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From the Library of Jurgen Leitner
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26Enter the library of an enigmatic collector, where occult books are guarded and researched at a fatal cost, with this uncanny eldritch horror novel from Nebula Award–winning author Premee Mohamed and The Magnus Archives’ Jonathan Sims.
Fear comes before the fall.
In the winding, perilous corridors of Jurgen Leitner’s private library, you never know what you’ll find. A starving cookbook. An ancient scroll that casts cool, predatory breezes. A cloth-bound hardback that compels you to DIG, DIG, DIG, DIG.
Free, these books are more than simply unnerving—they’re deadly. But the library keeps their dangers in check and their would-be readers safe. . . .
Or so Leitner claims.
For two of his employees, the risks are worth it. Hugh Franklin, research assistant, has finally found a place he belongs, where his skill in translation is valued, even if his employer is a bit odd. Sebastian Everett, acquisition specialist, can indulge his arcane ambitions, even if it means pretending to care about Leitner’s mission.
Though their tenures at the library were years apart, Hugh and Sebastian’s stories unfold in parallel, and their footsteps echo down the same eerie aisles, caught in a web spun long before either ever heard the name “Jurgen Leitner.”
Will they find a way out . . . or will the library consume them before it’s too late?
Fear comes before the fall.
In the winding, perilous corridors of Jurgen Leitner’s private library, you never know what you’ll find. A starving cookbook. An ancient scroll that casts cool, predatory breezes. A cloth-bound hardback that compels you to DIG, DIG, DIG, DIG.
Free, these books are more than simply unnerving—they’re deadly. But the library keeps their dangers in check and their would-be readers safe. . . .
Or so Leitner claims.
For two of his employees, the risks are worth it. Hugh Franklin, research assistant, has finally found a place he belongs, where his skill in translation is valued, even if his employer is a bit odd. Sebastian Everett, acquisition specialist, can indulge his arcane ambitions, even if it means pretending to care about Leitner’s mission.
Though their tenures at the library were years apart, Hugh and Sebastian’s stories unfold in parallel, and their footsteps echo down the same eerie aisles, caught in a web spun long before either ever heard the name “Jurgen Leitner.”
Will they find a way out . . . or will the library consume them before it’s too late?
288 pages, ebook
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Premee Mohamed
85 books893 followersPremee Mohamed is a Nebula award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is an Assistant Editor at the short fiction audio venue Escape Pod and the author of the 'Beneath the Rising' series of novels as well as several novellas. Her short fiction has appeared in many venues and she can be found on Twitter at @premeesaurus and on her website at www.premeemohamed.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Want to Read
March 21, 2026cannot wait to read The Book That Kills You from hit audiodrama "Do Not Under Any Circumstance Read The Book That Kills You"
Want to Read
March 27, 2026Someone hit me with a pipe I’m so excited.
Want to Read
March 16, 2026holy shit
Want to Read
March 17, 2026Where's the Michael Scott "Everybody stay calm" gif?
Did Not Finish
August 13, 2026dnfing at 20% ish. i am so sick of books set in established universes trying to be a stand-alone. Publishers do this in theory to reach a new audience and gain sales without alienating new readers, but they fail to recognize that new readers do not take risks on 30-dollar hardcovers based on podcasts. if you've listened to the original series, which will be Literally Everyone Who Reads This Book, there will be no mystery or suspense or literally anything fun to unravel because you already have the answers. This is pissing me off so bad that I have to dnf like. who sat down and said yeah, Jurgen Leitner, the most interesting side character of all time, let's tell the story through the nothingburger interns of the guy who is famous for being killed to death hilariously. Spoilers ig
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
March 19, 2026THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES and PREMEE MOHAMED? Do not play with me rn............
Read
March 24, 2026trying to be normal about this while grocery shopping ......... (upcoming, late 2026)
unreleased
June 11, 2026EXCUSE ME???
Want to Read
June 23, 2026Surely reading the book that makes people die and/or go insane will not make ME die and/or go insane!
Read
March 20, 2026On my birthday??
August 25, 2026
Review courtesy of an ARC provided by NetGalley
I consider TMA to be one of the greatest pieces of horror media ever written, so my expectations for this novel were fairly high to begin with. Approaching the story as is, without any bias, I would say it’s difficult to ascertain how interesting this would be to a newcomer. The setup takes a good while to build momentum, introducing a cast of characters that feel regrettably disposable aside from our titular librarian and his trusted assistant, Sebastian.
I wish this had focused just a bit more on the 976 haunted books in the library. I had hoped for a book-within-the-book approach to some of the chapters, in the spirit of the podcast, which sadly wasn’t the case. Sim’s penchant for telling a scary story really shines in this format, and it may have allowed for a much-needed element of suspense in an otherwise dry setup.
The last chapter featured a killer cameo from my absolute favorite entity, just when I’d lost hope of seeing them again, which did have me giggling and kicking my feet with joy!!
If you loved MagPod and find yourself longing for an opportunity to revisit the universe, don’t miss this one! If you’re new to the series, I would recommend giving the podcast a go before tackling this novel—I’m not sure you’d feel the same glee without catching the easter eggs.
Eternally grateful to NetGalley and Del Rey for this chance to return to the world of The Magnus Archives after five long years.
(Statement ends. ;) )
I consider TMA to be one of the greatest pieces of horror media ever written, so my expectations for this novel were fairly high to begin with. Approaching the story as is, without any bias, I would say it’s difficult to ascertain how interesting this would be to a newcomer. The setup takes a good while to build momentum, introducing a cast of characters that feel regrettably disposable aside from our titular librarian and his trusted assistant, Sebastian.
I wish this had focused just a bit more on the 976 haunted books in the library. I had hoped for a book-within-the-book approach to some of the chapters, in the spirit of the podcast, which sadly wasn’t the case. Sim’s penchant for telling a scary story really shines in this format, and it may have allowed for a much-needed element of suspense in an otherwise dry setup.
The last chapter featured a killer cameo from my absolute favorite entity, just when I’d lost hope of seeing them again, which did have me giggling and kicking my feet with joy!!
If you loved MagPod and find yourself longing for an opportunity to revisit the universe, don’t miss this one! If you’re new to the series, I would recommend giving the podcast a go before tackling this novel—I’m not sure you’d feel the same glee without catching the easter eggs.
Eternally grateful to NetGalley and Del Rey for this chance to return to the world of The Magnus Archives after five long years.
(Statement ends. ;) )
August 28, 2026
Not going to lie, I read this even though I’ve never listened to the podcast. Oddly enough this is my second podcast based book I read this year where I didn’t listen to the podcast first. And I loved both of them. I might have to go find some more.
This was a wild journey. What do you mean the books are all possessed and the interns are dispensable. Loved every minute of the mystery. The ending was so satisfying for once.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I need more of this story. All opinions are very much my own.
This was a wild journey. What do you mean the books are all possessed and the interns are dispensable. Loved every minute of the mystery. The ending was so satisfying for once.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I need more of this story. All opinions are very much my own.
Want to Read
August 25, 2026jonathan sims let me in let me in let me in
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
I want to start this with my “Jurgen Leitner’s Best Hits” MAG episode list, which I listened to when I binge-read this in one sitting. This included MAG 4, 17, 35, 41, 46, 62, 66, 68, 80, 88, 92, 110, 148, and 193. Although, if you’re a slower reader, I’d suggest also adding these (not Leitner but also relevant) MAG 8, 16, 81, 123, 136, 147, 172, 196. This is assuming you’re relistening, however, not suggested for new listeners.
Hugh’s coworker, Jacob, is also mentioned by name in MAG80
I created a Spotify playlist titled Leitner’s Greatest Hits :)
On to my review!
I have been refreshing the Edelweiss page for this book since… well, since well before it was even listed, actually. But, to my surprise, it came up on NetGalley over the weekend, and I was approved this afternoon! I excitedly dropped my plans for the day (finishing the TV show Evil and doomscrolling) to binge-read this. As a die-hard TMA fan, it really delivered.
I’ve been a fan since late 2020, my first tattoo even being an eye inspired by it, and it has been a special interest of mine as well. My AP art final was a mixed media journal based on the fears and most of the episodes, countless art projects based on it, cosplays, a few dioramas I made of Jon’s office and an archival hallway. Hell, 90% of my wardrobe revolves around “Would Jon or Martin wear this?” TLDR: I was PUMPED for this, but also a bit curious as to how more lore would be created not solely written by Jonny and Alex. Premee Mohamed did an excellent job of maintaining a similar voice to that we know from TMA and TMP but with a new story and lore. There were moments that felt a bit more… fantastical, I suppose? Than TMA feels to me, less psychological and more creature-feature (pun intended), though that may just be a me-issue. However, there were MANY attributes that felt so TMA-y, I really loved a lot of the inclusions of otherworldly instances. Specifically the woman in the graveyard, that Leitner she was tied to was particularly interesting to me.
This book did a phenomenal job of tying the two timelines together, and to turn Leitner into more of a character than we see in TMA itself. It’s also incredibly interesting to see how eerily similar Leitner’s setup is to the Archives… I find myself left with some more questions, especially about the names of the various rooms in Leitner’s library.
The easter eggs throughout the book were some of my favorite parts, I loved keeping an eye out for them once I caught on. Make sure to look out for a brick ;).
All in all, this feels like an excellent add-on to the TMA universe. I can not wait for people to read this and get a glimpse into Leitner’s reality and what really happened to the Leitner Library in 1994, before the Brutal Pipe Murder.
I want to start this with my “Jurgen Leitner’s Best Hits” MAG episode list, which I listened to when I binge-read this in one sitting. This included MAG 4, 17, 35, 41, 46, 62, 66, 68, 80, 88, 92, 110, 148, and 193. Although, if you’re a slower reader, I’d suggest also adding these (not Leitner but also relevant) MAG 8, 16, 81, 123, 136, 147, 172, 196. This is assuming you’re relistening, however, not suggested for new listeners.
Hugh’s coworker, Jacob, is also mentioned by name in MAG80
I created a Spotify playlist titled Leitner’s Greatest Hits :)
On to my review!
I have been refreshing the Edelweiss page for this book since… well, since well before it was even listed, actually. But, to my surprise, it came up on NetGalley over the weekend, and I was approved this afternoon! I excitedly dropped my plans for the day (finishing the TV show Evil and doomscrolling) to binge-read this. As a die-hard TMA fan, it really delivered.
I’ve been a fan since late 2020, my first tattoo even being an eye inspired by it, and it has been a special interest of mine as well. My AP art final was a mixed media journal based on the fears and most of the episodes, countless art projects based on it, cosplays, a few dioramas I made of Jon’s office and an archival hallway. Hell, 90% of my wardrobe revolves around “Would Jon or Martin wear this?” TLDR: I was PUMPED for this, but also a bit curious as to how more lore would be created not solely written by Jonny and Alex. Premee Mohamed did an excellent job of maintaining a similar voice to that we know from TMA and TMP but with a new story and lore. There were moments that felt a bit more… fantastical, I suppose? Than TMA feels to me, less psychological and more creature-feature (pun intended), though that may just be a me-issue. However, there were MANY attributes that felt so TMA-y, I really loved a lot of the inclusions of otherworldly instances. Specifically the woman in the graveyard, that Leitner she was tied to was particularly interesting to me.
This book did a phenomenal job of tying the two timelines together, and to turn Leitner into more of a character than we see in TMA itself. It’s also incredibly interesting to see how eerily similar Leitner’s setup is to the Archives… I find myself left with some more questions, especially about the names of the various rooms in Leitner’s library.
The easter eggs throughout the book were some of my favorite parts, I loved keeping an eye out for them once I caught on. Make sure to look out for a brick ;).
All in all, this feels like an excellent add-on to the TMA universe. I can not wait for people to read this and get a glimpse into Leitner’s reality and what really happened to the Leitner Library in 1994, before the Brutal Pipe Murder.
September 4, 2026
As of the writing of this review, I’ve listened to approximately 130 episodes of the podcast The Magnus Archives, and for every single episode, I have been enthralled, engaged, glued to the speakers, you name it. And yet, much to my disappointment, Jonathan Sims hadn’t written a novel in The Magnus Archives world (though as of finishing this review, I’ve discovered that there are transcripts of each episode online and now I’m itching to get started). Until now, co-authoring with multiple award winning author Premee Mohamed to craft a unique, creepy, well paced background featuring one of the prominent characters in the podcast: Jurgen Leitner. Listeners of the podcast will know exactly who he is, non-listeners will be meeting him for the first time but should still enjoy this, as its atmosphere of claustrophobia and trouble around seemingly every corner is more than fulfilling enough for anyone looking for a mystery with a bevy of horrifying moments.
The novel alternates between two different characters directly associated with Leitner’s library and his catalogue of horrifically bizarre and dangerous books: Hugh and Sebastian. Each chapter has a month and corresponding year (early 90’s) to alert readers to how close these events occurred to one another. It’s the difference in how each character behaves within the library and around the books that makes for a fascinating plot device, as the two have completely different personalities and perspectives in their relationship with Leitner and their feelings towards the requirements necessary to survive these books unscathed, or relatively so.
