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The Darkling Thrush
Fed up with his desk duty in the Imperial Arcane Library, book hunter Colin Bliss accepts a private commission to find The Sword's Shadow, a legendary and dangerous witches' grimoire. But to find the book, Colin must travel to the remote Western Isles and solve a centuries' old murder.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
28 people are currently reading
853 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
224 books5,418 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
March 24, 2019
Thanks for this amazing buddy read, Adam!
I don’t have enough words to express my feelings for this story. It’s pure fantasy. It is EXACTLY why I love fantasy so much.
And of course, Josh Lanyon skillfully combines the love for rare and beautiful books (that most of us share, right?) with m/m romance in this gorgeous fantasy setting.
The story revolves around Colin, who is a librivenator, meaning he tracks down rare books, usually occult tomes and grimoires. He was raised in the Americas, but is currently in London as an ‘exchange student’ trying to learn the skills of the librivenators of the Old Country.
However, bored out of his mind with the desk job he’s given, he accepts a private assignment to find a long lost grimoire the importance of which only slowly dawns on Colin and also attracts the attention of the Vox Pessimires, a group of specialized librivenators who track down and destroy grimoires deemed too dangerous to exist.
Colin isn’t aware of the danger he’s in until he reaches the climax of his journey and ultimately the end of the world as we know it.
I loved the Gaelic mythology in this. It was so well used and gave the whole story a real Lovecraftean feel. Sure, a story like this deserves to be treated as an epos. It shouldn’t be thrown out there as a novella, for heaven’s sake! I find the plot very remarkable and could easily see an entire series span out from this.
Also, the resolution was way too simple. I actually guessed how the mysterious grimoire would be found halfway through the story. I was surprised to see that Colin really ended up finding it this way. It seemed way too straightforward to me.
The love story really wasn’t very noteworthy. The ‘I Love you’ at the end felt very odd. Why did they even fall in love? At first I thought there was some love spell that kept these two guys glued together, because Colin didn’t really invest much thought into a romantic relationship, so why his love interest was head over heels in love with him is beyond me. Also, what in the name of All was the thrush about??
Still I need to rate this book for the overall impact it had on me, and as such, I will put it on my favorites list. I really, really hope to someday find an epic fantasy novel with a theme like this. It really took my breath away and sent chills down my spine.
Even though I am favoring this story for totally different reasons than other Lanyon stories that I have loved reading, it definitely gets…
5 stars
I don’t have enough words to express my feelings for this story. It’s pure fantasy. It is EXACTLY why I love fantasy so much.
And of course, Josh Lanyon skillfully combines the love for rare and beautiful books (that most of us share, right?) with m/m romance in this gorgeous fantasy setting.
The story revolves around Colin, who is a librivenator, meaning he tracks down rare books, usually occult tomes and grimoires. He was raised in the Americas, but is currently in London as an ‘exchange student’ trying to learn the skills of the librivenators of the Old Country.
However, bored out of his mind with the desk job he’s given, he accepts a private assignment to find a long lost grimoire the importance of which only slowly dawns on Colin and also attracts the attention of the Vox Pessimires, a group of specialized librivenators who track down and destroy grimoires deemed too dangerous to exist.
Colin isn’t aware of the danger he’s in until he reaches the climax of his journey and ultimately the end of the world as we know it.
I loved the Gaelic mythology in this. It was so well used and gave the whole story a real Lovecraftean feel. Sure, a story like this deserves to be treated as an epos. It shouldn’t be thrown out there as a novella, for heaven’s sake! I find the plot very remarkable and could easily see an entire series span out from this.
Also, the resolution was way too simple. I actually guessed how the mysterious grimoire would be found halfway through the story. I was surprised to see that Colin really ended up finding it this way. It seemed way too straightforward to me.
The love story really wasn’t very noteworthy. The ‘I Love you’ at the end felt very odd. Why did they even fall in love? At first I thought there was some love spell that kept these two guys glued together, because Colin didn’t really invest much thought into a romantic relationship, so why his love interest was head over heels in love with him is beyond me. Also, what in the name of All was the thrush about??
Still I need to rate this book for the overall impact it had on me, and as such, I will put it on my favorites list. I really, really hope to someday find an epic fantasy novel with a theme like this. It really took my breath away and sent chills down my spine.
Even though I am favoring this story for totally different reasons than other Lanyon stories that I have loved reading, it definitely gets…
5 stars
March 29, 2025
Unfortunately, this is my least favourite JL so far. Which isn't to say that I didn't still mostly enjoy it but it was definitely weaker compared to other stand alones I've read of hers.
It's a shame cause there were a number of things I should have loved in this.
The magical world building in this low fantasy was interesting, although you only catch glimpses of it due to it being a short stand alone and so much page time being dedicated to rushing through the plot. I enjoyed that the MC was a Magical Book Hunter with the ability of psychometry, however again was never really used to its full potential and I would have loved to see more of this story element.
I also wished I enjoyed the romance more. A cold, competent and surly love interest that the MC thinks hates him, but actually is so infatuated with him that he would crawl over glass for him, but just can't express it properly? Should have eaten that up, but so much of it felt like jumping from plot beats to plot beats and the relationship journey didnt feel like it had much build or tension and the whole thing just left me feeling a bit cold.
Also I struggled with the idea that this book has been missing for nearly 700 years and all it takes is the MC wandering around for a few days? I think this is one of those cases where premise wasn't suited to a story this short. All the biggest issues I had in this would have likely been solved with more breathing space and pages.
JLs building blocks continue to be a fun time for me but I feel like you can definitely tell this one came from earlies in her back catalogue.
It's a shame cause there were a number of things I should have loved in this.
The magical world building in this low fantasy was interesting, although you only catch glimpses of it due to it being a short stand alone and so much page time being dedicated to rushing through the plot. I enjoyed that the MC was a Magical Book Hunter with the ability of psychometry, however again was never really used to its full potential and I would have loved to see more of this story element.
I also wished I enjoyed the romance more. A cold, competent and surly love interest that the MC thinks hates him, but actually is so infatuated with him that he would crawl over glass for him, but just can't express it properly? Should have eaten that up, but so much of it felt like jumping from plot beats to plot beats and the relationship journey didnt feel like it had much build or tension and the whole thing just left me feeling a bit cold.
Also I struggled with the idea that this book has been missing for nearly 700 years and all it takes is the MC wandering around for a few days? I think this is one of those cases where premise wasn't suited to a story this short. All the biggest issues I had in this would have likely been solved with more breathing space and pages.
JLs building blocks continue to be a fun time for me but I feel like you can definitely tell this one came from earlies in her back catalogue.
January 2, 2015
Written January 2, 2015
3.1 Stars - Mysterious myths and an interesting adventure part ... but too little snuggle factor for me
A Josh Lanyon fantasy / mystery tale. — 5:30 hrs narrated by Max Miller (new for me).
A little disappointed to be honest..
Hardly a romance but a pretty interesting mystery. - Although very different with a strange feeling over it. Both the story itself and this slow and quite odd narration. Melancholy and very quietly in the expression, but still enjoying to listening to. I'm not sure if I liked this story, or the narration, or not.... yet.
***********************************************************
Colin Bliss a 23 years old book hunter, and American, works for a time at the Imperial Arcane Library in London. After a badly ended (embarrassing and quite painful) short lovestory with a new colleague is he asked, and accepts, a private commission to find The Sword's Shadow, a legendary and dangerous witches' grimoire. ~ A mythic and very dangerous old book.
Soon enough is it necessary to travel with train (and ferry) to Western Isles and solve a centuries' old murder. Then appears another fellow, Septimus Marx a tall, dark man with a strong attraction.
***********************************************************
The Darkling Thrush is in no way a bad or boring mystery book. Quite the opposite, it has a good a well thought out, interesting (sad) very old myth / legend to be solved here. And partly also gets resolved. I liked this part of the book, although it was many difficult names, complicated old myths etc., to grasp when listen instead of reading by yourself.
What I lacked was an ounce more romance (as an addicted romances reader) but I also had a hard time believing, and feel for, the tiny romance part that in fact existed here.
Septimus' (the supposed strong alpha male..) narrated voice was so stupid silly and unattractive, that I found it hard to see what John saw in him at all. He sounded like an old grumpy Merlin. It felt like a slightly incredible insta lust and insta love that felt tacked on in this context. Overall, probably had this story been better, for me, without great affection and big grand words from a "stranger" and a more developed slow love story instead.
***********************************************************
Not 'my' best JL but still a few hours good enough listening (..a dark, cold, stormy first day of the year).
I LIKE - Yeah kind of... I wished for more
3.1 Stars - Mysterious myths and an interesting adventure part ... but too little snuggle factor for me
A Josh Lanyon fantasy / mystery tale. — 5:30 hrs narrated by Max Miller (new for me).
A little disappointed to be honest..
Hardly a romance but a pretty interesting mystery. - Although very different with a strange feeling over it. Both the story itself and this slow and quite odd narration. Melancholy and very quietly in the expression, but still enjoying to listening to. I'm not sure if I liked this story, or the narration, or not.... yet.
***********************************************************
Colin Bliss a 23 years old book hunter, and American, works for a time at the Imperial Arcane Library in London. After a badly ended (embarrassing and quite painful) short lovestory with a new colleague is he asked, and accepts, a private commission to find The Sword's Shadow, a legendary and dangerous witches' grimoire. ~ A mythic and very dangerous old book.
Soon enough is it necessary to travel with train (and ferry) to Western Isles and solve a centuries' old murder. Then appears another fellow, Septimus Marx a tall, dark man with a strong attraction.
***********************************************************
The Darkling Thrush is in no way a bad or boring mystery book. Quite the opposite, it has a good a well thought out, interesting (sad) very old myth / legend to be solved here. And partly also gets resolved. I liked this part of the book, although it was many difficult names, complicated old myths etc., to grasp when listen instead of reading by yourself.
What I lacked was an ounce more romance (as an addicted romances reader) but I also had a hard time believing, and feel for, the tiny romance part that in fact existed here.
Septimus' (the supposed strong alpha male..) narrated voice was so stupid silly and unattractive, that I found it hard to see what John saw in him at all. He sounded like an old grumpy Merlin. It felt like a slightly incredible insta lust and insta love that felt tacked on in this context. Overall, probably had this story been better, for me, without great affection and big grand words from a "stranger" and a more developed slow love story instead.
***********************************************************
Not 'my' best JL but still a few hours good enough listening (..a dark, cold, stormy first day of the year).
I LIKE - Yeah kind of... I wished for more
October 11, 2018
This is a fun historical fantasy, with a AE twist. The main characters were very reminiscent of Adrien and Jake, but they had their own faults and quirks that made them unique. The fantasy elements were well-paced and spread out, introduced just perfectly to slowly draw you into this world. The castle and all the locations were elegantly described.
Edit: Sista answered my question on what a brownie is. It's a household spirit who cleans your house for you. That's handy! A brief description in the book itself would have avoided a lot of confusion for the last 5 years, lol. Thanks, sista!
Edit: Sista answered my question on what a brownie is. It's a household spirit who cleans your house for you. That's handy! A brief description in the book itself would have avoided a lot of confusion for the last 5 years, lol. Thanks, sista!
November 20, 2012
Audio Book 3.5 Stars... OK! Narrator Max Millar was amazing, I loved his seductive tones:)
November 26, 2021
Interesting idea and a well-written story.
I liked the whole idea for the story. The world created by the author is interesting and original. I think that it has a lot of potential, and the author used it quite skillfully. He also did a good job of conveying the atmosphere of weirdness. Colin feels like he is being followed, and the feeling that we as well should be constantly looking over our shoulder has been expressed quite well.
Lanyon can certainly create full-fledged characters in his novellas and short stories. Here, I think there was something missing. It doesn't mean that Colin and Septimus are totally flat, but I know that this author can do more and I expect more from him. First of all, we know too little about Septimus, we don’t know him enough to really care. Colin is fine, but he also lacks a bit of that uniqueness, something that makes him stand out as a character. But overall it's okay and, in a book by another author, I probably wouldn't mind it.
As for the things I didn't like, I think the romance happens way too fast. The very first sex scene between Colin and Septimus surprised me completely. The leap between not liking each other and becoming lovers seemed far too sudden to me. After that, it didn't bother me so much that they were lovers. But their declarations of love were another surprise to me. I believe it happened way too fast, too.
Overall, it's not the best Josh Lanyon novella I've read, but it's still a good story.
I liked the whole idea for the story. The world created by the author is interesting and original. I think that it has a lot of potential, and the author used it quite skillfully. He also did a good job of conveying the atmosphere of weirdness. Colin feels like he is being followed, and the feeling that we as well should be constantly looking over our shoulder has been expressed quite well.
Lanyon can certainly create full-fledged characters in his novellas and short stories. Here, I think there was something missing. It doesn't mean that Colin and Septimus are totally flat, but I know that this author can do more and I expect more from him. First of all, we know too little about Septimus, we don’t know him enough to really care. Colin is fine, but he also lacks a bit of that uniqueness, something that makes him stand out as a character. But overall it's okay and, in a book by another author, I probably wouldn't mind it.
As for the things I didn't like, I think the romance happens way too fast. The very first sex scene between Colin and Septimus surprised me completely. The leap between not liking each other and becoming lovers seemed far too sudden to me. After that, it didn't bother me so much that they were lovers. But their declarations of love were another surprise to me. I believe it happened way too fast, too.
Overall, it's not the best Josh Lanyon novella I've read, but it's still a good story.
December 9, 2024
Relistened and not agreeing with my self about my previous rating. More of a 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Liked the story about a book hunter looking for a grimoire. Felt both mysterious and with a lot of atmosphere. But - what I'm still looking for is the romance. That part was mostly confusing due to the lack of it.
Liked the story about a book hunter looking for a grimoire. Felt both mysterious and with a lot of atmosphere. But - what I'm still looking for is the romance. That part was mostly confusing due to the lack of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
3.75!
That's not true. Marx sounded amused. It's quite the opposite. I like you too much.
The book was quite a short, interesting read. It took my mind off my exam stress. The plot was quite well done given the short length. The characters were also quite great, but the romance felt a little rushed especially the first time the pair slept together. Given that it happened at 30% mark, it still felt a bit too rushed for me.
The book was written from Colin’s POV, and the love interest was very infrequent throughout the chapters given that he was supposed to fall in love. I did not feel the motions of falling in love from either side. Also, this was the first time I saw anyone not use quotation marks to enclose the characters’ dialogue. It made me hard to follow who was saying what, or whether they were just thinking aloud.
Anyway, it wasn’t that bad of a read.
That's not true. Marx sounded amused. It's quite the opposite. I like you too much.
The book was quite a short, interesting read. It took my mind off my exam stress. The plot was quite well done given the short length. The characters were also quite great, but the romance felt a little rushed especially the first time the pair slept together. Given that it happened at 30% mark, it still felt a bit too rushed for me.
The book was written from Colin’s POV, and the love interest was very infrequent throughout the chapters given that he was supposed to fall in love. I did not feel the motions of falling in love from either side. Also, this was the first time I saw anyone not use quotation marks to enclose the characters’ dialogue. It made me hard to follow who was saying what, or whether they were just thinking aloud.
Anyway, it wasn’t that bad of a read.
October 1, 2013
The book geek in me loved the premise of an outsider librarian going off the range after making a colossally bad workplace decision.
Colin Bliss, young, talented and naive makes a whopper of bad judgment call and then realizes he has to live with it for a year. A very long year. Until an opportunity presents itself and he decides to engage in some unsanctioned activities since, well...since he's been sidelined.
Septimus Marx, the scowling presence that always unsettles Bliss is the proverbial bad penny that keeps turning up. But, his sanctimonious airs have more to do with than just the superiority of position and skill. Bliss finds this out during his journey.
I liked the adventure/treasure seeking plot for a lost book. A mythic book that all reputable sources deny exists. The thought and development of the legend and the gaelic used throughout gave a very tangible feel to the story and if there's something I really enjoy, it is being subsumed by a story. The plot itself isn't complicated, but the execution is so smooth and pleasurable that it rates highly in my estimate.
Favorite quote:
He smiled faintly. “‘Ge milis a’ mhil, cò dh’imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i.’ Good advice, this is. Honey may be sweet, but no one licks it off a briar.”
Colin Bliss, young, talented and naive makes a whopper of bad judgment call and then realizes he has to live with it for a year. A very long year. Until an opportunity presents itself and he decides to engage in some unsanctioned activities since, well...since he's been sidelined.
Septimus Marx, the scowling presence that always unsettles Bliss is the proverbial bad penny that keeps turning up. But, his sanctimonious airs have more to do with than just the superiority of position and skill. Bliss finds this out during his journey.
I liked the adventure/treasure seeking plot for a lost book. A mythic book that all reputable sources deny exists. The thought and development of the legend and the gaelic used throughout gave a very tangible feel to the story and if there's something I really enjoy, it is being subsumed by a story. The plot itself isn't complicated, but the execution is so smooth and pleasurable that it rates highly in my estimate.
Favorite quote:
He smiled faintly. “‘Ge milis a’ mhil, cò dh’imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i.’ Good advice, this is. Honey may be sweet, but no one licks it off a briar.”
April 4, 2025
I did a relisten of Josh Lanyon's The Darkling Thrush today. I haven't listened to this one in over five years, so it was great to redo it. I've been craving treasure hunting books, so the timing was perfect for The Darkling Thrush.
I'm blown away by the skillful way Lanyon blends magic and mysticism in this story. The "old world" stories and paranormal characters work in sync as the story evolves.
I've also given 5 stars to the amazing Max Miller for his performance in the audio version of The Darkling Thrush. Miller comes up with so many different voices for this varied cast. His Scottish accents are flawless, and the voices he uses for the paranormal folks are incredibly creative. I highly recommend you go with the audiobook if you're a fan!
I'm blown away by the skillful way Lanyon blends magic and mysticism in this story. The "old world" stories and paranormal characters work in sync as the story evolves.
I've also given 5 stars to the amazing Max Miller for his performance in the audio version of The Darkling Thrush. Miller comes up with so many different voices for this varied cast. His Scottish accents are flawless, and the voices he uses for the paranormal folks are incredibly creative. I highly recommend you go with the audiobook if you're a fan!
May 24, 2012
3.25 stars
Positive: Wow for the fantasy thing. I must say the the description is quite good. It is intriguing ... the quest to find the lost legendary grimoire in the remote Western Isles. It's like I'm watching "Merlin"
Negative: I don't know, I feel like there is a disconnection between Colin and Septimus. If I expect some kind of romance, this is not it. I cannot really believe their relationship.
Still, if I need to sum up, I will go with intriguing
Positive: Wow for the fantasy thing. I must say the the description is quite good. It is intriguing ... the quest to find the lost legendary grimoire in the remote Western Isles. It's like I'm watching "Merlin"
Negative: I don't know, I feel like there is a disconnection between Colin and Septimus. If I expect some kind of romance, this is not it. I cannot really believe their relationship.
Still, if I need to sum up, I will go with intriguing
March 7, 2020
This was a weird one. 2 stars for the story.
The audio was great. It gets an extra star for that.
The story was odd and a bit confusing.
I found myself not caring about the plot.
Nor about the characters.
And there was a weird insta-love declaration near the end.
Weird.
And the end of the world, a giant sea serpent, a mummy, and the fae.
Overall: an unmemorable mess.
My rec? Skip it.
The audio was great. It gets an extra star for that.
The story was odd and a bit confusing.
I found myself not caring about the plot.
Nor about the characters.
And there was a weird insta-love declaration near the end.
Weird.
And the end of the world, a giant sea serpent, a mummy, and the fae.
Overall: an unmemorable mess.
My rec? Skip it.
May 24, 2012
What if there was magic in our world today? What if it was as normal to be a witch, or clearsighted, as it is for us to be good at sports or a musician? This is what Josh Lanyoon must have thought when he created an AU world with telephones, aircraft, and automobiles where "the Americas" are officially still called "The colonies", where people spend their lives transcripting books by hand or hunting famous lost grimoires, where there is a secret police in charge of suppressing or destroying books that are too dangerous to come to the world of man, where the mechanical printing press was invented by a Scotsman in 1414, where a goblin can be a well known - doctor and where members of the Seelie Court with blue skin and red eyes walk the streets in daylight?
This is the world of Colin Bliss, a book hunter on an exchange program from Boston, currently living in London and working for a government agency which control and collect magical books and magic in general, or Magick, as it is called here. Recovering from the breakup between him and his superior, Anthony, Colin feels neutralized riding a desk instead of working as a book hunter as he used to. He gets to hear he's too young, too inexperienced and, in addition to that, being a Colonial not at all fit to go on "real book hunts" in the old world from everybody, including mysterious Septimus Marx, who seems to pop up everywhere Colin happens to go. Bored and annoyed, Colin jumps in with both feet when a slightly obscure private book collector asks him to go hunting for a famous grimoire which has been missing for six centuries. When he learns the hunt can not only cause peril to his own life, but to manhood in general, Colin tries to step back from the search. But it's too late. He can't escape his fate anymore. Nor can he escape Septimus Marx.
I loved all those little details of Lanyon's brilliant worldbuilding. The tongue - in cheek references to legends and lore, the casualness the characters move inside a reality which is so outlandish to us, it's all masterfully and so typical Lanyon. (one example: Colin talks to the goblin who falls asleep in the middle of the talk. When he returns a day later and is disappointed the goblin still sleeps, the goblin's housemaid tells him "She's a goblin she could sleep for a day or a month," and Colin just nods ruefully as if he should have known better than to ask.) The mystery, the quest, is thrilling and fascinating, and the ending is surprising and worth the journey.
The relationship between Septimus and Colin builds unusually fast for a work of Lanyon's, and there's remarkably little explanation of the why of it. It feels almost like insta - love. Their connection is supposed to run deep, but I couldn't feel their emotions. That's what bothered me lately with several of Lanyon's newer works, the lack of emotion between the heroes.
But then again, the book read like the first in a series. Maybe Septimus and Colin will get closer over time. There are many other odds and loose ends which call to be linked together. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to this one.
This is the world of Colin Bliss, a book hunter on an exchange program from Boston, currently living in London and working for a government agency which control and collect magical books and magic in general, or Magick, as it is called here. Recovering from the breakup between him and his superior, Anthony, Colin feels neutralized riding a desk instead of working as a book hunter as he used to. He gets to hear he's too young, too inexperienced and, in addition to that, being a Colonial not at all fit to go on "real book hunts" in the old world from everybody, including mysterious Septimus Marx, who seems to pop up everywhere Colin happens to go. Bored and annoyed, Colin jumps in with both feet when a slightly obscure private book collector asks him to go hunting for a famous grimoire which has been missing for six centuries. When he learns the hunt can not only cause peril to his own life, but to manhood in general, Colin tries to step back from the search. But it's too late. He can't escape his fate anymore. Nor can he escape Septimus Marx.
I loved all those little details of Lanyon's brilliant worldbuilding. The tongue - in cheek references to legends and lore, the casualness the characters move inside a reality which is so outlandish to us, it's all masterfully and so typical Lanyon. (one example: Colin talks to the goblin who falls asleep in the middle of the talk. When he returns a day later and is disappointed the goblin still sleeps, the goblin's housemaid tells him "She's a goblin she could sleep for a day or a month," and Colin just nods ruefully as if he should have known better than to ask.) The mystery, the quest, is thrilling and fascinating, and the ending is surprising and worth the journey.
The relationship between Septimus and Colin builds unusually fast for a work of Lanyon's, and there's remarkably little explanation of the why of it. It feels almost like insta - love. Their connection is supposed to run deep, but I couldn't feel their emotions. That's what bothered me lately with several of Lanyon's newer works, the lack of emotion between the heroes.
But then again, the book read like the first in a series. Maybe Septimus and Colin will get closer over time. There are many other odds and loose ends which call to be linked together. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to this one.
January 14, 2024
Max Miller did an astounding job in narrating this audiobook. His character voices were varied, his accents impeccable and he sang in a lilting, lovely voice at one point. He very much enhanced a story that I had a bit of a trouble really getting into, and at the end became very immersed in the tale of a grimoire which mysteriously disappeared in a northern Celtic-like isle, which struggled between the Old Religion and the new. 4 stars.
May 24, 2012
It was a bit more difficult than usual to enter the story because in a fantasy book it always takes me a while to learn the rules of the world created by the author, to memorize the names, items, places, but once I found myself comfortable, I wouldn't want the story to finish.
There are three elements that made this book great:
* books. No one needs to convince me that books are magical items and that they contain much more than what's on the pages. Sometimes I'm so engrossed in a book, I hang onto it with my hands and heart and mind with such fierceness that I think the emotions are transferred into the paper. Borrowing a book makes me always think of the people who held it before me and lending a book of mine is like giving away a piece of me, so this story were book hunters can absorb the life of a book and play such a great role in the balance of the world was incredibly exciting;
* Scotland. I visited Scotland in 2007 and I went to Oban! Scotland is a magical place and it wasn't difficult to picture the places and the atmosphere. I like to read about places I visited. The castle of Colin's quest - I don't think it's the real Urquhart Castle, which is on Loch Ness - with its secret places was like a character that we learned together with Colin;
* Septimus Marx. I can't believe I fell in love with another one of Josh Lanyon's rough, dark and so lovingly human and tender characters. Reading about this man watching the young Colin from afar and guarding over him and having to make the most difficult decision about him was awesome.
Another highly recommended book. I do hope there will be more from this universe.
There are three elements that made this book great:
* books. No one needs to convince me that books are magical items and that they contain much more than what's on the pages. Sometimes I'm so engrossed in a book, I hang onto it with my hands and heart and mind with such fierceness that I think the emotions are transferred into the paper. Borrowing a book makes me always think of the people who held it before me and lending a book of mine is like giving away a piece of me, so this story were book hunters can absorb the life of a book and play such a great role in the balance of the world was incredibly exciting;
* Scotland. I visited Scotland in 2007 and I went to Oban! Scotland is a magical place and it wasn't difficult to picture the places and the atmosphere. I like to read about places I visited. The castle of Colin's quest - I don't think it's the real Urquhart Castle, which is on Loch Ness - with its secret places was like a character that we learned together with Colin;
* Septimus Marx. I can't believe I fell in love with another one of Josh Lanyon's rough, dark and so lovingly human and tender characters. Reading about this man watching the young Colin from afar and guarding over him and having to make the most difficult decision about him was awesome.
Another highly recommended book. I do hope there will be more from this universe.
March 5, 2016
I'm pretty disappointed honestly and that sucks because I love Lanyon's work and this had just a ton of potential. I felt that maybe there just wasn't enough attention given to the right elements, because this is NOT a romance and the fact that it just pissed me off.
It was a good idea, and could have been really exciting, and there were parts I appreciated about it, but I had no real feelings toward anything or anyone. I wanted to have those heart-pounding moments, but I just never got there.
Did I mention this is not a romance?
It's not...there is sex, but its pretty low-steam, but that's okay, I think it was just the way that "relationship" played out that twisted me up.
It was a good idea, and could have been really exciting, and there were parts I appreciated about it, but I had no real feelings toward anything or anyone. I wanted to have those heart-pounding moments, but I just never got there.
Did I mention this is not a romance?
It's not...there is sex, but its pretty low-steam, but that's okay, I think it was just the way that "relationship" played out that twisted me up.
January 20, 2013
It always takes me a few chapters to get into the flow of reading fantasy and this book was no exception--the ending more than made up for the slow start---once again Lanyon has given us a great story
August 12, 2015
I liked the world in which this was set - but I kind of wanted more. I enjoyed everything that was here (though maybe a little too insta-love for my tastes) but I wanted it longer and more complex. I'm greedy like that! No matter, I'm pretty sure I will always love Lanyon's words!
March 25, 2019
[Buddy Read with Martin]
The majority of Josh Lanyon's books which I've read are slow-burn romances which took the characters forever to finally get together. Hence I was expecting it to be the same for this book but in fact it seems to be the opposite. Love is just around the corner for our MCs but it seems like I was never in that corner to witness it! Given how sparsely the moments the MCs had with each other, I found the rate in which their relationship developed hard to believe.
Despite the lacklustre romance in this book, I really loved the fantasy and mystery concept of the story. It would have made a fabulous series if it was properly developed into a longer story. There seemed to be a lot of potential in the characters, the fantasy world and the mystery plot.
I wished that there was a little more explanation about the fantasy world in this story like the explanation of the Seelie court because I am new to it. There also seemed to be a lot of made up terms which wasn't properly explained when they were introduced.
The story was slow-moving at the start and even though I was already halfway through the book, it felt like the story barely started! I can't help but feel like the author was forced to complete the rest of the story in a rush, because it seemed like a lot of time was taken to inject some characters and plot like but in the end they turned out to be mostly red herrings?
There was also a few issues I had with the logic of the story.
I loved the "sex scenes" between the MCs which were really hot and honestly I wasn't expecting the book to have any given Josh's writing style and the length of the book. Marx and Collin is redolent of the characters Jake and Adrien from the Adrien English series. I really liked the dialogues they shared and wished that there were more of them.
Overall a nice read with a great fantasy and mystery plot, which unfortunately fell short for me at the end.
Four Stars!
The majority of Josh Lanyon's books which I've read are slow-burn romances which took the characters forever to finally get together. Hence I was expecting it to be the same for this book but in fact it seems to be the opposite. Love is just around the corner for our MCs but it seems like I was never in that corner to witness it! Given how sparsely the moments the MCs had with each other, I found the rate in which their relationship developed hard to believe.
Despite the lacklustre romance in this book, I really loved the fantasy and mystery concept of the story. It would have made a fabulous series if it was properly developed into a longer story. There seemed to be a lot of potential in the characters, the fantasy world and the mystery plot.
I wished that there was a little more explanation about the fantasy world in this story like the explanation of the Seelie court because I am new to it. There also seemed to be a lot of made up terms which wasn't properly explained when they were introduced.
The story was slow-moving at the start and even though I was already halfway through the book, it felt like the story barely started! I can't help but feel like the author was forced to complete the rest of the story in a rush, because it seemed like a lot of time was taken to inject some characters and plot like but in the end they turned out to be mostly red herrings?
There was also a few issues I had with the logic of the story.
I loved the "sex scenes" between the MCs which were really hot and honestly I wasn't expecting the book to have any given Josh's writing style and the length of the book. Marx and Collin is redolent of the characters Jake and Adrien from the Adrien English series. I really liked the dialogues they shared and wished that there were more of them.
Overall a nice read with a great fantasy and mystery plot, which unfortunately fell short for me at the end.
Four Stars!
May 24, 2012
Great premise and a great setting. Josh Lanyon sure knows how to evoke emotions - when Colin entered the underground room and suddenly became scared that someone would lock him in and he would suffocate, it really got my heart racing. And I liked all the backstory for Agro and Swanhild. But!
At the same time, the book felt... rushed. People in this world knew about magic. But what were the Arcane Services and how did they operate? How did Septimus stop the sea monster? Also, Septimus' declaration of love seemed to have come completely out of the blue. And the ending was so abrupt. They just let Irania go? Why did the faery woman help Colin? Did Colin have a magic of his own in the end or not?
So many loose ends, so many questions left unanswered. I was a bit disappointed.
At the same time, the book felt... rushed. People in this world knew about magic. But what were the Arcane Services and how did they operate? How did Septimus stop the sea monster? Also, Septimus' declaration of love seemed to have come completely out of the blue. And the ending was so abrupt. They just let Irania go? Why did the faery woman help Colin? Did Colin have a magic of his own in the end or not?
So many loose ends, so many questions left unanswered. I was a bit disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up for the narration
I want to tie up Max Miller, and force him under torture, (with feathers and sex toys...and only if he protests, of course) to narrate everything on my favourites shelf. I love his voice and the way he uses it. Light and achingly vulnerable..or velvety smooth and sexy when it needs to be. His accents (Scots must be really difficult to pull off), excellent characterisations and completely unforced, relaxed style is brilliant.
Oh yes. The story? Perhaps not as emotionally charged as some of Lanyon's other books but hugely entertaining nonetheless.
I want to tie up Max Miller, and force him under torture, (with feathers and sex toys...and only if he protests, of course) to narrate everything on my favourites shelf. I love his voice and the way he uses it. Light and achingly vulnerable..or velvety smooth and sexy when it needs to be. His accents (Scots must be really difficult to pull off), excellent characterisations and completely unforced, relaxed style is brilliant.
Oh yes. The story? Perhaps not as emotionally charged as some of Lanyon's other books but hugely entertaining nonetheless.
October 14, 2014
Colin Bliss is a book hunter. Itching to get out of desk work and back into the field, Colin takes a private job to recover a witches grimoire that could spell the end of the world. Magister Septimus Marx is tagging along with Colin, but is he aiding or inhibiting Colin's quest?
This fantasy mystery caught me by surprise. I been plowing through Mr. Lanyon's catalog which has so far been mostly contemporary, with a few set in America of the past. This one sort of felt a little in the steampunk genre. I had a fun time with it. Nice sexy scenes with Colin and Septimus are a bonus to this wonderful story.
This fantasy mystery caught me by surprise. I been plowing through Mr. Lanyon's catalog which has so far been mostly contemporary, with a few set in America of the past. This one sort of felt a little in the steampunk genre. I had a fun time with it. Nice sexy scenes with Colin and Septimus are a bonus to this wonderful story.
May 27, 2012
Exciting. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I spent reading this, at times I even felt like my heart might beat out of my chest.
Fantastic world building, great setting and memorable heroes. I really hope there will be a sequel as I'd love to read more about Septimus and Bliss (who made it on the top ten on my favorite main characters list) and to learn more about the world Lanyon created.
Fantastic world building, great setting and memorable heroes. I really hope there will be a sequel as I'd love to read more about Septimus and Bliss (who made it on the top ten on my favorite main characters list) and to learn more about the world Lanyon created.
February 18, 2013
3.67 stars
I liked this one for the fantasy/magic/book-hunt parts
...but missed the “romance” and some character chemistry here 
I liked this one for the fantasy/magic/book-hunt parts
...but missed the “romance” and some character chemistry here 
Want to read
June 14, 2013Big price drop at Amazon Us to $0.99! 6/13/13!
October 30, 2018
Okay, so, I read this book about two years ago (a pretty long time ago!) and I have a rule that when I forget to review a book until a while after I read it, I don't rate it. I feel pretty strongly that it isn't fair for me to review some books when they are fresh in my mind and other books after they have faded.
I'm making an exception for this book.
This book and I should have gotten along. I love fantasy and the world building was lots of fun. And the Imperial Arcane Library? This should have been an easy win. I didn't anticipate any problems.
But then everything fell off the rails and I was left steaming. Why? Septimus, that horrible little weasel, . No. Screw that. Colin should have run far, far away and left Septimus in the dust. Septimus doesn't deserve to be a romantic interest.
If I'm still this irked at this book this long after I read it, I'm going to rate it.
I'm making an exception for this book.
This book and I should have gotten along. I love fantasy and the world building was lots of fun. And the Imperial Arcane Library? This should have been an easy win. I didn't anticipate any problems.
But then everything fell off the rails and I was left steaming. Why? Septimus, that horrible little weasel, . No. Screw that. Colin should have run far, far away and left Septimus in the dust. Septimus doesn't deserve to be a romantic interest.
If I'm still this irked at this book this long after I read it, I'm going to rate it.
April 6, 2025
This book gave me Lovecraft vibes and that's a great thing. It's also not something we find much of in MM despite the success of the Widdershins series. Colin is a book hunter and is commissioned to hunt a book containing dangerous magics for the Museum of Literary Occult. I would say it's more of a mystery with a side of romance, rather than a romance with a bit of mystery. There weren't any horror elements, but it has a dark and creepy vibe that makes it the perfect book to snuggle up with on an evening.
May 5, 2025
I didn't like this. I had to read this book for a challenge and that might be why. I'm not sure I would've ever picked this up on my own, lol.
The audio did help me get through, so I'll give it an extra star because of that. I just spent a good portion of this book shaking my head from confusion. I just don't think treasure hunting for books is my thing.
The audio did help me get through, so I'll give it an extra star because of that. I just spent a good portion of this book shaking my head from confusion. I just don't think treasure hunting for books is my thing.
dnf
December 25, 2019Dec 2019: I made no notes as to why I DNFd this audiobook back in 2014. Decided to sample the audiobook and it took only seconds to remember why. Terrible narrator. Why didn't I return it? It sat in the cloud for over a year before I started it. 😲 Off the buy the book.
June 3, 2025
I love Lanyon's writing. Wonderful world building for a historical world of magic. Not a murder mystery for once, but a mystery of treasure hunting of a rare yet dangerous book of antiquity. The setting and feel in northern Scotland in the latter half was so on the mark. I only wish there was more development in the relationship between Colin and Marx, it just felt so brief in their encounters, and the ending a bit abrupt. There really needs to be another book to tell more of their story and of this wonderful world Lanyon created.
Second and Third time reading through I was still in awe of the world building and the intense suspense at the end. But I still wish there was more to Colin and Marx.
Second and Third time reading through I was still in awe of the world building and the intense suspense at the end. But I still wish there was more to Colin and Marx.
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