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Katabasis
Once, the gods used us as instruments. Then they broke the strings. Now it is seven days to the end of the world. No blaze, no deluge—only the sudden unthreading of the mind until nothing remains to name the dark.
Reconstructed from fragments and echoes, Katabasis reveals the true story of the collapse of consciousness at the end of the Bronze Age.
Journey to Olympia, a decaying Empire ruled by masks and mirrors, as the Ancient Games are set to begin. Three heroes drawn together by fate must master their blossoming powers to defy annihilation—and preserve the last flame of the human soul.
The orphan thief Eramys, clever enough to unlock forbidden doors, reckless enough to walk through them, would gamble his sanity for the keys to resurrection.
Prince Hipparchus, warhero, leader of men, has that which all rulers despise—a moral compass and the courage to wield it.
The exiled champion Kleos sees patterns no one else can and walks paths no one else will. Now he returns to the Empire that took everything from him, not for revenge, but ascension.
Amid the brutal intrigues of powermongers and the visceral action of sacred bloodsport, they resist a far greater enemy—one even the gods dared not face.
Reconstructed from fragments and echoes, Katabasis reveals the true story of the collapse of consciousness at the end of the Bronze Age.
Journey to Olympia, a decaying Empire ruled by masks and mirrors, as the Ancient Games are set to begin. Three heroes drawn together by fate must master their blossoming powers to defy annihilation—and preserve the last flame of the human soul.
The orphan thief Eramys, clever enough to unlock forbidden doors, reckless enough to walk through them, would gamble his sanity for the keys to resurrection.
Prince Hipparchus, warhero, leader of men, has that which all rulers despise—a moral compass and the courage to wield it.
The exiled champion Kleos sees patterns no one else can and walks paths no one else will. Now he returns to the Empire that took everything from him, not for revenge, but ascension.
Amid the brutal intrigues of powermongers and the visceral action of sacred bloodsport, they resist a far greater enemy—one even the gods dared not face.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2025
8 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Kai Durvas
1 bookKai Durvas is a mountaineer, dive master and internationally unrecognized author.
His works, described as “unskimmable” and “definitely a book”, have not yet been banned—but they have been underlined feverishly by at least one conspiracy theorist.
His interests are the hidden architectures of consciousness, the edges of time, and the silence beneath language.
His works, described as “unskimmable” and “definitely a book”, have not yet been banned—but they have been underlined feverishly by at least one conspiracy theorist.
His interests are the hidden architectures of consciousness, the edges of time, and the silence beneath language.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 2, 2025
Katabasis is unlike anything I’ve read in recent fantasy. And I’ve read a lot from the lighter Wheel of Time stuff, the heavy Malazan series, to basically all Brandon Sanderson. Author is someone my wife knows which is why I gave it a go - he has a website for you to know if it’s your kind of thing, after which I decided to give it a go.
Set in a metaphysical version of Ancient Olympia, the story follows sacred Games that are less about glory and more about revelation, sacrifice, and unraveling reality itself. The prose is dense in the best way - layered, lyrical, and precise. Every line feels like it’s doing double-duty: advancing the plot while hinting at something older and stranger beneath. One thing I needed to get used to was that the characters all know more than the readers, once I accepted that it was gripping.
What stood out most was the worldbuilding. It’s not just about magic systems or maps, this world remembers in ways that unsettle and awe. The author weaves neuroscience, mythology, and deep-time cosmology into a narrative that rewards close reading and re-reading.
This isn’t light reading but if you like your fantasy intelligent, mythic, and just a bit unhinged (in a good way), Katabasis might just blow your mind.
Set in a metaphysical version of Ancient Olympia, the story follows sacred Games that are less about glory and more about revelation, sacrifice, and unraveling reality itself. The prose is dense in the best way - layered, lyrical, and precise. Every line feels like it’s doing double-duty: advancing the plot while hinting at something older and stranger beneath. One thing I needed to get used to was that the characters all know more than the readers, once I accepted that it was gripping.
What stood out most was the worldbuilding. It’s not just about magic systems or maps, this world remembers in ways that unsettle and awe. The author weaves neuroscience, mythology, and deep-time cosmology into a narrative that rewards close reading and re-reading.
This isn’t light reading but if you like your fantasy intelligent, mythic, and just a bit unhinged (in a good way), Katabasis might just blow your mind.
June 5, 2025
Why take drugs when you can just read this book?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews