? Would you go to hell for a letter of recommendation? In RF Kuang’s latest fantasy novel, Katabasis — which, in mythology translates to one’s descent to the underworld — that’s exactly what the author puts her protagonist, Alice Law, through. No stranger to stellar works of literature, the Babel and Yellowface author’s latest release is a bingeable 550-pager that seamlessly combines academia, fantasy, and tales of the underworld as told through humanity’s myriad mythologies.

When one accidentally kills their professor, it’s only logical to attempt to retrieve his soul from Hades’ grip. Alice Law is one of the field of Magick’s brightest minds. Her sole dream? Teach alongside her professor, Jacob Grimes, at Cambridge, whose letter of recommendation we’re told is the key to open every academic and career door there is. Unfortunately, [redacted] hits the fan when she forgets to death-proof his pentagram, and guts start flying, leaving Grimes… eviscerated.

Alice is devastated, seemingly not by the loss of her mentor but rather the letter of recommendation she would now kiss goodbye. She begins conducting extensive research on the underworld, consuming a plethora of literature from myriad cultures to ready herself for her journey 6+ feet under. As she begins her travels, she runs into her lover-turned-academic rival Peter Murdoch, who’s also on a quest to retrieve Grimes’ soul as well.

Dante’s Inferno meets Donna Tartt’s The Secret History… meets The Good Place. As the unlikely duo begins their descent, they’re met with the reality of the situation: should they fail, there’s no going back. The novel references most depictions of hell from throughout the ages, primarily Dante’s Inferno. In Katabasis, Kuang presents an amalgamation of the world’s literature on the afterlife in one comprehensive account. From the different philosophical interpretations of hell to the most notorious of otherworldly entities, it’s all there.

“Hell is a campus.” Alice and Peter begin passing through the underworld’s different layers, at one point finding themselves in a mirror Cambridge, leading them to the realization that oftentimes hell isn’t what you expect it to be. As they march on, the reader is given snippets of non-fictional academic tidbits relating to the underworld in the form of interjectionary chapters throughout the novel’s length.

Don’t let the premise fool you. While the novel may be a fantasy — and the premise perhaps ludicrous — it offers a compelling view of how different cultures throughout history have interpreted the afterlife. In that sense, it’s a novel that’s philosophically and culturally educational. Its characters are fleshed out, complex, and surprisingly relatable in their motives and struggles. Katabasis offers an interesting and timely critique of the state of modern-day academia through a fantastical lens. The writing is engaging and rids itself of pretentious prose, and despite being around 550 pages, the novel is one that will fly by.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can get your hands on the Deluxe Limited Edition hardcover at The Bookspot. You can also find the e-book on Amazon, and listen to the audiobook on Storytel. Keep an eye out on Cherry Blossom Books and Sector 10 for a restock.

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