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Lucien
Win a free print copy of this book!
15 days and 05:50:32
25 copies available
U.S. only
A gifted yet financially disadvantaged artist falls victim to the manipulative control of his wealthy, enigmatic Harvard roommate in this incendiary novel from the author of Beautiful Country—a piercing exploration of class, ambition, identity, and the perilous cost of reinvention in the tradition of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt.
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
The son of working-class Czech immigrants, Christopher “Atlas” Novotny is a talented painter who arrives at Harvard on a full scholarship. Raised amid hardship, he is unprepared for the privileged world introduced to him by his freshman roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti.
Born to wealthy European diplomats, Lucien plays the part of the confident, sophisticated bon vivant. Where Lucien is bold and brash, Atlas is timid and introverted. Growing up a lonely outsider, Atlas is insecure, impressionable, and in awe of his brilliant roommate. But is Lucien all that he seems?
Sensing a willing disciple, Lucien introduces Atlas to a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. When Atlas struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien offers a solution, convincing the naïve artist to become a forger, passing off fakes to galleries and dealers.
But Lucien’s charismatic facade conceals something darker and more sinister. As Lucien’s behavior grows increasingly unstable, Atlas is forced into escalating risks with devastating consequences.
Drawing inspiration from the true crime stories of Christian Gerhartsreiter (a.k.a. “Clark Rockefeller”) and Adam Wheeler, Lucien is as darkly seductive and addictively readable as The Secret History, The Incendiaries, Creation Lake, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2026
114 people are currently reading
8675 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Thornton
2 books164 followersJ.R. Thornton graduated from Harvard College and later earned an MA from Tsinghua University in Beijing. He is the author of two novels:
Beautiful Country,
and
Lucien.
He lives in Italy working for AC Milan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
November 11, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 17, 2026.
4 stars
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. However, Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral.
Oh, Lord, the trials and tribulations of the haves and have nots at Harvard. We have so many novels about these young people and they just keep coming. The haves are mostly the asses that you would expect them to be and their siren song is sweet; it’s easy to see how our hero gets caught up in it all (just like always.). This was a well done book, though that I liked quite a lot; both the primary and secondary characters are done well here so that adds some new life to this well-trod ground.
4 stars
Atlas/Christopher is a “child prodigy” artist, his parents are first generation Czech immigrants and he is an incoming freshman at Harvard. His family has little money and he attended a public school so he feels out of his depth, especially when he meets his roommate Lucien, who is rich, connected and knows just how much o fit in. However, Lucien is willing to help Atlas and shows him a world of private clubs, debutante balls and fancy parties…then shows him how he, too, can have access to those things. Atlas gives in, then resists, then things start to spiral.
Oh, Lord, the trials and tribulations of the haves and have nots at Harvard. We have so many novels about these young people and they just keep coming. The haves are mostly the asses that you would expect them to be and their siren song is sweet; it’s easy to see how our hero gets caught up in it all (just like always.). This was a well done book, though that I liked quite a lot; both the primary and secondary characters are done well here so that adds some new life to this well-trod ground.
April 2, 2026
charismatic psycho bff lit, my shit
January 17, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was so so good. If you enjoyed the movie saltburn you need to add this to your tbr. This would make such a perfect movie I could watch the entire thing in my head while I was reading. I definitely am partial to books that kind of have that toxic college dark academia setting but this book did it without feeling like a copy paste of so many other books in the genre. The main characters naivety was a bit annoying at times but it wasn’t because of the writing it was more so like when your watching a horror movie yelling at the characters on screen to just look behind them. Like watching a train wreck about to happen. I loved this so so much and I can’t wait for everyone to get to read it.
October 30, 2025
First thank you NetGalley for approving my request for this book! I am really glad you did! Lucien was an exceptional book from start to finish.
Christopher / Atlas is an extremely talented painter who makes his way from lower middle class to Harvard on a scholarship. He’s quiet and shy, not sure of himself and thinks he doesn’t belong because he doesn’t come from money.
His room mate is Lucien, the complete opposite of him. He is loud and determined to make something of himself and already belongs because he is wealthy.
Lucien and Christopher aka Atlas build up a friendship one that Christopher desperately wants to have because he wants to belong but the longer Christopher is friends with Lucien, the more trouble and well .. issues start happening.
This was a really good read and it’s going to be added to my “must have on my shelves list”
Christopher / Atlas is an extremely talented painter who makes his way from lower middle class to Harvard on a scholarship. He’s quiet and shy, not sure of himself and thinks he doesn’t belong because he doesn’t come from money.
His room mate is Lucien, the complete opposite of him. He is loud and determined to make something of himself and already belongs because he is wealthy.
Lucien and Christopher aka Atlas build up a friendship one that Christopher desperately wants to have because he wants to belong but the longer Christopher is friends with Lucien, the more trouble and well .. issues start happening.
This was a really good read and it’s going to be added to my “must have on my shelves list”
March 25, 2026
Well, I read the synopsis of this book and it screamed "dark academia", so I decided to read it.
And it is a dark academia novel, alright.
