interesting thriller/romance/theft set in middle ages monasteries with some gorgeous vibes. would recommend a lot

In 1087 a serious illness has swept through the town of Bari. A monk named Nicephorous who has been holed up inside Saint Benedict’s has a dream in which he is visited by Saint Nicholas, which he interprets to mean that the monks should leave their isolation to minister aid to the town’s suffering. While doing so he chances upon a dashing relic hunter from abroad named Tyun and his sidekick, a dog-headed man called Reprobus.

Back behind the walls of the monastery, Nicephorous’ Abbot begins to believe that he was mistaken about the meaning of the dream, and that in fact the Saint was pleading to have his body removed from its current resting place in Lycia and brought to Bari. It is said that Nicholas’ corpse produces a medicinal ooze with the potential to cure the town’s sick, which would obviously be of much use if true. Nicephorous is unsure and even begins to doubt that his dream was anything more than that, but the Abbot grows more convinced of his interpretation, eventually raising the matter with the Duke. Expecting that housing the body of a Saint will boost the town’s reputation, he quickly accedes and hires Tyun and Reprobus to lead the expedition. To ensure the duo don’t scam him, the Duke also decides to send Nicephorous, both because it was his dream that launched the quest and because he is known to be incapable of telling a lie, meaning that if he says they have returned Saint Nicholas’ corpse, then it must be so.

The trio set sail for Lycia in a quest to steal the corpse of Saint Nicholas, accompanied by a representative of the Duke and several soldiers,. As to be expected, they meet many obstacles as they (and we) learn who can and can’t be trusted, and during the downtime they reveal bits of their lives that help us better understand them. Nicephorous’ initial naïveté makes him slightly annoying at first, but as he and Tyun grow closer to each other and he begins to better understand the way the world works he endears himself to the reader. Their contrasting personalities make them a real treat to journey with and leaves one hoping for further adventures with the pair.

Surprisingly, the story is heavily based on actual events, pulled largely from accounts of the theft written by John the Archdeacon and the real Nicephorus himself. The only fantastical element would be the presence of the dog-headed man, and they are actually referred to quite heavily in various works from medieval times, even if they ultimately turned out to be fictional.

Nicked is a great deal of fun to read, regardless of what percentage of it is fully accurate, and given the book’s slim size it’s a challenge not to tear through in one sitting. Anderson writes in a style reminiscent of a fable that is a joy to read and scatters quotable lines throughout. Brief tales of Nicholas’ road to Sainthood are also interspersed between chapters, adding additional interest. Anyone looking for a ripping yarn that is authentic, touching, witty, memorable, and irresistibly entertaining would do well to give this a read.

This book was both clever and witty. The narration felt a bit stilted but the story kept me engaged and I loved the characters

This novel was adoringly witty and immersive. The narration felt a bit disjointed at times, but I stayed for the thrilling and fast-paced story.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Oddly enough, I recently found an account of this heist in a footnote and said how much I’d love to read a book based on the incident! Anderson did not disappoint.

The town of Bari has a pox. When the monks go on a prayer binge begging for help from Saint Nicholas, one of them has a dream of the holy man. Brother Nicephorus is startled when his dream suddenly becomes the reason for a holy quest—one that he suspects is driven by more than piety. This leads to a romping adventure and romance as relic hunters and Church representatives race by boat toward Lycia to pilfer the Saint’s bones and bring them to Bari.

My favorite part of this book was the humor, followed closely by the gorgeous and exacting vocabulary for the architecture and medieval objects. I re-read the first half just so I could laugh some more. ("Think, Benedictine. I am a dog-headed man on a ship marked with the urine of thirty friends." I legit laugh out loud at this *every* time I read it. See also: the encounter with the stylite.) I loved these sly, conversational jokes, as well as how this lent to a deepening of the characters and their interplay. For those inclined, there’s a warren of words to explore.

The swift, confident rhythm of the narrative pulls the reader along and into the fray. The absurdity, not just of the quest itself, but of each escalating encounter and quirky character, gives the story a modern aesthetic—reminiscent of a cable dramedy. The balance is kept taut throughout by the reader’s deepening empathy for the people and the mystery of Saint Nicholas himself.

The theme of finding your own truths and joys in a world working hard to steal them from you made for a heartfelt and satisfying ending, once again with a laugh just to make sure you’re paying attention. An excellent, cozy, comforting read that I will revisit again and again. Bonus points for queer rep.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon books for a free copy of his e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I waited until fall started because I felt it was more appropriate. I tried starting this 4 times and I think it was just too over my head. Not pretentious but just so complicated in its dragging paragraphs that I lost the point often. I can’t tell if it’s a me issue (might be) or if this needed to have some things cut.

