Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians’ Revolt: A Novel

by Lon Milo DuQuette, Jim Bratkowsky

“ Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians’ Revolt brims with historical details and the initiated wisdom of a lifelong magician. Young Aleister Crowley isn’t just an alternate universe tale of magick, power, jealousy, and war. It’s an initiation.” ―Richard Kaczynski, author of The Life of Aleister Crowley, Mind Over The Psychology of Ritual Magick , and othersStep into the occult underworld of Edwardian London in Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians’ Revolt and follow Crowley as he plunges into the secret society of the Golden Dawn.The year is 1900, and this isn’t just a new club; it’s a war zone. Crowley, a rebellious genius, an aspiring magician, and an acclaimed poet, unwittingly arrives amidst a power struggle as the formidable magicians of the Golden Dawn revolt against their leaders, MacGregor Mathers and his wife, Moina Mathers.Empowered by an ancient Arabic grimoire, the Mathers pair claimed contact with “Secret Masters,” but now their influence is waning. As historical figures like William Butler Yeats and Bram Stoker populate the ranks, Crowley finds himself caught in a magical crossfire. His naive pursuit of enlightenment accidentally ignites an all-out wizard war with magical attacks recoiling upon his adversaries. Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians’ Revolt culminates in a climactic magical showdown, where Crowley’s self-realization becomes his ultimate weapon.Between the darkness and the light stands Aleister Crowley.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2026

About the author

Lon Milo DuQuette is an American singer-song writer, author, lecturer, and occultist, best known as an author who applies humor in the field of Western Hermeticism.

Born in Long Beach, California and raised in Columbus, Nebraska, he was an aspiring studio musician and recording artist in the 1970s, releasing two singles and an album, Charley D. and Milo, on the Epic Records label.

He married to his high school sweetheart, Constance Jean Duquette. They live in Costa Mesa, California and have one son, Jean-Paul.

Since 1975 he has been a National and International governing officer of Ordo Templi Orientis, a religious and fraternal organization founded in the early part of the 20th century. Since 1996 he has been the O.T.O.'s United States Deputy Grand Master and one of the most visible members of the Order. He is also an Archbishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians’ Revolt was a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy historical fantasy with a healthy dose of the occult. Lon Milo DuQuette takes the real-life figure of a young Aleister Crowley and spins an imaginative coming-of-age adventure around him, mixing actual historical details with magical societies, rival magicians, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor. I liked that the story never got bogged down in esoteric explanations—it kept the focus on the adventure and Crowley’s growth.

What really stood out to me was the balance between history and fantasy. Crowley is portrayed as curious, impulsive, and often in over his head, which made him much more engaging than I expected. There are plenty of nods to Western occult traditions for readers who know the subject, but they never overshadow the story itself. It’s an entertaining read that feels like a magical adventure first and a historical "what if?" second.

[Lon DuQuette · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Esoteric Historic Fantasy Fiction for Young Adults and Old Witches and Wizards
"Young Aleister Crowley and the Magicians' Revolt" is fantastically funny, frightening and curiously enlightening.
The novel follows the Edwardian era adventures of the young English poet who would grow to become one of the worlds most controversial and vilified holy men of the twentieth century.

Film maker Jim Bratkowski and I had the time of our lives writing this cinematically-styled fairytale treatment of the magical adventures of Young Aleister Crowley.

~ Lon Milo DuQuette
Author of: The Magick of Aleister Crowley; Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, etc.

[Eric Fritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the most fun things I've read this year. Once you accept that it's a completely fictional portrayal, the way historical people and events are woven into the story is amazing. Crowley "fixing" Oscar Wilde's tomb(true-ish) and menacing Bram Stoker (probably false) are both hilarious scenes. Interesting to see which historical characters get treated like villains. The book comes out to a neat 156 pages, it's absolutely worth reading.

[Amy Vaccaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way to dip your toe into the life of the controversial life of Mr. Crowley! This book is written with Duquette’s usual wit and humor, making this book both easy to read/enjoy while still being greatly informative! Another great book from Baba Lon!!!

[Frank Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhilarating

A wonderful little tale of a young Aleister Crowley. Fiction that radiates the actual characters of Crowley and the.members of the Golden Dawn. Bringing to life the adage that FICTION SPARKS IMAGINATION WHICH IN TURN HOLDS THE POTENTIAL OF REALITY.