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Lucien
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, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2026
About the author
J.R. Thornton
2 books179 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 261 reviews
April 26, 2026
This book had some intriguing themes about class, dark academia, and emotionally manipulative friendships. Unhealthy and/or abusive friendships can definitely happen and it’s important to take them seriously; I’m not sure if that was one of the main intentions of this book though Lucien’s behaviors toward Atlas/Chris were chilling and cruel. I give this book three stars instead of a higher rating because the writing wasn’t inspiring or notable to me. The prose felt predictable and the plot/characters were a bit one-dimensional instead of more fully three-dimensional. An okay read though not one I’d necessarily recommend.
April 2, 2026
charismatic psycho bff lit, my shit
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 17, 2026
Thank God I would never have been able to get into Harvard.
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 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 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.
April 27, 2026
Cheesy remix of a handful of other DA novels, minus any of the ramped up energy or sensuality of youth - though to be fair, my experience with Lucien was only with the audiobook, unfortunately delivered by a performer whose overacting reaches new heights, or lows, your pick. The supposed EuroAccent he employs is straight out of an SNL skit. I listened to the first several chapters and to the end, and feel certain I missed nothing.
Also: if your brand new college roommate of about 10 minutes insists, in his fake accent, on renaming you Atlas, because your real name, Chris, is too booooring, and you just shrug and say, yeah okay, and then after you’re known as Atlas, a decent name for a Great Dane, you deserve whatever misery is coming your way.
Also: if your brand new college roommate of about 10 minutes insists, in his fake accent, on renaming you Atlas, because your real name, Chris, is too booooring, and you just shrug and say, yeah okay, and then after you’re known as Atlas, a decent name for a Great Dane, you deserve whatever misery is coming your way.
April 10, 2026
Unsatisfying
May 3, 2026
started promising but draged on in the middle. started to get interessting towards the end just to finish in a very underwhelming way…
I see what the author tried to do here but I have read too many other books that did it better.
actually the book lost me when they wanted to sell the fake painting. couldnt stand this idea one bit.
I also didnt like neither atlas nor lucien so it was a bit difficult to really care.
it wasnt bad overall and the writing was quiet okay but it didnt catch me as I hoped.
I see what the author tried to do here but I have read too many other books that did it better.
actually the book lost me when they wanted to sell the fake painting. couldnt stand this idea one bit.
I also didnt like neither atlas nor lucien so it was a bit difficult to really care.
it wasnt bad overall and the writing was quiet okay but it didnt catch me as I hoped.
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
May 1, 2026
This was a stinker. Immature and I didn’t believe any of what I was reading. It lacked authenticity and felt like a rip off of so many other polished and original books. Skip it.
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.
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.
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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!
April 29, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is about Christopher Novotny, called Atlas, and his roommate Lucien. The main storyline revolves around the criticism of class, unhealthy friendships, and struggles in early adulthood.
I've liked the prose in this book a lot - the pacing was at times descriptive and poetic, and fast-paced and dialogue-heavy at other times. The book was a true page-turner, and I've read it in one day.
The characters are the most important part of the book, as their personalities and characteristics make up the majority of the plot. They have felt authentic and real, with their own motivations and struggles. I've also liked their development as the book progressed.
I could personally relate to the setting, as I'm an university student myself, and am sometimes facing the same struggles and insecurities as the characters. I've also appreciated the criticism on the upper class and the divide between the wealthiest and the average people. I feel like the book explores these topics in an accurate and interesting way, questioning moral without being overbearing. What I also liked, as a casual enjoyer of Greek mythology and lover of attention to detail, were references and symbolism, which proved to be important for the storyline later.
This would be a perfect book for lovers of mystery and intrigue, as well as a touch of dark academia, Greek mythology and arts.
The book is about Christopher Novotny, called Atlas, and his roommate Lucien. The main storyline revolves around the criticism of class, unhealthy friendships, and struggles in early adulthood.
I've liked the prose in this book a lot - the pacing was at times descriptive and poetic, and fast-paced and dialogue-heavy at other times. The book was a true page-turner, and I've read it in one day.
The characters are the most important part of the book, as their personalities and characteristics make up the majority of the plot. They have felt authentic and real, with their own motivations and struggles. I've also liked their development as the book progressed.
I could personally relate to the setting, as I'm an university student myself, and am sometimes facing the same struggles and insecurities as the characters. I've also appreciated the criticism on the upper class and the divide between the wealthiest and the average people. I feel like the book explores these topics in an accurate and interesting way, questioning moral without being overbearing. What I also liked, as a casual enjoyer of Greek mythology and lover of attention to detail, were references and symbolism, which proved to be important for the storyline later.
This would be a perfect book for lovers of mystery and intrigue, as well as a touch of dark academia, Greek mythology and arts.
April 30, 2026
2.5 stars
The premise is exactly to my taste, but the implementation was lacking. Especially the last third of the book felt quite rushed. And although I enjoy learning about new stuff while reading fiction, the commentary on different painters’ techniques often swayed into info dump territory, which took me completely out of the story.
Overall, the writing lacked the atmosphere that I want and expect from this type of “dark academia” book.
The premise is exactly to my taste, but the implementation was lacking. Especially the last third of the book felt quite rushed. And although I enjoy learning about new stuff while reading fiction, the commentary on different painters’ techniques often swayed into info dump territory, which took me completely out of the story.
Overall, the writing lacked the atmosphere that I want and expect from this type of “dark academia” book.
April 27, 2026
2.5 i guess? it was propulsive enough that i read the whole thing on the train from boston to nyc but it was also unoriginal/predictable and i didn’t like the writing. it’s kinda like if the idiot and the goldfinch had an ugly baby
April 14, 2026
Kind of like if the secret history was written by a middle schooler
March 17, 2026
so it turns out I love art crime
April 11, 2026
The book was alright but the ending was mid. Felt rushed.
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