Book Review: Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There was so much hype about RF Kuang's sixth novel. Manila International Book Fair visitors will remember that National Bookstore had a huge display of the book (along with the new Dan Brown). Bookish folk were pre ordering left and right (yours truly included). And even before the book came out, a TV series deal with Amazon was already struck.

I confess that, upon reading the first couple of chapters, I was a bit put off. Dialogue and tone came across as very simplistic, almost like a YA novel; something I hadn't expected of an RF Kuang book about Cambridge PhD students chasing their thesis adviser thru Hell.

And so I put it down for several weeks, until I was compelled to pick it up again when I saw how lonely it looked on my desk. A few more chapters in, then BLAM! SOMETHING HAPPENED that involves what my twin and I call the "vile vetrayal" trope (spelling intended) 🤣 in our favorite romances. And then I was tearing through the pages, caught up in a frenzy of NEEDING TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS. RIGHT. THIS. INSTANT.

And so, to those who find themselves struggling through the first couple of chapters... I say, SOLDIER ON! It's worth it. This is by RF Kuang, after all. And although I much prefer her epic #poppywar series over this and her other books (the angrier Babel and the more satirical Yellow Face), Katabasis is still a pretty good read where you'll have fun and, like it or not, learn a lot along the way. It's one thick love letter to learning and libraries, while frankly discussing the shadowy side of academia.

I'd recommend it for readers who are at least college age, as Kuang references a lot of classical literature, philosophy, history, and mythology. And some of the themes in the book get pretty dark (as befits the premise of descending into the realm of the dead). Shan't list any trigger warnings as I don't want to spoil. But don't worry! Kuang simplifies the real-life scholarly references in very accessible language. And despite its bleak moments, it's ultimately a joy to read, and never becomes overly academic or dry.

Kuang continues to blend scholarship and great storytelling in her latest, and I can't wait to read whatever she comes up with next.

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