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Lightborne
Kit Marlowe: playwright, poet, lover. In the plague-stricken streets of Elizabethan England, Kit flirts with danger, leaving a trail of enemies and old flames in his wake. His plays are a roaring success; he seems destined for greatness.
But the queen's eyes are everywhere and the air is laced with paranoia. When Marlowe is arrested on charges of treason, heresy and sodomy - all of which are punishable by death - he is released on bail with the help of Thomas Walsingham, a man he presumes to be his friend, but who has in fact hired the infamous assassin Robin Poley to take care of Marlowe, fearing his own sins may come to light. Now, with the queen's spies, the vengeful Baines, and the double-crossing Poley closing in, Marlowe's last friend in the world is Ingram Frizer, a total stranger who is obsessed with his plays, and who will, within ten days' time, become first Marlowe's lover, and then his killer.
Richly atmospheric, emotionally devastating and heartrendingly imagined, Lightborne is a tender, thrilling tale of one of our most famous playwrights, and a love that flourishes within the margins.
But the queen's eyes are everywhere and the air is laced with paranoia. When Marlowe is arrested on charges of treason, heresy and sodomy - all of which are punishable by death - he is released on bail with the help of Thomas Walsingham, a man he presumes to be his friend, but who has in fact hired the infamous assassin Robin Poley to take care of Marlowe, fearing his own sins may come to light. Now, with the queen's spies, the vengeful Baines, and the double-crossing Poley closing in, Marlowe's last friend in the world is Ingram Frizer, a total stranger who is obsessed with his plays, and who will, within ten days' time, become first Marlowe's lover, and then his killer.
Richly atmospheric, emotionally devastating and heartrendingly imagined, Lightborne is a tender, thrilling tale of one of our most famous playwrights, and a love that flourishes within the margins.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 21, 2024
I'm almost afraid to begin writing my review of Lightborne because I don't know if I can do it justice. But I'll give it my best shot.
Lightborne tells the story of the murder of Christopher Marlowe in novel form. Marlowe, in case you need a reminder, is the author of Doctor Faustus, a contemporary of Shakespeare, a sometimes intelligencer (spy) in service to Elizabeth I, an atheist and gay man. He's one of the most remarkable figures of his time both because of the quality of his writing and his willingness to challenge social norms. And bear in mind that "his time" is a time when one could be executed for questioning the existence of God because God had put Elizabeth I on the throne and to question God's existence is therefore the equivalent of questioning Elizabeth's right to rule.
Hesse Phillips, the author, is a "lapsed academic" (which I mean in the best of all possible ways), having written a doctoral dissertation on Marlowe but having left academia in search of alternate methods of examining the gay past. Lightborne isn't a creation of wishful thinking on the part of a Renaissance buff. It's solid scholarship filled out with the imaginings of a man who knows whereof he writes and who writes exceptionally well.
The short, what-we-know-of version of Marlowe's death is that he died in an Inn outside of London in "a great reckoning in a little room." He was in the company of three spies/henchmen, and was killed when he was stabbed through the eye as the group (so history tells us told) fought over the bill. There's general agreement that his death was probably a political assassination, but the hows and whys of what that means and the way events played out is pretty much unknown.
Given that one knows the end of the novel when one begins reading—Marlowe will be killed in a brutal fashion—Lightborne isn't an easy read. Hesse Phillips has created a version of Elizabethan politics in which things happen quickly, but in which these things need to be described in careful detail. We get specifics of politicking among various tiers of society and a complex web of reasons different individuals had for wanting to see Marlowe dead.
Lightborne focuses primarily on the last two weeks or so of Marlowe's life. He's been accused of heresy, treason, and sodomy and is currently out on bail, but forbidden from leaving London. He feels the noose tightening (and knows what that might be like, having witnessed executions of heresiarchs and traitors, which involved much more than being hung), is desperately seeking a way out of his situation, and is continuing to live as the man he is, refusing to bow to convention.
His primary companion during this time is Ingram Frizer, a nobody of a man in the employ of Thomas Walsingham, son of Elizabeth I's first spy master, Robert Walsingham. Somebody has to keep an eye on Marlowe, and Frizer—a fan of Marlowe's work who has memorized much of it—willingly takes on this job. He doesn't know the specifics of the threats surrounding Marlowe; he just wants to spend time with this gifted man whose work he admires. But Marlowe is unpleasant, combative, quick to take offense, and (as has been noted) prone to saying dangerous things with little forethought. But Marlowe is also brilliant, even if he's not who Frizer expected, and Frizer and Marlowe find themselves slowing moving towards one another is a two-steps-forward, three-steps-back sort of way.
If you're interested in Tudor politics and/or Renaissance drama and/or Renaissance theology and/or gay history you should consider this book a must-read. It is dark. It moves slowly. However, getting to experience those topics and times through Hesse Phillips' eyes is a remarkable experience. Lightborne is most definitely going to end up near the top of my best-reads-of-2024 list.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Lightborne tells the story of the murder of Christopher Marlowe in novel form. Marlowe, in case you need a reminder, is the author of Doctor Faustus, a contemporary of Shakespeare, a sometimes intelligencer (spy) in service to Elizabeth I, an atheist and gay man. He's one of the most remarkable figures of his time both because of the quality of his writing and his willingness to challenge social norms. And bear in mind that "his time" is a time when one could be executed for questioning the existence of God because God had put Elizabeth I on the throne and to question God's existence is therefore the equivalent of questioning Elizabeth's right to rule.
Hesse Phillips, the author, is a "lapsed academic" (which I mean in the best of all possible ways), having written a doctoral dissertation on Marlowe but having left academia in search of alternate methods of examining the gay past. Lightborne isn't a creation of wishful thinking on the part of a Renaissance buff. It's solid scholarship filled out with the imaginings of a man who knows whereof he writes and who writes exceptionally well.
The short, what-we-know-of version of Marlowe's death is that he died in an Inn outside of London in "a great reckoning in a little room." He was in the company of three spies/henchmen, and was killed when he was stabbed through the eye as the group (so history tells us told) fought over the bill. There's general agreement that his death was probably a political assassination, but the hows and whys of what that means and the way events played out is pretty much unknown.
Given that one knows the end of the novel when one begins reading—Marlowe will be killed in a brutal fashion—Lightborne isn't an easy read. Hesse Phillips has created a version of Elizabethan politics in which things happen quickly, but in which these things need to be described in careful detail. We get specifics of politicking among various tiers of society and a complex web of reasons different individuals had for wanting to see Marlowe dead.
Lightborne focuses primarily on the last two weeks or so of Marlowe's life. He's been accused of heresy, treason, and sodomy and is currently out on bail, but forbidden from leaving London. He feels the noose tightening (and knows what that might be like, having witnessed executions of heresiarchs and traitors, which involved much more than being hung), is desperately seeking a way out of his situation, and is continuing to live as the man he is, refusing to bow to convention.
His primary companion during this time is Ingram Frizer, a nobody of a man in the employ of Thomas Walsingham, son of Elizabeth I's first spy master, Robert Walsingham. Somebody has to keep an eye on Marlowe, and Frizer—a fan of Marlowe's work who has memorized much of it—willingly takes on this job. He doesn't know the specifics of the threats surrounding Marlowe; he just wants to spend time with this gifted man whose work he admires. But Marlowe is unpleasant, combative, quick to take offense, and (as has been noted) prone to saying dangerous things with little forethought. But Marlowe is also brilliant, even if he's not who Frizer expected, and Frizer and Marlowe find themselves slowing moving towards one another is a two-steps-forward, three-steps-back sort of way.
If you're interested in Tudor politics and/or Renaissance drama and/or Renaissance theology and/or gay history you should consider this book a must-read. It is dark. It moves slowly. However, getting to experience those topics and times through Hesse Phillips' eyes is a remarkable experience. Lightborne is most definitely going to end up near the top of my best-reads-of-2024 list.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
June 2, 2024
I am so glad I found Lightbourne. I stumbled across it after reading a review in The Bookseller and anything that tells the tale of Kit Marlowe is a book I want to read.
For me this is going to be if not my favourite read of the year then very high up there. But it is not a tale for everyone and a book I wouldn’t recommend unless you can handle the darkness. It is a stark and very realistic look at the horrors of Elizabethan England in a world where the monarch’s voice was all. What I took away from Lightbourne was the Ternary of the crown, an aspect I’ve only just realising of the British rule.
We follow Marlow in the last week of his life as he becomes the scapegoat for many people on the queens council. The atmosphere of Lightbourne is incredible I felt the Black Death closing in, the claustrophobic walls of the city, the desperation to survive even for one more day. And the glimmer of love and hope that still manages to penetrate the bleakness.
I found myself moved to tears on many occasions in this novel and not because of major character death but the tender moments between kit and the man he comes to find happiness with even for a very brief time.
The turn of phrase and the beautiful imagery that Hesse Conjures is startling in a world so dark. What I love is their parallels not only with Christopher’s prose but the weaving of focal themes throughout the novel. Overall I can see how this took 25 years to write. Every word has a purpose and I spent most of my reading time with post it notes and a pen to highlight. Lightbourne is a title made to be analysed.
For all its terror and bleakness it is strangely a tale of love and hope. Christopher is a character I will always emphasise with. A man who has written plays that resonate with me even after all these years. And out of all the books I have read about him Lightbourne is the one I can say truly captures his essence.
6 stars and a novel I want to pour over for years, pulling it apart and I think i will always find aspects I missed. As we know all great reads are icebergs, with each re read more is discovered.
For me this is going to be if not my favourite read of the year then very high up there. But it is not a tale for everyone and a book I wouldn’t recommend unless you can handle the darkness. It is a stark and very realistic look at the horrors of Elizabethan England in a world where the monarch’s voice was all. What I took away from Lightbourne was the Ternary of the crown, an aspect I’ve only just realising of the British rule.
We follow Marlow in the last week of his life as he becomes the scapegoat for many people on the queens council. The atmosphere of Lightbourne is incredible I felt the Black Death closing in, the claustrophobic walls of the city, the desperation to survive even for one more day. And the glimmer of love and hope that still manages to penetrate the bleakness.
I found myself moved to tears on many occasions in this novel and not because of major character death but the tender moments between kit and the man he comes to find happiness with even for a very brief time.
The turn of phrase and the beautiful imagery that Hesse Conjures is startling in a world so dark. What I love is their parallels not only with Christopher’s prose but the weaving of focal themes throughout the novel. Overall I can see how this took 25 years to write. Every word has a purpose and I spent most of my reading time with post it notes and a pen to highlight. Lightbourne is a title made to be analysed.
For all its terror and bleakness it is strangely a tale of love and hope. Christopher is a character I will always emphasise with. A man who has written plays that resonate with me even after all these years. And out of all the books I have read about him Lightbourne is the one I can say truly captures his essence.
6 stars and a novel I want to pour over for years, pulling it apart and I think i will always find aspects I missed. As we know all great reads are icebergs, with each re read more is discovered.
September 18, 2024
This was such a wonderful historical fiction novel. The writing was so well done, which made it hard to put down. The time period in which the story takes place was depicted in a detailed manner and had me completely entranced. Several heavy topic were touched on in this story, but they were navigated well. Overall, this book was intriguing and had me flipping pages as I was so immersed in the story.
Thank you to Pegasus Books for the gifted copy.
Thank you to Pegasus Books for the gifted copy.
May 17, 2024
This was bloody brilliant. Literary fiction at its finest. A mix of factuality and fantasy, a time-travel experience back to the Tudor era. The writing was so atmospheric and fluid. I absolutely fell in love with Kit. Poor Kit. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t hate or judge Ingram
Frizer who I believe genuinely loved Marlowe. He was so conflicted at the end by wanting to die with him but couldn’t because of Marlowe’s request. I still believe he killed Kit to spare him of the Privy Council’s torture and not to save himself. Even Robin, he did what he did because of love. So who else is left to hate? I absolutely come to detest the queen Elisabeth, I believe I would have burned her portrait if I owned one. She created a suffocating, treacherous environment where there is no place for love
Frizer who I believe genuinely loved Marlowe. He was so conflicted at the end by wanting to die with him but couldn’t because of Marlowe’s request. I still believe he killed Kit to spare him of the Privy Council’s torture and not to save himself. Even Robin, he did what he did because of love. So who else is left to hate? I absolutely come to detest the queen Elisabeth, I believe I would have burned her portrait if I owned one. She created a suffocating, treacherous environment where there is no place for love
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2024
Wow. Where to begin. This book is fantastic, creative, visceral and very intense. The story of the final weeks of Christopher “Kit” Marlowe’s life in a treacherous and paranoid plague-ridden 16th Century England. Kit loves relentlessly, makes enemies easily, writes prolifically, whose poetry and plays are beloved, but is prosecuted for being gay and an atheist, both treasonous crimes punishable by death. It’s a captivating and suspenseful read, and also very sad.
I was immersed in Phillips’ prose and innovative way that they mesh multiple POVs in a fast-paced telling of this story and all its players. I am astonished that this is their debut novel, it’s really so sophisticated and perfectly crafted. The closest comps I can come up with are Neil Blackmore’s queer historical fiction novels The Dangerous Kingdom of Love and Radical Love. Blackmore unearths true stories and fills in the blanks with his own version of events that create a surprising twist. Phillips does something similar here imagining Marlowe and Frizer’s relationship, as well as including all the characters' feelings and motives, which is fascinating. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
If you like learning about history through fiction, especially queer history, this novel is for you. However be warned that some of the detailed scenes of torture and murder are very queasy and you need to be prepared for this brutal time period when you go into the book. There are poignant and lovely scenes too, and the inclusion of Marlowe’s poetry throughout the book is wonderful.
– Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the ARC –
I was immersed in Phillips’ prose and innovative way that they mesh multiple POVs in a fast-paced telling of this story and all its players. I am astonished that this is their debut novel, it’s really so sophisticated and perfectly crafted. The closest comps I can come up with are Neil Blackmore’s queer historical fiction novels The Dangerous Kingdom of Love and Radical Love. Blackmore unearths true stories and fills in the blanks with his own version of events that create a surprising twist. Phillips does something similar here imagining Marlowe and Frizer’s relationship, as well as including all the characters' feelings and motives, which is fascinating. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
If you like learning about history through fiction, especially queer history, this novel is for you. However be warned that some of the detailed scenes of torture and murder are very queasy and you need to be prepared for this brutal time period when you go into the book. There are poignant and lovely scenes too, and the inclusion of Marlowe’s poetry throughout the book is wonderful.
– Thanks to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the ARC –
December 8, 2024
I would have kept reading this book at twice the number of pages. The writing was beautiful, and the use of Marlowe’s own verse and plays was brilliant and perfectly placed. I felt like I was pulled back in time to witness the unraveling of this tragic and emotional tale. How Marlowe had time to pen such incredible work whilst living such an exciting and dangerous and risky life is startling and a testament to his gifts. The book made me wonder how anyone survived such gruesome, grimy, violent, and precarious times. But it’s not all gloom and nastiness. I loved how we get glimpses of deep emotional and physical love between male characters, even as these men know they risk their lives to even hint at feelings for another man. The ugly side is just as well done, with the manipulation and violence and hypocrisy laid bare. As an aside, I had not realized how aggressively the English monarchy went after those opposed to Protestant rule via the Crown. Yikes! I was looking up names and places quite often early on, but then just decided to take up the history lessons later and let the narrative’s pull take me away to 16th century England. I was in thrall to the intrigued and relationships amongst the characters. The author knows their words and how and when to use them, for sure, there isn’t anything out of place. Just wonderful. The Afterword was rather powerfully personal and gives added, real life weight to the preceding tale. An amazing book for an equally amazing man.
May 8, 2024
This novel is fecking brilliant. At the weirdly familiar intersection of religion, politics, plague, and conspiracy, Hesse Phillips reimagines the death of playwright, poet, and spy Christopher Marlowe in exquisite detail, giving full queer life to Marlowe and the men who conspire against him. I was floored by the command of language and imagery and felt stuck right there in the Elizabethan mud, in the pubs and prisons, in the maddened crowds. Front stabbers and back stabbers abound and it's amazing that anyone found love or solace. Yet in moments of longing and tenderness, we meet the best and worst of this cast of characters. Treacherous and wondrous. Loved it. All the stars.
September 23, 2025
This will stick with me for a long time. It does a very good job of giving the sense of what it feels like to be a young, gay man in Elizabethan England accused of sodomy, heresy and treason. (It doesn't feel good.) There are more unknowns than knowns about Marlowe and his associates, which gives plenty of room to make stuff up. Regardless of what is true, the story feels painfully like life.
October 22, 2024
Thank you Pegasus Books for my #gifted copy of Lightborne! #PegasusBooks #Lightborne #HessePhillips #historicalfiction
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝟰.𝟱★
This book was brilliant! Vivid. Emotional. Atmospheric. Admittedly, I knew very little about Christopher Marlowe, and while I love historical fiction, I don’t read much from this time period. With that said, this was such a well-written book and such a page turner. The detail was unlike anything I’ve read, and while at times, very difficult to read, the author really did such a fantastic job painting such a vivid picture. This was also a pandemic novel, and it was interesting to read about another pandemic, after experiencing one ourselves. The Author’s Note at the end, and the amount of research that went into this book is truly remarkable. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝟰.𝟱★
This book was brilliant! Vivid. Emotional. Atmospheric. Admittedly, I knew very little about Christopher Marlowe, and while I love historical fiction, I don’t read much from this time period. With that said, this was such a well-written book and such a page turner. The detail was unlike anything I’ve read, and while at times, very difficult to read, the author really did such a fantastic job painting such a vivid picture. This was also a pandemic novel, and it was interesting to read about another pandemic, after experiencing one ourselves. The Author’s Note at the end, and the amount of research that went into this book is truly remarkable. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
December 18, 2025
would recommend reading a biography of Marlowe before this to help with some confusion because I'm certain this would have been a 5 had I done so. The perils of writing a novel on something you have a PhD in. Might reread after doing the requisite fascinating homework
dnf
February 8, 2025dnf’d not because it’s bad but because I don’t think I’m smart enough to understand historical fiction set in the 1500s😅
June 24, 2024
This utterly contemporary reimagining of Marlowe's final days dazzles. It delves into forbidden desire and the cost of genius, culminating in a tragic and haunting conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more. A stunning debut that is masterfully researched and written.
April 18, 2025
A dark, deep, and dangerous tale
Despite the ending of this book not being in doubt (Kit Marlowe's death), it does a great job of drawing you into the living underbelly of Elizabethan London. Beneath the finery, madrigals, plays, and the glories of Elizabeth's court, lies a writhing mass of informers, spies, paid assassins, and those who take pleasure from the pain caused to those accused. By way of content warning, violence isn't shied away from. It could hardly be given the subject matter, but neither is it dwelt on. Brutality was real. The power of the queen (and those who served her) almost without check.
Hesse Phillips focuses on Marlowe's last few days, weaving a dark, deep, dangerous tale where any joy or affection flares briefly. None of the characters are loveable - they all have too much to lose - and yet, I cared about Marlowe. Caught as he is, there's a fascination in seeing everything play out. You are immersed in Elizabethan London and here, for once, the details serve to make everything vivid. And that also goes for the writing. The author manages to write in a way that suggests the period without once lapsing into mock Shakespeare / parody.
Will Watt reads excellently. Recommended.
Despite the ending of this book not being in doubt (Kit Marlowe's death), it does a great job of drawing you into the living underbelly of Elizabethan London. Beneath the finery, madrigals, plays, and the glories of Elizabeth's court, lies a writhing mass of informers, spies, paid assassins, and those who take pleasure from the pain caused to those accused. By way of content warning, violence isn't shied away from. It could hardly be given the subject matter, but neither is it dwelt on. Brutality was real. The power of the queen (and those who served her) almost without check.
Hesse Phillips focuses on Marlowe's last few days, weaving a dark, deep, dangerous tale where any joy or affection flares briefly. None of the characters are loveable - they all have too much to lose - and yet, I cared about Marlowe. Caught as he is, there's a fascination in seeing everything play out. You are immersed in Elizabethan London and here, for once, the details serve to make everything vivid. And that also goes for the writing. The author manages to write in a way that suggests the period without once lapsing into mock Shakespeare / parody.
Will Watt reads excellently. Recommended.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Atlantic Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.
TW: murder, homophobia, implied sexual assault and rape, death, violence, injury, graphic torture, animal death and abuse
“Lightborne” takes place over five years of the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe’s life, with the entire story leading to his murder in May 1593 at the hands of people he believed friends and allies. In particular, it focuses on the last ten days of his life as he is forced before the Privy Council daily on charges of heresy, treason and sodomy: all of which were punishable by death. Having to turn to Thomas Walsingham, he gains bail but with the condition that he remains under the view of Ingram Frizer, the man who will be his murderer. At the heart of everything is his past as a spy for Francis Walsingham, his love for men, and his terrible actions on behalf of Elizabeth I as a spy from his teenage years. Marlowe thought himself free from that life, he is a successful if controversial playwright. Although surrounded by people he believes are friends, Marlowe is being herded to a terrible conclusion by Robin Poley, whom he worked alongside as a spy, Thomas Walsingham, hiding the affair he had with other men that would ruin him, and Richard Baines, a former lover of Marlowe’s who was banished to the Netherlands by Marlowe’s testimony, wanting nothing more than revenge against him. At the centre, Ingram Frizer is an obsessive fan of Marlowe’s works but when forced to watch him for days on end he discovers the reality of the man, at first disappointed by him but within ten days, they are lovers. Written from multiple perspectives, including Walsingham, Marlowe, Frizer and others, “Lightborne” is a devastating retelling of Marlowe’s final days while attempting to tell a clear story about why he was murdered, stabbed in the eye, surrounded by friends before any of the charges against him could lead to his execution.
This is a gorgeously written historical debut, introducing the reader to Christopher Marlowe amid his most popular work, “Tamburlaine”, debuting on the stage. It continues with flashbacks to his experiences as an operative of Francis Walsingham at Cambridge, his undercover work with Baines in the Netherlands, and the enormous controversy around his historical, LGBT play “Edward II” performed in his last days. Ingram Frizer, the man who has gone down in history as Christopher Marlowe’s murderer, is represented powerfully here, his perspective is in equal parts heartbreaking and powerful as the two men navigate at speed a friendship and a relationship. “Lightborne” has been meticulously researched down to the tiniest details, taking into account other events happening around Marlowe at the time, as well as the attitudes and beliefs of the people in the era. Because the circumstances of Marlowe’s arrest and death are so unclear, there’s always been debate about how it all happened- “Lightborne” is an incredibly original addition to the books on the subject.
TW: murder, homophobia, implied sexual assault and rape, death, violence, injury, graphic torture, animal death and abuse
“Lightborne” takes place over five years of the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe’s life, with the entire story leading to his murder in May 1593 at the hands of people he believed friends and allies. In particular, it focuses on the last ten days of his life as he is forced before the Privy Council daily on charges of heresy, treason and sodomy: all of which were punishable by death. Having to turn to Thomas Walsingham, he gains bail but with the condition that he remains under the view of Ingram Frizer, the man who will be his murderer. At the heart of everything is his past as a spy for Francis Walsingham, his love for men, and his terrible actions on behalf of Elizabeth I as a spy from his teenage years. Marlowe thought himself free from that life, he is a successful if controversial playwright. Although surrounded by people he believes are friends, Marlowe is being herded to a terrible conclusion by Robin Poley, whom he worked alongside as a spy, Thomas Walsingham, hiding the affair he had with other men that would ruin him, and Richard Baines, a former lover of Marlowe’s who was banished to the Netherlands by Marlowe’s testimony, wanting nothing more than revenge against him. At the centre, Ingram Frizer is an obsessive fan of Marlowe’s works but when forced to watch him for days on end he discovers the reality of the man, at first disappointed by him but within ten days, they are lovers. Written from multiple perspectives, including Walsingham, Marlowe, Frizer and others, “Lightborne” is a devastating retelling of Marlowe’s final days while attempting to tell a clear story about why he was murdered, stabbed in the eye, surrounded by friends before any of the charges against him could lead to his execution.
This is a gorgeously written historical debut, introducing the reader to Christopher Marlowe amid his most popular work, “Tamburlaine”, debuting on the stage. It continues with flashbacks to his experiences as an operative of Francis Walsingham at Cambridge, his undercover work with Baines in the Netherlands, and the enormous controversy around his historical, LGBT play “Edward II” performed in his last days. Ingram Frizer, the man who has gone down in history as Christopher Marlowe’s murderer, is represented powerfully here, his perspective is in equal parts heartbreaking and powerful as the two men navigate at speed a friendship and a relationship. “Lightborne” has been meticulously researched down to the tiniest details, taking into account other events happening around Marlowe at the time, as well as the attitudes and beliefs of the people in the era. Because the circumstances of Marlowe’s arrest and death are so unclear, there’s always been debate about how it all happened- “Lightborne” is an incredibly original addition to the books on the subject.
April 14, 2025
Brilliant. Heart breaking. Absolutely devastatingly beautiful writing about a man who I mourn centuries later. I am overwhelmed after finishing this book—the audio by Will Watt is stunning, perfect, achingly good. Full review to follow when I’ve found the words.
July 14, 2025
Real Rating: 4.75* of five
The Publisher Says: A thrilling reimagining of the last days of one of the most famed Elizabethan playwrights—Christopher Marlowe—and of a love that flourishes within the margins.
Christopher playwright, poet, lover. In the plague-stricken streets of Elizabethan England, Kit flirts with danger, leaving a trail of enemies and old flames in his wake. His plays are a roaring success; he seems destined for greatness. But in the spring of 1593, the queen's eyes are everywhere and the air is laced with paranoia.
Marlowe receives an unwelcome visit from his one-time mentor, Richard Baines, a man who knows all of Marlowe’s secrets and is hell-bent on his destruction. When Marlowe is arrested on charges of treason, heresy, and sodomy—all of which are punishable by death—he is released on bail with the help of Sir Thomas Walsingham.
Kit presumes Walsingham to be his friend; in fact, the spymaster has hired an assassin to take care of Kit, fearing that his own sins may come to light. Now, with the queen's spies and the vengeful Baines closing in on the playwright, Marlowe's last friend in the world is Ingram Frizer, a total stranger who is obsessed with Kit's plays, and who will, within ten days' time, first become Marlowe's lover—and then his killer.
Richly atmospheric, emotionally devastating, and heartrendingly imagined, Lightborne is a masterful reimagining of the last days of one of England's most famous literary figures.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I doubt too many unabashedly gay men throughout history are as well-known to modern audiences as Marlowe. He is one of the few in History whose sexuality does not get the "oh, no of course he was just as straight as string" treatment from the "eww-ick" homophobes. Goodness knows they've tried, but it never gets past the "no he isn't because I said no he isn't" level of argument.
No, he was, and he said so too loudly for History to get their anxious denials to be believed.
The delight of this novel, however, is the unnerving time it chooses to bring to life, that terrible last bit of existence after Marlowe left prison for the last time knowing he was not going to be allowed to live much longer for fear of what he knew becoming public knowledge. It was not an unreasonable fear, Marlowe was not a reticent man. It was possible to provoke him into indiscreet speech; he knew embarrassing truths; therefore....
It's never, ever been safe to know things about powerful people that can't be said in public. I suspect that Marlowe, poor lamb, besides being a startlingly bad judge of character was also just as addicted to risk as he was to tobacco. In the story we're told here, by a scholar of Marlowe, his life, and the times, Ingram Frizer is not with Marlowe by mere happenstance but in the role of minder while the decision of what to do about him and the risks he poses to the great and the good is determined. What actually occurs follows the official version established at law...but the unspoken and unspeakable parts are revealed.
I would give this wonderfully textured, nuanced work more stars were it not for something I'm sorry to say is a failing of mine in reading about my bygone ancestral queers: I want writers to choose a side, I want to know what they think, in every case but this one. I'm not saying Marlowe was straight, or gay, or any other modern label because I really believe you can't impute an identity to someone whose worldview quite simply didn't contain it. The torturer should as plausibly think of himself as a serial killer and a sadist if Marlowe was taking the identity "queer." "Sodomite" meant someone who performed acts of sodomy, not someone's fundamental identity. It's no small point to me.
The author, in the epilogue, presents really fun-to-read ideas about Marlowe from days gone by, from the "no he isn't because I said no he isn't" brigade, and from those like me who say identities aren't fungible. He's got sound reasoning for his viewpoint. If Marlowe was alive today he'd very likely be in a leather club somewhere making some platoon of horny men very happy. But he isn't.
For me that's a problem buying into this character. YMMV, and I seriously hope it will. Oh, and Frizer? A real man. I would not be one bit surprised if the role he plays in this story is not precisely the role he played in Deptford.
The Publisher Says: A thrilling reimagining of the last days of one of the most famed Elizabethan playwrights—Christopher Marlowe—and of a love that flourishes within the margins.
Christopher playwright, poet, lover. In the plague-stricken streets of Elizabethan England, Kit flirts with danger, leaving a trail of enemies and old flames in his wake. His plays are a roaring success; he seems destined for greatness. But in the spring of 1593, the queen's eyes are everywhere and the air is laced with paranoia.
Marlowe receives an unwelcome visit from his one-time mentor, Richard Baines, a man who knows all of Marlowe’s secrets and is hell-bent on his destruction. When Marlowe is arrested on charges of treason, heresy, and sodomy—all of which are punishable by death—he is released on bail with the help of Sir Thomas Walsingham.
Kit presumes Walsingham to be his friend; in fact, the spymaster has hired an assassin to take care of Kit, fearing that his own sins may come to light. Now, with the queen's spies and the vengeful Baines closing in on the playwright, Marlowe's last friend in the world is Ingram Frizer, a total stranger who is obsessed with Kit's plays, and who will, within ten days' time, first become Marlowe's lover—and then his killer.
Richly atmospheric, emotionally devastating, and heartrendingly imagined, Lightborne is a masterful reimagining of the last days of one of England's most famous literary figures.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I doubt too many unabashedly gay men throughout history are as well-known to modern audiences as Marlowe. He is one of the few in History whose sexuality does not get the "oh, no of course he was just as straight as string" treatment from the "eww-ick" homophobes. Goodness knows they've tried, but it never gets past the "no he isn't because I said no he isn't" level of argument.
No, he was, and he said so too loudly for History to get their anxious denials to be believed.
The delight of this novel, however, is the unnerving time it chooses to bring to life, that terrible last bit of existence after Marlowe left prison for the last time knowing he was not going to be allowed to live much longer for fear of what he knew becoming public knowledge. It was not an unreasonable fear, Marlowe was not a reticent man. It was possible to provoke him into indiscreet speech; he knew embarrassing truths; therefore....
It's never, ever been safe to know things about powerful people that can't be said in public. I suspect that Marlowe, poor lamb, besides being a startlingly bad judge of character was also just as addicted to risk as he was to tobacco. In the story we're told here, by a scholar of Marlowe, his life, and the times, Ingram Frizer is not with Marlowe by mere happenstance but in the role of minder while the decision of what to do about him and the risks he poses to the great and the good is determined. What actually occurs follows the official version established at law...but the unspoken and unspeakable parts are revealed.
I would give this wonderfully textured, nuanced work more stars were it not for something I'm sorry to say is a failing of mine in reading about my bygone ancestral queers: I want writers to choose a side, I want to know what they think, in every case but this one. I'm not saying Marlowe was straight, or gay, or any other modern label because I really believe you can't impute an identity to someone whose worldview quite simply didn't contain it. The torturer should as plausibly think of himself as a serial killer and a sadist if Marlowe was taking the identity "queer." "Sodomite" meant someone who performed acts of sodomy, not someone's fundamental identity. It's no small point to me.
The author, in the epilogue, presents really fun-to-read ideas about Marlowe from days gone by, from the "no he isn't because I said no he isn't" brigade, and from those like me who say identities aren't fungible. He's got sound reasoning for his viewpoint. If Marlowe was alive today he'd very likely be in a leather club somewhere making some platoon of horny men very happy. But he isn't.
For me that's a problem buying into this character. YMMV, and I seriously hope it will. Oh, and Frizer? A real man. I would not be one bit surprised if the role he plays in this story is not precisely the role he played in Deptford.
April 6, 2025
4.5 out of 5.
I loved this book. I've always been interested in the mystery behind Christopher Marlowe, so this book's premise intrigued me hugely. I was also keen to read this as it won the IWC Novel Fair in 2023, alongside a book of a friend of mine, so I was interested in reading it.
This book takes a couple of chapters to get rolling, I'll admit, but when it does, it's full steam ahead. Like Wolf Hall, it has an immediacy and intrigue that gets you chopping at the bit. While at the start, the characters read quite similarly in personality, as the plot progresses it becomes clear how Kit has ensnared and affected these men, making them friends, lovers and enemies all at once. No one makes this clearer than Ingram Frizer, who I feel highlights most of all the stresses and discrimination that gay men faced in Elizabethan England, a time notorious for bawdy play literature. All you have to do is pick up one of Shakespeare's plays, and you'll find countless incidents of sexual innuendo. In many ways, they were freer than we are now. Anyway, I digress.
Ingram is a tragic figure - but in a way, he is far less tragic than Marlowe himself, who, like a bulldozer, practically destroys every man he comes into contact with, Ingram included. I loved how Kit's destructiveness was explored. However, his connection with Ingram wasn't very convincing at the start. While it was obvious to the audience that Ingram had an obsessive crush, Kit seemed mostly indifferent until the scene at the fountain where it comes across that he's seizing an opportunity for distraction. He even regrets saying 'love' to Ingram at first. I think I'd be giving this book five stars if we had more tenderness between them, and show more of Kit's attraction.
Poley was a standout character, a complex portrait of what it takes to survive in the cutthroat world of the Privy Council. I found his story to be poignant and tragic. A complex villain merely doing his best to outlive those who are suspicious of him. Walsingham was a snake I liked hating. His reasons for wanting Kit dead stemmed mostly from selfishness and in my head anyway, self-guilt. Nick was spineless, and Baines was a wonderful depiction of a man sympathetic to the gay cause, but also a master manipulator and schemer who haunted Kit at every turn. Kit's death shadowed the story brilliantly. I'm still thinking about that scene at the beginning with all the characters in the playhouse, the narrator teasing us about the events that are about to unfold.
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Certainly, a fantastic piece of historical fiction. You can tell that they researched and took ten years to craft this. Definitely a tough but worthy read.
I loved this book. I've always been interested in the mystery behind Christopher Marlowe, so this book's premise intrigued me hugely. I was also keen to read this as it won the IWC Novel Fair in 2023, alongside a book of a friend of mine, so I was interested in reading it.
This book takes a couple of chapters to get rolling, I'll admit, but when it does, it's full steam ahead. Like Wolf Hall, it has an immediacy and intrigue that gets you chopping at the bit. While at the start, the characters read quite similarly in personality, as the plot progresses it becomes clear how Kit has ensnared and affected these men, making them friends, lovers and enemies all at once. No one makes this clearer than Ingram Frizer, who I feel highlights most of all the stresses and discrimination that gay men faced in Elizabethan England, a time notorious for bawdy play literature. All you have to do is pick up one of Shakespeare's plays, and you'll find countless incidents of sexual innuendo. In many ways, they were freer than we are now. Anyway, I digress.
Ingram is a tragic figure - but in a way, he is far less tragic than Marlowe himself, who, like a bulldozer, practically destroys every man he comes into contact with, Ingram included. I loved how Kit's destructiveness was explored. However, his connection with Ingram wasn't very convincing at the start. While it was obvious to the audience that Ingram had an obsessive crush, Kit seemed mostly indifferent until the scene at the fountain where it comes across that he's seizing an opportunity for distraction. He even regrets saying 'love' to Ingram at first. I think I'd be giving this book five stars if we had more tenderness between them, and show more of Kit's attraction.
Poley was a standout character, a complex portrait of what it takes to survive in the cutthroat world of the Privy Council. I found his story to be poignant and tragic. A complex villain merely doing his best to outlive those who are suspicious of him. Walsingham was a snake I liked hating. His reasons for wanting Kit dead stemmed mostly from selfishness and in my head anyway, self-guilt. Nick was spineless, and Baines was a wonderful depiction of a man sympathetic to the gay cause, but also a master manipulator and schemer who haunted Kit at every turn. Kit's death shadowed the story brilliantly. I'm still thinking about that scene at the beginning with all the characters in the playhouse, the narrator teasing us about the events that are about to unfold.
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Certainly, a fantastic piece of historical fiction. You can tell that they researched and took ten years to craft this. Definitely a tough but worthy read.
June 15, 2024
Edward II's killer in the eponymous play is an individual called Lightborne. Phillips'novel focuses on another assassin and the two weeks that precede Cristopher Marlowe's death (no spoiler as it's been a few centuries), the twists and turns that get us there. Given that not everything in this tale is fact, the record being a bit scant, this is superbly woven. In spite of the foregone conclusion, suspense is high and rife. You wonder about the hows and whys and wherefores, so the narrative is never stale or boring. Page-turner!
The characters are riveting, Poley is devious and fascinating, though not as much of a mastermind as he believes himself to be. Walsingham's hypocrisy is highly credible and grounded; he's no cardboard villain. Frizer, notwithstanding his victimhood status, has more dark sides than the eclipse that takes place towards the end. As for Marlowe, the central character, he really does come across as a genius, as the smart guy who could produce the plays he historically did. Which is a lot to say. Novels often portray geniuses in a 'tell' rather than 'show' way, and this doesn't happen here. You believe the man depicted in Lightborne is the literary talent that came up with Dr Faustus and Tamburlaine. He has the stature of the real deal.
However, Marlowe's not only dry-as-dust cleverness. This version of him is a man of feeling, a man with a great capacity for love, almost a sacrificial victim to it, who finds in himself great courage and resolve. He is unforgettable.
Another outstanding quality of 'Lightborne' is its use of language. Forsooth, it doth have the sound of the Renaissance. Without it being overly convoluted, it's thoroughly period appropriate. Phillips has an ear for sixteenth century dialogue that works in the twenty-first!
Now for the one aspect that did make me a little uncomfortable. Women are relentlessly described as 'whores', 'strumpets', 'witches' and 'wenches'. They are wailing weaklings who gain no respect whatsoever and are marginalised. Even the tyrannical Elizabeth on whose behalf much blood is shed is but an afterthought. Marlow himself subscribes to this 'women can justified for being weak' credo. While I understand the characters are children of the Renaissance and, as such, carry with them many of the opinions of the times, the narrative does very little to counteract this (though it does counteract the homophobia espoused by the authorities and internalised by the dramatis personae by way of Marlowe's overall character arc). This might just be an oversight, a question of not enough space to pull it all off, so I'm looking forward to the author's future output.
The characters are riveting, Poley is devious and fascinating, though not as much of a mastermind as he believes himself to be. Walsingham's hypocrisy is highly credible and grounded; he's no cardboard villain. Frizer, notwithstanding his victimhood status, has more dark sides than the eclipse that takes place towards the end. As for Marlowe, the central character, he really does come across as a genius, as the smart guy who could produce the plays he historically did. Which is a lot to say. Novels often portray geniuses in a 'tell' rather than 'show' way, and this doesn't happen here. You believe the man depicted in Lightborne is the literary talent that came up with Dr Faustus and Tamburlaine. He has the stature of the real deal.
