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jrosenstein 's review for:
Katabasis
by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
R.F. Kuang is brilliant and good at showing off her brilliance without it feeling pedantic or condescending.
This book is an adventure story, a love story, and a scathing indictment of academia all at once.
Kuang manages to weave together so much history, mythology, philosophy, math and literature, and still create a compulsive story with real characters and heartbreaking stakes.
I love Alice as a character. She is both lovable and so unlikable and throughout the book you alternate between wanting to smack her and wanting to hug her. Her journey feels very real, even if it is a literal journey through Hell.
This book is an adventure story, a love story, and a scathing indictment of academia all at once.
Kuang manages to weave together so much history, mythology, philosophy, math and literature, and still create a compulsive story with real characters and heartbreaking stakes.
I love Alice as a character. She is both lovable and so unlikable and throughout the book you alternate between wanting to smack her and wanting to hug her. Her journey feels very real, even if it is a literal journey through Hell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment