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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!
leseratte97's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
heckin_hello's review
adventurous
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
Ronoah has my entire heart - in my experience, it's rare to read an anxious character who feels alive and real. I cried several times for Ronoah while reading this book.
This book also offers a constant stream of mystery and so perfectly answers questions in a manner that kept me on my toes itching to know without getting frustrated by the wait. And every time a question was answered? Another two seemingly took its place.
At it's core, this is a story about connection, about people, and about growth.
This book also offers a constant stream of mystery and so perfectly answers questions in a manner that kept me on my toes itching to know without getting frustrated by the wait. And every time a question was answered? Another two seemingly took its place.
At it's core, this is a story about connection, about people, and about growth.
rowanruddle's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
smemily's review
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
5.0
crocus's review
dark
emotional
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
4.75
ungoliant1234's review
challenging
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
4.75
A deeply personal book. How much one likes it depends on how much one can relate to the struggles of the main character. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time.
peppermina's review against another edition
4.0
I will start this review by clarifying one thing. If a book is in a series that has not been completed, I will not read it until the series has been completed (and then I will usually binge read the series). Having said this, I have read this book at LEAST twice in the past few months.
I'm not usually a fan of heavy exposition or lore in my novels - my preferred type of book splashes character emotional and development arcs in short sharp prose ( I have a very short attention span). However, I decided to buy this book on a whim, (I think I follow you on twitter?) The delicateness and beauty with which you have managed to intertwine both the gorgeous treat of world building that you have managed to design and the breathtakingly realistic characters you have given us. As someone who is a part of the LGBT+ community and experiences anxiety personally, Ronoah's introspection was eerily like reading my own thoughts on a page. And of course, you don't understand how excited I was to read something so detailed and compelling that for once WASN'T set in 'Magic Faux-Medieval-Europe' for once.
As a (would-be) writer I am embarrassed to say I have often turned to several highlighted passages of your book in search of expertise on a particular turn of phrase or examples of clarity or unique metaphor and I am glad to say that each time I do this, I pick out some gem that I haven't caught previously.
One risk you took was to base turning points on a more reflective character arc rather than the reactive action to sudden crises that so saturate most books in the market today and for that I say- THANK YOU. Your book is truly a breath of fresh air.
The only negative point I can possibly scrounge up is that I don't currently have enough of the rest of the story in my hands right now so I can only beg you, Ms Tristen, to PLEASE continue in what I can only imagine deserves to be an illustrious career ahead of you. A very well done!
I'm not usually a fan of heavy exposition or lore in my novels - my preferred type of book splashes character emotional and development arcs in short sharp prose ( I have a very short attention span). However, I decided to buy this book on a whim, (I think I follow you on twitter?) The delicateness and beauty with which you have managed to intertwine both the gorgeous treat of world building that you have managed to design and the breathtakingly realistic characters you have given us. As someone who is a part of the LGBT+ community and experiences anxiety personally, Ronoah's introspection was eerily like reading my own thoughts on a page. And of course, you don't understand how excited I was to read something so detailed and compelling that for once WASN'T set in 'Magic Faux-Medieval-Europe' for once.
As a (would-be) writer I am embarrassed to say I have often turned to several highlighted passages of your book in search of expertise on a particular turn of phrase or examples of clarity or unique metaphor and I am glad to say that each time I do this, I pick out some gem that I haven't caught previously.
One risk you took was to base turning points on a more reflective character arc rather than the reactive action to sudden crises that so saturate most books in the market today and for that I say- THANK YOU. Your book is truly a breath of fresh air.
The only negative point I can possibly scrounge up is that I don't currently have enough of the rest of the story in my hands right now so I can only beg you, Ms Tristen, to PLEASE continue in what I can only imagine deserves to be an illustrious career ahead of you. A very well done!