The Book of the Most Precious Substance

A Novel

By: Sara Gran

Narrated by: Carol Monda

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

The highly anticipated thriller from internationally renowned author Sara Gran, author of Come Closer and the Claire DeWitt series.

A mysterious book that promises unlimited power and unrivaled sexual pleasure. A down-on-her-luck book dealer hoping for the sale of a lifetime. And a twist so shocking, no one will come out unscathed.

After a tragedy too painful to bear, former novelist Lily Albrecht has resigned herself to a dull, sexless life as a rare-book dealer—until she gets a lead on a book that just might turn everything around. The Book of the Most Precious Substance is a 17th-century manual on sex magic, rumored to be the most powerful occult book ever written—if it really exists at all. And some of the wealthiest people in the world are willing to pay Lily a fortune to find it, if she can.

Her search for the book takes her from New York to New Orleans to Munich to Paris, searching the dark corners of power where the world’s wealthiest people use black magic to fulfill their desires. Will Lily fulfill her own desires and join them? Or will she lose it all searching for a ghost?

The Book of the Most Precious Substance is an addictive, erotic thriller about the lengths we will go to get what we need—and what we want.

©2021 Sara Gran (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Couldn’t stop listening

I listened to this all night until it was finished. It was fantastic.This is the first time I have read this author and it won’t be my last. I loved this book! it is a well written, thrilling, and intelligent read. Also the narrator was great and did not detract from the story but enhanced it as a good narrator should. It was well worth the Audible credit.

Mixed feelings

The book was a bit of a rollercoaster. Sometimes I forced myself to continue because I wanted to find out what happened, and at some points I genuinely got into the story. I wasn’t crazy about the ending…I felt let down a little bit…but maybe that was the author’s point? I still have a lot of questions.

I’ve never really paid attention to the voice of the person in an audiobook, but for whatever reason something was off with the recording for this book.
I felt like the voice didn’t match the main character. I’m not very sure what the main character was supposed to look like, but the voice of the person threw me off.

Overall, it was an intriguing story. I wish the voice reading was different. I’m not sure I’d recommend to someone else.

Excellent, thrilling, curious

About ten minutes in, I remembered how much I love Sara Gran. Natural intuitive writing that feels like your own thoughts and a fascinating story to follow. I enjoy how women centered this was, female grief and power and pleasure.

So Boring

I loved Sara Gran’s Come Closer so I decided to check out other titles by the author which is how I found this book. I wish I would have checked some of the reviews before I started it though because I think I would have tossed it to the side. Considering what this book is about sex magick I am absolutely shocked that it is able to be so incredibly boring. I almost DNF several times but decided to keep persevering in the hopes that it would improve, and the last few chapters were slightly redemptive, but overall it just wasn’t for me.

Fast read different story

This book is very well written subject. Reminds me of the club, Dumas by Arturo Reverte. But different as well

It was fine

I picked this one up because Sara Gran is a capable writer and I've enjoyed several of her books. With the always wonderful Carol Monda narrating I figured this would be a winner. Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. In picking it blind, the sex magic caught me by surprise. That's not a problem, but it was oddly reserved for being a book about sexual fluids. It didn't need a blazing level of spice, I like taco bell mild just fine. But it felt like she was embarrassed to be writing about the sex. All euphemisms and closed doors. If your "most precious substance" is female ejaculate (not a spoiler) then own that and call a squirt a squirt. Smut can still be classy if you do it right. The story itself was fine, if a bit pedantic, and the main characters were interesting enough. Although the side characters never graduated beyond one dimension. Strong ninth gate vibes overall. A perfectly fine book but not great or especially memorable. I'll probably see it in my library in six months and think "did I read that? I don't remember."

Predictable

The story was alright, the narrator did a great job but the voice did not, for me match the voice of the character.

What a ride

I love the journey this book took me on. The characters were well described as well as the scenery. I felt I was the main character. very much a story of be careful what you wish for. Definitely one of my new favorites.

Great story!

I didn’t love the narrators voice, but it wasn’t terrible, just seemed a little too old for the character. That is my only complaint. Fun read.

Loved this book

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed the narration, and appreciated the intelligence, wit and sauciness of this story. It's refreshing to read a book featuring occult shenanigans from an author who has spent some time immersed in contemplation of it, rather than grabbing at surface assumptions. I love her unsentimental viewpoint.

This is a great GenX spiritual journey, and it sparks me like much of the great music of this (occult in itself, skipped over and hidden in plain sight) The mordant wit of PJ Harvey - the erotic and pagan poetry of Bjork. Many of this author's fears and fascinations rhyme with what I experienced in this generation, although it's in sync with bohemian exploration through the recent decades. I am not trying to pigeonhole the author, but her cultural references hit every time with me in a way that Jo Nesbo often does, and I realize the joy I feel hearing a brilliant voice from someone close to such similar experiences and touchstones.

It also reminds me a bit of the wonderful raw honesty in Viv Albertine's recent memoirs.
It's fun, erotic, eerie, passionate, and in many cases subtle (again, refreshing.) Wise in a fun way.

I would recommend it those who enjoy a book that integrates a modern bohemian look at self-discovery - kinks, emotional dark zones, horror, helpful substances, and all. Not for those who don't like horror, darkness, or sex in their books. Strongly character-driven, great feminine viewpoint.

I have found a new author to place among my favorites!