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askirmishofwit 's review for:
Katabasis
by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listen, I really enjoyed this. I've heard the early criticisms, but, for me, it wasn't particularly pretentious or info-dumpy - I think it's just exactly how academics talk and think and, since Alice is an academic, it makes sense that the narration of her story is exactly like that too.
I'm not a person who easily grapples with concepts of maths or logic - my brain just doesn't work like that and there's a reason I was a literature student - so if anything was intimidating then it was that. However, I think the book does a pretty good job of explaining the various logic puzzles and paradoxes for the reader, providing you're willing to have the book be about the journey rather than just racing towards the destination.
Also, although I'm sure people think it would enrich the experience, you really don't need to read an entire curriculum of required katabasis literature in order to read this book - the book details enough of the various ideas that it will tell you what you've missed.
I'm not a person who easily grapples with concepts of maths or logic - my brain just doesn't work like that and there's a reason I was a literature student - so if anything was intimidating then it was that. However, I think the book does a pretty good job of explaining the various logic puzzles and paradoxes for the reader, providing you're willing to have the book be about the journey rather than just racing towards the destination.
Also, although I'm sure people think it would enrich the experience, you really don't need to read an entire curriculum of required katabasis literature in order to read this book - the book details enough of the various ideas that it will tell you what you've missed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail