Just finished "Lightborne" by Hesse Phillips and it’s a stunner! Dive into the thrilling last days of Christopher Marlowe, the Elizabethan playwright and spy, who navigates a perilous world of political intrigue, forbidden queer love, and betrayal. Set in plague-stricken London, Marlowe's genius and vulnerability are masterfully portrayed. With a rich, atmospheric backdrop and a heart-pounding political narrative, this debut novel captures the tension and danger of the era. A must-read for fans of historical queer fiction and literary mysteries!

Thought provoking historical queer fiction at its finest.

Note: for me, I think this was the right book at the wrong time. The setting, the underbelly of Elizabethan England and the twists and turns felt like this book would have made for an incredible autumnal read as the nights get longer and cooler.

Lightborne reimagines the end of Kit Marlowe’s life and the loves and betrayals that littered this period of time. It was an interesting take on a story and character we know about but don’t ever hear too much of. I would recommend this read for later in the year and am interested to see what Phillips releases next.

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.

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

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!