Title: Lucien

Author: J. R. Thornton

Genre: Literary/Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Magpie

Publication Date: 19th March 2026

Rating: 4.5/5

Cover:

Summary:

His greatest gift was the art of deceit…

When Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard, he is completely unprepared for the privileged world that awaits him. There he meets his roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is bold, confident and sophisticated – everything Atlas wishes he could be.

In awe of Lucien, Atlas is soon swept into a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. But when he struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien, sensing a willing disciple, offers a daring solution.

As their underhand methods draw them into a dangerous game of deceit, Lucien’s behaviour grows more erratic. Is Lucien all that he seems, or does his charismatic façade conceal something much more sinister?

Review:

I love a bit of dark academia and I’m an artist so I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. Lucien is a twisting, engrossing, and satisfyingly layered story of lies, complicity, privilege, and the choices we make. I found it completely captivating and loved the sharp and elegant writing style which captures the complexities of male friendship perfectly. The Harvard setting works so well for this story which covers class and entitlement with a sharp perceptiveness. I was also deeply fascinated by the art component of the narrative, especially the incredibly interesting technicalities and history of art forgery. Our main character Christopher, or ‘Atlas’ as he is renamed by new Harvard roommate Lucien, is not perfect, but his flaws and very human weakness in the face of the promise of friendship and connection is relatable in a way that makes it hard not to understand why he makes some of his more questionable decisions. The titular character, Lucien, is also deeply compelling in a more sinister way and yet, for all his duplicity and his smoke and mirrors personality, there is still a slight vulnerability that makes him unquestionably intriguing. Overall, Lucien is a smart, nuanced, and darkly captivating thriller based in the high stakes world of art and academia. Highly recommended. 

★★★★.5

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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