Even as a listener of the podcast and aware of Leitner and his infamous library, every scene with the man, even if he’s just mentioned, is enthralling, his apathy towards people but his deep concern for his catalogue a fascinating portrait of a man dead set on keeping his books safe and attempting to prevent grievous bodily harm not necessarily for his people but to save himself hassle. Even some of the minor characters mentioned have enough of a relationship with Leitner that readers can see how he reacts to varying forms of accidents and mistakes, some of them genuinely unsettling if not downright disturbing.
While the back and forth between characters can get a tad cumbersome as the tension builds up in each timeline, thus making the switch jarring at points, each character is in such a chaotic state that it takes very little time to reorient oneself and feel that grip tighten once again.
All said, this book was an excellent addition to the Magnus Archives … archives. Having the infamous Jurgen Leitner and his library at the forefront of the storyline fleshed him out a bit more for me and has ultimately led to my starting the Magnus Archives over with this pre-podcast Leitner info at the helm. While it doesn't really contain much in the way of mind blowing content linked to the podcast, as a character study both directly and indirectly, the book kept intrigue at a high level at most points, making that ‘cosmic horror rife with psychological suspense and dread’ work fantastically in book form.
The novel alternates between two different characters directly associated with Leitner’s library and his catalogue of horrifically bizarre and dangerous books: Hugh and Sebastian. Each chapter has a month and corresponding year (early 90’s) to alert readers to how close these events occurred to one another. It’s the difference in how each character behaves within the library and around the books that makes for a fascinating plot device, as the two have completely different personalities and perspectives in their relationship with Leitner and their feelings towards the requirements necessary to survive these books unscathed, or relatively so.
Even as a listener of the podcast and aware of Leitner and his infamous library, every scene with the man, even if he’s just mentioned, is enthralling, his apathy towards people but his deep concern for his catalogue a fascinating portrait of a man dead set on keeping his books safe and attempting to prevent grievous bodily harm not necessarily for his people but to save himself hassle. Even some of the minor characters mentioned have enough of a relationship with Leitner that readers can see how he reacts to varying forms of accidents and mistakes, some of them genuinely unsettling if not downright disturbing.
While the back and forth between characters can get a tad cumbersome as the tension builds up in each timeline, thus making the switch jarring at points, each character is in such a chaotic state that it takes very little time to reorient oneself and feel that grip tighten once again.
All said, this book was an excellent addition to the Magnus Archives … archives. Having the infamous Jurgen Leitner and his library at the forefront of the storyline fleshed him out a bit more for me and has ultimately led to my starting the Magnus Archives over with this pre-podcast Leitner info at the helm. While it doesn't really contain much in the way of mind blowing content linked to the podcast, as a character study both directly and indirectly, the book kept intrigue at a high level at most points, making that ‘cosmic horror rife with psychological suspense and dread’ work fantastically in book form.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm fangirling so IMMEASURABLY hard right now, oh my god. This book is a masterpiece comprised of all my favorite parts of my favorite piece of horror media in history.
From the library of Jurgen Leitner is a masterful story of manipulation, ownership, and how far people would go to feel in control. I screamed when I got approved for this ARC and then immediately had to reign myself in, because I have a habit of getting my hopes up too high and letting myself down. However, I can confidently say that this book did! not! disappoint! The writing is stunning and engaging, and has just enough of Jonathan Sim's almost lyrical style to it that it genuinely did, at times, feel like reading one of the statement transcripts.
Leitner was always one of my favorite names to hear in the podcast, and getting to see him characterized on-page in his "prime" was wonderful. He's exactly as cruel and spoiled and naive as Sims wrote him to be. This book is very The Web and The Spiral heavy, so don't expect a dramatic creature-feature from this book, although you'll certainly get some cameos. There were some really great references to the entities, characters, and even books we meet in the podcast, like Ex Altiora, which made the reading experience incredibly fun. However, I think even if you have no experience with the podcast at all, this book stands on its own as a narrative and can 100% be read without any TMA knowledge.
Sebastian and Hugh are incredible characters to follow, and (controversially) I love both of them deeply. Hugh takes the cake for me, to nobody's surprise. I think everyone on the internet is familiar with my love of pathetic men who don't have anyone to love and support them. I bet I could've fixed Hugh.
Even though you know exactly where the book is going to end, it never felt boring or predictable, and I loved the way the assistants were given distinct, well-thought-out personalities, despite only ever being mentioned by name one time in the podcast. And we, (yes WE) love Mikale Salesa.
