Today's Featured Book:
Katabasis: A Novel
by R. F. Kuang
Genre: Fantasy
Published: August 26, 2025
Page Count: 560 pages
Summary:
Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek:
The story of a hero’s descent to the underworld
Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality: her pride, her health, her love life, and most definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in the world.
That is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault.
Grimes is now in Hell, and she’s going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her very future in his now incorporeal hands and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her dreams….
Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdoch, has come to the very same conclusion.
With nothing but the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them, enough chalk to draw the Pentagrams necessary for their spells, and the burning desire to make all the academic trauma mean anything, they set off across Hell to save a man they don’t even like.
The wind bit, the sun hid, and on the first day of class, when she ought to have been lecturing undergraduates about the dangers of using the Cartesian severance spell to revise without pee breaks, Alice Law set out to rescue her advisor's soul from the Eight Courts of Hell.
THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne of Head Full of Books. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Head Full of Books and visit others in the linky.
Every day she stared into that empty cubbyhole and tried to convince herself that all her perceptions were wrong; that if she only stared hard enough, a thick purple envelope would materialize amidst the dust...
She felt so stupid now. Of course it hadn't gone to her.
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R. F. Kuang talks about Katabasis at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August of this year here.
The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
September 5th - 11th - Do you seek out new authors to read, or do you tend to stick with the same ones? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Review)
I am always on the lookout for new authors.
In the last few years, I've loved the work of Émile Zola, R. F. Kuang, Naomi Shihab Nye, Percival Everett, Ryan Holiday, and Clare Keegan.
What new authors have you have run across lately that you recommend to me?
I like both myself. I love finding new authors to read and love and I love sticking with my favorite ones too!
ReplyDeleteHere's my BBH
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I can't wait to read this! Enjoy and happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteI tried to read Katabasis but only made it through around half of the book. I’m sad because I was sure it would be as good as Kuang’s other books. I found it dim and dull — a few vivid ideas on repeat. It’s not clear here how much you have read — I hope to see your own thoughts on the book.
ReplyDeleteI’m trying to come back to commenting on blogs. I’ll see how far I can go.
best…. mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I am about a third of the way through the book. I thought Babel was brilliant, and I recently pushed myself to read the very-violent first book of the Poppy War series. Our book group will be reading Yellowface later this year.
DeleteI don't know if this would be my cuppa tea but it is an interesting bit you shared.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think about Katabasis so far? I loved Babel, but am hesitating for this one
ReplyDeleteI like it so far, but I'm only about 1/3 of the way into it.
DeleteI bought Katabasis on publication day. I haven't read her other books, but this one sounded interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am constantly reading new authors as I do a lot of Blog Tours and Netgalley reads.
Have a great weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/book-blogger-hop-do-you-seek-out-new-authors-to-read-or-do-you-tend-to-stick-with-the-same-ones/
This one is on my TBR. I admired the author's book Babel so much. So much!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpts. I like finding new authors. I, also, like reading old favorites.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing a lot of great things about this book. I hope you enjoy it! I really enjoy finding new authors, but nothing beats an old favorite! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI have Babel on my shelves and want to read that one before starting with Yellowface. And now there is another one! I feel I am left far behind.
ReplyDeleteThis story sounds like ancient philosophy meets modern academia, which isn't so different from ancient academia, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about Katabasis. I heard a clip of an interview with the author where she discusses the pronunciation of the title. I look forward to reading your thoughts on it, Deb. I enjoy reading new authors too. R. F. Kuang is definitely one I hope to read more of. I loved Yellowface. I have a copy of Babel in my TBR and I do want to try Katabsis.
ReplyDelete