A really atmospheric read brimming with mystery, well developed characters and excellent story telling. A pleasure to read

Personally, this book really didn't work for me. As other reviewers have mentioned, the writing is very skilled at creating the pompous voice of Lilly, the astrologer. The narration very much feels like a 16th-century text, and unfortunately, this meant I found it extremely dull to read, and really had to work to pay attention to it. I think it's a very well-written book, but it is not very accessible to a modern reader - those well-versed in the history and language of the period should adore it, but my knowledge was inadequate to the task of keeping up with it.

I usually love historical fiction, but I feel that it still needs to be paced to suit a modern audience, and I'm afraid that Master Lilly didn't draw me into the world of 16th-century astrology.

Master Lilly is an astrologer who also dabbles in the occult. In London in the 1640s the former is acceptable but the latter is a death warrant as both Royalists and Puritans seek out witchcraft. Lilly is a favoured astrologer whose dealings with prominent people on both sides mean that he has knowledge that could be valuable but also dangerous and Lilly is learning to balance both sides. However when he falls in love with a troubled noblewoman Lilly discovers that the predictions he reads in the stars can be more trouble than he wants to know.
It was not until I reached the end of this book and read the author's notes that I realised that William Lilly was actually a real-life character who had a certain degree of fame as an astrologer. So captivating was Learner's prose that I assumed the tale was of a fictional character. Of course the plot and detail are fictional but by marrying the fantastical and bedding it into a well-researched tale of the antecedents of the Civil War Learner has created something special.

Solid entertaining take on historical fiction. Somewhat rambling in places and could have done with some tightening of pace/.

William Lilly tells his story in a distinctive narrative voice giving the reader privileged access to many of the pivotal events of the English Civil War. Lilly comes across as slightly pompous, a little arrogant but also with an engaging sense of humour, often expressed in the form of disparaging remarks about fellow astrologers and clients or cheeky asides directed at the reader. ‘At which Tobias collapsed in a chair and began fanning himself with a much-valued volume of Tycho Brahe’s astrological observations. I carefully removed the volume and replaced it with an Nativity of a minor client of no consequence.’

As Lilly’s reputation increases, and despite remarking at one point on ‘humility being one of the conduits to success’, he’s not averse to proudly boasting that ‘…the accuracy of my prediction hath made me, by my own humble reckoning, the most famed Astrologer in the land’.

The reader observes Lilly as he sees clients (or ‘querents’) seeking the benefit of his astrological skills to provide solutions to everything from the location of missing items, the paternity of children, the likelihood of misadventure on the high seas, to the fate of nations.

A chance encounter sees Lilly succumb to the temptations of the flesh, described in intimate detail with no blushes spared. (The author also writes erotic fiction.) In fact, Lilly doesn’t try to resist temptation too hard (pardon the pun) and his dalliance provides him with a vital contact within the Royalist cause as well as, it seems, a soul mate and a welcome distraction from a loveless marriage. Trying to keep a foot in both camps, as it were, by making himself useful to both the Royalists and the Puritans brings him into dangerously close contact with notorious figures such as Matthew Hopkins, the Witch-Finder General, running the risk of denunciation and arrest.

At just under 500 pages (hence the book’s description as ‘an epic telling of the role of magic in the English Civil War’), I confess I found the book a little slow at times. I’ll admit to skimming some of the lengthier and more detailed descriptions of Lilly’s procedures for drawing up his predictions as the book went on. However, I admired the author’s creation of a distinctive narrative voice and the obviously detailed research undertaken into the events of the English Civil War (although, the author does admit to inventing one of the key characters in the book – Lilly’s love interest).

Readers like me interested more in the historical subject matter of the novel may find there is too much of the astrological and occult. Conversely, readers interested in the life of a renowned astrologer (who, I confess, I had never heard of before coming across this book) may find they become too bogged down in historical detail. The Magick of Master Lilly is full of interesting historical detail and colourful characters but I didn’t love it quite as much as I expected.

Although I have read a lot of books set in 17th century England, I can’t remember ever reading anything about the astrologer William Lilly so I was immediately intrigued by the title and premise of Tobsha Learner’s new novel which promised to bring Lilly’s story to life.

We first meet Master Lilly in 1641, living quietly in the Surrey countryside after finding himself out of favour with Parliament. Even in exile, though, he is still famous for his knowledge of the occult and his skill at reading fortunes, and it’s not long before he is summoned back to London to draw up an horary (a form of horoscope) for Charles I. As Master Lilly looks to the future to discover what fate has in store for his King and his country, he sees only war, fire and plague on the horizon. He and his fellow ‘Cunning Folk’ will need to use all the magical powers they possess if they are to avert disaster – but is it really possible to change what is written in the stars? Master Lilly thinks it is:

"We are all born with our Fates written like maps across the cosmos, but our faith and humanity give us choice. This is what I, William Lilly, believe: the Stars incline, they do not compel, and it is up to us mortals to know when to play our hand and when to fold."

The Magick of Master Lilly had the potential to be a good book, and in some ways it was. As I’ve said, I knew nothing about William Lilly before I started reading, so it was nice to be introduced to him and to learn about his life and work (the author includes some notes at the end to give some indication of what is based on fact and what isn’t). Whether you believe that some people can really see into the future or not, it seems that Lilly, among his other achievements, quite accurately predicted the Great Fire of London. He is also a healer and herbalist, and a writer of astrological texts and almanacs, although his day to day work, as he explains in the first chapter of the novel, consists mainly of “horaries, Natal figures, seduction of reluctant lovers, the finding of lost things, and the location of errant husbands”.

Lilly is not always the most likeable of characters, particularly where his relationship with his wife, Jane, is concerned, but despite this his narration is warm and lively, pulling us into his story. The tone of the novel reminded me of Rose Tremain’s Restoration and Anna-Marie Crowhurst’s The Illumination of Ursula Flight. I could have done without the long, in-depth descriptions of every horoscope Lilly casts, though! I found myself skimming through those sections as I was much more interested in Lilly himself – his interactions with people at court; his meetings with other magicians; his romance with the (fictional) Magdalene de Morisset – than in the intricate details of his work.

My biggest problem with this book was the language. I’m usually the first to complain when the language used in historical fiction is too modern, but sometimes when the author attempts to write in a style appropriate to the period it can be just as distracting and I felt that was the case here. The word ‘hath’, for example, was used in place of ‘have’, but not consistently and not always when it made grammatical sense within the sentence. Modern words and phrases are used alongside the archaic ones, which just felt wrong to me. Also, Lilly often talks about his wife being a Quaker, a term which wasn’t used until the end of the English Civil War.

Just little things, but there were a lot of them, and they meant that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I’d hoped to. Still, I was pleased to make Master Lilly’s acquaintance. I do love reading about this period of history and with appearances from characters such as the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and the female painter Artemisia Gentileschi, this was still an interesting read at times.

The Magick of Master Lilly is a historical thriller with different facets that will be enjoyable to readers of a wide variety of genres such as fantasy, politics, history etc. It is gripping, enthralling and easy to read.

Two things first before you continue with this review:-

I’m a little confused by the publishing date and publisher. Goodreads tells me this was published by Sphere on the 7th June 2018 but I requested this from Netgalley from Little Brown Book Group (which may possibly be affiliated with Sphere) with a release date of 1st November 2018. I don’t understand but I may be missing something.
It is a ‘Did Not Finish’ and so my review is based on what I read and not the entire book. I managed to get about 30% of the way through before I sadly bowed out.
The reason’s why I requested ‘The Magick of Master Lilly’ are threefold; I enjoy historical fiction and I especially enjoy historical fiction when there are speculations as to how/ why events occurred (in this case elements of magic and mysticism), I like stories about political intrigue and court scheming and I’m fascinated by the strength of belief that people had in the past that the stars influenced or predicted events and behaviour.

The Magick of Master Lilly combined all those elements and so I found myself interested.

I didn’t know much (read: nothing) of the real William Lilly but a little research told me that he was a particularly astute astrologer who got involved with politics and who predicted The Great Fire of London to scary degrees of accuracy that it was suggested he started it. He didn’t, by the way.

Other reviews I have read have said similar things along the line as this:-

It’s slow to get started but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded.

The problem I have is that I am impatient. I don’t have a lot of time in my life, being one of those modern busy gals and all, and so for me I need a book to get into the events quite quickly. It doesn’t need to rush to it because I can take a build up, but I need it to move a bit quicker than the pace this was setting.

About 30% of the way in and for me, nothing was happening. Master Lilly had reached London and was told that he would need to the plot the astrological chart of King Charles the 1st. When I left him, he was in his study doing so.

That was one of the main reasons for my DNF – I felt that the pacing was too slow. The other reason why this 30% felt too slow in terms of pacing and why it felt nothing was happening was because of the excessive exposition.

I was getting an information dump as to William Lilly’s life before the events of this story, even when it didn’t seem to bear much relevance to the plot. Yes, he was interested in astrology but I don’t need to know how it was financed. Yes, he is an astrologer and so needs to demonstrate this to us (the show not tell) but unfortunately this was shown in more detail than it probably needed to be.

Demonstrating his knowledge worked best when William would refer to certain traits in passing, to paraphrase: ‘my wife is stingy and I would have known this had I paid attention to the fact that her moon was in Venus’ or some-such. But we get a lot of detailed astrological plotting and I felt like it was to show that the author had done their research.

The other main reason I DNF’d is actually one of the stories strengths. Bear with me.

Voice is so hard to do in stories and I think it takes a real skill. It’s easier to get across sometimes in first person point of view (which this book is) but it either works or doesn’t.

The Magick of Master Lilly succeeds in voice. William Lilly’s voice is strong and clear and you should be able to gauge this even from the opening lines. The writer has done well at creating a unique voice for her character, she has also written in a way that dilutes modern speech and has aimed for the language used in the 1600’s. As a technique, this is great. This is skill.

If you like the voice and the language here then this book will immediately be more enjoyable for you. If you don’t, then it won’t. Unfortunately I didn’t like William or his voice and I struggled with the time appropriate language as I didn’t find it the easiest to read.

Ultimately it’s personal taste at the end of the day, and sadly this wasn’t for me but I will use this book as an example of how to create a distinctive character voice and the author must be praised for that.

I so wanted to love this book and there was a lot that was great, but the things that niggled me at the beginning just outright annoyed me at the end. If you use the language of the time, you really have to be consistent with it and well versed in it, it was not the case and it just became jarring. The characters never really came alive for me and all the astrology details were just a bit much. It falls into the category of much attempted, less would have been more.

As a concept this book had promise, sadly it did not deliver. The book follows William Lilly, an astrologer and ceremonial magician. The book opens just before the English civil war with Mr Lilly being consulted on matters of high politics.

The author has chosen to try to use the language of the mid seventeenth century, without being acquainted with its usage. The result is a jarring cacophony of pseudo historic and modern English. Had they stuck to modern English nothing would have been lost and the story clearer.

A number of historic facts have been included which are inaccurate or just wrong. For example Marie de Medici did visit England but four years earlier than the novel, Quaker as a term was first recorded in 1650 at the trial of the founder ... and so forth.

I really wanted to like this book but the poor writing style, wooden characters and a lack of basic fact checking was very disappointing. It's only the interesting concept that has merited 2 stars.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK, Sphere and the author, Tobsha Learner, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Magick Of Master Lilly in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and written. It was atmospheric in detail and drew me in from the start. I enjoyed this book immensely.
Definitely well worth a read.

'London is now a wasp's nest of spies, and no-one dare even fart for fear of being reported'

Learner has pulled off a fabulous act of ventriloquism here, using the syntax and cadences of the seventeenth century while keeping things readable for a modern audience: it's a shame though that Master Lilly is so garrulous, not least when discussing the full horoscopes of so many characters, that plot momentum frequently stalls and I found boredom setting in. Overall, this offers a vision of Charles I's court from the 1640s foretelling plague, the Civil Wars and the eventual fate of the king, but doing this via a narrative infused with 'magick' from astrology to the controlling of angels and demons. Real people like John Dee, Artemisia, and Matthew Hopkins rub shoulders with rambunctious characters like Lilley's landlady. So much potential here but less would have been more.

<blockquote>... alas the interpretation he did choose to believe was from a French Catholic Priest (of the Queen’s staff) who did convince him the Angel was in fact a Demon sent by evil Protestant forces to sway him from his true path. And thus the King decided to ignore the warning. [loc. 2462]</blockquote>

A promising premise -- the career of William Lilly, astrologer to King Charles I -- but this novel is badly in need of an editor. I received an advance copy from NetGalley (in exchange for this honest review) and hoped that the issues I noted would be corrected before publication, but a quick check of the sample chapters on Amazon, and the <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=K_F_DQAAQBAJ">e-text on Google Books</a>, dashed my hopes.

I can forgive the archaisms ('I did love it' instead of 'I loved it', 'it were' rather than 'it was'). The plethora of words used wrongly, whether typos or something else, really bothered me. Ships have 'tall masks'; Charles I is 'short of statue'; Lilly wishes to introduce some 'brevity', but his mistress does not smile ... Sometimes turns of phrase become nonsensical; for 'has not gone amiss' read 'has not been missed' ...

I could go on. And I feel mean and curmudgeonly for picking apart the words and ignoring the story: but it's hard to judge a novel when the act of reading it is fraught with constant small annoyances. (Do not start me on anachronisms. Tattoo! Silhouette! Dachshund!)

Lilly's gift is not only to read the future in the stars (he did, in fact, predict the Great Fire with remarkable accuracy) but 'to manipulate outcomes, not just predict them'. He is engaged to read the King's horoscope, and to exorcise a young girl possessed by a demon -- I admire his handling of the latter case. He's certainly adept at politicking -- both in the mundane world, and in the rarified company of the Grand Council of Theurgy.