Thank you so very much to Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and Rusty Quill for allowing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
From the library of Jurgen Leitner is a masterful story of manipulation, ownership, and how far people would go to feel in control. I screamed when I got approved for this ARC and then immediately had to reign myself in, because I have a habit of getting my hopes up too high and letting myself down. However, I can confidently say that this book did! not! disappoint! The writing is stunning and engaging, and has just enough of Jonathan Sim's almost lyrical style to it that it genuinely did, at times, feel like reading one of the statement transcripts.
Leitner was always one of my favorite names to hear in the podcast, and getting to see him characterized on-page in his "prime" was wonderful. He's exactly as cruel and spoiled and naive as Sims wrote him to be. This book is very The Web and The Spiral heavy, so don't expect a dramatic creature-feature from this book, although you'll certainly get some cameos. There were some really great references to the entities, characters, and even books we meet in the podcast, like Ex Altiora, which made the reading experience incredibly fun. However, I think even if you have no experience with the podcast at all, this book stands on its own as a narrative and can 100% be read without any TMA knowledge.
Sebastian and Hugh are incredible characters to follow, and (controversially) I love both of them deeply. Hugh takes the cake for me, to nobody's surprise. I think everyone on the internet is familiar with my love of pathetic men who don't have anyone to love and support them. I bet I could've fixed Hugh.
Even though you know exactly where the book is going to end, it never felt boring or predictable, and I loved the way the assistants were given distinct, well-thought-out personalities, despite only ever being mentioned by name one time in the podcast. And we, (yes WE) love Mikale Salesa.
Thank you so very much to Penguin Random House, NetGalley, and Rusty Quill for allowing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of From the Library of Jurgen Leitner.
I'll start off by saying I've never listened to the entirety of the Magnus Archives podcast. That being said, this book definitely inspired me to go and give the entire show a listen. I love a creepy library aesthetic.
I did have a few issues with this book that affected my reading experience. One of my biggest complaints was with the pacing. There was too much descriptive language used for insignificant portions and not enough for more significant scenes. I also got lost in the paragraphs, due to jerky sentence structure and poor wording. I found myself losing focus often because I had to go back and decipher a murky and unclear sentence. It's still very readable, but maybe would have benefitted from some extra editing.
Our two main POVs, Sebastian and Hugo, are pretty unlikable. My favorite character, by far, was Chuck and I would have liked to see a bit more of her in both timelines. I won't go into too much detail as to spoil anything, but the way each character's story ends is immensely satisfying. I really enjoyed the last few chapters and epilogue of this book.
Overall, I'd say From the Library of Jurgen Leitner is a must read if you're a fan of the Magnus Archives. If not, it's still a decently written horror novel with a very pleasing aesthetic.
I'll start off by saying I've never listened to the entirety of the Magnus Archives podcast. That being said, this book definitely inspired me to go and give the entire show a listen. I love a creepy library aesthetic.
I did have a few issues with this book that affected my reading experience. One of my biggest complaints was with the pacing. There was too much descriptive language used for insignificant portions and not enough for more significant scenes. I also got lost in the paragraphs, due to jerky sentence structure and poor wording. I found myself losing focus often because I had to go back and decipher a murky and unclear sentence. It's still very readable, but maybe would have benefitted from some extra editing.
Our two main POVs, Sebastian and Hugo, are pretty unlikable. My favorite character, by far, was Chuck and I would have liked to see a bit more of her in both timelines. I won't go into too much detail as to spoil anything, but the way each character's story ends is immensely satisfying. I really enjoyed the last few chapters and epilogue of this book.
Overall, I'd say From the Library of Jurgen Leitner is a must read if you're a fan of the Magnus Archives. If not, it's still a decently written horror novel with a very pleasing aesthetic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
I am imminently curious to see how this will be received by people who haven't listened to the TMA; I felt that I knew too much for this to land as well as it could have. It's certainly fun to be back in the world of TMA, and I enjoyed all of the easter eggs, but from the timeline I knew how it was going to end, and I knew what the books were. Horror relies on the unknown, and I never felt unsettled.
Part of this is likely the expansive scope created by the interwoven timelines and Leitner's library as a whole entity; much of TMA's storytelling is insular and claustrophobic, and I feel that the books are more ominous as disparate popups. Overall I think (but can't be sure) that it's a good starting point for the podcast, and readers who are already TMA fans will enjoy the additional lore.
P.S. A note for Mervyn Peake enjoyers - I can't get over how Gormenghastian this novel is. Sebastian is a Steerpike archetype, and the descriptions of tunnel exploration in Gormenghast and TMA (including the prologue of this novel) are eerily reminiscent of each other.
