Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (Hardback)

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang is a darkly inventive fantasy that blends magic, ambition, and the perilous journey into the underworld. When a revered professor dies under mysterious circumstances, two graduate students are thrust into a race against death itself to save his soul—and secure their own futures.

Alice Law has devoted her life to the study of Magick, sacrificing pride, love, and even her health in pursuit of academic excellence. Her dreams hinge on the recommendation of Professor Jacob Grimes, now trapped in Hell following a catastrophic magical accident. Refusing to let anything stand in her way, Alice embarks on a dangerous journey into the infernal realms, where rules are twisted and mortality is optional.

Her rival, Peter Murdoch, is equally determined, and their uneasy alliance is strained by ambition, jealousy, and lingering grudges. Together, they navigate a landscape of horrors and wonders, where the stakes are more than just professional—they are existential.

Kuang’s tale is a thrilling exploration of obsession, rivalry, and courage, set against a vividly imagined underworld filled with moral complexity, magical intrigue, and darkly witty prose. Katabasis is both an epic adventure and a meditation on what one is willing to risk for power, knowledge, and the chance at redemption.