---
product_id: 619388241
title: "Katabasis: 2025’s INSTANT No.1 SUNDAY TIMES best-seller from the author of YELLOWFACE"
price: "$53"
currency: NZD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/619388241-katabasis-2025-s-instant-no-1-sunday-times-best-seller
store_origin: NZ
region: New Zealand
---

# Unique, clever magical system Instant No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller Rich in classical & philosophical references Katabasis: 2025’s INSTANT No.1 SUNDAY TIMES best-seller from the author of YELLOWFACE

**Price:** $53
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔥 Unlock the mind-bending descent everyone’s talking about!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Katabasis: 2025’s INSTANT No.1 SUNDAY TIMES best-seller from the author of YELLOWFACE
- **How much does it cost?** $53 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/619388241-katabasis-2025-s-instant-no-1-sunday-times-best-seller)

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## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Top-Ranked Bestseller:** 2025’s instant No.1 Sunday Times bestseller—join the cultural conversation before everyone else does.
- • **Innovative Magic System:** Experience a uniquely crafted, paradox-rich magic system that sets this book apart in contemporary fantasy.
- • **Thought-Provoking Journey:** Follow Alice’s complex descent into identity and purpose—perfect for those craving a cerebral, immersive read.
- • **Cultural & Academic Satire:** Engage with a sharp, eviscerating critique of academia and Western society that resonates with the discerning reader.
- • **Intellectually Provocative:** Dive deep into layered metaphysical and literary themes that challenge your worldview and spark meaningful discussions.

## Overview

Katabasis is R.F. Kuang’s 2025 instant No.1 Sunday Times bestseller, blending a uniquely clever magical system with rich classical and philosophical references. This metaphysical fantasy offers a sharp satire of academia and Western society, inviting readers on a thought-provoking journey through identity and purpose. With a strong cult following and a 4.1-star rating from over 5,800 reviews, it’s a must-read for millennial professionals craving intellectual depth and cultural relevance.

## Description

Katabasis: 2025’s INSTANT No.1 SUNDAY TIMES best-seller from the author of YELLOWFACE : Kuang, R.F.: desertcart.co.uk: Books

Review: Compelling - This take on the Journey Through Hell trope was utterly compelling to me, as a Cambridge graduate in theology who, if this story was real, would have been there when the events took place. The descriptions of the town and characters are so well done that I suffered from nostalgia for a lot of the book; Alice is more like me than I would care to admit. There are one or two inaccuracies in language use, as well as some copyediting errors, but I was able to move on fairly easily (except from the repeated use of "theologist", which may have been deliberate; either way, please don't call us that.) Be that as it may, I think that the questions the book raises about identity, self-worth and purpose will give it a wider appeal than just old Oxbridge students pining for their youth. The book is chock full of classical, literary and philosophical references, some of which took me right back to my metaphysics tutorials and others of which I had to look up. Most people will need to do the same, I think, and I would encourage them to do so rather than skim; it definitely adds a layer of meaning and enjoyment. It's not a book that does the work for you; if you're not in the mood to do it yourself, read something else and come back to this one later. I've seen it said that Katabasis is very different from Babel, but I think the differences are actually superficial. They're companion pieces, as might be inferred from the observation that one references a tower built to Heaven and the other a descent into Hell. Yes, the plot of Babel is set in an alternate version of our own society and how that society as a whole might be changed, while the setting of Katabasis is something in the nature of society's collective subconscious and the focus on how it affects two individuals. (As a side note, the magic system in each book is perfectly crafted to suit the difference in emphasis. Chapeau.) But each of those things inevitably has its outworking in the other. It would be a mistake to think that Katabasis is any less political than Babel. It is an eviscerating satire of academia in particular and Western society in general; it holds up a mirror that at times I found uncomfortable to look into, which just tells me that I've yet to fully internalise the lessons that Alice learns over the course of her journey.
Review: This review really hurts because I’m such a huge R.F. Kuang fan - ⭐️ 3.5/5 stars (rounded up) - spoiler free review This review really hurts because I’m such a huge R.F. Kuang fan and Babel is hands down my favourite book of all time. But Katabasis just did not land for me. Maybe it's because I went in with extremely high expectations, hoping for the same emotional punch that I got from her previous books. Overall it fell short, even though there were plenty of moments that reminded me of why I love her writing so much. But let’s start with the highlights. The magic system was easily my favourite part of the book. It was so well thought out and I loved seeing all the clever paradoxes play out. As always it was unique as hell (pun intended), and exactly the kind of thing that makes R.F. Kuang's books stand out for me. Her magical systems are just perfection! Unfortunately though, for me, the book struggled in most of the other areas. The character development was lacking and it just didn't feel like there was a strong plot at all. I also never felt a connection between Alice and Peter, their chemistry just wasn’t there. At times it felt like this story wasn't fully thought through, which made it hard to stay fully invested. Don't get me wrong though, it was an enjoyable read, and I would have given it 4 stars if not for the ending. In my opinion, it was rushed, tied up too neatly, and felt like a cop-out. It was the reason my rating was then knocked down to a 3.5 stars. So, while Katabasis has flashes of brilliance and a truly clever magical system, it just didn’t hit the same. There wasn’t a single moment that made me feel anger, pain, or heartbreak, the very emotions R. F. Kuang usually brings out in me. Instead, everything just felt bland.

## Features

- New Store Stock

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 536 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 8 in Methaphysical & Visionary 15 in Fantasy Anthologies (Books) 16 in Myths & Legends |
| Customer Reviews | 4.1 out of 5 stars 5,813 Reviews |

## Images

![Katabasis: 2025’s INSTANT No.1 SUNDAY TIMES best-seller from the author of YELLOWFACE - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YpIeJ10gL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Compelling
*by S***F on 30 August 2025*

This take on the Journey Through Hell trope was utterly compelling to me, as a Cambridge graduate in theology who, if this story was real, would have been there when the events took place. The descriptions of the town and characters are so well done that I suffered from nostalgia for a lot of the book; Alice is more like me than I would care to admit. There are one or two inaccuracies in language use, as well as some copyediting errors, but I was able to move on fairly easily (except from the repeated use of "theologist", which may have been deliberate; either way, please don't call us that.) Be that as it may, I think that the questions the book raises about identity, self-worth and purpose will give it a wider appeal than just old Oxbridge students pining for their youth. The book is chock full of classical, literary and philosophical references, some of which took me right back to my metaphysics tutorials and others of which I had to look up. Most people will need to do the same, I think, and I would encourage them to do so rather than skim; it definitely adds a layer of meaning and enjoyment. It's not a book that does the work for you; if you're not in the mood to do it yourself, read something else and come back to this one later. I've seen it said that Katabasis is very different from Babel, but I think the differences are actually superficial. They're companion pieces, as might be inferred from the observation that one references a tower built to Heaven and the other a descent into Hell. Yes, the plot of Babel is set in an alternate version of our own society and how that society as a whole might be changed, while the setting of Katabasis is something in the nature of society's collective subconscious and the focus on how it affects two individuals. (As a side note, the magic system in each book is perfectly crafted to suit the difference in emphasis. Chapeau.) But each of those things inevitably has its outworking in the other. It would be a mistake to think that Katabasis is any less political than Babel. It is an eviscerating satire of academia in particular and Western society in general; it holds up a mirror that at times I found uncomfortable to look into, which just tells me that I've yet to fully internalise the lessons that Alice learns over the course of her journey.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This review really hurts because I’m such a huge R.F. Kuang fan
*by T***L on 8 September 2025*

⭐️ 3.5/5 stars (rounded up) - spoiler free review This review really hurts because I’m such a huge R.F. Kuang fan and Babel is hands down my favourite book of all time. But Katabasis just did not land for me. Maybe it's because I went in with extremely high expectations, hoping for the same emotional punch that I got from her previous books. Overall it fell short, even though there were plenty of moments that reminded me of why I love her writing so much. But let’s start with the highlights. The magic system was easily my favourite part of the book. It was so well thought out and I loved seeing all the clever paradoxes play out. As always it was unique as hell (pun intended), and exactly the kind of thing that makes R.F. Kuang's books stand out for me. Her magical systems are just perfection! Unfortunately though, for me, the book struggled in most of the other areas. The character development was lacking and it just didn't feel like there was a strong plot at all. I also never felt a connection between Alice and Peter, their chemistry just wasn’t there. At times it felt like this story wasn't fully thought through, which made it hard to stay fully invested. Don't get me wrong though, it was an enjoyable read, and I would have given it 4 stars if not for the ending. In my opinion, it was rushed, tied up too neatly, and felt like a cop-out. It was the reason my rating was then knocked down to a 3.5 stars. So, while Katabasis has flashes of brilliance and a truly clever magical system, it just didn’t hit the same. There wasn’t a single moment that made me feel anger, pain, or heartbreak, the very emotions R. F. Kuang usually brings out in me. Instead, everything just felt bland.

### ⭐⭐⭐ Disappointing
*by A***N on 1 October 2025*

So excited to read this book, based on her previous work but I was ultimately disappointed. The premise is interesting, the Cambridge-set initial stages of the book were engaging and pacey, then it became quite turgid and increasingly difficult to read in any enjoyable way. I persisted with it because of the quality of her writing but could easily have abandoned it two thirds of the way through. The ending was also dealt with summarily. Certainly not a book I’ll be recommending to anyone.

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*Product available on Desertcart New Zealand*
*Store origin: NZ*
*Last updated: 2026-02-16*