Katabasis
By R.F. Kuang
Review by Sophie
Some books were written to be savoured; every sentence, every word needs to be fully absorbed. I am not usually a fantasy reader, but I loved the world created by Kuang!
Alice Law, a graduate student of Magick, descends into Hell to retrieve her brilliant-yet-problematic professor, Dr Jacob Grimes. In the academic world, the old adage ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’ still rings true and this is one of the core themes of Katabasis. Their relationship is slowly teased out in flashbacks throughout the book, leading the reader to understand the reasons for her desperate quest.
This story intertwines dark academia with a mix of mythology, philosophy and a dash of romance. It is about decisions, regrets and learning to live with imperfection. But it leaves you wondering – what would you sacrifice to be the best?
This novel is one of the reasons I read. To finish a book satisfied but longing for more. The characters come to life and we, the readers, travel alongside them.
Perfect for fans of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, or, for those interested in the source material, Dante’s Inferno.
