Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Fathom's Five #3

The Curse of the Dragon God

Rate this book

China. A land of ancient wonders. A history of tradition, triumph and tyranny. As it casts a shadow across the entire globe, this once forbidden country awakens as the dominant force in a new world economy.

Business empires will rise, deals will be made, lives will be lost as money changes hands, but one treasure will remain the most precious in all of China: a diamond known as the Eye of Fucanglong, the Dragon God of lost jewels and buried treasures. The diamond is flawless. It is priceless. It is cursed. And it is about to be stolen in the heist of the century.

Can Professor Fathom's team of gay adventure-seekers find the diamond before this perfectly executed crime leads to a cataclysmic event of mass destruction?

From the towers of Hong Kong to the diamond mines of Shandong; from the streets of San Francisco to the deserts of Dubai to the male strip clubs of Beijing; from China's mystical past, to the boardrooms and backrooms of a modern industrial giant, take the high road to China and join in the sizzling action and page-turning adventure of The Curse of the Dragon God.

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2011

17 people are currently reading
307 people want to read

About the author

Geoffrey Knight

75 books350 followers
Geoffrey Knight is the author of more than 30 gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.

The heroes of Geoffrey's books love to spend their time jumping off the page, seeking lost treasures, unraveling mysteries or falling in love.

Geoffrey is the recipient of two Rainbow Awards including Best Mystery Winner and Best Overall Gay Fiction Runner-up. His work has been featured in several anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2013, and he appeared as Guest of Honor at the inaugural Rainbow Con in Florida, 2014.

Geoffrey has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories. He lives with his partner, their young daughter and their small furry family in a rambling old house in North Queensland, Australia, where the paint is fraying and life is good.

You can find everything you need to know about Geoffrey and his books at— https://linktr.ee/authorgeoffreyknight

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
51 (28%)
4 stars
69 (38%)
3 stars
41 (22%)
2 stars
11 (6%)
1 star
7 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Kristine .
1,803 reviews12 followers
July 14, 2018
This book starts off with a bang and keeps moving forward like a runaway train. Vengeance, and greed are abound in this fast-paced adventure. I couldn’t put the down, it had me on the edge of my seat in suspense and anticipation. This book can be read as a stand-alone though I think it would be best enjoyed by reading the series in order. This is a great addition to this series.
Profile Image for Elisa Rolle.
Author 107 books237 followers
Read
August 7, 2012
It’s always a pleasure to read a new adventure of the Fathom’s Five (New York adventurer
Jake Stone, Brazilian biologist Eden Santiago, Texas cowboy Shane Houston, Italian art expert Luca da Roma, and California college quarterback Will Hunter), even if my romantic heart would like for them to find the love of their life. In every adventure, there is one of them that seems to have just caught his chance at love, but then something happens and that chance vanishes like smoke in the open air. True, these men are collecting lovers like they are collecting treasures, and maybe those lovers are not vanished, but simple are waiting for them to be back in their arms… yes, I like this second approach, and I think that I will stick to this one.

I’m also starting to see with different eyes the very same Professor Fathom; he is old, but he seems to be a very fascinating man, and so, why not having an happily ever after also for him? Maybe he is too old for one of his guys, but why not matching him with some older and handsome European multimillionaire? It has to be European of course since I cannot see no one else if not an “old country” gentleman with him, maybe, why not even an aristocrat… ok I’m blabbering, but what else I could say of the book without ruining the enjoyment of reading it by yourself and savoring every single moment?

The plot is at the same time linear and complex, it’s really impossible to summarize it in few words, enough to say that as usual, our heroes are running up and down the world, in airplanes, trains, boats and whatever other transport you can imagine. But of course, between an up, and a down, there is always the time to enjoy a flirt or even two.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1573446610/?...
Profile Image for Fangtasia.
565 reviews45 followers
August 12, 2011
Think of a combination of James Bond ("shaken, not stirred"), Indiana Jones, and Charlie's Angels, but starring a dazzling cast of five gorgeous, hunky gay men. From the first page to the last, you will be gripping the edge of the chair and holding on for dear life. What a ride!

There's a car chase and/or explosion in every chapter, from a runaway RV in the twisty streets of San Francisco to a runaway steam train in China, with a dune buggy race in Dubai thrown in for good measure. This book has the distinction of containing the most detailed and unique blowjob scene I've ever read, complete with snowballing at the end. Whew!!! Hot flash...

Turns out this is the third book of a series called Fathom Five, and I cannot wait to read the first two books of the series. If this ever became a movie, not only would I go see it in the theatre, I would buy the Blu-Ray DVD and watch it probably once a week. It's an action-adventure to rival any out in the market today, with much better looking guys (if I get to cast the actors in my imagination, m-m-m...).

Normally, I don't appreciate that many characters in a book, because it takes me a while to be able to differentiate who's who by name and, by that time, half the book is over. Then I have to go back and re-read. But not in this one. The author manages to make each of the guys distinctive with a particular image: Eden is a doctor, Jake is the New York tough guy, Shane is the Texas cowboy, Luca is the Italian model and art expert, and Will is the college student and football player, then there's the Professor, who is blind. Even though this is usually done in porn ("the cop", "the model", "the postman") to create a 'one size fits all' image, Mr. Knight easily moves beyond that to create a personality along with the image, someone you recognize for who and not what they are. Though the plot is complicated, it moves smoothly from chapter to chapter, up to and including the last one where you get the first teaser for the next novel in the series.

Profile Image for Helen Beattie.
Author 2 books
June 21, 2011
What can I say except - Geoff has really outdone himself with his third Fathom's Five book. Each book ramps up the excitement level another notch and The Curse of the Dragon God is no exception. I read this book about 12 months ago to proof and it has been a long wait for it to finally be released.

As usual the boys are put through their paces and Geoff has devised some very inventive ways to torture his characters LOL.

If you have been following along with the Fathom's Five team I recommend you read this latest adventure sooner rather than later. Be prepared for a bumpy ride, you won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for Chris.
2,885 reviews208 followers
September 1, 2011
Ok action adventure in which our group of gay adventurers is all over the place, trying to rescue their beloved Professor and prevent a bomb from destroying Beijing. I know that this series is deliberately over-the-top, but sometimes it works, and sometimes... not so much. Particularly if you have people arriving instantly in San Francisco from Krakow and the Caribbean. But hey, you might enjoy this if you don't mind hearing bad porn music playing in your head during the sex scenes.
Profile Image for DeWanda.
958 reviews
June 30, 2018
As I posted on FB, this series is like reading a live action movie, oozing with sexy naughtiness. I can't wait for the next book. Plus after meeting Geoff I can see where the naughtiness comes from. Love him and his stories.
253 reviews
August 9, 2018
4* The Curse of the Dragon God is the third in the Fathom’s Five series by Geoffrey Knight surrounding main characters Max (Professor), Luca, Will, Jake, Eden, and Shane. This book is about Sen, who runs a company called the Zhang Diamond Tower and currently holds the diamond Eye of Fucanglong. He places his nephew, Bradley, and a Harvard graduate, Chad, as his seconds in command. Sen has realized that someone is stealing his diamonds but cannot figure out what they are using them as currency for. On the opening night of a new building in San Francisco, he has asked his old friend, the Professor, and his men to check in to this situation and to see how deeply inside the organization the diamond smuggling goes as he suspects it is an inside job.

There is just as much action, adventure, and mayhem as in the first two books, but slightly less sexy times. This “adventure” was much rougher on the main characters than it has been in the past with a couple of them being badly wounded. I also liked seeing that a few of the characters seem to be slowing down and wanting to settle in with partners rather than sowing their wild oats throughout the entire adventure. This story focused more on revenge and stopping terrorist attacks than treasure hunting as it has in the past two.

Would absolutely recommend this book for those who love the Fathom Five series. I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes each of these guys and whether, or not, a few of them can have a happy ending eventually!
28 reviews
December 20, 2016
I'm certain it's been said before about this book, but it reads a lot like a really good adventure movie. I picked up this book as an audiobook completely by mistake, and I regret nothing, this was FUN and HOT to read, and the narrator was amazing. it's not often that I buy the rest of the series before I even finish the first book but I did with this one, and I hope that eventually there will be audiobook versions for me as well.
Profile Image for Keith.
243 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2021
Good plot and story. Personally there was one character I could have done without. Still a fun read.
Profile Image for emily curtis.
1,091 reviews3 followers
May 16, 2023
Thrilling action adventure, well written with likeable characters
Profile Image for Keller Lee.
174 reviews
May 31, 2025
Another fun and action packed book in the series . Enjoyable read full of high speed adventures.
Profile Image for AGandyGirl.
772 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2016
3.5 Stars

What to say??

I love the characters in this series and for a non-romance book this series is...



But the story fell apart in this one for me. I have so enjoyed the Indiana Jones/National Treasure hunt qualities of the first 2 books.  That seemed to have been lost entirely here.  The action sequences were exhaustingly LONG to the point I was just worn the fuck out trying to keep engaged enough to visualize what the hell was happening.

And I am with Marco...so many loose ends that really need to start coming together.  Mutiple storylines have been formed over this series and love interests seemed to fall off the page pretty quickly.

But hey...I only wish Bradley and Will had been left alone when they woke up bound and naked together on that table with their clothes used as the bindings.  Again...



Lord Slutty Will is Slutty Slutty.  And Jake finally got him some and while the guy was the enemy...he spoke the name of his true attraction in the act.  Wrong...hell no...this was hottie hot.  

Now we wait for more.  And wait.  And wait.  Who knows if and when we will get more.  



Status Updates:

11%
‘He who looks into your eye shall be cursed forever.’”
“Cursed with what?” Jake asked, his own heart turning to stone upon once again hearing that word.
“Cursed to always want…but never to have.”

18%
Now the almost unmaneuverable 30-foot motor home had just careened nose first down steep, zigzagging Lombard Street.
The RV didn’t stand a chance of negotiating these hairpin bends.
In a single glance, Will realized that if he attempted a single corner he’d either wedge the RV or be unable to turn at all and crash headlong into one of the houses on the first bend. So instead he did the only thing he could—he turned the wheel straight down the middle of the slope, taking the RV off-road completely and plowing a beeline through the winding curves, churning up the gardens and leaving a trail of destruction.
LMAO...only in this book!!!

Lombard Street in San Francisco

23%
“You were looking for someone. And it wasn’t me.”
Luca propped himself up on one elbow and said, “No, but I’m glad I found you.”

I bet.

30%
He wished they could peel away the flesh on their bodies. Yes, the thought of it intoxicated him. Desperately he wanted to see what they looked like on the inside. He wanted to open their chests and see their hearts pounding. If he could see their hearts beat, then surely it meant they loved him.


45%
“I want him.”

FINALLY!!!

58%
Taking four or five steps back, Betty eyed Shane’s tall, muscular form from top to toe, then with a sweep of her arm the whip sliced the air and bit off the top button of Shane’s shirt.
Oh my god. I'm dying. Where the hell is the gif for this whipping?? ❤️❤️❤️

69%
His vision cleared and he realized quickly he was a captive and naked.
Of course he is.


90%
Blinking hard in an effort to focus, he considered a jagged knife, then the saw, before finally settling on a set of rib-cutters. He smiled his cracked, rotted smile. “Yes. Let’s cut you open and see what beautiful things you’re hiding inside, shall we?”
Profile Image for Sarina.
766 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2017
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.

Much like the previous two books in the Fathom’s Five series, this one starts off with some sex and a good dose of action that grabs your attention right off the bat. Unlike the first two books, however, the focus of this book was less about the artifact stolen and more about revenge; the theme of greed and the overall desire for more wealth was the same though. While the plot of this book was completely different than I had expected, it was nice to see the focus on a more ‘modern’ problem rather than watching the main characters hunting down obscure references and clues to something lost/hidden ages ago and lost to history.

A lot of things happen in the first part of the book; Luca is still searching for answers to his past, one of the men ends up seriously injured and is down for the count and in the wake of the Professor’s kidnapping, the rest of the team are scrambling to catch up. There was still a ton of the action that I’ve come to expect in this series, as well as a decent amount of sex, but, for some reason, I just didn’t enjoy this story as much as I did the last two. The story itself had a lot going for it; you get to learn a little more about the Professor’s past, all of the men had their moments to shine throughout the book and, of course, the action scenes were entertaining and kept the plot moving along at a good pace. Despite what had been a winning combination for me in the last two books, this one just didn’t enthrall me as much. Part of that had to do with the fact that the Professor had been kidnapped…again. Seriously, the man has been grabbed in every book so far and by now it has gotten a little old as a plot device. I understand why it was integral to the plot in this case but with it happening in every book so far, it lost quite a bit of its intended punch. Something I was very happy to see, on the other hand, was the return of Sam and a bit of making up between him and Jake as it had bothered me the way they left off last time.

I did still like the book, though not as much as the previous volumes, and there are quite a few things up in the air right now from the beginning of the second book and the ending of this latest one. It totally plan to continue the series and it will be interesting to see where the author takes things with the options currently open and I’m hoping that I’ll get back into the groove of things with the next volume. If you like a great deal of action in your books I’d recommend giving this one a try but I would absolutely read the series in order so you don’t miss out on any of the connections between the characters and stories.

http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/05/1...
Profile Image for Jennifer Lavoie.
Author 5 books70 followers
July 25, 2012
Okay, after reading this book, I definitely see that there is a benefit to reading these books in order, so if you're starting here, STOP! Go back and read book one, first.

A character that is in book two makes a very important appearance in this book, which explains why his thread is left off in book two.

That said, I NEED book four right now. Where is it?!

This book was action packed and had a lot less sex in it than book two. I was fine with that. I want to see more of the action. Also, this book had more actual risk in the action scenes. For example, due to an injury, Eden is out for a large amount of the book, as is Luca. There are broken bones, permanent scarring, lots of blood loss, and other massive injuries the boys take on this adventure. It made it seem more real to me, because it shows that while they are tough, they are also vulnerable and make mistakes.

Some of the action was, though, a little unbelievable, which is why the book isn't a full five stars for me. There is suspension of disbelief, but some of it was just a little too perfectly timed. Not ALL, but some.

I really enjoyed seeing Jake's emotions come out, especially concerning Eden. I want to know more about what's going on there. And Will and Bradley. Is that going to last? I wonder... Plus there was another loose thread left open. The letter Sam was given to deliver to the Professor. What does it say!? We know who it is from, but what are the contents? I'm really curious.

Now I need to go back to read book one, as I sadly read two first. But in the meantime, dear author, PLEASE let us have book four!!
Profile Image for Joelle Mendes.
1,486 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2020
Nobody makes my heart pound like Geoffrey Knight...

And Professor Fathom's five fabulous men. It's a wonder that I don't pass out reading these books, I spend so much time holding my breath, it's crazy. I tend to read a lot faster too because I'm dying to know what happens. These books are crazy good. Every adventure keeps you on the edge of your seat. This installment was no exception. From Eden's daredevil antics in Yemen to Will's high speed chase through San Francisco, Luca's high flying act in Krakow to Jake's death race in Dubai and Shane's sex show in Bejing to the ultimate showdown, the action never stops, the sex is hot and the end will surprise you. I can't wait to see what happens to these boys next.
Profile Image for Mark.
430 reviews19 followers
July 2, 2013
As a gay comic book fan, I was thrilled to find this book. It's nice to read an adventure yarn and not have to substitute the genders of anyone involved. Also, the lights don't go out on the love scenes. Yes, sometimes the prose gets a little thin but that's not the point here. The plotting and pace are relentless and the whole thing a fun, sexy escape. Can't wait to read the rest in the series.
Profile Image for Willo Font.
649 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2014
This is the third in a series of The Fathon 5 Adventures. I truly enjoy these books, from beginning to end. Save time for chapter XX1 its about 100 pages long of nail biting, high adrenaline plots twist, and you won't want to miss any moment of it or put the book down. So. where's the next adventure?
Profile Image for Librarian Kate.
88 reviews
January 6, 2012
Just got my copy from Cleis Press; ordered it for the LGBT Center library I volunteer with, but have to do a proper check to make sure it shipped ok. Probably should do a page by page inspection...sigh. It's a rotten job, but someone's got to do it! LOL
Profile Image for Donald.
472 reviews14 followers
March 23, 2013
A great little adventure that captures the reader's imagination from page one. I read the book in one sitting, which is a bit unusual for me...would recommend to anyone who likes mystery, intrique, and a little sass. Great book...
366 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2015
What a fun series. Don't look for deep meaning and give the author some freedom to teleport his characters half way across the globe effortlessly ... just enjoy the ride. Looking forward to the next volume.
36 reviews
December 16, 2012
This is an adventure book with some great gay romance. The adventure is suspenseful and st several points unbelievable. Worth the read.
49 reviews2 followers
June 29, 2012
Bought this book for vacation on the beach; it was perfect! Entertaining and interesting story. Relaxing and fun, yet intense at the same time.
Profile Image for Susan.
226 reviews22 followers
February 9, 2016
This is SO BAD. IT IS SO BAD, why did I finish it
195 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2016
As the first 2 books of this series, this book was great. I can't wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.