Nicked

A Novel

By: M. T. Anderson

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

"[An] uproarious saga . . . drawing on contemporary accounts, fantastical folk tales, and [Anderson's] own knack for high jinks."—New York Times Book Review

"[A] rollicking comic novel."—NPR

"M. T. Anderson is one of our greatest and most precious voices."—Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians Trilogy

From the award-winning and bestselling author of Feed comes a raucous, slyly funny, and delightfully queer work of historical fantasy, based on a bizarre but true quest to steal the mystical corpse of a long-dead saint

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.

©2024 M. T. Anderson (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A miracle worker, M. T. Anderson has exhumed the bones of holy legend and startled them to life. Nicked is a far-fetched caper based on the actual heist of the corpse of Saint Nicholas. At once blessedly comic and acerbic, Anderson’s confession of devotion to the unresolvable mysteries of faith and love had me laughing out loud and tearing up—nearly simultaneously."
—Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and Elphie

"Miracles, marvels, saints, sinners, love, plague, and treachery! M. T. Anderson has laid out a medieval feast of a novel, stuffed with everything I could have wished for. If I could canonize him for it, I would. But I’ll settle for shouting about how much I love this book." —Kelly Link, author of The Book of Love

"M. T. Anderson is one of our greatest and most precious voices. His books aren't just brilliantly witty and vastly entertaining, they're fixed stars of wisdom and sanity in our increasingly unhinged universe. When lost, I use them to steer by." —Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians Trilogy

"[Nicked] positively thrums with excitement . . . . There’s something of The Princess Bride in Anderson’s simultaneous undercutting and celebration of adventure fiction . . . a fine summer frolic that wears its themes lightly and should win Anderson many new readers." —Boston Globe

"The 11th century queer romantic adventure you didn’t know you were looking for." —Los Angeles Times

DNF…

I just could not finish this. Story premises was SO interesting. Narration not bad at all. Was on my TBR list for months waiting for release. I don’t know, just couldn’t get into it. Was bored. I’m sure it is just me. Super bummed.

Wildly imaginative yet based on real events

Funny, eventful, surprising. Euan Morton’s narration is perfect, capturing a variety of characters using different voices which are spot on. I loved it.

Engaging

Well written story, with lots of humor and moments of suspense to keep the listener (reader) engaged from beginning to end. The narration is well done and makes for this read an entertaining adventure.

A fantastic unique adventure

Great story well performed-truly a unique and entertaining tale. Love that is based on a true story.

Very entertaining story combined with brilliant narration!

Full disclosure: I am a practicing Roman Catholic, but I have a very pragmatic attitude with respect to relics. I deeply admire those who reverence them. Still, humans are humans, and I am not surprised at all by the trade in relics. The story is full of humor, a little bloodshed, sensitivity, and has a happy ending (sorry for the spoiler). I found the dialogue to be witty and well-crafted. The narration was perfect. What an enjoyable listen.