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The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley, also known as the Great Beast, is one of the most reviled men in history. Satanist, cult leader, debauched novelist and poet, his legacy has been harshly contested for decades.
Crowley supposedly died in 1947, but in Ian Thornton's new novel, set in the present day, the Great Beast is alive and well and living in Shangri-la. Now over 130 years old, thanks to the magical air of his mystical location, he looks back on his life and decides it is time to set the record straight.
For Crowley was not the evil man he is often portrayed as. This was just a cover to hide his real mission, to save the twentieth century from destroying itself and to set humanity on the road to freedom and liberty.
The Death and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is an epic novel that will make you see this notorious figure in a completely new light, as he encounters an impressive cast of real-life characters including Timothy Leary, The Beatles, Princess Margaret, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock.
Crowley supposedly died in 1947, but in Ian Thornton's new novel, set in the present day, the Great Beast is alive and well and living in Shangri-la. Now over 130 years old, thanks to the magical air of his mystical location, he looks back on his life and decides it is time to set the record straight.
For Crowley was not the evil man he is often portrayed as. This was just a cover to hide his real mission, to save the twentieth century from destroying itself and to set humanity on the road to freedom and liberty.
The Death and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is an epic novel that will make you see this notorious figure in a completely new light, as he encounters an impressive cast of real-life characters including Timothy Leary, The Beatles, Princess Margaret, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock.
400 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 27, 2019
2 stars--I was enticed by this book's beautiful cover and interesting description. (I didn't know much about Aleister Crowley, but I enjoy historical fiction and books with magical/occult elements, so I thought it would be a good choice.) Unfortunately, its execution was problematic.
There were a few things that kept me from enjoying The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley:
-For lack of better terms, the main character initially comes off as an insufferable jerk. It's hard to become invested in his story because of that first impression.
-The plot (and the individual sentences) meander too much. The digressions and extra description did not hold my attention.
-Paragraphing is usually too trivial to comment on in a review of an ARC, but here, it majorly interfered with readability. Many long sections of text were not broken into standard paragraphs, so the lack of organization contributed to my struggle to enjoy this novel.
I really wanted to like this novel, so I read carefully for about the first third of the text. After that, I skimmed the remainder of the text. I didn't want to give up completely, but I just wasn't enjoying this novel enough to read every word.
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for giving me a DRC of this novel, which will be available for purchase on August 22nd.
There were a few things that kept me from enjoying The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley:
-For lack of better terms, the main character initially comes off as an insufferable jerk. It's hard to become invested in his story because of that first impression.
-The plot (and the individual sentences) meander too much. The digressions and extra description did not hold my attention.
-Paragraphing is usually too trivial to comment on in a review of an ARC, but here, it majorly interfered with readability. Many long sections of text were not broken into standard paragraphs, so the lack of organization contributed to my struggle to enjoy this novel.
I really wanted to like this novel, so I read carefully for about the first third of the text. After that, I skimmed the remainder of the text. I didn't want to give up completely, but I just wasn't enjoying this novel enough to read every word.
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for giving me a DRC of this novel, which will be available for purchase on August 22nd.
September 21, 2020
My old friend Mike passed away in August (what a way to begin a book review; sorry about that…). He was quite the scholar about occultism, and he was extremely knowledgeable about Aleister Crowley, whom he admired very much - while understanding that he was kind of an awful person. I had meant to tell him about this book, but I never got a chance to do it. I think he would have found it funny, and then would have proceeded to point out all the historical inaccuracies… Reading this made me feel like I was sharing one final joke with him. You’ll be missed, Admiral Straw.
There was no way I could resist reading this book: I had an interest in the occult in my twenties, and Mr. Crowley’s work is hard to avoid when you immerse yourself in that subject. I also read a few books and articles about him, because I have always found him to be a rather fascinating person (though to be honest, I could never tell when he was being serious and when he was just trolling the Hell out of anyone who spoke to him). If you’ve ever read one of his books, you know he wasn’t a Satanist – though he could be a massive jerk who often used his scandalous public persona to distract everyone from what he was actually up to. So a story of his life, presumed death and afterlife told in his voice sounded too good to pass up.
While the world is under the impression that Crowley, “the wickedest man in the world”, passed away in 1947, he has actually faked his death and sought refuge in the mystical realm of Shangri-La, where, after seventy years, he has decided to pick up the pen once more and rectify the record about his rollicking and enigmatic life… and afterlife.
The idea that Crowley was heavily involved with British Intelligence is fairly popular with his biographers (my favorite story has always been that Churchill recruited him because his knowledge of the occult could be used to mess with Hitler’s obsession with it), and Thornton really took off with that theory. But while the focus on intrigues and politics is great, there isn’t much in this book about his occult and spiritual work. I get it: that’s not the point of the story, but as it was such an integral part of Crowley’s life, it does feel like there’s a little something missing by not exploring that aspect of his “work”.
What we get instead is the tale of Aleister's work as not just a secret agent, but a double and occasionally triple agent of MI-1, his actions during both world wars, his travels to Asia and America - and a lot of anecdotes about all the drugs and sex. And I mean all of it!
Thornton did his homework: though he obviously creates a few characters, tweaks some chronology and skips over certain things, he know his subject well, and succeeds in using Mr Crowley's own writing voice to spin his yarn: the prose is that perfect blend of almost purplish erudition and horrible crassness that was characteristic of Crowley - who was, after all a poet and writer of great talent, if sometimes questionable tastes. If you don't like dirty words, you might want to avoid this.
Overall, a fun read that might be hard to completely get unless you are already familiar at least a little bit, with Aleister Crowley's life, his work and the endless rumors that circulated about him in his life time. It's obvious that Thornton had fun writing this, and I and can see why: when your subject delighted in telling outlandish tales about himself, that no one would believe, only to have them turn out to be true, you can really let your imagination run wild! But I wanted the final part to feel a little more wrapped up...
3 and half stars.
There was no way I could resist reading this book: I had an interest in the occult in my twenties, and Mr. Crowley’s work is hard to avoid when you immerse yourself in that subject. I also read a few books and articles about him, because I have always found him to be a rather fascinating person (though to be honest, I could never tell when he was being serious and when he was just trolling the Hell out of anyone who spoke to him). If you’ve ever read one of his books, you know he wasn’t a Satanist – though he could be a massive jerk who often used his scandalous public persona to distract everyone from what he was actually up to. So a story of his life, presumed death and afterlife told in his voice sounded too good to pass up.
While the world is under the impression that Crowley, “the wickedest man in the world”, passed away in 1947, he has actually faked his death and sought refuge in the mystical realm of Shangri-La, where, after seventy years, he has decided to pick up the pen once more and rectify the record about his rollicking and enigmatic life… and afterlife.
The idea that Crowley was heavily involved with British Intelligence is fairly popular with his biographers (my favorite story has always been that Churchill recruited him because his knowledge of the occult could be used to mess with Hitler’s obsession with it), and Thornton really took off with that theory. But while the focus on intrigues and politics is great, there isn’t much in this book about his occult and spiritual work. I get it: that’s not the point of the story, but as it was such an integral part of Crowley’s life, it does feel like there’s a little something missing by not exploring that aspect of his “work”.
What we get instead is the tale of Aleister's work as not just a secret agent, but a double and occasionally triple agent of MI-1, his actions during both world wars, his travels to Asia and America - and a lot of anecdotes about all the drugs and sex. And I mean all of it!
Thornton did his homework: though he obviously creates a few characters, tweaks some chronology and skips over certain things, he know his subject well, and succeeds in using Mr Crowley's own writing voice to spin his yarn: the prose is that perfect blend of almost purplish erudition and horrible crassness that was characteristic of Crowley - who was, after all a poet and writer of great talent, if sometimes questionable tastes. If you don't like dirty words, you might want to avoid this.
Overall, a fun read that might be hard to completely get unless you are already familiar at least a little bit, with Aleister Crowley's life, his work and the endless rumors that circulated about him in his life time. It's obvious that Thornton had fun writing this, and I and can see why: when your subject delighted in telling outlandish tales about himself, that no one would believe, only to have them turn out to be true, you can really let your imagination run wild! But I wanted the final part to feel a little more wrapped up...
3 and half stars.
July 10, 2019
This one is a fairly hard book to review because I've been fascinated by Crowley in the past. I mean, did you know that his visage graces the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band? That the man was the original sensationalist, welcoming all kinds of defamation and horror story for the sake of building up a legend, right or wrong? That he was the original flower child, a bold climber of Everest, a thumber-of-noses at all kinds of hypocrisy, and he believed in rebellion with a capital R?
I liked him. Who cares if he called himself The Beast and signed with 666? Or that he was called a satanist for most of his life? I played D&D as a child. Back in those days, Parent Teacher Associations used to burn books and say that my gamebooks were written by the devil. *rolls eyes so hard that they pop out of his grinning skull*
If my mild storytelling sessions were that evil, I had to see what else the "world" is lying about.
This book on Crowley DOES have a ton of historical fact about Crowley, but it is conflated with a ton as well. He may or may not have been a British Secret agent, but this book definitely goes all into that. And I DO like all the Rebellion stuff. A lot. The sixties were Crowley's time, after all, having blazoned the way for several generations of people who are sick of the lies and just want to revel in truth, pleasure, and kindness.
Kindness? Crowley? Well, let's put it the way he puts it. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will." Love? Love? Hello! That sure sounds evil. lol
So WHAT ABOUT THIS BOOK? Why do I only give it 3 stars? Because... it focuses on spycraft and faking his death and his childhood. It's okay. It's FINE. But it's also meandering and directionless until we get to the whole revolution stuff later. And what I really wanted was either a full-out magical extravaganza a-la the best Fantasy novels of our time... or a tight thematic homage to the core principles of what Crowley taught. Or both! We can add some spycraft later, I suppose, but Crowley doing his best to out-do Marilyn Manson before Marilyn Manson is PLENTY interesting all on its own without turning him into a super-hero.
Maybe that's just me.
I liked him. Who cares if he called himself The Beast and signed with 666? Or that he was called a satanist for most of his life? I played D&D as a child. Back in those days, Parent Teacher Associations used to burn books and say that my gamebooks were written by the devil. *rolls eyes so hard that they pop out of his grinning skull*
If my mild storytelling sessions were that evil, I had to see what else the "world" is lying about.
This book on Crowley DOES have a ton of historical fact about Crowley, but it is conflated with a ton as well. He may or may not have been a British Secret agent, but this book definitely goes all into that. And I DO like all the Rebellion stuff. A lot. The sixties were Crowley's time, after all, having blazoned the way for several generations of people who are sick of the lies and just want to revel in truth, pleasure, and kindness.
Kindness? Crowley? Well, let's put it the way he puts it. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will." Love? Love? Hello! That sure sounds evil. lol
So WHAT ABOUT THIS BOOK? Why do I only give it 3 stars? Because... it focuses on spycraft and faking his death and his childhood. It's okay. It's FINE. But it's also meandering and directionless until we get to the whole revolution stuff later. And what I really wanted was either a full-out magical extravaganza a-la the best Fantasy novels of our time... or a tight thematic homage to the core principles of what Crowley taught. Or both! We can add some spycraft later, I suppose, but Crowley doing his best to out-do Marilyn Manson before Marilyn Manson is PLENTY interesting all on its own without turning him into a super-hero.
Maybe that's just me.
August 27, 2019
Having had more than passing interest in the occult this was a no-brainer for me given Crowley is one of the most notorious men in history, but was he quite as evil as people thought him to be? The Deaths & Afterlife of Aleister Crowley assumes his supposed death in 1947 never took place and he ending up living out his days in relative obscurity. Set in the present day, Crowley is 130 years old and considering opening up about the media's portrayal of him in order to try and set the record straight. His use of shocking tactics so that those aware of him focus on those attributes whilst he is left to get on with his real mission was nothing short of a fantastic disinformation campaign much like what we see nowadays, so although fictional the story holds some important messages within its pages as well as being very entertaining.