But his attitude to his wife (they do not love one another) is despicable, and his treatment of his mistress towards the end of the novel infuriating. I would have liked to warm towards Master Lilly, but despite the very real physical and psychic dangers he endures, I didn't really have a sense of him as a vulnerable, troubled human being.

The Magick of Master Lilly will have widespread appeal as it covers many genres including historical fiction, magic, astrology, politics, the plague, civil war, and a little love interest to boot. It also brings to life renowned real life astrologer and magician William Lilly, whose predictions proved frighteningly accurate.

It’s 1641 when we meet Master Lilly. He’s living in exile in Suffolk after losing favour with Parliament, but his talents are well known and respected, and he soon finds himself returning to London after being invited to read the fate of his Majesty the King. Lilly’s reading will ultimately change the course of history.

This was a very turbulent time in history with the English Civil War being particularly brutal, and it also coincided with the Witchfinder Trials in Manningtree Essex, where self imposed Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins wrought fear throughout the country, accusing many innocent souls of witchcraft and condemning them to death. This also meant that it was an extremely dangerous time for astrologers and magicians such as Lilly and his circle of learned astrologers.

Lilly is definitely a character that you’re not going to forget in a hurry, his personality literally jumps from the page, he’s an exceptional astrologer and healer, and can be extremely kind and generous to those less well off than himself, he’s amusing at times, but (having married someone quite incompatible) he’s not the most faithful of husbands, throwing himself into a passionate affair with a lady of the Royal Court!

The research needed to create this intense read must have been phenomenal, and it certainly showed, but if I have one negative, it was that I found the style of writing difficult at times, (though it suited the time period in which it was set). That said, it was a completely absorbing tale of magic and mayhem that transports the reader back to the 17th century, with it’s descriptions of a divided England with spies on every corner and in every tavern. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the filthy streets filled with effluence, the gut churning smells, the resulting plagues, and of course the sense of a time in history where one had to tread very carefully if one wanted to keep one’s head.

All in all, an extremely absorbing narrative that weaves a fictional tale around real historical events and characters, in this most turbulent time in history, and I have to say that I’ve particularly enjoyed spending time in the company of Master Lilly!

*Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Sphere for my Arc. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

'The Magick of Master Lilly' is a gripping and engrossing historical thriller about Master Astrologer and learned magician William Lilly. Given many people have hanged for practicing magic, Mr Lilly is taking quite a chance in continuing with his ways. This is a fictional account of England's most renowned astrologer based in the turbulent times of the English Civil War which took place in the seventeenth century. At its core, it is a novel about the injustice in terms of the treatment those suspected of being witches received at that time.

This is an impressive book which comes across as meticulously research by Learner, and boy can she write! Wow! Admittedly, it took a little while for me to get into the style of writing, but once I was over that hurdle there was absolutely no stopping me! By the time I reached the end I was incredibly sad as though I was saying farewell to a friend. Some historical fiction novels are a real struggle to get into and then to maintain interest can often be a chore rather than a pleasure. Not here! Since I finished I have pre-ordered a copy as an addition to my book shelf and have recommended it to all my bookish friends. I truly love it when a book touches you that much that you feel the need to gush about it everytime you open your mouth! The characters are beautifully drawn and very believable. Of course, Lilly is the star of the show, and I found him so, so intriguing as a person, but the other secondary characters are sufficiently developed too. There is even some humour and dry wit sprinkled among the prose, and I for one always appreciate a giggle when i'm reading. Learner is an author to watch for sure, and I look forward to enjoying her future work. Stunning!

Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Dear Tobsha, what a truly wonderful writer you are! Have never felt such connection with a book! I was immediately transported into 17th century England, felt I knew William Lilly and liked him very much and was thus educated in the wonders of the Philomath, Astrology and Horary. I felt quite bereft when I finished the book, Lilly was writing to me and me alone and then he was no more! What book can possibly match this one! Please be assured that William Lilly will have pride of place upon my bookshelf and I will be boring people with its wonder in the weeks and months to come! I loved every word!

Fabulous tale of the master Adept of the 17th century; William Lilley. This gripping novel relates a fictionalised account of England's most renowned astrologer with the turbulent and dramatic backdrop of the Civil War as his crucible of action. I couldn't put this compelling narrative down. Tobsha Learner writes with such convincing authority and control. The author's beautifully researched context subtly conveys her outrage at the treatment of suspected witches. Historical nuance is masterfully delivered along with a much appreciated dry and ironic wit. I am rushing to read more of this writer's work. Master Lilley is indeed a marvel!

Master Lilley has to walk a delicate path to ensure his life continues in a country in turmoil. Magic, politics, war, plague and love. Plenty to keep the reader entranced as we follow Lilley and his predictions.