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WINNER OF THE 2019 READERVIEWS AWARD FOR FANTASY!
WINNER OF THE 2019 IPPY AWARD FOR FANTASY!
“Life is transformation. You change or you die.”
Ashamed of his past and overwhelmed by his future, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani feels too small for his own name. After a graceless exit from his homeland in the Acharrioni desert, his anxiety has sabotaged every attempt at redemption. Asides from a fiery devotion to his godling, the one piece of home he brought with him, he has nothing.
That is, until he meets Reilin. Beguiling, bewildering Reilin, who whisks Ronoah up into a cross-continental pilgrimage to the most sacred place on the planet. The people they encounter on the way—children of the sea, a priestess and her band of storytellers, the lonely ghosts of monsters—are grim and whimsical in equal measure. Each has their part to play in rewriting Ronoah’s personal narrative.
One part fantasy travelogue, one part emotional underworld journey, The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming is a sumptuous, slow-burning story about stories and the way they shape our lives.
WINNER OF THE 2019 IPPY AWARD FOR FANTASY!
“Life is transformation. You change or you die.”
Ashamed of his past and overwhelmed by his future, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani feels too small for his own name. After a graceless exit from his homeland in the Acharrioni desert, his anxiety has sabotaged every attempt at redemption. Asides from a fiery devotion to his godling, the one piece of home he brought with him, he has nothing.
That is, until he meets Reilin. Beguiling, bewildering Reilin, who whisks Ronoah up into a cross-continental pilgrimage to the most sacred place on the planet. The people they encounter on the way—children of the sea, a priestess and her band of storytellers, the lonely ghosts of monsters—are grim and whimsical in equal measure. Each has their part to play in rewriting Ronoah’s personal narrative.
One part fantasy travelogue, one part emotional underworld journey, The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming is a sumptuous, slow-burning story about stories and the way they shape our lives.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2018
67 people are currently reading
5917 people want to read
About the author
Sienna Tristen
5 books105 followersSienna Tristen is an author, poet, and literary organizer living in Treaty 3 territory who explores queer platonic partnership, the nonhuman world, and mythmaking in their work. The first volume of their award-winning fantasy duology The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming came out from indie arts collective The Shale Project in 2018; the second was released in October 2022. You can find their poetry in Augur Magazine and Plenitude, and their chapbook hortus animarum: a new herbal for the queer heart is out with Frog Hollow Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
November 10, 2018
I think I just found one of my most favorite books of all time.
Even if the novel didn't remind me of Cat Valente's best writing, with all its poetry couched in prose, the way the stories within stories kinda blows me away.
But you know what really speaks to me the most?
This novel is about awe. Hope. Regaining spirit, driving forward your dreams, fighting anxiety, and finding wonder.
Quite aside from that, the novel has a truly delicious and deep worldbuilding that is matched or perhaps overmatched with the depth of characterization. On the surface, it's a novel about a scholar putting his books away to fully experience the world no matter what anyone thinks and taking up with a fascinating traveler.
But that's like saying LoTR is about some short person taking out the trash.
As I was reading, I counted three times I was brought to tears. The first was probably the hardest hitting. The traveler's rules for our hapless scholar put him through a profound and genuine change, revealing his heart's innermost desires, smashing walls and unearthing all the buried dreams of a lifetime. The courage and the point of it and the execution floored me.
And that might have been more than enough for any novel, but this one forges forth and gives us some of the most engaging reveals I've ever read. Never mind that some themes might have been explored in older fantasy novels.
The author's take on these themes is superior. Courageous. Delightful.
Am I in full-on crush mode right now?
You better F***ing believe it.
I plan on reading this again. And again. At delighted leisure. There is nothing about this that isn't uplifting, even if it is often difficult. Or even more than difficult. You could call it an artist's journey, but it is as valid for self-discovery, self-actualization, or even just accepting yourself and falling in love with life and your own destiny. :)
BRAVO!
Even if the novel didn't remind me of Cat Valente's best writing, with all its poetry couched in prose, the way the stories within stories kinda blows me away.
But you know what really speaks to me the most?
This novel is about awe. Hope. Regaining spirit, driving forward your dreams, fighting anxiety, and finding wonder.
Quite aside from that, the novel has a truly delicious and deep worldbuilding that is matched or perhaps overmatched with the depth of characterization. On the surface, it's a novel about a scholar putting his books away to fully experience the world no matter what anyone thinks and taking up with a fascinating traveler.
But that's like saying LoTR is about some short person taking out the trash.
As I was reading, I counted three times I was brought to tears. The first was probably the hardest hitting. The traveler's rules for our hapless scholar put him through a profound and genuine change, revealing his heart's innermost desires, smashing walls and unearthing all the buried dreams of a lifetime. The courage and the point of it and the execution floored me.
And that might have been more than enough for any novel, but this one forges forth and gives us some of the most engaging reveals I've ever read. Never mind that some themes might have been explored in older fantasy novels.
The author's take on these themes is superior. Courageous. Delightful.
Am I in full-on crush mode right now?
You better F***ing believe it.
I plan on reading this again. And again. At delighted leisure. There is nothing about this that isn't uplifting, even if it is often difficult. Or even more than difficult. You could call it an artist's journey, but it is as valid for self-discovery, self-actualization, or even just accepting yourself and falling in love with life and your own destiny. :)
BRAVO!
April 22, 2019
It feels a little like cheating to review this book, so I'll make it brief: I married her so she would be contractually obligated to show me all of her drafts for book two.
May 7, 2020
"You think I'm going to tell you now when we're this close? Half the appeal of having you tag along is the fact that you dissolve into a puddle of unintelligible enthusiasm every time we come across something remotely interesting. [...] It's a real treat, watching you fall in love with the things I love."Heretic's Guide is a paradox. I want to shout its praises from the rooftops because how come that I've never heard of it before Lynn recommended it to me when it's so good and so relatable? (Not to mention the gorgeous cover. I had to go for the paperback.) But on the other hand, I almost want to keep it secret and not tell anyone it exists, because I couldn't stand someone disliking it and being harsh about it. This is, quite possibly, one of the hardest and yet most necessary reviews I ever wrote.
Because I've never been this personally attached to a book before. Sure, there's been my eternal favourite, The Gray House, which has a lot of themes that resonate with me, or The Curse of Chalion, my forever comfort read. But neither of them felt this intimate and I can easily shrug off the thought of someone hating them.
Ronoah suffers from severe anxiety and never stays in one place long before he feels like he fucked up and has to run. He knows he's screwing himself over again and again, yet feels powerless to break the circle and beats himself up over it constantly. He's also a complete cinnamon roll. Then he meets Reilin - a mysterious trickster sort of character, you probably know the type - who drags him along on a pilgrimage under several conditions...and that's really all there is to it. There is no violence, or romance, or anything much. It's split into three parts - the first, where Ronoah and Reilin meet; the second, where they travel with a troupe of travelling performers; and the third, set in the caves. In a way, it's a little similar to Tess of the Road, one of my favourite books - the main character goes on a journey, which is really more of a vehicle for character development and overcoming trauma.
This may suit you, or it may not. But the reason why I adore this book so much, the reason why is closer to my heart than any other, is that it portrays the ugly, messy, destructive side of anxiety better than anything I've ever read. It's not pretty. It's not a cute quirk. And it's certainly not fucking logical. Seeing it all laid out plainly like that was so relatable it was embarrassing. Not all, but too much of it. Painful and yet also oddly comforting. It's so strange to feel seen, not something I'm used to.
And recommending it while calling it relatable feels like showing strangers pics of your room at its absolute messiest stage. Not something you'd want people to see with your name attached to it. I wouldn't be writing this review at all if I didn't think it'd be important - if I didn't hope someone else might also find solace in it.
The hard truth was, it wasn't enough to do one courageous thing and call it a day. One challenge accepted did not make challenge suddenly easy to accept; one act of bravery did not mean he was suddenly bold, or confident, or eager to take risks. He wanted to, gods how he made himself sick with the wanting, but that wasn't how it worked. You don't change overnight, said a voice in his head, not for things like this. This is how you form habits, how you shape personality: one excruciating step at a time. Congratulations, you've done it once. Now do it again. And again. And a hundred more times. And then it will begin to feel easy.I almost, unwisely, hoped for answers. But there are none, really, except that change is hard, painful work. There's no magic cure for Ronoah, and I liked that.
All that said, it did take me a while to get into it. Part of it is the style, how it's almost told backwards and very much not how stories are "supposed" to be told (and aren't rules there to be shamelessly, courageously broken?) - there is a journey in the present, but it's really more of a story of Ronoah's past told through the present with all the digressions and little side stories and lots of telling instead of showing. I'd usually complain about that (ahem), but here it made a lot of thematic sense and the prose is lovely. Additionally, for a long while, it seemed like Reilin's behaviour was heading in the direction of "I'm an asshole but it's for your own good," a trope I despise. But at the end, it was all good. I liked how much compassion most of characters showed for Ronoah and his struggles as well.
(One more similarity with Tess of the Road: both books actually get that there are different languages in the world and how it feels to be partially fluent. Which, as someone who speaks two and a half languages, is always awesome to see.)
Another thing I found fascinating is that this book is part of a collaborative worldbuilding project called Shale. It's not something I have ever seen before and I find it pretty damn cool. I want to try other books set in it. I found it a shame that we only got to know a little bit of the world, because what we did get was utterly fascinating - especially the cultures since cultural worldbuilding is my absolute favourite. But I expect we will get to see more in book 2 and I am very much looking forward to that.
Enjoyment: 5/5
Execution: 5/5
Recommended to: fellow folks with anxiety, anyone who wants to read about journeys, fans of Tess of the Road, those looking for a book that's relatively small and personal in scope, those looking for a book without a romantic subplot, fans of cinnamon roll and/or trickster characters
Not recommended to: those who like their books a bit more eventful and fast-paced, those who love to call protagonists annoying/whiny/illogical
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
May 14, 2021
The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming is a fantasy journey in which Ronoah, an introverted and anxious main character, discovers a strength inside himself that he didn't know he had and, along the way, learns about the world outside of the regimented and ill-fitting expectations of his hometown.
It is not a simple adventure because Ronoah, with all of his hang ups, is a very unlikely hero.
"... Ronoah was not one tenth the rebel she needed him to be. Inertia had him by the throat, and its consequence was a keen pain squatting ugly at the bottom of his soul, rotting it from the roots up." pg 9
Like other readers, I found author Sienne Tristen's depiction of Ronoah's crippling anxiety and panic attacks to be one of the most insightful and sensitive pieces of writing I've ever had the privilege to read. Unlike most works of fantasy in which the action takes place in an external world, Ronoah's greatest battles are in his own mind.
The anxiety speaks with its own voice and becomes a main character throughout the story.
"What were you thinking, it sneered, acting like you're so important, so worldly, making it out like you're some big intellectual champion when all you really are is a petulant runaway with a few bits of trivia stuck in your useless head? Talking and talking like you're an authority on anything- who do you think you are?" pg 53
Ronoah's interactions with the other characters from the book take on a secondary importance to the all-encompassing relationship that he has with his inner world. But they are still beautiful connections.
"... He had this way of grabbing life by the horns and refusing to let go, no matter how it tried to shake him off. You know those people you sometimes find, the ones who..." "Who shine." pg 154
Sienna Tristen's writing brings to light foibles of anxious people that might otherwise remain shrouded in the sufferer's inability to vocalize their feelings. Anybody who has ever spent a sleepless night stuck in the agony of fear and indecision will understand exactly what Tristen is spelling out in this story.
On the other hand, I found the first two-thirds of the book to be extremely triggering because of this gigantic magnifying glass that is held up to anxiety. The pacing didn't do me any favors either. As Ronoah slowly twisted in the unending spirals of panic in his own head, I hung on the hook right along with him.
It was helpful to see Ronoah's thinking process which Tristen writes so beautifully. Almost every time, readers can feel the moment he tips from functional person with some worries to frozen anxious mess. In my own life, I've started to watch for those tipping points- the moments I go from concerned about the future to paralyzed by anxiety. It has actually been quite illuminating.
But all of that new found self knowledge doesn't make for a fun read. Fiction is one of my escapes from reality. In this book, I found quite a lot of reality and it wasn't an escape after all.
"How far do you have to push your boundaries before you can feel them stretch? How high do you have to climb before your horizon expands? Is it possible to notice your own growing, or is improvement like an eyeball- visible to everything but itself?" pg 193
Recommended for readers who don't mind very slow pacing in exchange for gorgeous writing about anxiety. Mind the triggers.
It is not a simple adventure because Ronoah, with all of his hang ups, is a very unlikely hero.
"... Ronoah was not one tenth the rebel she needed him to be. Inertia had him by the throat, and its consequence was a keen pain squatting ugly at the bottom of his soul, rotting it from the roots up." pg 9
Like other readers, I found author Sienne Tristen's depiction of Ronoah's crippling anxiety and panic attacks to be one of the most insightful and sensitive pieces of writing I've ever had the privilege to read. Unlike most works of fantasy in which the action takes place in an external world, Ronoah's greatest battles are in his own mind.
The anxiety speaks with its own voice and becomes a main character throughout the story.
"What were you thinking, it sneered, acting like you're so important, so worldly, making it out like you're some big intellectual champion when all you really are is a petulant runaway with a few bits of trivia stuck in your useless head? Talking and talking like you're an authority on anything- who do you think you are?" pg 53
Ronoah's interactions with the other characters from the book take on a secondary importance to the all-encompassing relationship that he has with his inner world. But they are still beautiful connections.
"... He had this way of grabbing life by the horns and refusing to let go, no matter how it tried to shake him off. You know those people you sometimes find, the ones who..." "Who shine." pg 154
Sienna Tristen's writing brings to light foibles of anxious people that might otherwise remain shrouded in the sufferer's inability to vocalize their feelings. Anybody who has ever spent a sleepless night stuck in the agony of fear and indecision will understand exactly what Tristen is spelling out in this story.
On the other hand, I found the first two-thirds of the book to be extremely triggering because of this gigantic magnifying glass that is held up to anxiety. The pacing didn't do me any favors either. As Ronoah slowly twisted in the unending spirals of panic in his own head, I hung on the hook right along with him.
It was helpful to see Ronoah's thinking process which Tristen writes so beautifully. Almost every time, readers can feel the moment he tips from functional person with some worries to frozen anxious mess. In my own life, I've started to watch for those tipping points- the moments I go from concerned about the future to paralyzed by anxiety. It has actually been quite illuminating.
But all of that new found self knowledge doesn't make for a fun read. Fiction is one of my escapes from reality. In this book, I found quite a lot of reality and it wasn't an escape after all.
"How far do you have to push your boundaries before you can feel them stretch? How high do you have to climb before your horizon expands? Is it possible to notice your own growing, or is improvement like an eyeball- visible to everything but itself?" pg 193
Recommended for readers who don't mind very slow pacing in exchange for gorgeous writing about anxiety. Mind the triggers.
Read
December 9, 2024I’m still not totally sure what my problem was here, but I’m going to sit down and try to figure it out through this review. The first thing that stands out is that I didn’t really gel with the writing style. It’s clear that Tristen has a strong command of language and the writing isn’t necessarily purple prose by any means. To me, it just feels very dense and over-written and affected, and it lacks the kind of freewheeling vibrancy/clarity/grace that I deeply associate with its cited inspirations like Sofia Samatar's stuff. This is exacerbated a bit for me by how frequently there are stories-within-the-story; I love this in most books, but here characters always pause afterwards to reflect on how inconceivably entrancing and vivid the storytelling (ie Tristen’s writing) was when I myself never felt particularly struck by it.
Heretic’s Guide is also verrrrry slow with a granular look at the main character Ronoah's agonizing journey to start coping with his anxiety and self-loathing. This seems to be the main sticking point for a lot of people who found it triggering/upsetting/boring, but I’m built different and I love sitting inside the heads of miserable characters as they spiral and then slowly start to be less miserable. I fully believe Ronoah as someone who struggles a lot and value how Tristen shows how the symptoms themselves make the process of change so hard. That being said, I’m not totally sold on the healing part of his arc. Part of it is that he kind of just starts doing CBT on himself while lying in bed after a grievous injury to kickstart this upward trend, but most of it has to do with Reilin.