But, to me, this book doesn't have the aura, the vibe, the charm of a typical dark academia novel. The reason, in my opinion? This story is too 'modern'. Even though the storyline takes places 15 years ago, it reads too modern. And, also in my opinion, the reason why I loved the dark academia novels that I've read and loved were, partially, because they were set in a more distant past, sometime in the 20st century. To me, this distant past brings a different vibe, a charming atmopshere that a contemporary timeline doesn't.
Moreover, the only character I was interested in was Lucien - who is NOT the protagonist of this story. Giving the title of this book and its premise, I thought Lucien was the main character in this novel. Well, he isn't. Sure, a big part of the story revolves around him, but I personally wanted the whole book focused on him. For me, he was the best and the only truly interesting character among all the others. Chris, ou 'Atlas', was not an appealing character to me, honestly. I couldn't care less for his relationship with his girlfriend or his interactions with fellow university students. All I cared about was the dynamic between 'Atlas' and Lucien. And there wasn't enough of it.
The conclusion also fell flat to me. Not exactly a predictable plot twist...but nothing truly shocking or original.
Overall, I think this book is just OK. Some dark academia elements are present: the academic setting; there is a flawed and realistic main character being dragged into the charms and manipulations of someone seen as 'superior'; there are some artistic elements here, too; and, obviously, something illegal and/or criminal happening. However, lemme just tell you: there are no secret societies or a professor figure of leadership Oh, and for those readers who think that there might be a homoerotic relationship between Lucien and Atlas, think again.
Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to dark academia novels. But if you enjoy the genre and you're not so picky, you might enjoy this book more than I did.
I listened to the audio format of this novel and I thought it was decently done. The single male narrator does a decent job voicing different characters, even making some distinct accents. I particularly didn't like much when he would make female voices, but in general the audiobook is decent. It definitely helped me go through this book and not quit it in the moments I was not truly enjoying.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial, for a free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
And it is a dark academia novel, alright.
But, to me, this book doesn't have the aura, the vibe, the charm of a typical dark academia novel. The reason, in my opinion? This story is too 'modern'. Even though the storyline takes places 15 years ago, it reads too modern. And, also in my opinion, the reason why I loved the dark academia novels that I've read and loved were, partially, because they were set in a more distant past, sometime in the 20st century. To me, this distant past brings a different vibe, a charming atmopshere that a contemporary timeline doesn't.
Moreover, the only character I was interested in was Lucien - who is NOT the protagonist of this story. Giving the title of this book and its premise, I thought Lucien was the main character in this novel. Well, he isn't. Sure, a big part of the story revolves around him, but I personally wanted the whole book focused on him. For me, he was the best and the only truly interesting character among all the others. Chris, ou 'Atlas', was not an appealing character to me, honestly. I couldn't care less for his relationship with his girlfriend or his interactions with fellow university students. All I cared about was the dynamic between 'Atlas' and Lucien. And there wasn't enough of it.
The conclusion also fell flat to me. Not exactly a predictable plot twist...but nothing truly shocking or original.
Overall, I think this book is just OK. Some dark academia elements are present: the academic setting; there is a flawed and realistic main character being dragged into the charms and manipulations of someone seen as 'superior'; there are some artistic elements here, too; and, obviously, something illegal and/or criminal happening. However, lemme just tell you: there are no secret societies or a professor figure of leadership Oh, and for those readers who think that there might be a homoerotic relationship between Lucien and Atlas, think again.
Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to dark academia novels. But if you enjoy the genre and you're not so picky, you might enjoy this book more than I did.
I listened to the audio format of this novel and I thought it was decently done. The single male narrator does a decent job voicing different characters, even making some distinct accents. I particularly didn't like much when he would make female voices, but in general the audiobook is decent. It definitely helped me go through this book and not quit it in the moments I was not truly enjoying.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial, for a free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 3, 2026
Lucien Orsini-Conti is everything Christopher Novotny is not. He is charming, charismatic, sophisticated, and beloved by all their Harvard peers. But Christopher hasn't long to linger in the shadow of his roommate when he discovers Chris possesses an extraordinary skill, one he can use to their advantage. Chris becomes Atlas and the roommates become bonded in a glittering and elite world which is far more seedy than it appears on the surface.
Give me an elite, academic setting and I am sold! This did a great job of opening up the wealth and status of Harvard through the eyes of one not originally from their world. Chris/Atlas was far more timid than the friendship group he found himself ensconced in, and his background differed wildly. It was refreshing to see his awe and provided the reader with a singular, if sometimes bias, viewpoint from which to view the rest of his peers from.
The trajectory of the plot was thrilling, despite me guessing at the ultimate twists and betrayals long before they happened. I believe this might have been the aim of the author, as the reader was often invited to understand elements of what was actually occurring that Atlas, so caught up with his new friends, failed to see for himself. Either way, it did not impact my enjoyment and I thought this was a deliciously dark and wonderfully well-penned novel.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, J. R. Thornton, and the publisher, Magpie, for this opportunity.
Give me an elite, academic setting and I am sold! This did a great job of opening up the wealth and status of Harvard through the eyes of one not originally from their world. Chris/Atlas was far more timid than the friendship group he found himself ensconced in, and his background differed wildly. It was refreshing to see his awe and provided the reader with a singular, if sometimes bias, viewpoint from which to view the rest of his peers from.
The trajectory of the plot was thrilling, despite me guessing at the ultimate twists and betrayals long before they happened. I believe this might have been the aim of the author, as the reader was often invited to understand elements of what was actually occurring that Atlas, so caught up with his new friends, failed to see for himself. Either way, it did not impact my enjoyment and I thought this was a deliciously dark and wonderfully well-penned novel.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, J. R. Thornton, and the publisher, Magpie, for this opportunity.
March 31, 2026
Promising start, engaging middle, totally flat third act.
The writing is nice — and if the author continues to refine his prose, he has even greater potential.
The plot (for the first 70% of the novel) is exciting and well done.
I did enjoy the premise of forged paintings and thought that was a unique route to take for the story that could set it apart, but that’s where the uniqueness seems to end, because … it feels like a lot of this has already been done before.
I am a dark academia fanatic. It is my favorite genre. And while this book certainly had some strong elements, it ultimately didn’t add anything new to dark academia literature.
It felt like elements of The Secret History, The Goldfinch, The Talented Mr. Ripley, If We Were Villains, etc. stitched together, with forged paintings being its only standout identifier.
The third act was rushed — and almost anticlimactic — and the final chapter was unsatisfying. Honestly, the ending may have been stronger without it.
I liked Christopher a lot, but wow — he was fucking stupid. Every time I thought he was developing and becoming a stronger person, he reverted and continued to show us how spineless he was. I hated that.
Overall, this was a good book! I was leaning towards a 3.5 or 4 star rating … but the ending was just too meh for me to ignore.
The writing is nice — and if the author continues to refine his prose, he has even greater potential.
The plot (for the first 70% of the novel) is exciting and well done.
I did enjoy the premise of forged paintings and thought that was a unique route to take for the story that could set it apart, but that’s where the uniqueness seems to end, because … it feels like a lot of this has already been done before.
I am a dark academia fanatic. It is my favorite genre. And while this book certainly had some strong elements, it ultimately didn’t add anything new to dark academia literature.
It felt like elements of The Secret History, The Goldfinch, The Talented Mr. Ripley, If We Were Villains, etc. stitched together, with forged paintings being its only standout identifier.
The third act was rushed — and almost anticlimactic — and the final chapter was unsatisfying. Honestly, the ending may have been stronger without it.
I liked Christopher a lot, but wow — he was fucking stupid. Every time I thought he was developing and becoming a stronger person, he reverted and continued to show us how spineless he was. I hated that.
Overall, this was a good book! I was leaning towards a 3.5 or 4 star rating … but the ending was just too meh for me to ignore.
March 31, 2026
A dark, psychological thriller set in the art world, exploring deception, identity, and the price of reinvention.
At its center is an intense friendship between two students, so close it almost feels like a relationship. One is talented but vulnerable, the other, charismatic and manipulative. Their dynamic slowly spirals into something destructive.
The writing feels modern, yet carries a subtle The Great Gatsby atmosphere, elegant, but filled with moral decay.
Lucien is the most compelling part. Not just a roommate, but almost a brother, or even a father figure to Christopher. In the end, he feels less like a villain and more like a tragic product of his past: someone chasing a dream, just in the wrong way.
“The past doesn’t exist… it’s a story we tell ourselves.“
That quote perfectly captures the theme. It leaves one haunting question: Did Lucien‘s past destroy his future, or did his present force him to erase it?
Rating: 4.5/5 Disturbing, stylish, and thought-provoking.
At its center is an intense friendship between two students, so close it almost feels like a relationship. One is talented but vulnerable, the other, charismatic and manipulative. Their dynamic slowly spirals into something destructive.
The writing feels modern, yet carries a subtle The Great Gatsby atmosphere, elegant, but filled with moral decay.
Lucien is the most compelling part. Not just a roommate, but almost a brother, or even a father figure to Christopher. In the end, he feels less like a villain and more like a tragic product of his past: someone chasing a dream, just in the wrong way.
“The past doesn’t exist… it’s a story we tell ourselves.“
That quote perfectly captures the theme. It leaves one haunting question: Did Lucien‘s past destroy his future, or did his present force him to erase it?
Rating: 4.5/5 Disturbing, stylish, and thought-provoking.
March 14, 2026
This was brilliant, and fun. Also depressing, and deeply frustrating. I thought I knew what was going on, and I was about 60% right. But that 40% was a doozy. I didn’t see this coming. The amount of times I said “oh honey, he doesn’t love you!” Is astronomical.
These damn rich people.
These damn rich people.
March 21, 2026
Unfortunately, I think this book bit off more than it could chew. It was trying a bit too hard to be something it wasn’t. And I’m usually easy to please with a dark academia/coming of age kind of hybrid. But let’s start with the plot.
The premise is very straightforward. Chris, a very skilled artist, arrives at Harvard where he meets his new roommate, Lucien. They strike up a friendship, and Lucien convinces him to start selling fakes he paints as originals. And everything unravels from there.
The story was easy to follow, entertaining for lack of a better word. But it lacked that something that has you wanting to get to the end. I will give the book its flowers because it read very quickly, but at the same time, I found myself wishing it was longer, so that we had more buildup to the story. The beginning especially, I felt like it was very rushed. There was one character in particular I couldn’t get past, the titular character.
Lucien himself. He read as a caricature of that one guy in every dark academia book ever, and it just didn’t work. He gave Chris (aka Atlas) his nickname in chapter one, knowing nothing at all about him. He meets him once for five minutes and right off the bat he’s trying — and managing to — get him to drink. He had a confidence about him that just wasn’t believable to me. He was not quite a carbon copy of any character in particular, but you know the kind of guy I’m talking about. The cocky, charismatic rich guy that’s also secretly tortured, occasionally queer in a subtle way (he in particular wasn’t, but stay with me) and with villainous qualities to him. They’re all the same and quite frankly, I’m kind of tired of it.
Chris/Atlas on the other hand felt very unique to this book. Yeah, he’s also following the archetype of the new, inexperienced guy who’s really the only one with a conscience. However. He didn’t read like a reused character, I really liked him. He’s has a special connection with his mother, his parents are immigrants. His phone calls with her mother were very sweet, you could tell how well his mother knows him. He’s genuinely a good guy, he got persuaded into doing that business with the paintings. All he wanted was to lay low, but Lucien’s lifestyle caught up with him. He also really liked a girl, Harriet. They weren’t anything special to me, she didn’t care about him enough for me to be invested.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible, I didn’t really notice it when reading. But that’s usually a good sign, it doesn’t get in the way of the story. There was quite a bit of dialogue, so again it read quickly. I wasn’t much of a fan of the ending, it felt a bit recycled, but still interesting, I didn’t really predict it. Very The Talented Mr. Ripley indeed. But they got some closure at least. Another things is, I was expecting this to be way more queer than it actually was. But no harm done I guess, just a bit of a disappointment in that area as well.
Overall, I was expecting something more. It wasn’t bad, my main issues were with the characterization of Lucien and the character dynamics between him and Chris/Atlas, as their friendship felt forced. The plot was enjoyable to follow though, I’d still recommend it. It’s around a 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise is very straightforward. Chris, a very skilled artist, arrives at Harvard where he meets his new roommate, Lucien. They strike up a friendship, and Lucien convinces him to start selling fakes he paints as originals. And everything unravels from there.
The story was easy to follow, entertaining for lack of a better word. But it lacked that something that has you wanting to get to the end. I will give the book its flowers because it read very quickly, but at the same time, I found myself wishing it was longer, so that we had more buildup to the story. The beginning especially, I felt like it was very rushed. There was one character in particular I couldn’t get past, the titular character.
Lucien himself. He read as a caricature of that one guy in every dark academia book ever, and it just didn’t work. He gave Chris (aka Atlas) his nickname in chapter one, knowing nothing at all about him. He meets him once for five minutes and right off the bat he’s trying — and managing to — get him to drink. He had a confidence about him that just wasn’t believable to me. He was not quite a carbon copy of any character in particular, but you know the kind of guy I’m talking about. The cocky, charismatic rich guy that’s also secretly tortured, occasionally queer in a subtle way (he in particular wasn’t, but stay with me) and with villainous qualities to him. They’re all the same and quite frankly, I’m kind of tired of it.
Chris/Atlas on the other hand felt very unique to this book. Yeah, he’s also following the archetype of the new, inexperienced guy who’s really the only one with a conscience. However. He didn’t read like a reused character, I really liked him. He’s has a special connection with his mother, his parents are immigrants. His phone calls with her mother were very sweet, you could tell how well his mother knows him. He’s genuinely a good guy, he got persuaded into doing that business with the paintings. All he wanted was to lay low, but Lucien’s lifestyle caught up with him. He also really liked a girl, Harriet. They weren’t anything special to me, she didn’t care about him enough for me to be invested.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible, I didn’t really notice it when reading. But that’s usually a good sign, it doesn’t get in the way of the story. There was quite a bit of dialogue, so again it read quickly. I wasn’t much of a fan of the ending, it felt a bit recycled, but still interesting, I didn’t really predict it. Very The Talented Mr. Ripley indeed. But they got some closure at least. Another things is, I was expecting this to be way more queer than it actually was. But no harm done I guess, just a bit of a disappointment in that area as well.
Overall, I was expecting something more. It wasn’t bad, my main issues were with the characterization of Lucien and the character dynamics between him and Chris/Atlas, as their friendship felt forced. The plot was enjoyable to follow though, I’d still recommend it. It’s around a 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2026
Unnerving, consuming, and tragic.
𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is an ominous, gritty, character-driven novel that draws readers into the life of Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a gifted painter and Harvard scholarship student whose world is upended after he becomes captivated by his charismatic roommate and pulled into an intoxicating world of privilege and power.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are vulnerable, arrogant, and cunning. And the plot is a slow-burning, immersive story layered with deception, desperation, friendship, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, forgery, ruthless ambition, and betrayal.
Overall, 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is a dark, sinister, perceptive tale by Thornton that powerfully explores the complex dynamics of friendship and just how parasitic and manipulative those relationships can easily become.
𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is an ominous, gritty, character-driven novel that draws readers into the life of Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a gifted painter and Harvard scholarship student whose world is upended after he becomes captivated by his charismatic roommate and pulled into an intoxicating world of privilege and power.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are vulnerable, arrogant, and cunning. And the plot is a slow-burning, immersive story layered with deception, desperation, friendship, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, forgery, ruthless ambition, and betrayal.
