R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis is an intellectually staggering achievement that occasionally forgets to be a story. Set in a 1980s Cambridge where magic is as rigorous (and soul-crushing) as a PhD defense, the book excels at satirizing the "hell" of academia. The descent into the underworld felt like a vivid, terrifying metaphor for burnout and the cost of ambition.
However, the 3-star rating comes down to pacing and accessibility. While the "analytic magick" system is fascinating, the dense philosophical debates often stalled the plot’s momentum. Alice and Peter are compellingly flawed, but their coldness made it difficult to stay emotionally invested in their survival during the slower middle act.
It’s a must-read for fans of Babel who crave more academic grit, but those looking for the emotional punch of The Poppy War might find this descent a bit too clinical.
Hneite
