Katabasis - R.F. Kuang

From R.F. Kuang, the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Yellowface and Babel, comes Katabasis — a dazzling, infernal novel about rivalry, ambition, and the hellish cost of genius.

Graduate student Alice Law has only ever had one dream: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magick. But the one person who can help her achieve it is inconveniently dead — and trapped in Hell. Determined to find him, Alice embarks on a perilous descent into the underworld, accompanied by her academic rival, Peter Murdoch.

Hell, however, is not what philosophers imagined. Its logic is twisted, its rules absurd, and its landscapes both terrifying and beautiful. To escape alive, Alice and Peter must navigate its paradoxes — and their own volatile chemistry.

Katabasis is a sharp, intoxicating blend of dark academia, mythic fantasy, and enemies-to-lovers romance, exploring the price of brilliance, the lure of obsession, and the strange intimacy of shared damnation.

Main Themes of the Book

• Dark Academia & Ambition: The pursuit of knowledge at any cost.
• Mythic Descent: A modern reimagining of the hero’s journey to the underworld.
• Rivalry & Romance: Intellectual and emotional tension between two brilliant minds.
• Moral Complexity: The blurred lines between ambition, obsession, and love.
• Existential Fantasy: A philosophical exploration of Hell, redemption, and humanity.

Why You Should Read This Book by R.F. Kuang

• From R.F. Kuang, the bestselling author of Yellowface and Babel.
• A genre-defying novel that mixes academic satire with mythic fantasy.
• Perfect for fans of dark academia, philosophical fiction, and slow-burn romance.
• Features razor-sharp dialogue, atmospheric world-building, and unforgettable characters.
• 2025’s most anticipated literary fantasy that takes “to hell with love” literally.

With Katabasis, R.F. Kuang delivers a fiercely original tale of intellect, temptation, and descent. Witty, devastating, and thought-provoking, this book redefines the boundaries between love and damnation, rivalry and desire. Prepare to enter Hell — and not want to leave.