This book is fabulous. I love the (slightly ridiculous) premise and how it, and religion as a whole, is treated with reverence, seriousness, and humour. The whole book has the same air as a Monthy Python sketch, and I adore it.

3.5 stars rounded up!

This was a super unique book and I appreciated all the work and research the author put into understanding this true story while also putting his spin on it.

It gave me National Treasure/Da Vinci Code vibes full of adventure, hijinks and friendship. Wasn’t a total fave but I think if you get it you get it and you’ll enjoy it.

This was *really* not for me. It didn't hold my interest, and the tone was really confusing to me. It may be a good read for others.

3.25

Thank you NetGalley, Pantheon, and M. T. Anderson for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thoughts:

After reading the blurb and receiving this arc, I had no idea what I was in for, and after finishing this, I am still tongue tied for words honestly. This read was truly ludicrous, but in the best way. I loved the style it was written in; however, even with the adventure and constant ridiculousness (coming mainly from Tyun), I found it slow at times with some pacing issues for me. Additionally, the ending/wrap-up wasn’t my favorite, but that could be because I wanted more. Overall, this was quirky, daring, and fun! I love seeing history not be taken so seriously, and I am craving more historical fiction done this way now!

Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:

E-Book

Pace:

Slow to Medium

Cover thoughts:

Perfect for the book!!

Triggers:

Violence, Death, Murder, Injury, Slavery, Abuse, Swearing, Religious Bigotry, Racism, Pandemic, etc.

This was fun and absurd and I love a good story about relics. It was very much written for nerdy ex-Catholics or something. What a hoot.

M.T. Anderson is a genius at embracing the bizarre, and Nicked is a prime example of his unique flair. This book is an utterly strange and delightfully funny romp through medieval history with a priest, a thief, and a dog-man on a quest to pilfer the bones of a saint. The passages of unexpected beauty contrasted wonderfully with the book's inherent silliness, making for a compelling read. While the religious and historical nuances might not appeal to everyone, the adventure and wit are captivating enough to keep you hooked. It's a quirky gem that proves Anderson's talent for blending the humorous with the profound.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy for review in exchange for an honest review.

This is a difficult one for me to review. I have to give the book credit and mention that the synopsis isn't something that I typically read. It's going to be hard for me to review this fairly because it's so out of my wheelhouse. People who would like this are those who know a lot about the bible and history particularly when Christianity was at it's height. I have started getting more into historical novels, however this one just was not exciting enough for me in the first 30 percent. It really dragged and I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. The writing is fine, it's very dense and at times feels like creative non-fiction which I do typically enjoy. I think for someone to like this, they should read the synopsis carefully and make sure they are very interested in the topics, it's not a good entry into this sort of "thing."

I've loved Anderson's previous work and having the main pairing be a queer couple was just the cherry on top! I wish we had more time with the characters.

Sadly, this did not work for me. The flippant tone couldn't seem to find its feet with the historical settings, and I found it really jarring.

MT Anderson is a legend for a reason and his adult debut will remind readers of a zanier, queerer Octavian Nothing.

I haven't read M.T. Anderson since I was a teenager, so when I saw they were coming out with something new, I jumped at the chance to read it - and I was not disappointed! I loved this so much, it had such a fun sort of silly/serious/old-timey vibe! Setting a story in medieval times and then introducing LGBTQ+ themes is something we unfortunately don't get to see too much of, and I think it was really well-done here. This has a bit of everything - adventure, creepiness, fun, danger, shenanigans & antics! I did have some difficulty separating characters very early on, but that got better as I went. So fun.

I want to live in this world for an entire extended universe. Funny, dark, dorky, this Dark Ages romp really hit the spot for me. Catholics are wild. Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Nicked
by M. T. Anderson
Pub Date: Jul 23 2024
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The year is 1087, and a pox is sweeping through the Italian city of Bari. When a lowly monk is visited by Saint Nicholas in his dreams, he interprets the vision as a call to serve the sick. But his superiors, and the power brokers they serve, have different plans for the tender-hearted Brother Nicephorus.

Enter Tyun, a charismatic treasure hunter renowned for “liberating” holy relics from their tombs. The seven-hundred-year-old bones of Saint Nicholas are rumored to weep a mysterious liquid that can heal the sick, Tyun says. For the humble price of a small fortune, he will steal the bones and deliver them to Bari, curing the plague and restoring glory to the fallen city. And Nicephorus, the “dreamer,” will be his guide.

What follows is a heist for the ages, as Nicephorus is swept away on strange tides, and alongside even stranger bedfellows, to commit sacrilegious theft. Based on real historical accounts, Nicked is a swashbuckling saga, a medieval novel noir, a meditation on the miraculous, and a monastic meet-cute, filled with wide-eyed wonder at the world that awaits beyond our own borders.