember a certain paradox that would save them. It’s possible that I missed the greater point on this entirely (and I think it could have worked perfectly once or even twice), but as I was reading I kept thinking that sometimes it felt a little too convenient.

I’ll admit that at times, I did get a little lost in the details of the logic equations and philosophy. Sometimes it took me out of the story and I found myself wishing for more between the characters or more action.

I loved the process of Alice and Peter journeying through the different courts of Hell. While I ultimately felt like there was some untapped potential there that was never fully realized, overall their dynamic together was interesting and enjoyable and I wish we had gotten an epilogue showing them afterwards.

Lastly, I enjoyed the humor in this book. My personal favorite part was at the very end when Alice looked directly at the King of Hell and asked for a refund because they’d had a very bad time of it, which felt like a very on brand thing for her to do. Overall I enjoyed this! The best parts of it felt like a blend of elements from Ninth House and Babel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Katabasis was easily one of my most anticipated reads in years—and I hate to say it, but it left me completely cold. I went in expecting something bold and brilliant, a descent into hell both literal and emotional. What I got instead felt more like wading through a 400-page academic thesis thinly veiled as a novel.

I don’t mind an intellectual read—I like philosophy, I enjoy literature, and I’m not afraid of dense material. But Katabasis doesn’t weave its ideas into the story; it explains them to you. At length. Over and over. The entire book is exposition-heavy to the point that it almost forgets it’s supposed to be telling a story. Every critical moment is buried under info-dumps, whether it’s world-building, character backstory, or even dialogue. It reads more like a lecture than a narrative.

The characters—Alice and Peter—are frustratingly flat for how much time we spend with them. You don’t really get them until far too late, and by then, it’s hard to care. Alice is yet another “tragic Asian academic girl” archetype who spends the book chasing approval, and Peter is the kind of golden boy character that’s supposed to be layered but ends up just… smug and uninteresting. Their dynamic is cold, clinical, and emotionally disconnected, which only makes the long, draggy “quest” narrative even more painful to get through.

And while Katabasis clearly has a lot on its mind—academia, misogyny, philosophical paradoxes—it doesn’t seem interested in doing anything new with those ideas. There’s no thematic payoff, no emotional resolution, and no sense that the story has anything more to say than “look how smart I am.” The whole thing feels like a flex that never lands, which would be easier to forgive if it were at least entertaining. But it’s not. It’s dry. And worse, it’s boring.

I’ve admired Kuang’s work before—Babel was addictive and compelling, and Yellowface was messy but hard to put down. But Katabasis feels like her weakest effort by far: all theory, no heart. I wanted to love it. Instead, I just wanted it to be over.

Every time I clock in to read an R.F. Kuang novel I have the same thought: Maybe I should return to get my doctorate. As I’m reading, however, I’m all at once reminded of the Horrors that exist within academia. Then I read a little more and think: Maybe I should go back! Repeat until I’ve finished the book. Katabasis is such a fascinating read, not just for its contents but for R.F. Kuang’s unerring ability to blend fiction and her obvious meticulous research of the concepts she includes in her books. The way her mind works is just incredible. She always circumvents the narrative you expect from reading the synopsis of her books. I found Alice to be a fascinating narrator, and I kept thinking about what a room with Alice, Robin, June, and Rin would look like. I absolutely would watch from a very far distance. This book was beautiful, harrowing, heart-wrenching, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come. Shout out to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

First, I want to give an enormous thank you to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review. Katabasis was my most anticipated book of 2025 and I am so grateful to get to read it early and for free!

Katabasis, by R.F. Kuang, follows two young graduate students who dive into hell to save their professor’s soul. It’s kind of like a dark academia fantasy meets Alice in Wonderland. If you have seen the author’s quote about this also having an enemies-to-lovers romance, that is true, but the story is not heavily focused on the romance and there is zero spice.

Alice and Peter are the two main characters, and they are the only characters we really know anything about in the story. I like them both and found them both relatable in their own ways; Peter is just a sweet cinnamon roll. The one chapter we got to hear about Peter’s backstory really helped solidify his character. However by the end of the book we really don’t know anything about Alice’s background before she came to Cambridge, and I think she’s a little weaker than she could be because of that. When there are only two main characters and maybe, if you want to count them, two side characters, I think the MC character development should be bursting at the seams with detail, but that didn’t happen here. Alice and Peter’s relationship itself I did find really cute and had my heart fluttering.

As with Babel, this book will have reviewers arguing over its intellectual and even pretentious nature. While Babel was focused on the study and history of language, the magic system of Katabasis is based on classical philosophy and logic. The entire book is filled with academic references and explanations of logical paradoxes- I personally found these interesting, but also understandably they will bore many readers to tears.

There’s a part of the book (the entire time in Dis) that just became too theoretical and complex for me to grasp. Those chapters were the weakest in my opinion. But overall, I did feel a little like I’m too dumb for this book, and it was hard for me to piece together what Kuang’s main messages were.

The ending was great. I still have to say I will read anything Kuang puts out at this point.

"Alice Law, you naughty girl. You're trying to go to Hell."

A dark academic fantasy, with Alice traveling into hell with her academic rival to save her professor, that has a unique magic system and cerebral themes woven around and through the story using philosophy, mythology, math, and religion to create an enthralling world and adventure.

Every part of this book lived up to it's promises and more. If I could give this book every star, I would. My favorite Kuang book yet.

Katabasis is a book that I wish I hadn't known anything about it when I started it. Knowing it was about a dissent into hell made me have expectations that I feel like weren't fully realized. The premise was fascinating. Katabasis has all the scholarly notes that I usually expect from Kuang - the book is deeply immeshed in the various stories and descriptions of hell across time, literature and philosophy. Alice was a bit hard to take at times, particularly as a fellow woman in academia. I felt like her redemption wasn't so much a journey as it felt more like a switch. However, the last 15% of the book really gave me what I had been hoping for throughout; I honestly really enjoyed the ending and it saved the book a bit for me. I know folks will love this one, and I think it would have delivered more for me if I had gone into completely blind without expectations.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for the advanced copy, I am honored.

A HUGE THANK YOU to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I love Kuang's style!

I liked that we set off on our journey right away, even if it felt a bit abrupt.

I was immediately drawn into the atmosphere, and I started building some theories (I don't know why; I didn't get anywhere with them. I really need to stop trying to predict the endings of books)

This book reminded me of a mix of Babel and Ninth House, as well as Alice in Wonderland! Philosophy, mathematics, wildness and darkness, life and death.

“If he/she won't go to hell with you, why do you need him/her?”

Honestly, there were moments when I was bored and wanted more action (?). But at the same time, the book made me think.

What is life, and are we really living it, or are we just missing out on what’s important while chasing after what’s not?

What disappointed me was the FMC; perhaps it was because I didn’t understand her, I didn’t share her feelings, and I didn't like her actions in the past.

The whole book is from the FMC’s perspective, and there’s also a dual timeline; only one chapter is dedicated to the MMC, whom I liked, he's like a cinnamon roll, and I teared up at his story.

At times, I laughed at the beginning, and at other times, I found myself tearing up.

The rivals to lovers trope, oh, thank you! I liked that they were rivals for quite a while, with a bit of hatred, but despite that, they were also friends. The descriptions of the moments from the past when they spent time together made my heart clench!

After the ending, I don’t know what to write or how to describe my feelings. It wasn’t a disappointment, but it wasn’t what I expected either. Still, I found myself teary over the book Rebecca again, though for a more personal reason this time.

What is the purpose of this journey, to rescue the professor, or something else?

Idea: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Emotions: 4/5
Characters: 3/5 (Peter 4.5/5)

• Hell
• Dark academia
• Rivals to lovers
• Toxic professor

‼️Warnings:
Child death, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Violence, Chronic illness, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks

3.75. Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley! Although I really enjoyed the plot and the descriptive writing style, I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I fully appreciate the world building, but I didn’t feel connected to the characters enough to fully immerse myself into their internal monologue. Overall a solid intellectual, yet fantastical analysis of hell, with a lovely subplot between the main characters.

The first few pages in Katabasis took off immediately, it almost felt abrupt but engaging. Alice seems to be making plans to venture down into hell to retrieve her dead professor for purely selfish reasons. The mix of Greek mythology and dark academia is a match made in heaven for cozy readers. The greek mythology references were fine and not understanding them did not impact my reading experience. I loved reading about the magic system and the stories behind Peter and Alice. Their motives and obsession with success and academia was also fascinating. I really appreciated the commentary on the dark and toxic side of academia which can be incredibly harmful.

Somewhere in the middle I briefly lost interest and it was difficult to get through to the end. At times it was also a bit dense. I wish the ending were a little different, it felt like a superhero movie where the main character suddenly regains their will to live and the bad guys lose and everyone lives happily ever after. A little cliche in my opinion, but it was fine.

A captivating dark academia premise with vivid worldbuilding, but the style of writing is not for me and distracted from the story.

✨ Katabasis is a breathtaking, intellectual rollercoaster of a novel that will have you questioning the boundaries between academia, magic, and the human heart. If you’re into dark academia with a touch of fantasy, sharp philosophical insights, and complex characters, this book is absolutely for you. R.F. Kuang has delivered a masterpiece that hits all the right emotional and intellectual notes. 🚀📚✨

The story follows Alice and Peter, two PhD students who are brilliant yet flawed, driven by ambition and a need for validation. When their advisor dies under mysterious circumstances, they embark on an audacious journey to Hell itself, not to save anyone, but to retrieve his body and secure their academic futures. What begins as a mission fueled by career ambition soon turns into something much deeper—challenging their notions of success, identity, and the cost of their academic pursuits. 🎓👻

Kuang weaves a narrative that dives into the academic and philosophical world in such a rich and immersive way that it feels like you’re right there with Alice and Peter, grappling with ideas, debates, and intellectual competitions. The way Kuang incorporates philosophical texts and ideas into the story feels like the perfect balance of accessible and thought-provoking. You don’t need a degree in philosophy to follow the plot, but if you’re a lover of literature, you’ll relish the references and the way each one enriches the story. 📖💡💭

The setting of Hell is one of the most unique and captivating aspects of the book. It’s not just an infernal landscape, but a mental and philosophical landscape, and it’s beautifully imagined. Each layer of Hell represents a different form of knowledge, from math to literature to existential dread, and the imagery is both vivid and haunting. It’s a place that challenges not just the body, but the very soul, testing both Alice and Peter’s resolve and their understanding of themselves. 🔥🌑🌀

As much as this is a novel of intellectualism and philosophical inquiry, it’s also a deeply emotional and personal journey. Alice and Peter’s relationship is complex, and watching their dynamic evolve over the course of their journey is one of the most rewarding aspects of the book. Their interactions start as adversarial, full of academic rivalry and sharp wit, but over time, the emotional undercurrents of their bond deepen. It’s a slow burn of trust, vulnerability, and shared trauma, and the evolution of their relationship is beautifully portrayed. The way Kuang makes these two characters—who seem so different at first—reveal their shared desires, fears, and dreams makes their connection one of the most compelling parts of the novel. ❤️‍🔥🤝

The pacing of Katabasis is deliberate and methodical, and while this may feel slow at times, it is intentional. Every conversation, every moment in Hell, every philosophical debate is purposeful. The journey isn’t just about finding the body of their advisor; it’s about finding themselves. It’s about realizing that ambition at the cost of humanity might not be worth it, and that success built on the suffering of others can never truly bring fulfillment. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of academic ambition, morality, personal sacrifice, and redemption. 💭⚖️✨

What really sets this book apart is Kuang’s ability to tackle these big ideas while still creating a story that’s deeply human. This isn’t just a story about intellectuals grappling with abstract concepts—it’s about real people facing the consequences of their choices and confronting their deepest desires. Whether it’s Alice’s struggle with her own identity, Peter’s need for validation, or the way they both cope with their grief and ambition, you’ll find yourself empathizing deeply with them. 🧠💔

If there’s one thing that might deter some readers, it’s the level of intellectual engagement required. This isn’t a light, fast-paced thriller; this is a book that asks you to engage, to think, and to reflect. Some readers might find the academic discussions a bit dense, but they are all integral to the overall themes of the book. The weight of these discussions mirrors the intellectual heaviness the characters carry on their journey, and the slow build-up makes the emotional payoff at the end all the more rewarding. 🔍💡