Overall, 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍 is a dark, sinister, perceptive tale by Thornton that powerfully explores the complex dynamics of friendship and just how parasitic and manipulative those relationships can easily become.
March 19, 2026
Not what I was expecting going into, but in the end I found it brilliant and intentional. Also learned a lot about art techniques and forgery so that’s pretty cool
March 17, 2026
Thank God I would never have been able to get into Harvard.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
as a huge fan of The Talented Mr. Ripley, i knew i had to read this. and it did not disappoint.
the writing is accessible, the tension builds beautifully, and the exploration of class, ambition, and manipulation is gripping throughout. i loved the art-world angle, especially having worked in a fine art museum. i read it slowly, not because it dragged, but because i didn’t want it to end. while i personally didn’t think the final chapter was necessary, i prefer a bit more ambiguity, it still didn’t diminish how much i enjoyed the book as a whole.
in short: i had a great time with this clever and immersive story.
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this one just sounds so aesthetic! i'm hoping to get a glance behind tom ripley's academic era.
*thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC*
the writing is accessible, the tension builds beautifully, and the exploration of class, ambition, and manipulation is gripping throughout. i loved the art-world angle, especially having worked in a fine art museum. i read it slowly, not because it dragged, but because i didn’t want it to end. while i personally didn’t think the final chapter was necessary, i prefer a bit more ambiguity, it still didn’t diminish how much i enjoyed the book as a whole.
in short: i had a great time with this clever and immersive story.
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this one just sounds so aesthetic! i'm hoping to get a glance behind tom ripley's academic era.
*thank you to Harper Perennial for the ARC*
March 19, 2026
My first ever arc read. Beyond exciting and what a smash out of the park this was.
An enthralling dark academia story that follows Chris (Atlas) an aspiring artist and his friendship with Lucien a mysterious partyboy. What follows is a thrilling tale of art forgery and elite club antics.
If you like: art heists, take it off by kesha, saltburn, cons, whisky on the rocks, oceans 11, or leonardo dicaprio reaction pictures check this book out!
It’s great for when you need a fast paced read that really sucks you in. The dialogue and banter between different characters is so dry and witty and extremely enjoyable. I feel everyone has known and tried to impress someone like Lucien Orsini-Conti at some point in our lives and that’s what makes this book feel so grounded in reality. Books like this make me want to join an elite boarding school and run amok.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
An enthralling dark academia story that follows Chris (Atlas) an aspiring artist and his friendship with Lucien a mysterious partyboy. What follows is a thrilling tale of art forgery and elite club antics.
If you like: art heists, take it off by kesha, saltburn, cons, whisky on the rocks, oceans 11, or leonardo dicaprio reaction pictures check this book out!
It’s great for when you need a fast paced read that really sucks you in. The dialogue and banter between different characters is so dry and witty and extremely enjoyable. I feel everyone has known and tried to impress someone like Lucien Orsini-Conti at some point in our lives and that’s what makes this book feel so grounded in reality. Books like this make me want to join an elite boarding school and run amok.
Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 1, 2026Thank you @harperperennial for my copy! I love a dark academia setting and this one delivered us right onto the Harvard campus. It gave off Saltburn vibes and a bit of Highsmith (if you have been around here you know I love Highsmith) so I pretty much binged this.
I had no idea there were so many art forgers. I know…native but this one opened my eyes to the world of art in a different way. Lucien and Christopher AKA Atlas both played the perfect characters in this, and I was so vested for Atlas the entire time. I love a good friendship power dynamic, and this delivered that. A glimpse into the riches of Harvard is always intriguing. The ending was *chefs kiss* and felt the only viable option. Total win!
I had no idea there were so many art forgers. I know…native but this one opened my eyes to the world of art in a different way. Lucien and Christopher AKA Atlas both played the perfect characters in this, and I was so vested for Atlas the entire time. I love a good friendship power dynamic, and this delivered that. A glimpse into the riches of Harvard is always intriguing. The ending was *chefs kiss* and felt the only viable option. Total win!
March 29, 2026
Meh. I agree with others that this book bit off way more than it could chew. An over reliance on dark academia tropes presented as edgy and different but really lackluster. Many plot threads dropped in favor of whatever was going on with Lucien, but then that fell flat too because Lucien is not the protagonist. It made a little sense that it would all end so abruptly because of how events unfolded but the ending fell flat for me. I both wanted and didn’t want the closure I received from the characters. There’s no romance in pulling the curtain back and looking at the mechanics of deceit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2026
“I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do, not really”
2.5 stars I guess.
This book felt like The Secret History and The Goldfinch had a child who lives in their shadow bcs they don’t know what they wanted to be. The writing was fine, but felt like it thought it was smarter than it was. Lucian attempts to be sold as a charismatic rich kid who can convince people to do anything, but he’s kind of bland and never actually does anything to prove that he’s interesting. The main character (Chris/Atlas) feels realistic but lacks common sense. It doesn’t make sense why he wants to be friends with Lucian and his group since they never seem appealing, even to Chris. Could’ve been much worse but could’ve been much better.
2.5 stars I guess.
This book felt like The Secret History and The Goldfinch had a child who lives in their shadow bcs they don’t know what they wanted to be. The writing was fine, but felt like it thought it was smarter than it was. Lucian attempts to be sold as a charismatic rich kid who can convince people to do anything, but he’s kind of bland and never actually does anything to prove that he’s interesting. The main character (Chris/Atlas) feels realistic but lacks common sense. It doesn’t make sense why he wants to be friends with Lucian and his group since they never seem appealing, even to Chris. Could’ve been much worse but could’ve been much better.
March 26, 2026
Lucien follows Atlas (born Christopher Novotny), a gifted painter from a working-class Czech immigrant family in Baltimore, who arrives at Harvard in 2010 carrying two suitcases and the weight of a childhood spent as a prodigy turned cautionary tale. He is immediately absorbed into the orbit of his roommate, Lucien Alexandre Orsini-Conti—a dazzling, multilingual, self-styled European aristocrat who renames him within minutes and sets about remaking his freshman year.
What follows is a slow-burn tragedy of class anxiety, artistic complicity, and toxic friendship. When Atlas is accepted into the Hasty Pudding Club but cannot afford the dues, Lucien proposes a solution: Atlas can use his classical training—the ability to copy the masters with forensic precision—to forge a minor Impressionist painting. Lucien will handle the sale. One painting becomes two, then three. A Swiss dealer spots the forgery but instead of exposing them, offers a partnership: a missing Matisse, a six-figure deposit, and no way out.
Across freshman and sophomore year, Atlas is pulled deeper into a world of final clubs, debutante balls, and escalating risk. The novel builds toward two parallel endings: the disintegration of Lucien, revealed to be not a diplomat’s son from Stockholm but John Blair, a fatherless teenager from upstate New York who constructed his identity from scratch after his father’s death; and the night Lucien drugs Atlas with GHB and oxycodone, nearly kills him, then flees.
Ten years later, Atlas—now a first-grade art teacher in Brooklyn—is visited by a transformed Lucien on a rainy bench overlooking the East River. Lucien offers a diamond necklace, an apology, and a theory that the past is only what we remember. Atlas declines the gift, offers forgiveness, and watches Lucien walk away into the fog.
Lucien is a novel of considerable craft and genuine emotional intelligence that ultimately feels trapped inside its own ambitions. Thornton writes with clean, controlled prose and has a sharp eye for the social machinery of elite institutions—the way class operates not through overt exclusion but through a thousand small humiliations. These details land. They accumulate. They make the reader feel, viscerally, the pressure that pushes Atlas toward forgery.
The novel’s greatest strength is its willingness to sit inside Atlas’s ambivalence. He is not a reluctant protagonist dragged helplessly toward ruin; he is a young man who wants the money, who discovers that having it for the first time in his life feels like freedom, who reads forgery manuals in secret and finds them thrilling. His complicity is genuine, and the book is honest enough to let him own it.
But the novel struggles with its central relationship. Lucien is introduced as a figure of almost operatic magnetism, and for the first hundred pages, that magnetism works—you understand why Atlas falls under his spell. But his mystique is built largely on elision. We are told he is charming, but we see him mostly through his manipulations. The reveal that he is not a European aristocrat but a working-class American kid who invented himself after his father’s suicide is meant to reframe everything, and in concept it does. But the novel withholds this for so long that the Lucien we’ve been watching for 300 pages starts to feel less like a character than a plot mechanism—a force of nature whose interiority arrives too late to fully land.
The same problem haunts the ending. The reunion on the Brooklyn bench is written with restraint and genuine pathos, but it arrives after a climax the novel has been building toward since the prologue. The drug attempt—Lucien’s near-fatal betrayal—is the event everything else has been pointing to, and it happens offscreen, reconstructed through security footage and hospital records. The choice to deliver it as aftermath rather than scene is deliberate, but it drains the narrative of its most harrowing moment. We are told what happened rather than made to feel it.
The art forgery plot, which should be the engine of tension, is handled competently but without the meticulous suspense the premise promises. The legal stakes are raised and then resolved with a homemade contract and a shrug. The novel is more interested in character than plot, which is a defensible choice, but the plot is what delivers the characters to their moments of reckoning—and here, the machinery occasionally creaks.
What remains is a novel that is readable, intelligent, and ultimately safe. Thornton has written a bildungsroman about class, ambition, and the seductions of bad friendship, but it is a bildungsroman that mostly tells us what we already know. The prose, to its credit, never strains. Thornton trusts his material enough to let it breathe. But the novel’s refusal to take risks extends to its structure: the prologue tells us how it ends, and the narrative dutifully delivers us there without surprise. The gut punch that should arrive with Lucien’s true identity lands instead as confirmation.
Lucien is a fine novel. It is not a great one. It reads like a debut from a writer with genuine talent who has not yet learned to trust that talent enough to let it fail. The control is admirable. The safety is ultimately defeating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
NetGalley and Harper Perennial kindly gifted me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucien is a dark academia novel set at Harvard University in the 2000s. Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a poor but gifted student on an art scholarship befriends his new roommate; the confident, popular, and rich Lucien. He gets sucked into Lucien’s extravagant lifestyle, which mostly consists of partying, spending exuberant amounts of money, and, eventually, crime. When Lucien convinces Atlas to paint forgeries of famous paintings, Atlas soon finds himself in a web of deceit and lies, realizing that there’s more to his new friend than meets the eye.
I did not enjoy this book. It’s heavily dialogue-driven, which doesn’t work for me in this genre. When I read dark academia, I expect elaborate descriptions of unruly weather and dark university hallways. I want to smell the old books in the library, I want the dust coming off of them to make me sneeze. I want to hear the rain against the window and the dripping of the candle. I want to see the wax solidify and the cigarette smoke’s movements. Lucien, unfortunately, isn’t atmospheric at all. Some of the dialogue didn’t feel natural either and huge chunks of it were unnecessary — they didn’t contribute anything to the plot.
I would’ve enjoyed better character development as well, especially when it comes to Lucien. He embodies the spoiled rich kid stereotype, which at this point has been done so many times. As for Christopher, he seems too smart to let himself in with Lucien and his crowd. The friendship between these two didn’t make sense to me.
I had high hopes when reading the novel’s synopsis with its promise of a dark spiral into the criminal corners of counterfeit art, with the writing compared to Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t introduce anything new to the dark academia genre.
Lucien is a dark academia novel set at Harvard University in the 2000s. Christopher “Atlas” Novotny, a poor but gifted student on an art scholarship befriends his new roommate; the confident, popular, and rich Lucien. He gets sucked into Lucien’s extravagant lifestyle, which mostly consists of partying, spending exuberant amounts of money, and, eventually, crime. When Lucien convinces Atlas to paint forgeries of famous paintings, Atlas soon finds himself in a web of deceit and lies, realizing that there’s more to his new friend than meets the eye.
I did not enjoy this book. It’s heavily dialogue-driven, which doesn’t work for me in this genre. When I read dark academia, I expect elaborate descriptions of unruly weather and dark university hallways. I want to smell the old books in the library, I want the dust coming off of them to make me sneeze. I want to hear the rain against the window and the dripping of the candle. I want to see the wax solidify and the cigarette smoke’s movements. Lucien, unfortunately, isn’t atmospheric at all. Some of the dialogue didn’t feel natural either and huge chunks of it were unnecessary — they didn’t contribute anything to the plot.
I would’ve enjoyed better character development as well, especially when it comes to Lucien. He embodies the spoiled rich kid stereotype, which at this point has been done so many times. As for Christopher, he seems too smart to let himself in with Lucien and his crowd. The friendship between these two didn’t make sense to me.
I had high hopes when reading the novel’s synopsis with its promise of a dark spiral into the criminal corners of counterfeit art, with the writing compared to Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t introduce anything new to the dark academia genre.
March 23, 2026
A must read if you like traditional Dark Academia.
This is drawing a lot of comparisons to The Secret History. Understandable given the setting, but I think the tone and themes are actually closer to The Goldfinch (complimentary either way) with a dash of The Talented Mr Ripley thrown in.
I’m not that picky about campus novels, especially those set in Cambridge where I live, but this one is notably well crafted in terms of setting and atmosphere, and mostly uses real locations and university organizations, which I always consider a plus.
But it’s the writing and the characters that really stand out here. It’s not terribly difficult to see where things may be going with Lucien, but it’s compelling even if you’re ahead of Atlas in figuring out what his enigmatic friend is about.
Part con novel, part art forgery thriller, there’s a lot going on here, but it all ties together well through the central characters. Atlas and Lucien start out as a standard pair of have/have not roommates, but their relationship proves to be neither that simple nor even that authentic.
The book asks a lot of questions about class and privilege, the price of fitting in, and the ethics of need, talent, and friendship. The result is a novel that is pacey and exciting, as well as thought provoking in a way that tempts you to linger on certain chapters and ruminate before moving on, no matter how eager you are to see what happens next.
If there’s a thing I didn’t love about this book it was the ending. The ultimate outcome is probably the only one that makes sense for the novel, but I didn’t love how it got there.
That said, it didn’t change how I felt about this book, which is that it’s one of the best crafted and written pieces of traditional Dark Academia that I’ve recently encountered.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is drawing a lot of comparisons to The Secret History. Understandable given the setting, but I think the tone and themes are actually closer to The Goldfinch (complimentary either way) with a dash of The Talented Mr Ripley thrown in.
I’m not that picky about campus novels, especially those set in Cambridge where I live, but this one is notably well crafted in terms of setting and atmosphere, and mostly uses real locations and university organizations, which I always consider a plus.
But it’s the writing and the characters that really stand out here. It’s not terribly difficult to see where things may be going with Lucien, but it’s compelling even if you’re ahead of Atlas in figuring out what his enigmatic friend is about.
Part con novel, part art forgery thriller, there’s a lot going on here, but it all ties together well through the central characters. Atlas and Lucien start out as a standard pair of have/have not roommates, but their relationship proves to be neither that simple nor even that authentic.
The book asks a lot of questions about class and privilege, the price of fitting in, and the ethics of need, talent, and friendship. The result is a novel that is pacey and exciting, as well as thought provoking in a way that tempts you to linger on certain chapters and ruminate before moving on, no matter how eager you are to see what happens next.
If there’s a thing I didn’t love about this book it was the ending. The ultimate outcome is probably the only one that makes sense for the novel, but I didn’t love how it got there.
That said, it didn’t change how I felt about this book, which is that it’s one of the best crafted and written pieces of traditional Dark Academia that I’ve recently encountered.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HarperAudio Adult, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for providing the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Christopher Novotny, the shy son of Czech immigrants and a former child prodigy, makes it to Harvard as a painter with the help of his mentor, Marcus. Once he arrives at Harvard, his rich and charismatic roommate, Lucian Orsini-Conti, gives him the nickname "Atlas," and introduces him to a sparkling life filled with parties, wealth, and popularity. This lifestyle comes at a cost, however, and Lucian offers a simple solution: forge paintings for money and they can split the profit.
I always enjoy reading about working class people getting introduced into the high society lifestyle, especially when the working class person is a college student. The naivety mixed with wanting to fit in gives Lucien everything he needs to mold Atlas into just the kind of person Lucien wants. I also learned a lot about art and forgery, which was quite interesting.
Narration review: Wow, the narration really pushed this from a 3.5 star read to a 5 star listen for me! The accent and cocky way the narrator portrays Lucian truly brought him to life. And Atlas' voice had the perfect mix of shy/awkward college kid just trying to fit in. Absolutely excellent work! I'd recommend listening just for the narration alone!
Christopher Novotny, the shy son of Czech immigrants and a former child prodigy, makes it to Harvard as a painter with the help of his mentor, Marcus. Once he arrives at Harvard, his rich and charismatic roommate, Lucian Orsini-Conti, gives him the nickname "Atlas," and introduces him to a sparkling life filled with parties, wealth, and popularity. This lifestyle comes at a cost, however, and Lucian offers a simple solution: forge paintings for money and they can split the profit.
I always enjoy reading about working class people getting introduced into the high society lifestyle, especially when the working class person is a college student. The naivety mixed with wanting to fit in gives Lucien everything he needs to mold Atlas into just the kind of person Lucien wants. I also learned a lot about art and forgery, which was quite interesting.
Narration review: Wow, the narration really pushed this from a 3.5 star read to a 5 star listen for me! The accent and cocky way the narrator portrays Lucian truly brought him to life. And Atlas' voice had the perfect mix of shy/awkward college kid just trying to fit in. Absolutely excellent work! I'd recommend listening just for the narration alone!
March 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Harper Perennial!
I really enjoyed Lucien! I love stories about the haves and have nots and dark academia. When I thought I knew what was happening, something else occurred and I was so wrong. The ending, for me at least, was so unexpected and seemed to happen so abruptly (but it was perfect). I'm still thinking about these characters days later.
I really enjoyed Lucien! I love stories about the haves and have nots and dark academia. When I thought I knew what was happening, something else occurred and I was so wrong. The ending, for me at least, was so unexpected and seemed to happen so abruptly (but it was perfect). I'm still thinking about these characters days later.
March 17, 2026
Lucien by JR Thornton is one of the most compelling novels I’ve read lately. The story draws the reader into a world of art, elegance, and emotional struggle, unfolding with captivating intensity. I couldn’t put it down!
March 26, 2026
Felt like a Saltburn rip off. Although, if you like that vibe, you'll enjoy the read. It was an interesting look into the art world.
March 17, 2026
so it turns out I love art crime
March 27, 2026
When I saw Lucien by @jr.thornton described as appealing to fans of The Secret History and The Talented Mr. Ripley, I could not wait to read it. That description was so accurate. Thank you, @harperperennial !
I was a first generation, low income student at an Ivy League school so many parts of the story resonated with me - that feeling of wanting to belong and be accepted, the insecurities and doubts, and the privilege and stress of the opportunity to change the course of your life.
The dynamic between Lucien and Christopher/Atlas was fascinating, frustrating and both believable and unbelievable at the same time. While I wanted to shake Christopher and tell him to stand up for himself, I also understood why he couldn’t or didn’t do that.
I loved the academic setting. I enjoyed the clash between different socioeconomic situations. This was a book I couldn’t put down and will be thinking about for a long time.
I was a first generation, low income student at an Ivy League school so many parts of the story resonated with me - that feeling of wanting to belong and be accepted, the insecurities and doubts, and the privilege and stress of the opportunity to change the course of your life.
The dynamic between Lucien and Christopher/Atlas was fascinating, frustrating and both believable and unbelievable at the same time. While I wanted to shake Christopher and tell him to stand up for himself, I also understood why he couldn’t or didn’t do that.
I loved the academic setting. I enjoyed the clash between different socioeconomic situations. This was a book I couldn’t put down and will be thinking about for a long time.
April 1, 2026
3.5 rounded up for goodreads
March 21, 2026
Never did I ever think I’d encounter Prim Nav or punch (ugh) as plot points in a novel. As a Harvard graduate, this was like reliving the most traumatizing aspects of my college experience - ultimately a fun quick read but I cannot recommend if you did not also to Harvard.
April 5, 2026
Just a bunch of mediocre straight bros thinking they’re top tier men.
Despite this, I really enjoyed reading it, I fell easily into the story, and was hooked until the end.
Despite this, I really enjoyed reading it, I fell easily into the story, and was hooked until the end.
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