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Tiptoe
Roan stands on the high street, dressed in a suit of armour. People stare at him, beads of sweat roll down his face. Soon he’ll be in a trance again, just like yesterday and the day before. Since he learned to escape reality, nothing troubles him. Nothing, but the insect he sees at night.
Across the city, Milo, a brash self-destructive twenty something, is trapped in the desperate monotony of his job. Married young and once in love, he’s now losing his wife and his sanity to a compulsive drug habit. He needs a second chance, and goes looking for it in the most unlikely place.
As their lives slowly converge, Roan and Milo are drawn into a sinister underworld of addiction, manipulation and murder. This is the place people go to disappear. A place that no one understands, no one but Pepper Hansell - the Magician.
Tiptoe is a stark and harrowing tale of love, loss, depression, neuroticism and fear. A psychological thriller of new proportions, set in a hedonistic and tumultuous urban wasteland. Kit O’Conor seamlessly draws you from one character to the next, leaving a trail of unnerving clues that will leave you questioning your sanity, but unable to let go.
Across the city, Milo, a brash self-destructive twenty something, is trapped in the desperate monotony of his job. Married young and once in love, he’s now losing his wife and his sanity to a compulsive drug habit. He needs a second chance, and goes looking for it in the most unlikely place.
As their lives slowly converge, Roan and Milo are drawn into a sinister underworld of addiction, manipulation and murder. This is the place people go to disappear. A place that no one understands, no one but Pepper Hansell - the Magician.
Tiptoe is a stark and harrowing tale of love, loss, depression, neuroticism and fear. A psychological thriller of new proportions, set in a hedonistic and tumultuous urban wasteland. Kit O’Conor seamlessly draws you from one character to the next, leaving a trail of unnerving clues that will leave you questioning your sanity, but unable to let go.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2013
1 person is currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
Kit O'Conor
3 books39 followersKit O'Conor is a British author whose debut novel "Tiptoe" was released in 2014. Since graduating in Philosophy at Southampton University, Kit has travelled extensively and worked in many fields from sales to English teaching. Currently he is living in London drafting his second novel. You can reach him through kitoconor.com, or follow him on Twitter @KitOConor.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 11, 2015
Tiptoe – vacuous and pretentious, but the writing’s good
I’d like to thank Kit O’Conor for his hard work and commitment to this worthwhile endeavor.
I’m a traditionalist.
When I write, when I facilitate writing workshops, and when I critique I’m looking for the basics - goal, motivation and conflict to establish the story. I like it right near the beginning and associated with a strong, sympathetic protagonist. That let’s me know what the story is about - what the protagonist wants, why they want it, and what’s preventing them from getting it.
I can then decide if the work is worth my time.
I just finished Tiptoe by Kit O’Conor and I have no idea what was going on.
The author’s job is primarily to entertain, secondarily to enlighten – it’s never to frustrate the reader or try to illustrate how clever they are by being purposely vague. Reading a novel is not a test or a quiz show.
Tiptoe has no protagonist so there can be no goal, motivation or conflict. It has no cohesive plot. It does have well defined characters but not one is likable – nobody this reader could care about or get behind.
There’s Roan, a street performer who’s gone crazy because his wife left him (or died or he killed her, I never could figure out which) and now performs as a statue of a knight in full armour in public places. He does other weird stuff as well.
Pepper is a street magician who is Roan’s friend and mentor though what he mentor’s Roan in is never really explained nor is the basis of their friendship.
There’s Milo, a conflicted young man who drinks, takes “Tiptoe” which is some sort of mood altering drug along the lines of Ecstasy, goes to raves and seems dissatisfied with everything including his job at a call centre and his school teacher wife, Ivey.
There’s Ivey, Milo’s wife, an elementary school teacher who’s a victim of every relationship she’s been in including her marriage and now with one of her grade school students.
Carne’s her student, who’s really not a little boy but a grown man in a little boy’s body.
All these characters indulge in random reflections and ridiculous actions that lack relevance and motivation.
Because the transitions between chapters are non-existent in Tiptoe I continually kept scrolling back thinking I maybe missed a couple of pages. Then I thought perhaps O’Conor was writing one of those trendy novels with disparate story lines that finally cleverly converge.
This never happens in Tiptoe. Nothing converges, nothing relates, nothing makes sense.
Writing never trumps story and the foundation of every story are the basics.
If you’re a novelist, especially if you’re a new novelist, present your GMC early and make it intense. You’ll also want to introduce your main character at the same time. If you mess with this formula you’re either a literary genius or you think you’re one.
I received this book free from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review and as part of my ongoing commitment to review the work of new, self-published authors.
I’d like to thank Kit O’Conor for his hard work and commitment to this worthwhile endeavor.
I’m a traditionalist.
When I write, when I facilitate writing workshops, and when I critique I’m looking for the basics - goal, motivation and conflict to establish the story. I like it right near the beginning and associated with a strong, sympathetic protagonist. That let’s me know what the story is about - what the protagonist wants, why they want it, and what’s preventing them from getting it.
I can then decide if the work is worth my time.
I just finished Tiptoe by Kit O’Conor and I have no idea what was going on.
The author’s job is primarily to entertain, secondarily to enlighten – it’s never to frustrate the reader or try to illustrate how clever they are by being purposely vague. Reading a novel is not a test or a quiz show.
Tiptoe has no protagonist so there can be no goal, motivation or conflict. It has no cohesive plot. It does have well defined characters but not one is likable – nobody this reader could care about or get behind.
There’s Roan, a street performer who’s gone crazy because his wife left him (or died or he killed her, I never could figure out which) and now performs as a statue of a knight in full armour in public places. He does other weird stuff as well.
Pepper is a street magician who is Roan’s friend and mentor though what he mentor’s Roan in is never really explained nor is the basis of their friendship.
There’s Milo, a conflicted young man who drinks, takes “Tiptoe” which is some sort of mood altering drug along the lines of Ecstasy, goes to raves and seems dissatisfied with everything including his job at a call centre and his school teacher wife, Ivey.
There’s Ivey, Milo’s wife, an elementary school teacher who’s a victim of every relationship she’s been in including her marriage and now with one of her grade school students.
Carne’s her student, who’s really not a little boy but a grown man in a little boy’s body.
All these characters indulge in random reflections and ridiculous actions that lack relevance and motivation.
Because the transitions between chapters are non-existent in Tiptoe I continually kept scrolling back thinking I maybe missed a couple of pages. Then I thought perhaps O’Conor was writing one of those trendy novels with disparate story lines that finally cleverly converge.
This never happens in Tiptoe. Nothing converges, nothing relates, nothing makes sense.
Writing never trumps story and the foundation of every story are the basics.
If you’re a novelist, especially if you’re a new novelist, present your GMC early and make it intense. You’ll also want to introduce your main character at the same time. If you mess with this formula you’re either a literary genius or you think you’re one.
I received this book free from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review and as part of my ongoing commitment to review the work of new, self-published authors.
September 1, 2015
What I liked:
Oddly fulfilled expectations: I got this book because I liked the blurb, a blurb which led me to expect a story that was both surreal and enchanting. It isn’t. I spent the first half of the book wondering if I’d been deceived but what this book does is convince you that the illusion is reality to a point where, even after you are aware of the illusion, it’s hard to believe that it isn’t the reality.
Haunting: This story insists on lurking in the back of my mind. It perplexes me in a good way.
Is that symbolic?: The dragon is glorious and ominous, but what is it really? A metaphor, an alter ego, a character in its own right, or a disguise? Roan tiptoes through his town but tiptoe is also the slang name for a drug. A dilapidated mental hospital features quite prominently.
Poetic touches: An origami town folded from love letters, slow clap to the author for this tragic and beautiful concept.
I’m just going to say it: This book is weird and I don’t know what it’s about. I think it’s a rather poignant tale about an insane dude, but it may just be about itself.
What I didn’t like:
Which one is the proper ending?: There are multiple POV characters in this book and each of their storylines comes to a separate conclusion. The first conclusion seems to take priority over the others, but then the story continues to tie up the other characters arcs.
The late, random murder: There is a murder, but who dies and why the person who apparently committed the murder did it, is never elucidated.
It encourages explanation: Because it’s vague and categorised as literary fiction, there will be people who read it, form opinions, and proceed to act as though their opinions are fact. I love discussing books, but I hate having them ‘explained’ to me so much that I listed this point here.
I’m a big fan of all things weird and thought-provoking, and this book certainly fits that description. It may not be clear from this review, but I truly enjoyed Tiptoe.
Oddly fulfilled expectations: I got this book because I liked the blurb, a blurb which led me to expect a story that was both surreal and enchanting. It isn’t. I spent the first half of the book wondering if I’d been deceived but what this book does is convince you that the illusion is reality to a point where, even after you are aware of the illusion, it’s hard to believe that it isn’t the reality.
Haunting: This story insists on lurking in the back of my mind. It perplexes me in a good way.
Is that symbolic?: The dragon is glorious and ominous, but what is it really? A metaphor, an alter ego, a character in its own right, or a disguise? Roan tiptoes through his town but tiptoe is also the slang name for a drug. A dilapidated mental hospital features quite prominently.
Poetic touches: An origami town folded from love letters, slow clap to the author for this tragic and beautiful concept.
I’m just going to say it: This book is weird and I don’t know what it’s about. I think it’s a rather poignant tale about an insane dude, but it may just be about itself.
What I didn’t like:
Which one is the proper ending?: There are multiple POV characters in this book and each of their storylines comes to a separate conclusion. The first conclusion seems to take priority over the others, but then the story continues to tie up the other characters arcs.
The late, random murder: There is a murder, but who dies and why the person who apparently committed the murder did it, is never elucidated.
It encourages explanation: Because it’s vague and categorised as literary fiction, there will be people who read it, form opinions, and proceed to act as though their opinions are fact. I love discussing books, but I hate having them ‘explained’ to me so much that I listed this point here.
I’m a big fan of all things weird and thought-provoking, and this book certainly fits that description. It may not be clear from this review, but I truly enjoyed Tiptoe.
February 3, 2016
"Tiptoe" which I won through Goodreads/First Reads is a strange tale with a vague storyline that revolves around distinctively complex characters. The story begins with Roan a forty year old man who lives in a dream world performing as a professional statue and dressed like a Knight. It's not clear whether his wife left him or he killed her, but he's alone, delusional and suffers nightmares.
In the urban decadence of the city also lives Milo Blakely, a smug, depressed and restless young man lost in the boring repetition of a no-win job. Self-destructive he buries his troubles in casual sex and an addiction which includes alcohol and a mind altering drug called "Tiptoe". Married too young, his sanity in question because of a drug habit he can't kick, Milo may find his salvation in the unlikeliest of places.
Milo's wife Ivy an elementary school teacher married too young is susceptible in her relationships especially to a broken husband who continually betrays her love, to his friend Aaron Sapsted who wants her and even to a weird youngster in her class named Carne who seems older than his years.
The glue that seems to tie several of the characters in this innovative and unique story together is a magician named Pepper Hansel, the father of Ivy's unstable student as well as Roan's friend and mentor.
At the foundation of a story that seems disjointed, with no direction or flow are characters that fill the pages with a roller-coaster of emotions as they face the chaos of their lives. Heady as you try to make sense of the unreality within their reality, the reader is drawn down a path looking for clues that will weave the story into some semblance of order near the end, only to fail.
"Tiptoe" is a fascinating journey, a new type of mental and emotional thriller that leaves the reader in even more of a quandary at the end. Well-written with dialogue that flows naturally, I'd give it a 3.5 to a 4.0.
In the urban decadence of the city also lives Milo Blakely, a smug, depressed and restless young man lost in the boring repetition of a no-win job. Self-destructive he buries his troubles in casual sex and an addiction which includes alcohol and a mind altering drug called "Tiptoe". Married too young, his sanity in question because of a drug habit he can't kick, Milo may find his salvation in the unlikeliest of places.
Milo's wife Ivy an elementary school teacher married too young is susceptible in her relationships especially to a broken husband who continually betrays her love, to his friend Aaron Sapsted who wants her and even to a weird youngster in her class named Carne who seems older than his years.
The glue that seems to tie several of the characters in this innovative and unique story together is a magician named Pepper Hansel, the father of Ivy's unstable student as well as Roan's friend and mentor.
At the foundation of a story that seems disjointed, with no direction or flow are characters that fill the pages with a roller-coaster of emotions as they face the chaos of their lives. Heady as you try to make sense of the unreality within their reality, the reader is drawn down a path looking for clues that will weave the story into some semblance of order near the end, only to fail.
"Tiptoe" is a fascinating journey, a new type of mental and emotional thriller that leaves the reader in even more of a quandary at the end. Well-written with dialogue that flows naturally, I'd give it a 3.5 to a 4.0.
June 21, 2015
This really surprised me. Follows a series of characters that we are uncertain from the set-up the level of interconnectivity between. Each moves through their own seemingly self-contained vignette until some themes overlap and a nice shifting in perspective occurs.
There is a little bit of quirk and this is incorporated effectively. Included are some nicely poetic asides that are genuinely funny and absurd. The settings meet up with the contemporary urban feeling, from barren waste ground to run down flats. The characters reflect the restlessness and longing laid bare by a fractured society, turning sometimes to the drug of choice known as "tiptoe".
The characters grapple with disillusionment and harshness, the frustrations that arise as a result depicted with a heady awareness.
Structurally this mostly worked, especially as this is a relatively short piece. A feeling akin to being dropped into a party where all attending are in full conversational flow but by the end it all makes some weird psychological sense even if you still don't have a clue what is going on.
This is an intriguing read. Some nice dreamlike sequences that play out in a playfully uncanny fashion. Enjoyed and left me wanting more.
There is a little bit of quirk and this is incorporated effectively. Included are some nicely poetic asides that are genuinely funny and absurd. The settings meet up with the contemporary urban feeling, from barren waste ground to run down flats. The characters reflect the restlessness and longing laid bare by a fractured society, turning sometimes to the drug of choice known as "tiptoe".
The characters grapple with disillusionment and harshness, the frustrations that arise as a result depicted with a heady awareness.
Structurally this mostly worked, especially as this is a relatively short piece. A feeling akin to being dropped into a party where all attending are in full conversational flow but by the end it all makes some weird psychological sense even if you still don't have a clue what is going on.
This is an intriguing read. Some nice dreamlike sequences that play out in a playfully uncanny fashion. Enjoyed and left me wanting more.
October 9, 2015
I received a free download of this book from Story Cartel, thank you!
This book was somewhat entertaining for me. The chapters were well-written, and each individual chapter maintained my interest while I was reading it.
The overall book as a whole, however, was very confusing. There were some vague connections that started to explain the relationships between the characters, and there was plenty of conflict in the story, but there was no resolution to anything. The book just ends.
Many people like to read books that require you to analyze things about life and reality, and come up with your own conclusions. I would certainly recommend this book if you are that reader.
I read books to get away from reality and its chaos, so I want stories to tie up all the loose ends. (And give me a happy ending while they're at it too!) :-)
That being said, I do feel that the author is a good writer. I would be interested to read a sequel to this book actually, if one were to be written, because I'd like to know what happens to the characters.
This book was somewhat entertaining for me. The chapters were well-written, and each individual chapter maintained my interest while I was reading it.
The overall book as a whole, however, was very confusing. There were some vague connections that started to explain the relationships between the characters, and there was plenty of conflict in the story, but there was no resolution to anything. The book just ends.
Many people like to read books that require you to analyze things about life and reality, and come up with your own conclusions. I would certainly recommend this book if you are that reader.
I read books to get away from reality and its chaos, so I want stories to tie up all the loose ends. (And give me a happy ending while they're at it too!) :-)
That being said, I do feel that the author is a good writer. I would be interested to read a sequel to this book actually, if one were to be written, because I'd like to know what happens to the characters.
November 23, 2015
Milo Blakely enjoys dream journaling. Not that it makes a whole lot of sense though.
Best case scenario he struggles with his issues.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written very bizarre mystical book. It wasn’t very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. I truly felt I really did not underhand the story content. Read it twice. So I will have to rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Story Cartel; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Best case scenario he struggles with his issues.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A fairly well written very bizarre mystical book. It wasn’t very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish, but never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. I truly felt I really did not underhand the story content. Read it twice. So I will have to rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Story Cartel; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
March 28, 2014
This is a strange book with a meandering plot that relates directly to the broken and lost characters it entwines. The overall topic was confusing and yet somehow engaging and addictive, much like the book’s drug of choice. The entire thing teetered on the edge of reality and allows those who want to look for it some pause for thought.
July 4, 2015
I received this book as a gift in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely different from everything else I have read. It has, as mentioned by other reviews, broken and lost characters. It manages to keep your interest high throughout the whole book and makes you create a twisted scenario in your mind. If you are looking for a different book, you should really read it.
This book is definitely different from everything else I have read. It has, as mentioned by other reviews, broken and lost characters. It manages to keep your interest high throughout the whole book and makes you create a twisted scenario in your mind. If you are looking for a different book, you should really read it.
October 27, 2018
Some interesting ideas but would have liked them to be developed a bit further. I loved the writing style, very evocative, but struggled to really connect with the characters.
September 6, 2021
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Tiptoe was well written, the characters were great and it switched nicely between the different points of view and the story kept you reading until the end. I found Tiptoe to be thought-provoking but rather strange. The story leaves everything open to interpretation with multiple endings, leaving you to puzzle over what was going on and what was real or not. If you like books with a definite story line and with endings that don't leave you with more questions than you started, then this isn't the book for you. If unusual, vague and open to interpretation is more your style the this is the book for you.
Tiptoe was well written, the characters were great and it switched nicely between the different points of view and the story kept you reading until the end. I found Tiptoe to be thought-provoking but rather strange. The story leaves everything open to interpretation with multiple endings, leaving you to puzzle over what was going on and what was real or not. If you like books with a definite story line and with endings that don't leave you with more questions than you started, then this isn't the book for you. If unusual, vague and open to interpretation is more your style the this is the book for you.
October 14, 2015
I got my copy from Storycartel.
I dropped the book quite early. I just couldn't relate to the characters random behavior (maybe later on there would be some explanation) and because of that they didn't really convince me. Maybe later I will give it another change.
I dropped the book quite early. I just couldn't relate to the characters random behavior (maybe later on there would be some explanation) and because of that they didn't really convince me. Maybe later I will give it another change.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews