Reviews - Katabasis | The StoryGraph

610 reviews for:

Katabasis

R.F. Kuang

4.01 AVERAGE

lindsaymscott's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

natundertrees's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"Hell is other people, I've heard."

What. A. Book.

Katabasis was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I am very pleased to announce that it lived up to--and in fact, surpassed--every expectation I had for it. This is not an easily consumable or bingeable read. It is challenging and twisty and expects you to trust it in a way that is becoming pretty synonymous with most of R.F. Kuang's work. But the destination is delicious and the journey to get there, this journey through Hell, is well worth the logical paradoxes and discussions of philosophy. In fact, there were so many times where I found myself itching for a pen and paper so that I might take notes or do my own research about the topics that Kuang deftly explores. Like I said: what a book.

As it's no surprise that Kuang is a genius, I don't really need to touch on how well-researched Katabasis is. Instead, I want to talk about her character work. This is a mostly character-driven novel, so if those aren't your cup of tea, this might not be a hit for you. That said, if you're interested in complex--and by that I mean messed up--main characters, you will eat this up.

Alice is toxic and burnt out and hard on herself and, most importantly, still learning. Her character arc through this novel is absolutely fantastic and I felt silly for ever doubting how Kuang might be able to let her grow in any meaningful or substantial way. She is not an easy character to root for, but once you do, it's impossible to stop, especially as you uncover the reasons why she is the way she is. And contrasting her almost perfectly is Peter, who is also both a genius and a difficult character to truly love until you discover what makes him tick. Separate, they're fascinating. Together, they're electric.

Katabasis is not a romance novel, but it is awfully romantic. I loved every interaction between Alice and Peter, and I loved even more that this book was interspersed with flashbacks that helped craft their relationship (and rivalry!) in a more meaningful way. Anyone can say that two people have a messy history, but Kuang puts in the work to show her readers why.

I think that this novel, like Babel, critiques academia quite well. Alice has a lot to unpack and a lot of internal prejudices to unlearn, primarily about women in academia. Like I said: she's not easy to love. It shouldn't take a trip to Hell to change your life, but the beauty of this book is the irony that it does change everything for Alice.

I feel like my only complaint with this novel was the setting. It is very monotonous, which I think might be intentional, but man--I was a bit sick of dunes and sand and rocks by the time I reached the end. That said, it's such a minute little complaint that it didn't detract from the overall experience I had with this novel.

All in all, I can't recommend Katabasis more. You can just feel the passion that Kuang has for this story on each page. It's not completely perfect from an objective standpoint, but it's absolutely perfect to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

gillmomi's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

chuckriede's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ginkyohbiloboba's review against another edition

3.75

I think the concept, magic system, and premise is really unique and u can definitely tell the author puts alot of time and love into it. However this kind of gives old animated barbie movie plot, here me out:

(POSSIBLE SPOILERS!)
2 people going on an adventure to achieve the same goal. They then had to pass through different areas of said world, they either escape it or meet someone that would help them. Then u start learning more about their backstory. Then one of them goes *poof* for wtvr reason and now the new goal is to get them back! And ofc they did and realize that the initial reason they went isn't worth as much as companionship. The cliche goes as far as an old friend passing in the end scene as a magical creature/symbolism to their character.

Lmao its kind of unserious also I don't get the love story part, it seems like they didn't care much about their feelings towards each other until the end and they go "😍😍😍 omg my heroo!!!"

That's all like I think its sick, I enjoyed it some parts are bit yappy, some are boring, and sometimes things feel like they're made up on the spot just to serve the plot.