I am imminently curious to see how this will be received by people who haven't listened to the TMA; I felt that I knew too much for this to land as well as it could have. It's certainly fun to be back in the world of TMA, and I enjoyed all of the easter eggs, but from the timeline I knew how it was going to end, and I knew what the books were. Horror relies on the unknown, and I never felt unsettled.
Part of this is likely the expansive scope created by the interwoven timelines and Leitner's library as a whole entity; much of TMA's storytelling is insular and claustrophobic, and I feel that the books are more ominous as disparate popups. Overall I think (but can't be sure) that it's a good starting point for the podcast, and readers who are already TMA fans will enjoy the additional lore.
P.S. A note for Mervyn Peake enjoyers - I can't get over how Gormenghastian this novel is. Sebastian is a Steerpike archetype, and the descriptions of tunnel exploration in Gormenghast and TMA (including the prologue of this novel) are eerily reminiscent of each other.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a lot of fun!
As a long time listener of The Magnus Archives, I've had my eyes on this book for a while now. Jurgen Leitner and his infamous library are something that have always greatly interested me since they were introduced in the series, so this book was an absolute delight.
I'm trying to review without bias here, so I'll go over what worked really well here. The characters were all fun and vivid, the non-linear storytelling also worked well to set up some great plot hooks. The books all showcased in here ranged from devastatingly dangerous to cryptic and curious, which was a relief as I was afraid the story was just going to showcase the goriest, most dangerous books and not give me anything thats just a little eerie or weird, definitely helped to mix things up a bit!
I will say, for people reading this book that havent listened to TMA, there is going to be a lot happening in here that is just going to sound quite random, it's one of those things where it sounds silly unless you know what it actually is. That being said, I just hope this book gets people into listing to TMA!
As a long time listener of The Magnus Archives, I've had my eyes on this book for a while now. Jurgen Leitner and his infamous library are something that have always greatly interested me since they were introduced in the series, so this book was an absolute delight.
I'm trying to review without bias here, so I'll go over what worked really well here. The characters were all fun and vivid, the non-linear storytelling also worked well to set up some great plot hooks. The books all showcased in here ranged from devastatingly dangerous to cryptic and curious, which was a relief as I was afraid the story was just going to showcase the goriest, most dangerous books and not give me anything thats just a little eerie or weird, definitely helped to mix things up a bit!
I will say, for people reading this book that havent listened to TMA, there is going to be a lot happening in here that is just going to sound quite random, it's one of those things where it sounds silly unless you know what it actually is. That being said, I just hope this book gets people into listing to TMA!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was given this book for free as an e-Arc on Netgalley in exchange for offering my honest review.
From the Library of Jürgen Leitner is a standalone novel, from the world of the Magnus Archives.
I am a huge fan of the podcast, so was super excited for this and I did really enjoy seeing the library in it's hey-day. There is some really strong dark academia vibes, including shitty academics and rich kids! The dual narrative with two timelines converging was very interesting, with both Hugh and Sebastian having distinct characterisation. (Chuck is probably my favourite though)
For me where it fell short was unfortunately the trap of trying to make a novel that will appeal to non-TMA fans and TMA fans alike. I would have loved more insight into the entities behind the books and how that led to Leitner figuring out how to contain them, but I don't think that would have been as interesting/almost overwhelming for those who haven't heard the podcast.
I still really enjoyed the book, and would love for there to be more novels diving into this world.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
From the Library of Jürgen Leitner is a standalone novel, from the world of the Magnus Archives.
I am a huge fan of the podcast, so was super excited for this and I did really enjoy seeing the library in it's hey-day. There is some really strong dark academia vibes, including shitty academics and rich kids! The dual narrative with two timelines converging was very interesting, with both Hugh and Sebastian having distinct characterisation. (Chuck is probably my favourite though)
For me where it fell short was unfortunately the trap of trying to make a novel that will appeal to non-TMA fans and TMA fans alike. I would have loved more insight into the entities behind the books and how that led to Leitner figuring out how to contain them, but I don't think that would have been as interesting/almost overwhelming for those who haven't heard the podcast.
I still really enjoyed the book, and would love for there to be more novels diving into this world.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
August 31, 2026
Shout out to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for this ARC! The moment I heard several (!!!) books from the world of The Magnus Archives were coming out, I’ve been eagerly waiting to request them. From the Library of Jurgen Leitner captures the feeling of The Magnus Archives so well. It was the perfect story from the universe to start on. I very much enjoyed making connections between the book and the podcast. Premee Mohamed and, obviously, Jonathan Sims did an incredible job of building out and expanding on the concept of the library and the people involved. Jurgen Leitner is a fascinating character and seeing who he had been prior to episode 80 of the podcast was so illuminating. There were several points where I paused reading so that I could listen to an episode I felt related back to the book. This was, at times, claustrophobic, nauseating, and terrifying all in equal measure. Highly recommend for fans of the podcast. (And highly suggest relistening to episode 80 after you finish!) Even if you haven’t listened to the podcast, this is a good place to start!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
OOOMMMGGGG! This book was perfect. I don't know how a Canadian author from Alberta managed to perfectly capture the feel and language of The Magnus Archives, but she absolutely did.
I have been mildly obsessed with The Magnus Archives since I first listened to them a few years ago (yes, I know, late to the party), so when I saw that this was coming out, I immediately requested an ARC and was beyond excited to get one! From the Library of Jurgen Leitner has the perfect mix of horror, thriller, gore, and spiders, as well as the very dark humour that I love from TMA. I saw the "twist" coming, but that didn't take anything away from how perfect this book is. I was excited every time I came across a name or a book that I knew from the podcast, and I cannot wait to relisten to the podcast and find even more things!
If you're a Magnus Archives fan this is an absolute must read, and I think a really solid read even if you're not familiar!
OOOMMMGGGG! This book was perfect. I don't know how a Canadian author from Alberta managed to perfectly capture the feel and language of The Magnus Archives, but she absolutely did.
I have been mildly obsessed with The Magnus Archives since I first listened to them a few years ago (yes, I know, late to the party), so when I saw that this was coming out, I immediately requested an ARC and was beyond excited to get one! From the Library of Jurgen Leitner has the perfect mix of horror, thriller, gore, and spiders, as well as the very dark humour that I love from TMA. I saw the "twist" coming, but that didn't take anything away from how perfect this book is. I was excited every time I came across a name or a book that I knew from the podcast, and I cannot wait to relisten to the podcast and find even more things!
If you're a Magnus Archives fan this is an absolute must read, and I think a really solid read even if you're not familiar!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This had everything it promised – an eerie, gothic library with unfathomable rooms, corridors and doors; dangerous books that must be kept separated in locked rooms and staff that from time to time disappeared. As the story progressed the dark magic and horror grew, and with it the grotesqueness of the fate of victims.
The story is told in two timelines, strangely no more than a year apart, which for me didn’t always quite work, and although parts of it were gripping, especially as it neared the end, I found there were times when it was difficult to follow, until the last chapters unfolded and it all became clear. This was disappointing as I was expecting to enjoy this novel more than I did. But this book has such a good plot and characters, and certainly all the horror is there for anyone who enjoys this genre.
Many thanks to the authors, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.
The story is told in two timelines, strangely no more than a year apart, which for me didn’t always quite work, and although parts of it were gripping, especially as it neared the end, I found there were times when it was difficult to follow, until the last chapters unfolded and it all became clear. This was disappointing as I was expecting to enjoy this novel more than I did. But this book has such a good plot and characters, and certainly all the horror is there for anyone who enjoys this genre.
Many thanks to the authors, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.
August 26, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
Not being a listener of the Magnus Archives, I was nevertheless intrigued to pick up this book as the premise sounded fantastic. I very much enjoyed the dark academia setting in connection with the magical realism. The authors also managed to capture a sense of unease and dread as the plot progressed. That being said, the pacing was inconsistent and some of the twists seemed completely unfathomable. I also found it difficult to connect with the individual characters due to the frequent change of the point of view. This could have worked, however given that the book was under 300 pages and we had at least three points of view, this became rather distracting. Whilst I enjoyed reading unfortunately, for me, the book did not live up to its potential.
Not being a listener of the Magnus Archives, I was nevertheless intrigued to pick up this book as the premise sounded fantastic. I very much enjoyed the dark academia setting in connection with the magical realism. The authors also managed to capture a sense of unease and dread as the plot progressed. That being said, the pacing was inconsistent and some of the twists seemed completely unfathomable. I also found it difficult to connect with the individual characters due to the frequent change of the point of view. This could have worked, however given that the book was under 300 pages and we had at least three points of view, this became rather distracting. Whilst I enjoyed reading unfortunately, for me, the book did not live up to its potential.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 27 Oct 2026
I loved the atmosphere of the library, the magic books and evil schemes. I needed maybe more gore, although there was some horror, but it was presented after the fact. I wanted to be presented as it was happening right now. The dark academia vibes are strong, so if you are fan of the themes, do not skip this. The characters were interesting; we just got only two of them being more developed. I don’t often say this, but I wish it was longer. That’s why I couldn’t fully feel the impact of the ending, but it was very entertaining. I am not familiar with the Magnus Archive podcast, but I will listen to it, because I am so invested in this universe and I love short horror stories.
