His greatest gift was the art of deceit…
When Christopher “Atlas” Novotny arrives at Harvard, he is completely unprepared for the privileged world that awaits him. There he meets his roommate, Lucien Orsini-Conti, who is bold, confident and sophisticated – everything Atlas wishes he could be.
In awe of Lucien, Atlas is soon swept into a glittering new world of lavish parties and elite social clubs. But when he struggles to afford his new lifestyle, Lucien, sensing a willing disciple, offers a daring solution.
As their underhand methods draw them into a dangerous game of deceit, Lucien’s behaviour grows more erratic. Is Lucien all that he seems, or does his charismatic façade conceal something much more sinister?
I'm delighted to be sharing my review of Lucien by J.R. Thornton for the Random Things blog tour. Many thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me and Oneworld for my advance digital copy of the novel.
I can't resist a dark academia novel and so I was looking forward to Lucien, which is described as The Secret History meets Saltburn. The comparison to the latter is probably more fair and although loosely a thriller, it would perhaps be better thought of as a satirical character study exploring deception and privilege.
The book is narrated in the first person by Christopher Novotny, who is soon given the alternative moniker, Atlas by his roommate at Harvard, the eponymous Lucien. Christopher is the son of working-class immigrants and soon falls under the spell of the charismatic Lucien Orsini-Conti. The novel is told from the perspective of an older Chris and it's immediately obvious that the hedonistic world which so seduces him, ultimately leads to something much darker.
The brash, confident Lucien speaks five languages and has an easy elegance which draws people to him. However, rather like a Millennial Gatsby, there is something deceitful and rather tragic about him. Of course, it takes a while for Christopher to recognise the lies and inconsistencies his friend tells him and in the meantime, he is drawn into the risky world of art forgeries.
J.R. Thornton's richly descriptive prose means Lucien is a delight to read; his vibrant depiction of Harvard and his acutely observant characterisation shines throughout the book. Seen through Christopher's eyes, Lucien at first personifies the irresistible juxtaposition between elitism and potential. while their peers perfectly embody the mostly privileged students whose moneyed self-assurance leaves the public school-educated Christopher feeling like a callow misfit.
Christopher, however, has a talent for art – as a young child he was considered a prodigy – and his painting could hold the key to his future. Unfortunately, as Lucien's influence over him grows, he is persuaded to risk everything. Christopher is a far more likeable character than Lucien but when his naivety leads him to become an unreliable, awkward pastiche of his supposed friend, it's difficult not to feel frustrated by the choices he makes.
J.R. Thornton circumvents this by ensuring Lucien has an air of vulnerability about him which keeps him inexorably convincing in spite of his undeniable flaws. As the truth about him is finally revealed, there are dark flashes of Ripley about him and the poignant ending of the novel is pleasingly enigmatic.
The razor-sharp Lucien is a stylishly immersive, unsettling read which compels readers to question the moral choices behind the fraudulent behaviour and desperate transformations of both main characters; I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.
Lucien is published by Magpie, a Oneworld imprint, purchasing links can be found here.
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About the Author 
J. R. THORNTON was born in London and graduated from Harvard College in 2014 where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he competed for Harvard and on the professional circuit. He was a member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, obtaining an M.A. from Tsinghua University in Beijing. He now lives in Italy, working for AC Milan. Lucien is his second novel.
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