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Fantasy/Romantasy

Katabasis

Name: Katabasis
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.92 (1 reviews)
Author: R.F. Kuang

by R.F. Kuang

Published 2025

Pages 541

Goodreads ⭐ 3.92

Pacing Methodical

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Also available on: Kindle, Audible

Synopsis

Academic rivals descend into Hades to retrieve a lost soul, but in the underworld’s twisted game, one of them will have to stay behind forever. A dark retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth.

Why Pull This Book
                                New release buzzing on BookTok for clever, intense retellings                            

Why It Fits

Academic rivals in hell; explores ambition, sacrifice, academia, and mythology.

Discussion Topics

academia Ambition mythology sacrifice

Content Warnings

Sexual assault, suicide, violence, chronic illness, psychological torment

Book Club Discussion Guide: Katabasis

1. Academic Rivalry Taken to Hell (Literally)

Two academic rivals journey to the underworld together. How does their competitive dynamic function in such extreme circumstances? Does rivalry become partnership, or does it intensify? What does their relationship reveal about academia's cutthroat culture? Can you stop competing even when your life depends on cooperation?

2. The Orpheus and Eurydice Myth: Twisted

The title "Katabasis" means descent into the underworld. How does Kuang subvert or reframe the classic Orpheus myth? What changes when you make it about academic rivals instead of lovers? Does the retelling honor the original or completely reimagine it? If you know the myth, how did that affect your reading?

3. The Cost of Ambition [CW: sacrifice]

Both characters are driven by intense ambition. What are they willing to sacrifice to succeed? How does the underworld's bargain—one must stay forever—force them to confront what they truly value? Is ambition heroic or destructive in this story? Where's your personal limit?

4. Academia as Hell (Metaphorically and Literally)

The book draws parallels between academic culture and the underworld. How does Kuang critique academia? What makes scholarly pursuit feel like its own kind of hell? Is the literal hell a metaphor for graduate school, or is that reading too much into it? Have you experienced academic environments that felt soul-crushing?

5. The Underworld's Rules and Games [CW: psychological torment]

Hades operates on twisted logic and cruel games. How does Kuang construct the rules of her underworld? What makes these trials particularly nightmarish? How do characters navigate a system designed to break them? What would you do in their position?

6. Who Deserves to Be Saved?

At the heart: who should return to life and who should stay? How do the characters grapple with this impossible choice? What makes one life worth more than another? Does deserving salvation exist, or is it all arbitrary? How would you decide?

7. The Chronic Illness Element [CW: chronic illness]

One character deals with chronic illness, which adds layers to questions of life, death, and quality of existence. How does Kuang handle this aspect? Does illness affect who "deserves" to return? What does the book say about disability, pain, and the value of life? Was this portrayed thoughtfully or exploitatively?

8. Dark Academia: Genre or Aesthetic?

This fits the "dark academia" trend—elite institutions, classical references, obsessive study, moral ambiguity. Is this genuine dark academia or just the aesthetic? What defines the genre beyond vibes? How does this compare to other dark academia books (The Secret History, Ninth House, If We Were Villians)?

9. R.F. Kuang's Evolution [CW: violence, trauma]

If you've read Kuang's previous work (The Poppy War trilogy, Babel, Yellowface), how does this compare? What's consistent in her writing—themes, style, intensity? Does she have a signature approach to violence, power, and institutions? How has her work evolved?

10. Mythology in Modern Context

Ancient myths get retold constantly. What makes a retelling successful versus derivative? What does placing classical mythology in contemporary academic settings reveal? Do old stories still have power, or do we need to completely reinvent them? What attracts writers (and readers) to these ancient narratives?

11. The Sacrifice Question [CW: major themes]

Would you sacrifice yourself for someone else? For a rival? For someone you hate? What circumstances would make that choice possible? How do the characters' decisions reflect their values, growth, or lack thereof? Is self-sacrifice noble or foolish?

12. Psychological Horror vs. Fantasy

This blends fantasy worldbuilding with psychological torment. How does Kuang balance genre elements? Is the horror more in the setting or in what it reveals about the characters? What's more frightening—the underworld's literal dangers or the emotional/psychological trials?

13. The Ending: Hopeful, Tragic, or Both?

Without spoiling—how did you feel about the resolution? Does anyone truly "win" in a story about hell? What did the ending say about sacrifice, ambition, and what we owe each other? Did it subvert your expectations or deliver what the myth promised?

14. BookTok Buzz vs. Reality

This is getting significant BookTok attention as a new release. Does it live up to the hype? What makes a book blow up on social media versus become a quieter success? Is the buzz justified, or is it just riding the dark academia trend? Would you recommend it?

Katabasis

Synopsis

Why Pull This Book

Why It Fits

Discussion Topics

Content Warnings

Book Club Discussion Guide: Katabasis

Additional Resources

Trusted Resources

References