Katabasis (Kindle Edition)

In "Katabasis," R.F. Kuang crafts a dark academia fantasy that delves into the underbelly of scholarly ambition and the supernatural. The narrative follows Alice Law, a dedicated magick scholar at Cambridge University, who inadvertently causes the death of her esteemed advisor, Professor Jacob Grimes, through a botched spell. Desperate to secure his crucial recommendation letter for her academic future, Alice embarks on a perilous journey to Hell, sacrificing half her remaining lifespan to retrieve his soul.

Accompanied by her academic rival, Peter Murdoch, Alice navigates a hellscape that mirrors the academic world they know, encountering logic-defying trials and confronting the very essence of their scholarly pursuits. Their uneasy alliance is tested as they traverse the Eight Courts of Hell, each presenting unique challenges that force them to question their motivations and the true cost of their ambitions.

The novel's atmosphere is intense and suspenseful, blending elements of dark fantasy with a sharp critique of academic structures. Kuang's intricate world-building and exploration of themes such as ambition, guilt, and the pursuit of knowledge create a compelling narrative that challenges the characters' perceptions and drives them toward self-discovery.