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meridianriver's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mary_soon_lee's review
4.0
Having read and loved a poetry chapbook ([b:Hortus Animarum|112268537|Hortus Animarum|Sienna Tristen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677279719l/112268537._SX50_.jpg|134876964]) by Sienna Tristen, I went looking for other books by her. "The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming" is a hefty fantasy novel, but it has a touch of poetry in its lyrical prose. It tells the story of Ronoah, a man far from home and coming unmoored, lonely and unsure. Ronoah soon meets Reilin, a mysterious larger-than-life figure, supremely confident and competent.
I loved Ronoah. I wanted to wrap him up and tell him everything would be all right. I liked Reilin most of the time, but wanted him to be kinder to Ronoah! The book is unhurried and quietly magical. There are stories within stories, mysteries present and ancient. Although most of the tale is gentle, there are dark chapters.
Four out of five fire-blessed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I loved Ronoah. I wanted to wrap him up and tell him everything would be all right. I liked Reilin most of the time, but wanted him to be kinder to Ronoah! The book is unhurried and quietly magical. There are stories within stories, mysteries present and ancient. Although most of the tale is gentle, there are dark chapters.
Four out of five fire-blessed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
prosenheim's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Toxic friendship
Minor: War, Vomit, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Outing
toadlovesreading's review
I’ll probably come back to this but when I first tried it went way over my head
catcouch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
forroan's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the world that this took place in and all of the side stories that enriched it. I also loved the side characters maybe even more than the two main characters and almost certainly more than Reilin. I didn’t dislike him but I wish he’d been a bit more compassionate at times to Ronoah and his anxiety. I agree with a lot of what the book says as a message but perhaps in a gentler tone. That’s the only reason really that it doesn’t get a full 5 stars from me and doesn’t take away from the fact that I found myself thinking about this book every minute I wasn’t reading it.
eacolgan's review against another edition
4.0
This book is lushly written, and instantly immerses you in a world you want to know everything about. I have many, many issues with the Kingkiller Chronicles, but Rothfuss's worldbuilding is impeccable, and The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming feels like reading [b:The Name of the Wind|186074|The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)|Patrick Rothfuss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515589515l/186074._SX50_.jpg|2502879] without all the frustration-- just page after page of beauty and emotion. Also, as someone with an anxiety disorder, Ronoah's relationship to his anxiety hit me right where it counts. I won't spoil this by telling you anything more about it, but if you like intricate worldbuilding, vivid characters, and characters journeying to find themselves, you will love this book.
the_littlest_lion's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
siavahda's review against another edition
5.0
HIGHLIGHTS
~adventure to remake yourself
~creating new myths
~curiosity is a virtue
~find your voice
~perfect!book is perfect
What on Earth are you supposed to say in response to one of the most beautiful books you’ve ever read?
And how do I convince you all that you need to read it???
The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming (Book One – the final instalment, Book Two: Practice, is forthcoming in just a few months!) is the kind of convention-defying, genre-fluid, unshelvable book that self- and indie-publishing exists for. It’s not neatly one thing or another; doesn’t employ common tropes or conform to a typical three-act structure; and tosses out any notion of traditional narrative conflict – all while using some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever seen in my life.
I’d like to imagine that any literary agent or editor worth their salt would recognise this book as the exquisite masterpiece it is – but they wouldn’t have the first clue how to sell it, how to market it. It’s too far outside the trad-publishing box for them to make it fit into any neat little niche.
I’m so glad, and so relieved, that Tristen went ahead and published it anyway. The world would be a darker place without this book in it.
Ronoah is marked by the gods to be a trailblazer, an innovator, someone who is meant to change the world – in a culture that avoids conflict and change. That’s not a good mix, and it’s left its mark on him; Ronoah is crippled with anxiety and self-doubt, even as he runs as far out into the world as he can, looking for a way to be worthy of the goddess who chose him.
And runs smack into Reilin – charismatic, confusing, hypnotic Reilin, who is about to embark on a journey to the far-off, almost legendary Pilgrim State. And who invites Ronoah to come along.
Heretic’s Guide is mesmeric, a book that pours itself like stardust and jewels into the cupped hands of your heart. Every page is a poem and a paean; every word emblazons itself on the inside of your eyelids. Tristen’s prose belongs in calligraphic tattoos winding down your arms, soul-strumming quotes tucked into the insides of your wrists; you’ll find them in your dreams, gentle, gem-toned whispers that wake a sense of wonder in you you thought was lost.
This book is a promise that it was never lost at all.
Every Book a Doorway!
~adventure to remake yourself
~creating new myths
~curiosity is a virtue
~find your voice
~perfect!book is perfect
What on Earth are you supposed to say in response to one of the most beautiful books you’ve ever read?
And how do I convince you all that you need to read it???
The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming (Book One – the final instalment, Book Two: Practice, is forthcoming in just a few months!) is the kind of convention-defying, genre-fluid, unshelvable book that self- and indie-publishing exists for. It’s not neatly one thing or another; doesn’t employ common tropes or conform to a typical three-act structure; and tosses out any notion of traditional narrative conflict – all while using some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever seen in my life.
I’d like to imagine that any literary agent or editor worth their salt would recognise this book as the exquisite masterpiece it is – but they wouldn’t have the first clue how to sell it, how to market it. It’s too far outside the trad-publishing box for them to make it fit into any neat little niche.
I’m so glad, and so relieved, that Tristen went ahead and published it anyway. The world would be a darker place without this book in it.
Ronoah is marked by the gods to be a trailblazer, an innovator, someone who is meant to change the world – in a culture that avoids conflict and change. That’s not a good mix, and it’s left its mark on him; Ronoah is crippled with anxiety and self-doubt, even as he runs as far out into the world as he can, looking for a way to be worthy of the goddess who chose him.
And runs smack into Reilin – charismatic, confusing, hypnotic Reilin, who is about to embark on a journey to the far-off, almost legendary Pilgrim State. And who invites Ronoah to come along.
Maybes as many as the stars.
Heretic’s Guide is mesmeric, a book that pours itself like stardust and jewels into the cupped hands of your heart. Every page is a poem and a paean; every word emblazons itself on the inside of your eyelids. Tristen’s prose belongs in calligraphic tattoos winding down your arms, soul-strumming quotes tucked into the insides of your wrists; you’ll find them in your dreams, gentle, gem-toned whispers that wake a sense of wonder in you you thought was lost.
This book is a promise that it was never lost at all.
Every Book a Doorway!