Whether certain concepts and sentiments are true here or not there is no way of knowing where the true man begins or ends, but it makes you think, and I appreciated that. I wouldn't be surprised at those around at the time demonising him as he rallied against his Christian upbringing and that is all people really knew in the UK (and wider Europe) at the time. It reminds me of when Marilyn Manson (not a band I listen to) was blamed for some of the school shootings in the US press; it certainly isn't new for some people to label as satanic those they don't understand. Branded the "wickedest man in the world", Crowley inspired the likes of Led Zeppelin and his image is one of many on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
One thing is for sure - Crowley remains to this day a collage of intrigue, and this book is nothing short of excitement-filled, compulsive reading. Many thanks to Unbound for an ARC.
Whether certain concepts and sentiments are true here or not there is no way of knowing where the true man begins or ends, but it makes you think, and I appreciated that. I wouldn't be surprised at those around at the time demonising him as he rallied against his Christian upbringing and that is all people really knew in the UK (and wider Europe) at the time. It reminds me of when Marilyn Manson (not a band I listen to) was blamed for some of the school shootings in the US press; it certainly isn't new for some people to label as satanic those they don't understand. Branded the "wickedest man in the world", Crowley inspired the likes of Led Zeppelin and his image is one of many on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
One thing is for sure - Crowley remains to this day a collage of intrigue, and this book is nothing short of excitement-filled, compulsive reading. Many thanks to Unbound for an ARC.
July 30, 2019
The premise of this book really appealed to me. Aleister Crowley is not dead – alive and well for hundreds of years – he tells his story in this fictionalised biography. This biography, in which Crowley is secretly an undercover spy, allows him to romp through history, giving the author free reign to bring in the famous, the infamous and to touch on major historical events.
I thought the idea was clever, but, I have to admit that this did drag a little for me. I found the style difficult and I thought that it rambled too much and, sadly, just did not engage me. I am sure that others will really enjoy this and it is a clever re-working of a life, with the twist that, not only has he lived long enough to meet just about everyone, but that he is not the character he is perceived to be. Hopefully, should you try this novel, the style will be more to your taste. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
I thought the idea was clever, but, I have to admit that this did drag a little for me. I found the style difficult and I thought that it rambled too much and, sadly, just did not engage me. I am sure that others will really enjoy this and it is a clever re-working of a life, with the twist that, not only has he lived long enough to meet just about everyone, but that he is not the character he is perceived to be. Hopefully, should you try this novel, the style will be more to your taste. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
September 22, 2019
Going to admit straight away that although I had heard of Aleister Crowley and knew the ‘labels’ his persona carries, I don’t actually know a whole lot about his life, in detail. And, yet, I was intrigued by this book right off the bat!
I requested the book without hesitation through Netgalley based on the promise of an interesting alternative take on this historical figure, based on the cover, based on the fact that I would find it personally unacceptable if I didn’t read it. But before I started reading this title, the reviews and the average rating on Goodreads filled me with fear of god. It wasn’t looking too damn good, at all.
In conclusion upon finishing the book, I found that as there was a lot of eventful life as well as other historical events to cover off, it was maybe slightly too much by the end. At least for me. Thing is- the further the story got along, and whilst I still found each instance of a note-worthy milestone interesting, I was getting worn out by colourful picture the author was painting.
Having said that, the aforementioned was my only criticism during the whole of this reading experience. I found the writing to be lovely and rich, as fitting for our main character, as well as the settings and scenes wonderfully engaging. The air of occult hangs in the air because in the back of your head you know Crowley is somewhat of a shadowy figure. It is all the more amplified by the fact that profanity has not been redacted and some of these poems in the story could make a more sensitive reader’s toes curl in distaste.
But all in all, what mysterious, wonderful, eclectic journey. Again, I am no Crowley-expert so I am unfortunately unable to draw any lines about what has been recorded about him in reality and what was portrayed in the book to give you a proper comparison. The little I do know is that, in non-fictional terms he should creep the bejeebus out of you for being a creepy magic-practising Satanist with a healthy appetite in experimental drug use, sexual pleasures with both men and women and for not practising his spirituality quietly in the corner somewhere and instead using his ‘world view’ for social criticism. In fictional terms, when it comes to this book, he’s just … a larger than life character, a type of hero who accepts the downfall of his character for the greater good. And yes, he still loves to shag both ways and get zonked on jungle juice but in this story, his ‘sins’ are balanced out with his mission to do good in the world.
For anyone who enjoys an alternative take on history, this book could be truly interesting. World Wars are covered, Hitler is in the picture as well as Churchill, Rasputin and the Christian fundamentalist group Plymouth Brethren. Hells’ bells, there’s even Shangri La in this book. The historical alternatives are peppered with scenes of earthy, pagan/occultist undertones adding atmosphere and further entertainment.
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is at times a drug-fuelled, sex-driven fantasy romp on the timeline of past, as much as an alternative case study of Aleister’s character and life that covers the entirety of his life, including his relationships with his parents, his lovers, his friends. His life dissected by chapters as we count down to his ‘return to life’. Yep, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you recognize a pull in yourself towards the less mainstream, then this would be the book for you.
I requested the book without hesitation through Netgalley based on the promise of an interesting alternative take on this historical figure, based on the cover, based on the fact that I would find it personally unacceptable if I didn’t read it. But before I started reading this title, the reviews and the average rating on Goodreads filled me with fear of god. It wasn’t looking too damn good, at all.
In conclusion upon finishing the book, I found that as there was a lot of eventful life as well as other historical events to cover off, it was maybe slightly too much by the end. At least for me. Thing is- the further the story got along, and whilst I still found each instance of a note-worthy milestone interesting, I was getting worn out by colourful picture the author was painting.
Having said that, the aforementioned was my only criticism during the whole of this reading experience. I found the writing to be lovely and rich, as fitting for our main character, as well as the settings and scenes wonderfully engaging. The air of occult hangs in the air because in the back of your head you know Crowley is somewhat of a shadowy figure. It is all the more amplified by the fact that profanity has not been redacted and some of these poems in the story could make a more sensitive reader’s toes curl in distaste.
But all in all, what mysterious, wonderful, eclectic journey. Again, I am no Crowley-expert so I am unfortunately unable to draw any lines about what has been recorded about him in reality and what was portrayed in the book to give you a proper comparison. The little I do know is that, in non-fictional terms he should creep the bejeebus out of you for being a creepy magic-practising Satanist with a healthy appetite in experimental drug use, sexual pleasures with both men and women and for not practising his spirituality quietly in the corner somewhere and instead using his ‘world view’ for social criticism. In fictional terms, when it comes to this book, he’s just … a larger than life character, a type of hero who accepts the downfall of his character for the greater good. And yes, he still loves to shag both ways and get zonked on jungle juice but in this story, his ‘sins’ are balanced out with his mission to do good in the world.
For anyone who enjoys an alternative take on history, this book could be truly interesting. World Wars are covered, Hitler is in the picture as well as Churchill, Rasputin and the Christian fundamentalist group Plymouth Brethren. Hells’ bells, there’s even Shangri La in this book. The historical alternatives are peppered with scenes of earthy, pagan/occultist undertones adding atmosphere and further entertainment.
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is at times a drug-fuelled, sex-driven fantasy romp on the timeline of past, as much as an alternative case study of Aleister’s character and life that covers the entirety of his life, including his relationships with his parents, his lovers, his friends. His life dissected by chapters as we count down to his ‘return to life’. Yep, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you recognize a pull in yourself towards the less mainstream, then this would be the book for you.
August 31, 2019
“My name is Aleister Crowley, The Great Beast. 666. And I am here to tell you the truth.”
My thanks to Unbound for an eARC via NetGalley of Ian Thornton’s fictional autobiography, ‘The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley’, in exchange for an honest review.
I have been familiar with the works of Aleister Crowley for many years and therefore didn’t need any convincing that he wasn’t the Satanic cultist of the tabloid press. It was quite interesting to see how Thornton blended fact, fiction, and fantasy.
This novel has Crowley faking his death in 1947 and entering the mythical realm of Shangri-La; where he has resided, apart from the occasional foray back into the world, for seven decades.
As narrator the Old Crow takes the reader through various events in his life embellished with the early revelation that much of the reports of his wickedness were part of his cover: “You see, the truth is that I was the greatest spy of the twentieth century. The lies were all necessary, as they had been for that other great Englishman, The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Indeed, he often refers to himself as a Pimpernel.
Thornton has focused on the idea that Crowley was a spy. It’s been a popular idea with some of his biographers. He also introduces a number of fictional mentors, lovers and children while jettisoning others.
Given my background it proved not an easy book for me to review. I was especially perplexed by the aforesaid protectors/mentors assigned to Crowley when a boy - Dr Dandylyon and Prudence Venus Coshe. They came from a strange lineage dating back to the time of Boadicea’s rebellion and a powerful spell cast that “would last thousands of years. ...... there would always be a Dandylyon and a Prudence, in unison, close to power in England.”
It turned out that the narrative was dominated by politics and espionage as well as Crowley’s relationships, real and fictional. Certainly plenty of sex, drugs, and erotic poetry but very little Magick. His relationships to the gods, who were so central to his magical practices, were hardly mentioned. His seminal work ‘Magick in Theory and Practice’? Nowhere.
Therefore, it proved quite an uneven read for me. I applaud the intention to dispel the label of ‘wickedest man in the world’ and amused to think of Crowley lurking behind the scenes of various events, especially during the 60s. Yet I stumbled over some parts.
I would also have expected some end notes from the author about his inspiration to write this, some sources and perhaps indicating to readers not familiar with Crowley’s life about his areas of creative license.
Edit: Thinking about it overnight and knowing Crowley as I do, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t been lurking on the astral whispering encouragement into Thornton’s ear. He would have loved the Pimpernel aspect as well as Shangri-la, which isn’t a bad metaphor for the Inner Planes. Still feel that it lacks Magick but I think Crowley would appreciate it especially and perhaps it will encourage new readers to explore his life and work.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Note: may be corrected in final edition but Liber al vel Legis was received in April 1904 not July!
My thanks to Unbound for an eARC via NetGalley of Ian Thornton’s fictional autobiography, ‘The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley’, in exchange for an honest review.
I have been familiar with the works of Aleister Crowley for many years and therefore didn’t need any convincing that he wasn’t the Satanic cultist of the tabloid press. It was quite interesting to see how Thornton blended fact, fiction, and fantasy.
This novel has Crowley faking his death in 1947 and entering the mythical realm of Shangri-La; where he has resided, apart from the occasional foray back into the world, for seven decades.
As narrator the Old Crow takes the reader through various events in his life embellished with the early revelation that much of the reports of his wickedness were part of his cover: “You see, the truth is that I was the greatest spy of the twentieth century. The lies were all necessary, as they had been for that other great Englishman, The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Indeed, he often refers to himself as a Pimpernel.
Thornton has focused on the idea that Crowley was a spy. It’s been a popular idea with some of his biographers. He also introduces a number of fictional mentors, lovers and children while jettisoning others.
Given my background it proved not an easy book for me to review. I was especially perplexed by the aforesaid protectors/mentors assigned to Crowley when a boy - Dr Dandylyon and Prudence Venus Coshe. They came from a strange lineage dating back to the time of Boadicea’s rebellion and a powerful spell cast that “would last thousands of years. ...... there would always be a Dandylyon and a Prudence, in unison, close to power in England.”
It turned out that the narrative was dominated by politics and espionage as well as Crowley’s relationships, real and fictional. Certainly plenty of sex, drugs, and erotic poetry but very little Magick. His relationships to the gods, who were so central to his magical practices, were hardly mentioned. His seminal work ‘Magick in Theory and Practice’? Nowhere.
Therefore, it proved quite an uneven read for me. I applaud the intention to dispel the label of ‘wickedest man in the world’ and amused to think of Crowley lurking behind the scenes of various events, especially during the 60s. Yet I stumbled over some parts.
I would also have expected some end notes from the author about his inspiration to write this, some sources and perhaps indicating to readers not familiar with Crowley’s life about his areas of creative license.
Edit: Thinking about it overnight and knowing Crowley as I do, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t been lurking on the astral whispering encouragement into Thornton’s ear. He would have loved the Pimpernel aspect as well as Shangri-la, which isn’t a bad metaphor for the Inner Planes. Still feel that it lacks Magick but I think Crowley would appreciate it especially and perhaps it will encourage new readers to explore his life and work.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Note: may be corrected in final edition but Liber al vel Legis was received in April 1904 not July!
June 12, 2019
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley (2019) is Aleister Crowley looking back on his life. In this version he didn't die in Hastings in 1947 and instead resides in Shangri-La well into his hundreds.
The novel is Aleister Crowley's imagined attempt to set the record straight and initially closely follows his life story. However, before long it is overlaid with an alternate history in which he is engaged by the British Secret Service where his occult knowledge is used in the interests of his country and humanity.
Aleister Crowley fans will probably lap it up as those immersed in Crowley lore will really appreciate Ian Thornton's research and clever manipulation of the facts. I have a passing interest and, for me, this was overly long. A shorter, tighter book would have been better.
3/5
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley (2019) by Ian Thornton
The novel is Aleister Crowley's imagined attempt to set the record straight and initially closely follows his life story. However, before long it is overlaid with an alternate history in which he is engaged by the British Secret Service where his occult knowledge is used in the interests of his country and humanity.
Aleister Crowley fans will probably lap it up as those immersed in Crowley lore will really appreciate Ian Thornton's research and clever manipulation of the facts. I have a passing interest and, for me, this was overly long. A shorter, tighter book would have been better.
3/5
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley (2019) by Ian Thornton
August 19, 2019
Time taken to read - 4 days
Pages - 400
Publisher - Unbound
Source - Review Copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Aleister Crowley, also known as the Great Beast, is one of the most reviled men in history. Satanist, cult leader, debauched novelist and poet, his legacy has been harshly contested for decades.
Crowley supposedly died in 1947, but in Ian Thornton's new novel, set in the present day, the Great Beast is alive and well and living in Shangri-la. Now over 130 years old, thanks to the magical air of his mystical location, he looks back on his life and decides it is time to set the record straight.
For Crowley was not the evil man he is often portrayed as. This was just a cover to hide his real mission, to save the twentieth century from destroying itself and to set humanity on the road to freedom and liberty.
The Death and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is an epic novel that will make you see this notorious figure in a completely new light, as he encounters an impressive cast of real-life characters including Timothy Leary, The Beatles, Princess Margaret, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock.
My Review
I had never heard of Aleister Crowley before reading this book, a man refered to as "Beast" by his own mother and reveled in being called "Great Beast" as his notoriety grew. He denounced his religious background and started up his own "religion" encouraging people to do what they want basically. He was interested in the occult, satanism and widely documented his insatiable appetite for enjoying all the pleasures and perversions the human body can offer.
So, it was more than an eye opener when I started reading this, told from Aleister as being the narrator he tells the reader, warts and all, his life and journeys. Exposure to sexual acts as a young child by adults in his care, bestiality in rituals, drugs, alcohol pretty much anything and everything. I had to keep putting the book down to goggle him and see if this stuff was true, it was. He made a name for himself, his exploits, he was featured on the band "The Beatles" album cover. There is no denying he lead an eyebrow raising life to put it politely. Some of the exploits I felt I needed to wash my eyes and brain in holy water after reading!
Whilst the book doesn't go into masses of details for the debauchery there is plenty for you to know exactly what he is talking about. Some of his poems, featured, include bodily fluids, this is not a book for the faint hearted or easily offended. That said it makes for interesting reading, the guy was rumoured to be a spy. What Thornton has done is taken well known historical events and woven them into Crowley claiming to have influenced, averted or been present when X event happened.
My history knowledge is terrible so I would put the book down to read up on X assassination or X war to get the documented events on what happened then read on to how Thornton placed Crowley in among it. It is an interesting, colourful (blue) and shocking read, sexual exploits that will shock you (unless you already know his history). I would love to have a Q&A with the author as I can't even imagine just how much went into the research for the book before then crafting a well known figure and creating a history or actual events and slotting him into them. Why that character, was it a challenge and the creative process for pulling all of that together. I can honestly say I have never read a book like it, if you know of Crowley I would love to hear your thoughts on the book and if like me this is your first introduction to him what did you think?
Pages - 400
Publisher - Unbound
Source - Review Copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Aleister Crowley, also known as the Great Beast, is one of the most reviled men in history. Satanist, cult leader, debauched novelist and poet, his legacy has been harshly contested for decades.
Crowley supposedly died in 1947, but in Ian Thornton's new novel, set in the present day, the Great Beast is alive and well and living in Shangri-la. Now over 130 years old, thanks to the magical air of his mystical location, he looks back on his life and decides it is time to set the record straight.
For Crowley was not the evil man he is often portrayed as. This was just a cover to hide his real mission, to save the twentieth century from destroying itself and to set humanity on the road to freedom and liberty.
The Death and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is an epic novel that will make you see this notorious figure in a completely new light, as he encounters an impressive cast of real-life characters including Timothy Leary, The Beatles, Princess Margaret, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock.
My Review
I had never heard of Aleister Crowley before reading this book, a man refered to as "Beast" by his own mother and reveled in being called "Great Beast" as his notoriety grew. He denounced his religious background and started up his own "religion" encouraging people to do what they want basically. He was interested in the occult, satanism and widely documented his insatiable appetite for enjoying all the pleasures and perversions the human body can offer.
So, it was more than an eye opener when I started reading this, told from Aleister as being the narrator he tells the reader, warts and all, his life and journeys. Exposure to sexual acts as a young child by adults in his care, bestiality in rituals, drugs, alcohol pretty much anything and everything. I had to keep putting the book down to goggle him and see if this stuff was true, it was. He made a name for himself, his exploits, he was featured on the band "The Beatles" album cover. There is no denying he lead an eyebrow raising life to put it politely. Some of the exploits I felt I needed to wash my eyes and brain in holy water after reading!
Whilst the book doesn't go into masses of details for the debauchery there is plenty for you to know exactly what he is talking about. Some of his poems, featured, include bodily fluids, this is not a book for the faint hearted or easily offended. That said it makes for interesting reading, the guy was rumoured to be a spy. What Thornton has done is taken well known historical events and woven them into Crowley claiming to have influenced, averted or been present when X event happened.
My history knowledge is terrible so I would put the book down to read up on X assassination or X war to get the documented events on what happened then read on to how Thornton placed Crowley in among it. It is an interesting, colourful (blue) and shocking read, sexual exploits that will shock you (unless you already know his history). I would love to have a Q&A with the author as I can't even imagine just how much went into the research for the book before then crafting a well known figure and creating a history or actual events and slotting him into them. Why that character, was it a challenge and the creative process for pulling all of that together. I can honestly say I have never read a book like it, if you know of Crowley I would love to hear your thoughts on the book and if like me this is your first introduction to him what did you think?
December 23, 2019
Within a few pages of starting this I was bored .Ploughed on for a few more chapters but rapidly lost the will to live. Not often I abandon a book but I was relieved to give up on this one. One of those not for me books.
did-not-finish
August 14, 2019DNF @ 6%
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
So, I read an excerpt of this before I picked it up, and I thought I was going to love it. Aleister Crowley in Shangri La planning one final venture back into the world on a sort of planet-saving mission. Cool. I'm all for antiheroes. Definitely gave me some Kingsman sort of vibes, potentially, with the whole operating in secret to save everybody and you're welcome.
What it actually ended up being was more of a fictional autobiography by Aleister Crowley. I try, I really do, to get to at least 15 - 20% of a book before I DNF it, to give it a fair shake, but I just couldn't make it with this. The narration was dry and straightforward without much character or personality. The part I read is a pretty straightforward retelling of his childhood, with a pretty heavy emphasis on Christianity, including many, many quotes from Bible verses. That's really just not my thing, personally.
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
So, I read an excerpt of this before I picked it up, and I thought I was going to love it. Aleister Crowley in Shangri La planning one final venture back into the world on a sort of planet-saving mission. Cool. I'm all for antiheroes. Definitely gave me some Kingsman sort of vibes, potentially, with the whole operating in secret to save everybody and you're welcome.
What it actually ended up being was more of a fictional autobiography by Aleister Crowley. I try, I really do, to get to at least 15 - 20% of a book before I DNF it, to give it a fair shake, but I just couldn't make it with this. The narration was dry and straightforward without much character or personality. The part I read is a pretty straightforward retelling of his childhood, with a pretty heavy emphasis on Christianity, including many, many quotes from Bible verses. That's really just not my thing, personally.
June 6, 2019
Now, I’ve heard and read a bit about Aleister Crowley over the years, but it was hard to distinguish fact from fiction at times.
I have an interest in the paranormal, and the darker side. I just find the whole thing fascinating. Which brings me nicely onto this book. This book IS fascinating.
Again I have the task of deciphering the fact from the fiction. But whatever way you look at, there’s no doubt this is one hell of a read!
I love the descriptive prowess of the author here, giving us, the reader such vividly painted picture of what was happening during his time.
All in all this book is fab! What else can I say? Except read it. Whoever you are, just read it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I have an interest in the paranormal, and the darker side. I just find the whole thing fascinating. Which brings me nicely onto this book. This book IS fascinating.
Again I have the task of deciphering the fact from the fiction. But whatever way you look at, there’s no doubt this is one hell of a read!
I love the descriptive prowess of the author here, giving us, the reader such vividly painted picture of what was happening during his time.
All in all this book is fab! What else can I say? Except read it. Whoever you are, just read it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
July 2, 2019
**I was provided an electronic ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I don't know what I expected of this book, but this distinctly was not it. I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis and was expecting historical fantasy.
Instead, what I received was a pseudo-autobiographical account of Aleister Crowley as he grew up and his experiences with religion. Not only was the text burdened by a blended first person present/first person past/first person flashback sort of storytelling, but Crowley as written here was neither an accessible nor interesting narrator. I was borderline starting a tally for how many times he mentioned his fleshy neck or fat ankles. His tone was distinctly holier-than-thou, uppity, and uncomfortable to read. I caught myself forcing myself continuing to forward in the attempt to give the novel a chance, but was taken out of the reading experience by the interspersed Bible or other such religious verses. I found myself cringing at the manner in which Crowley continually described his family members. Ultimately, I think that, for me, the book would have simply been better served by a third person perspective.
I understand why the religious items and family relations were important to Crowley's growth as a person, but the manner of delivery did nothing to either endear the audience to him or build the audience's investment in him as a person. The footnotes were unnecessary and did not add to the narrative.
If the author intended on a speculative biography of Crowley, then perhaps that is the format this book ought to have taken.
I have read other books on Crowley or featuring him. I do have great interest in the occult, its many formats, its origins, etc.. The author does seem very well researched on Crowley, his life, history, and conspiracy theories surrounding him. However, this was neither the book nor the format for me.
I did DNF this book at 25%. But I hope that this review is helpful for people to determine why I decided on the rating that I did.
I don't know what I expected of this book, but this distinctly was not it. I was drawn in by the cover and the synopsis and was expecting historical fantasy.
Instead, what I received was a pseudo-autobiographical account of Aleister Crowley as he grew up and his experiences with religion. Not only was the text burdened by a blended first person present/first person past/first person flashback sort of storytelling, but Crowley as written here was neither an accessible nor interesting narrator. I was borderline starting a tally for how many times he mentioned his fleshy neck or fat ankles. His tone was distinctly holier-than-thou, uppity, and uncomfortable to read. I caught myself forcing myself continuing to forward in the attempt to give the novel a chance, but was taken out of the reading experience by the interspersed Bible or other such religious verses. I found myself cringing at the manner in which Crowley continually described his family members. Ultimately, I think that, for me, the book would have simply been better served by a third person perspective.
I understand why the religious items and family relations were important to Crowley's growth as a person, but the manner of delivery did nothing to either endear the audience to him or build the audience's investment in him as a person. The footnotes were unnecessary and did not add to the narrative.
If the author intended on a speculative biography of Crowley, then perhaps that is the format this book ought to have taken.
I have read other books on Crowley or featuring him. I do have great interest in the occult, its many formats, its origins, etc.. The author does seem very well researched on Crowley, his life, history, and conspiracy theories surrounding him. However, this was neither the book nor the format for me.
I did DNF this book at 25%. But I hope that this review is helpful for people to determine why I decided on the rating that I did.
September 12, 2019
Going in to this novel, I was super excited because its an alternative retelling of the adventures of Aleister Crowley aka The Devil. The cover had sucked me in with it gorgeous script and beautiful border. It was however not exactly not what i thought it would be.
So this wasnt inherently bad, nor was it fantastically good, it just kind of sits in that middle ground of average existence. In the first chapters, Crowley is well, an intolerable jerk for wont of a better phrase. He's just not good people. I understand he is the embodiment of Lucifer but at least he could have had a personality above 'holier than thou to everyone he meets' Once I got past Part One, he seemed to be a better person and I quite enjoyed parts of his tale.
I appreciate how much research had to have gone into the composition of this novel because as far as i can tell, a vast majority of his tales are rather historically accurate. My main peeve with the entire thing was the apparent lack of an ability to write in sensible length paragraphs. Some were extremely while the majority were longwinded and unnecessary.
The narrative, as i have previously said, was mainly based in fact and a enjoyed it for the most part. It just felt like there was something a little bit off in my opinion. Definitely worth a read for those who love alternate retellings and have an interest in the occult
I received an advance reading copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher. The views within are my own and have not been influenced by the publisher or it's affiliates
So this wasnt inherently bad, nor was it fantastically good, it just kind of sits in that middle ground of average existence. In the first chapters, Crowley is well, an intolerable jerk for wont of a better phrase. He's just not good people. I understand he is the embodiment of Lucifer but at least he could have had a personality above 'holier than thou to everyone he meets' Once I got past Part One, he seemed to be a better person and I quite enjoyed parts of his tale.
I appreciate how much research had to have gone into the composition of this novel because as far as i can tell, a vast majority of his tales are rather historically accurate. My main peeve with the entire thing was the apparent lack of an ability to write in sensible length paragraphs. Some were extremely while the majority were longwinded and unnecessary.
The narrative, as i have previously said, was mainly based in fact and a enjoyed it for the most part. It just felt like there was something a little bit off in my opinion. Definitely worth a read for those who love alternate retellings and have an interest in the occult
I received an advance reading copy of this novel from Netgalley and the publisher. The views within are my own and have not been influenced by the publisher or it's affiliates
December 4, 2019
I tend to enjoy reading about controversial historical figures and have a slight and morbid fascination with Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson and Lizzie Borden. So when I saw this book, I was immediately intrigued. Also, I will admit that the synopsis roped me in with the mention of famous real-life pop cultural figures. And if you like books with flawed characters who could be lumped into a somewhat broad anti-hero category, then this book might be for you.
Crowley isn't the most likable character yet he is definitely interesting. His sarcastic edge in the novel is also something you're either going to love or hate. Yet I found this book to be a very interesting take on a character who has been either glamorized or slandered throughout history depending on the forum. While I found the book quite interesting, at times the writing style rambled on a little too much for my taste so just be aware of that if it is something you decide to pick up.
If this is a subject that interests you, whether because of the historical nature or morbid curiosity, give it a try. The author has put a new spin on Crowley and his backstory and I am curious to see what Thornton writes about in the future.
Crowley isn't the most likable character yet he is definitely interesting. His sarcastic edge in the novel is also something you're either going to love or hate. Yet I found this book to be a very interesting take on a character who has been either glamorized or slandered throughout history depending on the forum. While I found the book quite interesting, at times the writing style rambled on a little too much for my taste so just be aware of that if it is something you decide to pick up.
If this is a subject that interests you, whether because of the historical nature or morbid curiosity, give it a try. The author has put a new spin on Crowley and his backstory and I am curious to see what Thornton writes about in the future.
July 2, 2019
This book was an interesting mix of history and fiction. I found myself multiple time having to remember this is fiction. It was a nice theory that has been mumbled about for ages that he was actually a spy. It is almost a seamless story weaving figures and events from the span that the story covers. His assorted loves felt organic. Same with the losses he faced. The relationship with his children feels a little less so. One seems sudden, the other, strained to almost the end; then its just awkward, and out of character for both. In the end, it is a fantastic story about a figurehead of the time that was consistently shrouded. A conspiracist dream. At the core, this Crowley tried to do the right thing, even in the worst situations. He indulged often, and too much, but owned the weakness, all of them actually, in his character one hundred percent. Like the real man, this one was greatly flawed, and unabashedly doesn't care. If you want an enjoyable read, you can get lost in, I would recommend this for an excursion from reality. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
August 25, 2019
This was definitely a peculiar read.
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley revolves around a parallel universe where said occultist never actually died, but staged his own death and moved away from home. Now over 100 years old, he looks back on his life, setting the record straight for the readers.
The book had a very bumpy flow, using sentence structure that was hard to follow. It felt like the character wasn't actually narrating, but instead gave out a prepared, 'robotized' speech. The whole thing was very disheartening, made me disinterested, and made the story very hard to follow. The plot was also lacking in emotion and action.
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley revolves around a parallel universe where said occultist never actually died, but staged his own death and moved away from home. Now over 100 years old, he looks back on his life, setting the record straight for the readers.
The book had a very bumpy flow, using sentence structure that was hard to follow. It felt like the character wasn't actually narrating, but instead gave out a prepared, 'robotized' speech. The whole thing was very disheartening, made me disinterested, and made the story very hard to follow. The plot was also lacking in emotion and action.
July 5, 2019
This is a fictionalized account of Aleister Crowley and his life. I loved this book, being familiar with Crowley I was excited to read this. I like that it was told from his point of view and was his attempt to straighten out what people think they know, while also not really caring at the same time, in true Crowley fashion. I highly enjoyed this book, although I do wish there had been more about his magick.
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
Read
August 5, 2019This is a fictionalised Aleister Crowley autobiography, that sets up our once-styled ‘Wickedest Man in The World’ as still alive and well in our modern times. Our occultist is contemplating one last job, and he doesn’t think he’ll live much beyond that once he leaves the restorative air of Shangri La, where he has been living out the better part of both the last and current century.
The book starts in childhood, follows Aleister Crowley to Cambridge and then through his rumoured career as a British double agent, touches lightly on the occult stuff and his writing. You meet a few of his lovers, hear about his drug use, and, thankfully, do hardly any mountaineering. The author has captured what I imagine is Crowley’s voice in this long, meandering tale, which is not without skill, but Crowley was an ugly, disagreeable, pompous cunt, in real life (from what I can tell) and in this book, making it a miserable read.
There are no real scenes and minimal dialogue, it’s mostly a list of things that happened, according to Crowley. It’s possible the author wanted to present Crowley as a self-serving/unreliable narrator, but there’s no narrative pay-off. For all the crazy, drug-fueled, sex-fiend life Crowley supposedly lived, this book is dry, to a point, and beyond anything I could blame on Crowley being English. The occult parts are tedious, which, to be fair, are tedious in real life. There’s an abundance of characters who add nothing, including two mentor-like characters I kept hoping were a hallucination, but sadly take until the end of the book to die of natural causes. There’s a collection of historical figures dropped in, including poor Winston Churchill, and the Crowley of this book salivates uncomfortably over them. And, again, I can imagine the name dropping as something a self-important, pompous arse would do, but it’s soporific from the get-go.
Anyway, this book is not for me, probably not for you. I’m trying to think who I would recommend it to, but if you are going to read something this dry it may as well be non-fiction, (there are Crowley biographies around), or the man in his own words. There are historical events mentioned, but distorted, so the main plus to this book was me mumbling some like ‘it so fucking didn’t’ and then going down a rabbit hole of research to reassure myself that’s not how things went down in our world.
Finished because I requested an advanced reader copy in return for a review, sorry I couldn’t be kinder.
The book starts in childhood, follows Aleister Crowley to Cambridge and then through his rumoured career as a British double agent, touches lightly on the occult stuff and his writing. You meet a few of his lovers, hear about his drug use, and, thankfully, do hardly any mountaineering. The author has captured what I imagine is Crowley’s voice in this long, meandering tale, which is not without skill, but Crowley was an ugly, disagreeable, pompous cunt, in real life (from what I can tell) and in this book, making it a miserable read.
There are no real scenes and minimal dialogue, it’s mostly a list of things that happened, according to Crowley. It’s possible the author wanted to present Crowley as a self-serving/unreliable narrator, but there’s no narrative pay-off. For all the crazy, drug-fueled, sex-fiend life Crowley supposedly lived, this book is dry, to a point, and beyond anything I could blame on Crowley being English. The occult parts are tedious, which, to be fair, are tedious in real life. There’s an abundance of characters who add nothing, including two mentor-like characters I kept hoping were a hallucination, but sadly take until the end of the book to die of natural causes. There’s a collection of historical figures dropped in, including poor Winston Churchill, and the Crowley of this book salivates uncomfortably over them. And, again, I can imagine the name dropping as something a self-important, pompous arse would do, but it’s soporific from the get-go.
Anyway, this book is not for me, probably not for you. I’m trying to think who I would recommend it to, but if you are going to read something this dry it may as well be non-fiction, (there are Crowley biographies around), or the man in his own words. There are historical events mentioned, but distorted, so the main plus to this book was me mumbling some like ‘it so fucking didn’t’ and then going down a rabbit hole of research to reassure myself that’s not how things went down in our world.
Finished because I requested an advanced reader copy in return for a review, sorry I couldn’t be kinder.
August 15, 2019
This book has come out at the right time with how well good omens did, so people are going to flock to this book thinking it's something to do with that.
But alas it's all about the real Aleister Crowley.
Good book enjoyed reading every moment of it and found it a well thought out and beautiful written book.
This book has sparked my interest in Crowley so will be looking in to him further but all in all a good book and one I may pick up again in the future
But alas it's all about the real Aleister Crowley.
Good book enjoyed reading every moment of it and found it a well thought out and beautiful written book.
This book has sparked my interest in Crowley so will be looking in to him further but all in all a good book and one I may pick up again in the future
August 30, 2019
I really wanted to love this. As an historical figure, Aleister is probably a distant relative so naturally I was intrigued by the premise of this book. However, I had difficulty with the layout of the story, and the history versus the fiction seemed chaotic. Not your typical historical fiction.
Overall, there were sections of the book that were interesting but I could not finish it.
#TheDaethsAndAfterlifeOfAleisterCrowley #NetGalley #Unbound
Overall, there were sections of the book that were interesting but I could not finish it.
#TheDaethsAndAfterlifeOfAleisterCrowley #NetGalley #Unbound
July 4, 2019
i'm in two minds about this book. On one side it was a good fictionalization of Alesteir Crowley life, on the other side the way it was told often grated on my nerves.
I was expecting something more on the fantasy side, I got something else and it was not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I was expecting something more on the fantasy side, I got something else and it was not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
June 30, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. After reading the description I was excited to read this book but I am sorely disappointed. I couldn’t even finish it because the story just annoyed me. Alestair’s narration annoyed me.
July 9, 2019
This is a wacky story written with a witty and fun voice. I spent a lot of time confused by this story but also enjoying it...I'm not sure who I would recommend this one to, but I'm sure that our library will be purchasing this one for our collection.
December 7, 2019
DNF 20%
If you're in the market for a Forrest Gump / Aleister Crowley mashup, then look further ... much much further than this book. It had the potential to be a bloody brilliant madcap tale, and instead it was just soooooo boring.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
If you're in the market for a Forrest Gump / Aleister Crowley mashup, then look further ... much much further than this book. It had the potential to be a bloody brilliant madcap tale, and instead it was just soooooo boring.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
April 12, 2023
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is a very interesting paranormal story where the story is about his life as a cult leader and Satanist. This has been debauched for years. The rumors also are interesting.
The story was very interesting.
The story was very interesting.
June 7, 2019
The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley is a fascinating book. The book brings to light several of the issues Aleister had to face in his life. Well written and interesting.
August 24, 2019
No. Just no.
Read
August 25, 2019DNF. I gave it my best shot but I knew very quickly that I wasn't going to connect with this book.
June 4, 2025
Self Indulgent
An example of the unreliable narrator. A story so flawed that left one question unanswered, Why did I finish it?
An example of the unreliable narrator. A story so flawed that left one question unanswered, Why did I finish it?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews