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Emily

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Katabasis

by R.F. Kuang (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: the-boys-book-club, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in May 2025

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Emily said: " Katabasis was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

R. F. Kuang is incredibly smart, and it shows in her writing. There was a lot of commentary on a lot of different topics in this book - some I expected, and some that I was a little surprised (but n Katabasis was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

R. F. Kuang is incredibly smart, and it shows in her writing. There was a lot of commentary on a lot of different topics in this book - some I expected, and some that I was a little surprised (but not mad) by. To me, all of the conversations on real life topics were done very well, just maybe making your brain hurt a little if you try to inhale it all in one go. She handles specific scenarios and experiences with grace and poise, and her 'side quests' the characters go on always tie in well with furthering the main plot. However, there were times that during some of these longer conversations, or flashbacks that I fear I lost the plot just a tad bit in there for a second. The commentary turned less story-telling and more just telling. But like I said, it tied back in beautifully with the main plot when it found it again, so I guess that works out fine. I think I as the reader have to go in knowing that to get an even better experience out of the story.

I won't go into spoilers, but I did feel very satisfied with the ending. I was glad the story took the turns it did, and was happy it did not end how I expected it might. The only thing that kept me from giving a 5 stars was that it felt as though it were... missing a little something something. The journey into hell was filled with a lot more flashbacks and non-hell setting scenarios than I was expecting - though the scenarios themselves were hellish, so one could argue we were in hell the whole time. And there was action and conflict; just the balance of emotional conflict and physical adventure sometimes leaned a bit too heavily towards the former.

All-in-all, I liked the story of the two grad students traveling to hell. As a former grad student myself, a lot of the hard-hitting topics resonated with me in a way that I didn't know I could appreciate so greatly. An enjoyable, thought-provoking read.

Final review - 4.5 stars

I am incredibly honored to have received an ARC of this book. Thank you to Harper Collins (specifically Danielle Bartlett), NetGalley, and R. F. Kuang for the early release edition. ...more "

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(page 213 of 559)
— May 13, 2025 05:54AM

Jul 14, 2026 06:18AM · see review