Lucianus: An M/M fantasy adventure

by C.J. Beshara

Lucianus is one of the most destructive wizards of all time. For his crimes, he was executed.

To his shock he awakens, in a body not his own, summoned by powerful magic with no clue as to why. He's soon discovered by Auran, a knife-wielding traveler suspicious of his strange and sudden presence. Displaced from his own era and at a loss for what to do, Lucianus begs Auran's help in finding his feet. Auran reluctantly agrees, and so together they strike out across the changed lands Lucianus once called home, looking for an explanation.

The purpose of Lucianus' summoning soon becomes he's been tasked with murder, as befits his violent reputation as a battlewizard. Yet what should be a straightforward objective turns complicated, for the spell that binds him to life will end once the task is complete. His body is borrowed. His time is short. He must reach the appointed place and complete his task...but that means a return to death, and there's nothing he wants less. He'd rather enjoy this borrowed life for himself. And Auran, though he proves a competent guide, seems to have his own purposes, purposes that may go against what Lucianus' summoner wants.

The scars of his past rise against him, a decades-old drama closes in, and still his fate is sealed. Lucianus will die a second time. What happens until then is up to him.

Fantasy / Romance / LGBT / gay / Bisexual

Adult and New Adult

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2026

About the author

I am a nonbinary fantasy and science fiction author living in southern New England. I'm also an avid reader and active Goodreads user, and try to leave reviews for the less trafficked things I read.

Reviews

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*]

── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
wizard x knife-wielding man?? consider me interested 🤭 thanks to the author & BookSirens for the review copy!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really special one to me. I have been lucky enough to read three versions of it over the last two years, and watching the story evolve into this, its final form, has truly been a joy. So I know I’m a little biased, but I’ll try to review it fairly :)

Lucianus is one of my favourite kinds of character. A little jumpy, a little trigger-happy, a little ambivalent about collateral damage, but at the same time cheerful and competent. He’s a well-crafted, well-written character, and I immensely enjoyed his voice/perspective throughout the story. I love how layered he is, how much depth the author managed to give him, despite the story’s duration only being a couple weeks. Although, again, I’ve read it multiple times. Plenty of opportunity to get to know and appreciate him as a main character!

The story is interesting, compelling without having huge chosen-one or save-the-world stakes. The writing is incredibly engaging. And so much care has gone into building the world, both as landscape and lore. Sometimes you read a book and you wonder if the author knows their world at all, because details slip around and timelines don’t make sense, and you forgive it because it’s fantasy and doesn’t really matter, but it’s still noticeable and annoying. Just like sometimes you read a book and wonder if the main characters are the sole survivors of an apocalypse, because outside of them, the world feels barren and empty. There’s none of that with Lucianus. The world here feels lived in and real in a way that I, personally, really resonate with. I love that sort of detail, the small stuff that brings a story to life.

I love this book, I love the world and the characters, and I am very excited to spend more time with them in the future.

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced, action-packed read, such a cool concept, an old villainised wizard summoned for his destructive abilities, to kill an unstoppable necromancer... He travels with an assassin through unfamiliar lands, confused and driven by his mission. There is magic, monsters, undead foes, political drama and a dash of doomed romance. As the two learn more about on another, travelling to the castle and the confrontation that will spell both of their ends, they slowly find something like love. A love that cannot be fully realised or acted upon in the light of their respective curses.

It's intriguing, it's fun, it's adventurous, with emotional moments, dark pasts and uncertain futures. The world is briefly but well built, the characters well developed and the magic well established. A good read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

It hit all my major points of an enjoyable read - excellent pacing, interesting stops along the way, characters that made me want to learn more, and stakes worth something. It was light and airy for most of it, a reflection of the POV character, without feeling like fluff as it also carries the weight of what it means to Live! Not to just be alive. If I came back to life I would notice all the little details in the world around me too - from the willow branches tracing the top of the water, to fallen autumnal leaves cheerily making their way down a rambling stream.

Loved it, looking forward to the second book.

[Gil S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything:
- Battling wizards
- Powerful sorcerers
- Mighty magical spell singers
- etc

And yet despite that, it doesn't feel like some battle shounen anime, moving from spectacle to spectacle. It's a story about love in its many forms (and casting sick fireballs).

Looking forward to the sequel!

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucianus and Auran's circumstances were complicated to say the least, talk about opposing missions. I really enjoyed watching their interactions. I'm looking forward to seeing where they go from here.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Booksirens*

[Lynn Give 'Em Hel Vetica · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I love a good fantasy with wizards and magic and this fit the bill for sure. I enjoyed the magic system, the characters and the world building. I’d be interested in other stories based in this world.

I did guess the twist with Auran, but that didn’t make it any less fun. Lucianus was a fun character to be in the mind of. I would have enjoyed Auran’s POV more so than just at the end, but it was good to finally get in his head at least.

It’s definitely a bittersweet ending, but leaves it open for (hopefully??) a sequel. Overall a rollicking good time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Despite the direction of the plot being clearly stated in the blurb, this book still managed to surprise me, with one reveal that hit me like a chair to the face, just for me to later remember that the foreshadowing went entirely over my head despite being so clear. So despite me being slowbrained, that revelation was so cool.

I’m normally not a big fan of stories told in first person so I struggled at first and it took me a while to get used to the protagonist being the narrator, and therefore narrating whatever he did like one big journal, but as soon as I learned more about his history, I also became more interested in listening to him and it’s clear that this story needed his point of view to work, to give it life.

I also loved the little snippets at the beginning of every chapter because they gave me a sense of growing tension and kind of made it feel like I was watching Lucianus meet his certain doom twice at the same time.

Originally, I had picked up this book because the general plot idea drew me in: a dead guy resurrected, just to face a task and once again, death. Reminded me of Mo Dao Zu Shi, which I enjoyed just as well. But on top of that, it was nice to see the development between him and his companion when they both grew to trust each other and learn that the other was not as they seemed at first, and while I wondered why Auran behaved as he did, the later revelation makes me want to go back and reread because I definitely understand his perspective better now.

At some points it managed to be pretty funny, with the overall focus being on life, a person’s character, and connecting with other people, while I always had the certain doom in the back of my mind. With the ending I feel quite hollow now (in the good way) and I had actually forgotten that this is the beginning of a series, so I had hoped that there would be a sequel before I went to check & I’m so glad there will be.

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highlights: MMO/RPG Nostalgia, Lovable Protagonist, Lost In Time Trope

What I love most about Lucianus is how the story transported me back to the quests in various MMOs / RPGs I used to play. I felt pulled into the story quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the initial chapters of Lucianus, the protagonist, navigating the magical and perplexing situation he finds himself in. He embarks on a quest with a clear means to an end but (as most memorable quests go) there are plenty of bonding moments, time spent camping and at inns, holdups, secret reveals and high stakes that had me turning pages.

The situation at hand creates tension and an urgency to complete the quest, but the first-person narrative brings a needed levity and humor I appreciated for a casual weekend read. Despite having a reputation and probably deserving his backstory (in my opinion!), Lucianus comes off as an optimistic, erudite, and at times overconfident wizard who is a product of both his decisions and circumstances. I love this type of character and he is well-written. His personality is a good foil to his romantic interest, who is slow to warm; it makes a lot of sense why by the end of the story. Their dynamic is cute and I want more banter!

The names of spells, potions and totems are fun, and I praise the good memories of the wizards in this universe to keep track of them. Additionally, I am someone who enjoys maps and I liked referencing back to see their whereabouts as the story progresses.

I would recommend this book to others looking for a M/M romance that develops over time with a light hurt/comfort theme and for those who love the feeling of starting an unexpected adventure.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucianus is a battlemage, notorious for his ruthlessness and cruelty on the battlefield. He was executed for war crimes many years ago. Which is why, when he wakes up in the body of another mage, his spirit summoned back from the dead and compelled to kill an unscrupulous necromancer, he finds himself in a bit of a pickle.

Unfortunately he meets Auran, said necromancer’s assassin, who has been sent to kill the mage whose body he’s currently possessing. Fortunately, Auran is a good guy who, though he has his own secrets.

What follows is adventure with plenty of spell-slinging, a a fun “fish out of water” feel for Lucianus who’s facing a world that has changed in his absence, and a touch of romance. It took a little while for me to get into it, but I liked both of our leads tremendously. There’s something of a cliffhanger ending, but it ends with hope (a must for me, these days) and I look forward to seeing where things go from here!

[Joseph Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the author’s writing. Quick, easy read with good description and insights into a complex world where magic is grudgingly accepted but doesn’t seem most want it.
My issue was with the main character. He is the spirit of a deadly, feared battle wizard who seems to have done some really bad things in his former life. But nothing like this here - doesn’t seem to be a character arc, but rather just Lucianus surviving through this new incarnation.

[booksandnina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good fantasy, and this was definitely it!
Really enjoyed the magic system, the characters were super compelling, and the storytelling itself was amazing. All praises!

*I received an advanced reader copy, and I'm voluntarily giving an honest review.