However, Marlowe's not only dry-as-dust cleverness. This version of him is a man of feeling, a man with a great capacity for love, almost a sacrificial victim to it, who finds in himself great courage and resolve. He is unforgettable.
Another outstanding quality of 'Lightborne' is its use of language. Forsooth, it doth have the sound of the Renaissance. Without it being overly convoluted, it's thoroughly period appropriate. Phillips has an ear for sixteenth century dialogue that works in the twenty-first!
Now for the one aspect that did make me a little uncomfortable. Women are relentlessly described as 'whores', 'strumpets', 'witches' and 'wenches'. They are wailing weaklings who gain no respect whatsoever and are marginalised. Even the tyrannical Elizabeth on whose behalf much blood is shed is but an afterthought. Marlow himself subscribes to this 'women can justified for being weak' credo. While I understand the characters are children of the Renaissance and, as such, carry with them many of the opinions of the times, the narrative does very little to counteract this (though it does counteract the homophobia espoused by the authorities and internalised by the dramatis personae by way of Marlowe's overall character arc). This might just be an oversight, a question of not enough space to pull it all off, so I'm looking forward to the author's future output.
May 23, 2025
I am in the enviable position of knowing lots (possibly too much) about Christopher Marlowe, which has, I am afraid, caused a negative effect on my enjoyment of this book. I imagine it's a bit like what proper historians feel like when reading a Phillippa Gregory or Hilary Mantel.
It's not that the "facts" are wrong (though there were a couple of bits which made me wince, including the celebrity playwright opening scene, and one of the character counting for "twenty seconds", about a hundred years too early) but throughout the "vibe" feels wrong: that probably means my vibe and Phillips' is just in a different place.
There are, to be fair, two absolutely brilliantly written scenes (the one where Marlowe listens to the recently-tortured Thomas Kyd recite the accusation against him; the one where Robin Poley tries to get the Lord Keeper to put a bounty on Marlowe) but the rest doesn't stand up.
The afterword suggests that Phillips wanted to write a LGBTQ+ positive version of history, but that isn't what happens. Homosexuals, in the book, are either (a) part of a secret elite who REALLY control society; or (b) predatory on unsuspecting straight men who are seduced by their charm and wit into having quick bum-sex; or (c) dirty-raincoat brigade old pervs; or (d) rapists (there are two explicit scenes of forced buggery in this book).
The other thing about this book is that Marlowe himself is presented as unknowable: a story based around the pursuit of this man should enable some sympathy. Instead, we are distanced from him: he is a violent, self-hating alcoholic with little of positive to be said for him.
I wanted to like this book way more than I did.
It's not that the "facts" are wrong (though there were a couple of bits which made me wince, including the celebrity playwright opening scene, and one of the character counting for "twenty seconds", about a hundred years too early) but throughout the "vibe" feels wrong: that probably means my vibe and Phillips' is just in a different place.
There are, to be fair, two absolutely brilliantly written scenes (the one where Marlowe listens to the recently-tortured Thomas Kyd recite the accusation against him; the one where Robin Poley tries to get the Lord Keeper to put a bounty on Marlowe) but the rest doesn't stand up.
The afterword suggests that Phillips wanted to write a LGBTQ+ positive version of history, but that isn't what happens. Homosexuals, in the book, are either (a) part of a secret elite who REALLY control society; or (b) predatory on unsuspecting straight men who are seduced by their charm and wit into having quick bum-sex; or (c) dirty-raincoat brigade old pervs; or (d) rapists (there are two explicit scenes of forced buggery in this book).
The other thing about this book is that Marlowe himself is presented as unknowable: a story based around the pursuit of this man should enable some sympathy. Instead, we are distanced from him: he is a violent, self-hating alcoholic with little of positive to be said for him.
I wanted to like this book way more than I did.
June 3, 2025
This is the fictional re-telling of the last years of playwright/poet Christopher Marlowe. I have been fascinated with him since I saw the movie of Edward II in the early 90s. And recently I read about James the I of England/Scotland and he is mentioned in the book. We follow the final months of his life. There is much conjecture about his death and how he died. Which I find bewildering as he was likely a spy and prone to making enemies because of this. Anyway, I liked the story and the writing. I liked the imagery and references to Marlowe's works. These parallels added a depth and poetic eloquence to his existence. It also begged the question of who was the devil in Marlowe's life as there were so many including himself. I guess what I found hard to take is my common gripe with authors that want to make everyone gay. It seemed there were a lot gay people around at the time. It is quite plausible but it seems a bit trite at times. There was something cool about how brave Marlowe was for writing and putting on Edward II. He was a bit of a revolutionary but this might have cost him his life.It would seem that being openly gay was very dangerous at the time. I now want to read his plays.My other issue is with the pacing of the novel. The last 100 pages dragged a lot. So although I liked the history and the writing and the characters, the plotting was slow going at times. All in all, I enjoyed this novel but I give this one a 4.3/5.
June 10, 2025
"I often wonder whether it takes some measure of inhumanity to believe in God." (295)
This was one of those books that reminded me of the love of reading. It is such well told fiction, with such powerful prose and dialogue, I was sucked in completely. How this book intersects many issues, those of power, sexuality, religious warfare, sincerity and betrayal - it'll be an unforgettable story for me. I knew nothing about Christopher Marlowe going into this, so I think that made me love it even more, and really appreciate the mystery and thriller aspects. The style of using present tense was perfect.
This is between a 4 and 5 star read for me, reasons being for the gratuitous violations of the male characters. It's never on page, but I thought using it as a literary tool to bring two certain characters together was almost ... too easy. I would've appreciated something else there. There's also maybe 1 woman in this entire book who is actually described, but even that's minor. But hey, 'tis the time period, or whatever.
Found this author through attending a literary event in town and can't believe my luck and finding such a talented writer and intriguing story! Best city in da world.
This was one of those books that reminded me of the love of reading. It is such well told fiction, with such powerful prose and dialogue, I was sucked in completely. How this book intersects many issues, those of power, sexuality, religious warfare, sincerity and betrayal - it'll be an unforgettable story for me. I knew nothing about Christopher Marlowe going into this, so I think that made me love it even more, and really appreciate the mystery and thriller aspects. The style of using present tense was perfect.
This is between a 4 and 5 star read for me, reasons being for the gratuitous violations of the male characters. It's never on page, but I thought using it as a literary tool to bring two certain characters together was almost ... too easy. I would've appreciated something else there. There's also maybe 1 woman in this entire book who is actually described, but even that's minor. But hey, 'tis the time period, or whatever.
Found this author through attending a literary event in town and can't believe my luck and finding such a talented writer and intriguing story! Best city in da world.
September 13, 2025
Wow I really loved this book. I knew nothing about Christopher Marlowe before reading this, and I still feel like I have so much to learn. So much of this story was intertwined with the religious politics of the time which I only know about on a surface level, and the most I know about Elizabethan England is learned from Shakespeare and my brief obsession with Mary queen of Scot’s. Which is to say that I was definitely confused at points and I will be doing a lot of further research.
The circumstances of his death are so speculative that I wonder how much of this is accurate, but even if it wasn’t it was still an insanely good story, every one of these men was so slimy and deceitful but they were written so well, the descriptions were just the kinds of writing that makes me jealous that I didn’t write it myself. I hope this author comes out with more, they said it took 20 years to write this so … it really inspired me to dive back into my English major self and read more free verse poetry.
The circumstances of his death are so speculative that I wonder how much of this is accurate, but even if it wasn’t it was still an insanely good story, every one of these men was so slimy and deceitful but they were written so well, the descriptions were just the kinds of writing that makes me jealous that I didn’t write it myself. I hope this author comes out with more, they said it took 20 years to write this so … it really inspired me to dive back into my English major self and read more free verse poetry.
August 9, 2025
4.5
Greatly enjoyed it, the only thing to complain about is that the narrative is quite all over the place, which coupled with the already heavy and complex language used and shifting narratives makes for one confusing ride at times. But the overall story and exploration of what Christopher Marlowe's final days might have been like is definitely worth the hassle needed to get through certain passages of this novel that leave you only thinking "Maybe I don't understand the English language after all..."
But I've always loved a challenge, especially one that turns out to be well worth overcoming, so I tell you this: "Read it and don't give up, it will be well worth it by the end."
Greatly enjoyed it, the only thing to complain about is that the narrative is quite all over the place, which coupled with the already heavy and complex language used and shifting narratives makes for one confusing ride at times. But the overall story and exploration of what Christopher Marlowe's final days might have been like is definitely worth the hassle needed to get through certain passages of this novel that leave you only thinking "Maybe I don't understand the English language after all..."
But I've always loved a challenge, especially one that turns out to be well worth overcoming, so I tell you this: "Read it and don't give up, it will be well worth it by the end."
May 13, 2024
This is one of those books that are both intriguing and real page turner, a novel that makes travel in time and feel like you were living in the Elizabethan age.
A mix of fact and fiction. A story of power, fear, and how mixing them will cause a murder.
We don't know a lot about why Marlowe was murdered, we know about his legend but this books tells another story.
A delightful novel, great storytelling and vivid historical background. The characters are well rounded and lively.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A mix of fact and fiction. A story of power, fear, and how mixing them will cause a murder.
We don't know a lot about why Marlowe was murdered, we know about his legend but this books tells another story.
A delightful novel, great storytelling and vivid historical background. The characters are well rounded and lively.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 8, 2024
Life and death stakes are introduced from the very first line of Lightborne, an Elizabethan-era page-turner that vividly portrays the final weeks of Christopher Marlowe’s life. The research that went into this novel is remarkable, yet the book never feels weighed down by information. The author’s singular ability to fully inhabit Marlowe and the treacherous company he kept makes the book such a compelling read. Lightborne offers a vibrant, urgent, harrowing account of the playwright’s life and death. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
July 21, 2024
I wish I had the mental capacity to take this book in but as I read to unwind, this felt like a task to read and retain. I was really struggling to keep up with the story, who all the different characters were, and their purpose. I gave up about 55% in.
The general gist I got would have been a forbidden love story of 2 men in 1500s England. Kit Marlowe is a famous playwright who was charged with treason, heresy, and sodomy. A few different characters were tasked with spying on him on behalf of the Queen and to kill him. As he is released on bail he grows close to a guy called Ingram Frizer who is obsessed with his plays. I stopped reading as they started to grow close - their scenes were tender and you could feel Kit was starting to care for him.
Its written in a way that I could picture it as a movie/tv series. Very atmospheric. But it is very complicated to follow.
The general gist I got would have been a forbidden love story of 2 men in 1500s England. Kit Marlowe is a famous playwright who was charged with treason, heresy, and sodomy. A few different characters were tasked with spying on him on behalf of the Queen and to kill him. As he is released on bail he grows close to a guy called Ingram Frizer who is obsessed with his plays. I stopped reading as they started to grow close - their scenes were tender and you could feel Kit was starting to care for him.
Its written in a way that I could picture it as a movie/tv series. Very atmospheric. But it is very complicated to follow.
October 28, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Lightborne tells the story of playwrite Christopher “Kit” Marlowe in the weeks leading up to his death. The novel is filled with complexities and political intrigue as the story unfolds, revealing the tricks and betrayals amongst the high societies and the backstreets of Elizabethan London.
The novel is historic fiction at it’s finest and Phillips has highly researched the topic and setting and has rendered it really really well.
A very solid debut and I look forward to what Phillips does next!
Thank you to Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC!
Lightborne tells the story of playwrite Christopher “Kit” Marlowe in the weeks leading up to his death. The novel is filled with complexities and political intrigue as the story unfolds, revealing the tricks and betrayals amongst the high societies and the backstreets of Elizabethan London.
The novel is historic fiction at it’s finest and Phillips has highly researched the topic and setting and has rendered it really really well.
A very solid debut and I look forward to what Phillips does next!
Thank you to Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC!
November 28, 2024
I struggled with this. Not the content or the story (which was captivating) , not with the characters (all complicated humans, sticky with agendas), and not even with the flow (although sometimes the pacing was like watching refrigerated treacle pour out of the jar). Maybe I'll tackle it again when I'm fresher, not so weary from long days and weeks of work. Perhaps I'll take it on vacation so it can be the book I ignore in favour of lighter offerings. Hesse Phillips' Lightborne is not for those looking for an easy read.
July 4, 2025
Wow. Hard to believe this is a debut novel! I just want to put Hesse Phillips in a room with (dear, departed) Hilary Mantel and listen to them talk the craft of bringing history alive. Lightborne is a thoroughly engrossing, moving, read that puts you smack into the middle of the Elizabethan spy network, allowing you to see how character and desire and survival collide to produce tragedy. You know you are in the hands of a masterful storyteller and researcher in Hesse Phillips, right from the start. Lightborne felt true.
February 12, 2024
Tells the story of the playwrite Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe in the weeks leading up to his death. Political intrigue and double-crossing unfolds amid both the high society and grimy backstreets of Elizabethan London. Excellent historical fiction debut, very impressive. It is painstakingly researched and fabulously rendered. Genuinely reminiscent of the lines of Ken Follett or Hilary Mantel. I expect it will make a splash on release and go on to do very well.
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