Katabasis
- 380
- Pages
- about 7 h
- Reading time
- NYT bestseller · 4 weeks on the list, peaked at #1
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About the book
Katabasis is a 2025 fantasy novel by American writer R. F. Kuang. It was released on August 26, 2025. The novel follows two magicians, doctoral candidates, who must venture into hell to save their thesis advisor in order to receive letters of recommendation.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.2 across 579 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 76% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Rankings average of 7.8. That is how 7.4 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.0 | 5 | 1% |
| Hardcover | 7.2 | 574 | 99% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“Okay, so I’m going to tell you right now, this book will not be for everyone. I have been seeing a lot of critical reviews and people who have claimed to DNF. I have read all of her books, so let me tell you what I think. My aim is to be as objective as possible. Spoiler free. They marketed this book as an enemy-to-lovers story and a book about Hell. And although this is present, it’s more like a backdrop. This is more of a dark academia that takes place in Hell. So let me make this clear: this is not a romance story. The main characters are Alice and Peter. They are both PhD students who s…”
“Debated giving this five stars, honestly I'm on the fence :). Wasn't entirely sure what to expect of this book given the subject matter, but it was an interesting take. Similar to Babel, academia and philosophy run throughout the book in a comfortable manner, given the recommended reading for this book I was expecting something more dense but it was much more accessible than I was expecting. Nice mix of characterization, plot and a neat magic system. Ending was a bit predictable, but was still really satisfying and was a nice departure from previous books (which were more in the vain of great …”
“Overall rating: 4.5 I first would like to say that I received an ARC copy for an honest review. The second thing I would like to put out in the open is that I did go into Katabasis, right after finishing reading The Divine Comedy by Dante. Now, let us begin Quick synopsis of the book:Katabasis by R. F. Kuang is a modern story of a hero's descent to Hell. One night there was a horrible magical accident at Cambridge that caused the violent death of Professor Jacob Grimes. Which caused two students to embark on a journey to Katabasis. We follow the two heroes, Alice Law (Main Character) and Pet…”
Frequently asked
What is Katabasis rated?
7.4 out of 10, from 579 reader ratings across 2 independent sources.
Is Katabasis worth reading?
Readers give it 7.4/10 from 579 ratings in open sources.
How long does it take to read Katabasis?
About 7 hours at an average reading pace — 380 pages.
Was Katabasis a bestseller?
Yes — 4 weeks on the New York Times list, peaking at #1. Sales are shown here but never scored.