6 dark fantasies to read after R. F. Kuang’s “Katabasis”

One of the most highly anticipated fantasy books of the year is finally here! Released on Aug. 26, Katabasis is the latest novel from R. F. Kuang, the acclaimed author behind award-winning books including The Poppy War trilogy, Babel, and Yellowface.

Described as Dante’s Inferno meets Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, Katabasis is a dark academia fantasy that follows two graduate students who must put aside their rivalry and journey to hell to save their professor’s soul. I have no doubt that R. F. Kuang fans are going to love her latest release. If you’ve already raced through it or you’re waiting for a copy from your local library on Libby, here are six other books you should check out!

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

If you loved the otherworldly feel of Katabasis, Piranesi is a perfect next read. Set in an infinite labyrinth of statues, tides, and echoing halls, it follows a solitary man who begins to unravel the secrets of the mysterious house he calls home.

Fyneshade by Kate Griffin

If you’re craving more gothic vibes, this should be your next read. When Marta is sent to a crumbling mansion as a governess, she quickly discovers its secrets run deeper than the shadows in its halls. With a sinister family, a forbidden romance, and Marta’s own dark gifts at play, this dark and twisted gothic novel is perfect for spooky season.

City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
🎧 Audiobook

Ilmar is a city under brutal occupation and haunted by ancient curses. It’s a place where every shadow hides danger and every choice could spark rebellion. With revolution brewing and the mysterious Anchorwood at its heart, this is a gritty, imaginative fantasy that explores what happens when the oppressed fight back.

The Briar Book of the Dead by A. G. Slatter
🎧 Audiobook

If you’re looking for dark secrets and a gothic atmosphere, you’ll definitely want to check out this book. Ellie Briar, the first non-witch in a powerful family of witches, suddenly finds herself able to speak with the dead after her grandmother’s death. As she uncovers hidden family sins and sinister plots, Ellie must decide who she can trust before everything the Briars have built is destroyed. Magic, ghosts, and generations of secrets make this an eerie, beautifully written story perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten and Ava Reid.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
🎧 Audiobook

Set on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1840s, this novel follows Nena and Néstor, childhood sweethearts turned estranged allies, who reunite just as war breaks out and blood-thirsty monsters return. Equal parts historical drama, romance, and horror, this is a haunting tale of love, survival, and facing the monsters that lurk in the dark.

Babel by R. F. Kuang
🎧 Audiobook

If you haven’t yet read this book, you’ll want to add it to your TBR now, especially if you want more academia vibes. Kuang’s award-winning novel blends dark academia, history, and fantasy in a world where translation itself holds magical power. Following Robin Swift, a Chinese orphan brought to Oxford’s famed Institute of Translation, the story examines privilege, revolution, and the costs of empire.

*Title availability may vary.

Whether you’re drawn to eerie gothic mansions, sprawling cities on the edge of rebellion, or academic rivalries laced with magic, these read-alikes capture the same spirit of Katabasis. The best part? You can find them all through your local library in Libby!

P.S. If you want to hear from the author herself how to pronounce "Katabasis," I recommend checking out this TikTok video from her book tour!

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