Ana’s Reviews > Katabasis > Status Update

Ngl, this is quickly going from a 4 to a 3. I’ll have to sit with it, unless something really good comes along to make me forget all its flaws and bump it back up. I’ve never read R. F. Kuang in this register before, this definitely feels new, and it’s extremely odd, almost like two different writers wrote this book. I really love the idea of them going to hell and save Grimes, but chap 20? Hell no.

"E se nos podíamos reinventar constantemente, cortar partes de nós que nos envergonhavam ou magoavam, então como é que alguma vez podíamos conhecer realmente outra pessoa? Seriam todas as pessoas paradoxos vivos, mantendo uma ilusão apenas o tempo suficiente para sobreviveram ao contacto com os outros? Seriam as pessoas, no fim das contas, apenas uma série de mentiras?" 💔

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What I love most about R. F. Kuang’s books is that romance is never the focus. The Poppy War had little of it, and Babel none. This new book leans more on a romantic subplot, which isn’t my preference, but her real strength lies in how she blends knowledge into the narrative and weaves characters’ emotions so deeply into the story. Seems to be lovers, to enemies to lovers? If she ends up developing it, which I doubt.

I'm so excited to read yet another work of one of my fav female authors! First thing I saw at the book store instantly bought! I was so excited for this release, I hope I love it as much as the other ones.