Pub Date 27 Oct 2026
I loved the atmosphere of the library, the magic books and evil schemes. I needed maybe more gore, although there was some horror, but it was presented after the fact. I wanted to be presented as it was happening right now. The dark academia vibes are strong, so if you are fan of the themes, do not skip this. The characters were interesting; we just got only two of them being more developed. I don’t often say this, but I wish it was longer. That’s why I couldn’t fully feel the impact of the ending, but it was very entertaining. I am not familiar with the Magnus Archive podcast, but I will listen to it, because I am so invested in this universe and I love short horror stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Random House Worlds for an ARC of From the Library of Jurgen Leitner via NetGalley.
I went into this book not having listened to any of The Magnus Archives, so maybe this affected my reading experience, but I found this book mostly pointless? There was far too much detail about the employees and not nearly enough detail about the books and the library. I was occasionally mildly interested in the storyline, but not enough to be excited about picking the book back up so it took me an usually long time to finish. This may be a better fit for established listeners of the podcast, but I would not recommend this to others like me who were looking for an introduction to the universe.
2 stars
I went into this book not having listened to any of The Magnus Archives, so maybe this affected my reading experience, but I found this book mostly pointless? There was far too much detail about the employees and not nearly enough detail about the books and the library. I was occasionally mildly interested in the storyline, but not enough to be excited about picking the book back up so it took me an usually long time to finish. This may be a better fit for established listeners of the podcast, but I would not recommend this to others like me who were looking for an introduction to the universe.
2 stars
August 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read From the Library of Jurgen Leitner.
I will admit I am biased. I love The Magnus Archives, so I knew I was going to like this. And I did. It hooked me right from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like how we get to see more of Leitner through the eyes of the two different POVs. There is also another returning character for those who know the podcast.
There was one twist that I caught right before it was revealed and one near the end that I did not catch (which I love when I get surprised :)). If you like the podcast, you will like the book.
I will admit I am biased. I love The Magnus Archives, so I knew I was going to like this. And I did. It hooked me right from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I like how we get to see more of Leitner through the eyes of the two different POVs. There is also another returning character for those who know the podcast.
There was one twist that I caught right before it was revealed and one near the end that I did not catch (which I love when I get surprised :)). If you like the podcast, you will like the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I first heard of this book at SDCC this year and was intrigued by the concept.
Jurgen Leitner's library doesn't carry regular books but ones that are cursed or possessed. The story is narrated from the perspective of two of Leitner's employees. I enjoyed the story and was intrigued by the library and its owner. I am not much of a horror buff but am a fan of library stories. The mood of the story was properly dark and ominous. I was filled with a sense of dread while reading which I assume was the intent. Excellent for readers who are fans of gothic horror but not quite my cup of tea.
Jurgen Leitner's library doesn't carry regular books but ones that are cursed or possessed. The story is narrated from the perspective of two of Leitner's employees. I enjoyed the story and was intrigued by the library and its owner. I am not much of a horror buff but am a fan of library stories. The mood of the story was properly dark and ominous. I was filled with a sense of dread while reading which I assume was the intent. Excellent for readers who are fans of gothic horror but not quite my cup of tea.
August 31, 2026
Managed to snag a ARC copy at MCM ComicCon (thank you to all who made that possible it was really cool) and it’s safe to say it’s fantastic, I devoured it in two days. I have missed the standard Magnus Archives timeline a lot and getting an expansion on the mechanics of the library and the people who worked there was such a treat. I am once again very annoyed that my worldbuilding and ability to foreshadow in my own work will never hold a candle to what Jonathon Sims puts out. I also just really enjoyed the way in which it was written and think I will have to look into Premee Mohamed’s other work moving forward.
August 20, 2026
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of From the Library of Jurgen Leitner. The concept and base for this book is fantastic and really well developed throughout the book and totally unique. I had a great time reading it despite not being familiar with The Magnus Archives. The intertwining of timelines and the stories of the characters was really well done and really intriguing and each character is great. This story works for both people familiar with The Magnus Archives and those totally new to it.
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