Katabasis
Katabasis by R. F. Kuang is set to be published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited on August 26, 2025. This 560-page novel unfolds the journey of grad student Alice Law, who aspires to excel in the field of analytic magick. Her quest takes a dramatic turn when she discovers that the only person capable of helping her is deceased and located in Hell. Alongside her rival, Peter Murdoch, Alice embarks on a perilous adventure to retrieve him, navigating the complexities of a realm where the rules are anything but straightforward.
Readers will find a blend of fantasy, action, and romance as Alice and Peter confront the challenges of their mission. The narrative explores themes of rivalry and collaboration, as the two must learn to work together despite their differences. With elements of dark fantasy and epic storytelling, Katabasis presents a unique take on the hero’s journey, inviting readers into a world where survival hinges on their ability to cooperate in the face of adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
Prepare for one hell of a journey…
‘A big, bold fantasy romp’ GUARDIAN
‘R.F. Kuang is making magic’ ELLE
‘[A] truly original and spellbinding hero’s-journey story’ VOGUE
‘I devoured it’ RED
2025’s most unexpected love story is going to be hell in the new No.1 Sunday Times bestselling novel by R.F. Kuang.
Katabasis, noun, Ancient Greek. The story of a hero’s descent to the underworld.
Grad student Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become the brightest mind in the field of analytic magick.
But the only person who can make her dream come true is dead and – inconveniently – in Hell. And Alice, along with her biggest rival Peter Murdoch, is going after him.
But Hell is not as the philosophers claim, its rules are upside-down, and if she’s going to get out of there alive, she and Peter will have to work together.
That’s if they can agree on anything.
Will they triumph, or kill each other trying?
‘Literary super-stardom doesn’t seem too far out of her reach’ THE HERALD
‘Mind-bending fantasy’ GRAZIA
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