In conclusion, Katabasis is an exceptional blend of dark academia, philosophy, and emotional storytelling. Kuang has created a world that is both cerebral and deeply affecting, where every page demands something of you—whether it’s your mind or your heart. This is a novel about the price of ambition, the search for identity, and the consequences of pursuing knowledge without understanding the cost. 📚🌌

If you love books that challenge your mind, pull at your heartstrings, and make you think, Katabasis is an absolute must-read. Get ready for an intellectual and emotional journey that you won’t soon forget. 🌠

WOW!!!! Kuang is just a great writer no doubt about it. She writes and makes you see everything in your head like you are watching a movie. I wanted to know what happened with Murdoch and Alice, are they in love, just friends. The journey was so interesting too. Every court in Hell was unique and special. Honestly not much character growth but they stayed true to who they were through out the whole plot that I didn't mind it. I will give a more indepth review as we get closer to the release date. But know this a purchase of a Kuang book is not a waste of money, a checkout from the library is not a waste of the use of your library card. She is genius

RF Kuang at her finest. I love how well-researched her novels are; I always end up going down a rabbit hole and learning so much (though that does mean it takes me longer to read!). There are many references to familiar literature, like Dante, Aristotle, Orpheus, and I can definitely see the inspiration from those works in Katabasis. Much like Babel involves magic powered by linguistics, Katabasis involves magic powered by math and science; these weren't my strongest subjects in school, so there were some moments that were difficult for me to follow. However, it didn't take a way from my enjoyment of the book overall, and I'm actually looking forward to a reread, where I can hopefully pick up some of the information I missed on the first readthrough. I also absolutely LOVED the ending! The whole thing was amazing, but once I hit those last 100 pages, you couldn't pry this book out of my hands. This one is a definite recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

R.F. Kuang continues her streak of writing incredibly damaged characters. I'm not sure if it's fair to say there's less self-destructive tendencies in these characters compared to some of her earlier books, since trading a portion of your lifespan to go to Hell isn't exactly a winning move, but with each book she writes I enjoy her main characters more.

While there are definitely some things in here that don't make sense to me, such as side characters that don't really go anywhere or serve as a tour guide, the book was very enjoyable overall. Even these detours aren't major detractions, because with how lovingly so many references are worked into the book as a whole (ending the book with the same "stars" reference as each book in the Divine Comedy was fantastic), I was left wondering if I just missed the reference in some of these cases.

The pacing was also very enjoyable, and it was very gratifying to see one of my main complaints from her first books steadily improved on as she continues to release them.

TLDR, 4/5, a few minor tweaks to some of the side characters and extraneous plots would have easily put it into 5 star category for me.

Thank you so much for the early copy! Again, RF Kuang has sought to show off her education and knowledge by writing a fantasy novel. This time the knowledge was philosophy and depictions of Hell… Which was interesting in itself, but in my opinion, there was no foundation to the story that Kuang created. There were a handful of noteworthy moments, but nothing that screamed “RF KUANG WROTE THIS LITERARY MASTERPIECE!” And that’s what I was looking for. She put a lot of research into this, and I can see the work and time she put into it… But unfortunately, the story was lackluster. There was no overarching theme. The ending was so cliche, I kept wondering if I was somehow missing a few pages. Surely it didn’t end like that?

I think Kuang could’ve made an impact with this story, but ultimately, it just left me feeling nothing. The writing was good and the philosophy was there, but altogether, it made for too boring of a read.

Katabasis takes us on a journey through Hell as we follow two Cambridge magicians as they try to locate the soul of their abusive advisor. While I was interested the entire time, I feel like I would have understood things more if I had advanced degrees in Logic and Philosophy. It is kind of funny to say that a book about Hell and magicians feels heavily researched, but I imagine R.F. Kuang had to do a ton of research to write this book. It is pretty incredible. It wasn't my personal favorite, but not every book is for every person. The writing is excellent. The characters are interesting and the story was one I was sucked into fairly quickly. The right readers will devour this.

R. F. Kuang clearly had a ton of fun writing this, and it definitely reads like a fun version of academic catharsis. The joy leaps off the page, though I found the sense of humor not really to my taste. The characters are solid, and Kuang's writing, as ever, is immediately immersive no matter how pedantic her info-dumps are. It's a fun read, and I'm excited for it to blow up as I'm sure it will.