The Book of the Most Precious Substance

Reviews / Votes

'Gran's writing, like the grimoire, is palpably seductive. The search for pleasure and magic is an aphrodisiac, one that pulses on the page.' - Danielle Trussoni, The New York Times

'Gran perfectly captures the eccentric world of antiquarian bookselling while portraying a profound and magical reckoning with loss and the possibility of going on. She has outdone herself. ' - Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

'While Lily's hunt propels the story forward, it is Gran's frequently exquisite prose that demands investment from its audience.' - Bookpage, Starred Review

'Sara Gran's THE BOOK OF THE MOST PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE is a mix of book buying mystery, erotica, and a pinch of Clive Barkerian obsessive existential horror, but it's all Gran. And it's all brilliant.' - Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World

'Extravagant, sexy and compelling. I loved it.' - Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

'There's two types of magic at play, here. There's what these characters are trying to do, mixing books and sex and spells, and then there's the magic Sara Gran is doing to us, as we compulsively read this literary thriller. And there's a third magic we only wish we could do: pay in blood to go back, read this book again for the first time.' - Stephen Graham Jones