The big instigator, the “why now?” of his transformation, is his relationship with the enigmatic ancient being Reilin, who is primarily smug and all-knowing and irreverent and condescending to Ronoah in a way that exacerbates all of Rohoah’s uncertainties until he finally learns to stand up for himself. It’s a fairly interesting dynamic to read but not super convincing to as a mechanism of mental change, especially when Ronoah realizes how Reilin has been kind of goading him/manipulating him into these important personal revelations instead of being open and working collaboratively with him because *if I had been open with you you would have kept overthinking and you wouldn’t have changed for yourself etc.*
I always think conversations about depicting mental health/healing in fantasy are really interesting. There’s a sweet spot for me where the essential truths of human change, resilience and reflection transcend through to interact with a setting’s culture in a unique way. It can feel kind of clunky to me when people just heavy-handedly copy+paste modern conceptions/treatments, while others may stray too far afield from those basic principles that underlie growth for the changes to feel authentic to readers. I think that this book does a bit of both, but I also think this could also just be a me thing because this has clearly been an impactful read for lots of others.
The other thing that I’m thinking now is that the book feels very passionate about the ideas it’s putting forth - about mental health, about language and culture, about religion and history and storytelling - and sometimes feels a bit too eager to tell you exactly what it’s going for. Character dynamics, Ronoah’s internal trajectory, and the fundamental themes all sometimes feel told rather than shown. After Sophrastus tells Ronoah about leaving home due to homophobic violence, for example, Ronoah reflects to himself how striking it is that two people have recently told them extremely intimate stories about their lives being marked by oppression and how powerful sharing a personal story can be for liberation. Yes, true, but I also got that on my own!!
I may be especially attuned to like every single point I've made here because they’re things I believe I really really really need to work on in my own writing. I also happen to love books of this particular type, which means that I can’t help but have some really amazing ones to compare it to. Besides A Stranger in Olondria, I think another book of this type that worked better for me is Black Wine by Candas Jane Dorsey, although that book is significantly more violent. I feel like there is something that I still can't quite put my finger on about why this didn't work very well for me but I just can't grasp it right now.
Heretic’s Guide is also verrrrry slow with a granular look at the main character Ronoah's agonizing journey to start coping with his anxiety and self-loathing. This seems to be the main sticking point for a lot of people who found it triggering/upsetting/boring, but I’m built different and I love sitting inside the heads of miserable characters as they spiral and then slowly start to be less miserable. I fully believe Ronoah as someone who struggles a lot and value how Tristen shows how the symptoms themselves make the process of change so hard. That being said, I’m not totally sold on the healing part of his arc. Part of it is that he kind of just starts doing CBT on himself while lying in bed after a grievous injury to kickstart this upward trend, but most of it has to do with Reilin.
The big instigator, the “why now?” of his transformation, is his relationship with the enigmatic ancient being Reilin, who is primarily smug and all-knowing and irreverent and condescending to Ronoah in a way that exacerbates all of Rohoah’s uncertainties until he finally learns to stand up for himself. It’s a fairly interesting dynamic to read but not super convincing to as a mechanism of mental change, especially when Ronoah realizes how Reilin has been kind of goading him/manipulating him into these important personal revelations instead of being open and working collaboratively with him because *if I had been open with you you would have kept overthinking and you wouldn’t have changed for yourself etc.*
I always think conversations about depicting mental health/healing in fantasy are really interesting. There’s a sweet spot for me where the essential truths of human change, resilience and reflection transcend through to interact with a setting’s culture in a unique way. It can feel kind of clunky to me when people just heavy-handedly copy+paste modern conceptions/treatments, while others may stray too far afield from those basic principles that underlie growth for the changes to feel authentic to readers. I think that this book does a bit of both, but I also think this could also just be a me thing because this has clearly been an impactful read for lots of others.
The other thing that I’m thinking now is that the book feels very passionate about the ideas it’s putting forth - about mental health, about language and culture, about religion and history and storytelling - and sometimes feels a bit too eager to tell you exactly what it’s going for. Character dynamics, Ronoah’s internal trajectory, and the fundamental themes all sometimes feel told rather than shown. After Sophrastus tells Ronoah about leaving home due to homophobic violence, for example, Ronoah reflects to himself how striking it is that two people have recently told them extremely intimate stories about their lives being marked by oppression and how powerful sharing a personal story can be for liberation. Yes, true, but I also got that on my own!!
I may be especially attuned to like every single point I've made here because they’re things I believe I really really really need to work on in my own writing. I also happen to love books of this particular type, which means that I can’t help but have some really amazing ones to compare it to. Besides A Stranger in Olondria, I think another book of this type that worked better for me is Black Wine by Candas Jane Dorsey, although that book is significantly more violent. I feel like there is something that I still can't quite put my finger on about why this didn't work very well for me but I just can't grasp it right now.
May 26, 2021
Wow, that was one of the most difficult reads I’ve had in ages. In the end, and it was only towards the end that I finally decided, I think it was a ‘good, interesting difficult’ and not a ‘disappointing, depressing difficult’! Not a tale for many I know on GR though.
This is a slow paced world building fantasy. A niche that I enjoy, where developed characters interact well, lots of conversations reveal the mystery of this strange world, one now not particularly driven by conflict. The map at the start of the book cleverly gives you a good chance to speculate on what may have happened in the past, on this world.
The first 10% of the book is dominated by a meeting in a coffee shop between three characters, where you get some idea of the world and it’s mysteries, and a bonding of two of these characters. Another 20-30% of the book involves a journey but one involving interesting characters who expand the world building, and doesn’t involve lots of pointless landscape descriptions characteristic of ‘journey phases’ in other fantasy!
So, this is a slow moving plot, with interesting characters, novel intriguing fantasy world, no explicit violence. There is a magical undertone, with gods, godlings (!) and mysterious legends and beings.
So why was this difficult for me?
It really comes down to the main character, Ronoah. He’s portrayed as crushingly self conscious, full of self doubt, and lacking in confidence. Not my preference for a lead character but I’m happy to go with the unusual, and much else about this novel is different from run of the mill fantasy. And such a character is bound to experience some redemption or the story’s not worth telling! I’ve known people who’ve been full of self doubt; a good friend has been crushingly indecisive over many decades of our acquaintance, and in my youth I was prone to indecision.
My difficulty was that the character’s flaws were rammed home in detail time after time for much of the novel. Every time Ronoah had some sort of panic attack his internal, depressing monologue was described in detail, sometimes for a page or two. I think this was overdone. It’s fair to outline properly such an unusual weak character I guess, even if it’s not usually to my taste, but I think once his problems had been outlined in detail several times (!) it would have then been sufficient to say later something like ‘..once again he sank into his dark despair’, or some such expression summarising his periods of self doubt or depression. The frequent prolonged descriptions of his panic attacks and self loathing pushed me to the edge of stopping my read a couple of times. But I persevered and in the end I’m glad I did.
In summary, if you enjoy slow paced, non martial, imaginative fantasy world building AND you can live with detailed descriptions of self doubt/loathing from the main character then dive in.
Given some development by the main character in this book I suspect I’ll probably enjoy the next in the series more.
Star rating is hard. The world and the imagination behind the fantasy is an excellent, slow paced 5*; the repetitive descriptions of the crises experienced by the flawed main character, presented through much of the story, knocked a couple of stars off of that for me. But I expect higher star ratings to be given for subsequent volumes.
This is a slow paced world building fantasy. A niche that I enjoy, where developed characters interact well, lots of conversations reveal the mystery of this strange world, one now not particularly driven by conflict. The map at the start of the book cleverly gives you a good chance to speculate on what may have happened in the past, on this world.
The first 10% of the book is dominated by a meeting in a coffee shop between three characters, where you get some idea of the world and it’s mysteries, and a bonding of two of these characters. Another 20-30% of the book involves a journey but one involving interesting characters who expand the world building, and doesn’t involve lots of pointless landscape descriptions characteristic of ‘journey phases’ in other fantasy!
So, this is a slow moving plot, with interesting characters, novel intriguing fantasy world, no explicit violence. There is a magical undertone, with gods, godlings (!) and mysterious legends and beings.
So why was this difficult for me?
It really comes down to the main character, Ronoah. He’s portrayed as crushingly self conscious, full of self doubt, and lacking in confidence. Not my preference for a lead character but I’m happy to go with the unusual, and much else about this novel is different from run of the mill fantasy. And such a character is bound to experience some redemption or the story’s not worth telling! I’ve known people who’ve been full of self doubt; a good friend has been crushingly indecisive over many decades of our acquaintance, and in my youth I was prone to indecision.
My difficulty was that the character’s flaws were rammed home in detail time after time for much of the novel. Every time Ronoah had some sort of panic attack his internal, depressing monologue was described in detail, sometimes for a page or two. I think this was overdone. It’s fair to outline properly such an unusual weak character I guess, even if it’s not usually to my taste, but I think once his problems had been outlined in detail several times (!) it would have then been sufficient to say later something like ‘..once again he sank into his dark despair’, or some such expression summarising his periods of self doubt or depression. The frequent prolonged descriptions of his panic attacks and self loathing pushed me to the edge of stopping my read a couple of times. But I persevered and in the end I’m glad I did.
In summary, if you enjoy slow paced, non martial, imaginative fantasy world building AND you can live with detailed descriptions of self doubt/loathing from the main character then dive in.
Given some development by the main character in this book I suspect I’ll probably enjoy the next in the series more.
Star rating is hard. The world and the imagination behind the fantasy is an excellent, slow paced 5*; the repetitive descriptions of the crises experienced by the flawed main character, presented through much of the story, knocked a couple of stars off of that for me. But I expect higher star ratings to be given for subsequent volumes.
July 26, 2023
Easy 5.
Uh, WHY has < 200 people read this book? I’m scratching my head on this one.
I already bought a physical copy for my shelves because I want to reread it and share it with loved ones.
Coming out (fingers crossed!?) of the pandemic this is the pep talk we might need to hear. It’s feels therapeutic but make it fantastical. I also love the level of debate in this book. I feel like if you have a journalism/broadcasting/storytelling background - you’ll find yourself nodding along with amusement (like I did).
Why I picked this:
- Stunning cover.
- Reviews kept mentioning Kingkiller Chronicles as a comp, (say whaaaaaaaa?!).
Behind the rating:
Character Development was 5/5.
Plot though, was very simple/basic. Think, Piranesi level. So 2/5
The writing was insanely gorgeous- I’ll share some of the highlights. Think Laini Taylor levels.
Now does it meet Patrick Rothfuss levels? I don’t know, but this makes me want to reread that series. And also, count down to book 2 in this series (late October).
There isn’t an audio on this yet, so hunker down and don’t rush through this gem.
Uh, WHY has < 200 people read this book? I’m scratching my head on this one.
I already bought a physical copy for my shelves because I want to reread it and share it with loved ones.
Coming out (fingers crossed!?) of the pandemic this is the pep talk we might need to hear. It’s feels therapeutic but make it fantastical. I also love the level of debate in this book. I feel like if you have a journalism/broadcasting/storytelling background - you’ll find yourself nodding along with amusement (like I did).
Why I picked this:
- Stunning cover.
- Reviews kept mentioning Kingkiller Chronicles as a comp, (say whaaaaaaaa?!).
Behind the rating:
Character Development was 5/5.
Plot though, was very simple/basic. Think, Piranesi level. So 2/5
The writing was insanely gorgeous- I’ll share some of the highlights. Think Laini Taylor levels.
Now does it meet Patrick Rothfuss levels? I don’t know, but this makes me want to reread that series. And also, count down to book 2 in this series (late October).
There isn’t an audio on this yet, so hunker down and don’t rush through this gem.
August 6, 2024
Absolutely loved this, more than I ever expected to! Storytelling and conversation and emotional introspection and an anxious little man and unbelievable tender fondness!! That's got anna b written all over it.
This slotted itself into my soul in the same way the Lays of the Hearth Fire did, and let me tell you: that is the highest possible praise I can give. These are the stories that hum and buzz inside my ribs: stories of kindness and choices and change.
I was cradled and crumpled by this, and am so looking forward to book 2
This slotted itself into my soul in the same way the Lays of the Hearth Fire did, and let me tell you: that is the highest possible praise I can give. These are the stories that hum and buzz inside my ribs: stories of kindness and choices and change.
I was cradled and crumpled by this, and am so looking forward to book 2
April 29, 2020
On the base surface, “A Heretics Guide to Homecoming” is about a young scholar who decides that he wants to experience the world first hand rather than learn about it from books in a library. He wants his difficult questions answered, and he can’t do that from his home country where words have literal weight, and some things are too dangerous to speak aloud. Ronoah embarks on a journey that takes him across the world and expands his horizons, all while he battles an all too real and crippling anxiety. But that is such a simplistic view of what this literary work of fantasy is about. It really is a work of art first and foremost, with lite fantasy elements mainly to add whimsy and wonder. The writing was raw and beautiful, and the metaphors and stories within stories was marvelous. But while it’s an absolutely beautiful read, it is not an exciting one.
Tristen’s writing is a treat. Full of metaphors and prose, the way she captures Ronoah’s anxiety and his inner monologue is presented excellently. I found my chest tightening along with our main character when he was struggling because his emotions and how they are presented to the reader are so spot on for anxiety and crippling perfectionism. I also enjoyed the little stories within a story that are aimed at helping Ronoah grow and discover more about himself, and that most of the nasty things he believes about himself are just in his head. I loved that this soft boy struggled, and while he maybe whined a bit, he didn’t give up. Despite his fear, he kept driving forward and trying, and trying, and trying again and I loved seeing that! It was such a delight to have a male MC that wasn’t this macho caricature of a person, too. Who didn’t seek to destroy or battle anyone, but who wanted to sit and learn, observe with kindness and tenderness for all he met. I loved the contrast that Reilin provided against Ronoah. His confidence, his excellence in almost everything he tries. How he slowly, meticulously, teases the greatness out of Ronoah. He’s a fun character, his banter witty and sarcastic, and he provided a perfect foil to Ronoah’s sweetness.
But, in terms of a fantasy, you won’t find much of that here. You get flavors with Ronoah’s godling and hints of it with the world in regards to the Shattering and an extinct race of beings who had once enslaved humanity. The most fantasy you get is with one of the characters that Ronoah meets along the way (I won’t say who specifically). This character only ever gets tangentially explained in terms of WHAT they are; we know more of what they are NOT by the end. But the description and how they change, and what they can do is lovely, I just wish I didn’t feel as if I hD missed something along the way? I rather liked just the flavors of fantasy strewn about the novel, but if you are expecting more, or just glorious displays of magic, you won’t find that here so go into this story knowing that.
This book is exceedingly hard for me to review, let alone rate. I really did enjoy the book, its overall story and especially the writing style. A novel of mainly purple prose and literary tones isn’t for everyone, but I loved it. But the book was… slow. The synopsis says it’s a slow burn travelogue and it’s 100% correct on that score, but I wouldn’t even say this was a burn at all. There was no real excitement, barely, if any, danger. The stakes for Ronoah are all very, very personal and internal. This is all about a character’s personal growth and not a ton else. Which is fine! But it meant I could put the book down and not feel a burning need to go back to it, to know what happens next. The mild mystery tugged me back occasionally, but there was never that feeling of “Oh my lord I have to read the next chapter to find out what happens!” That may be the hallmark of literary fiction though, which can, at times, clash with what you expect in fantasy which is why I’m settling on 4 stars, as this is, ultimately, an incomplete journey by the end. That being said, I can’t wait for the next book and would highly recommend this to patient readers, readers who love prose filled writing, and literary fiction! And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review.
Tristen’s writing is a treat. Full of metaphors and prose, the way she captures Ronoah’s anxiety and his inner monologue is presented excellently. I found my chest tightening along with our main character when he was struggling because his emotions and how they are presented to the reader are so spot on for anxiety and crippling perfectionism. I also enjoyed the little stories within a story that are aimed at helping Ronoah grow and discover more about himself, and that most of the nasty things he believes about himself are just in his head. I loved that this soft boy struggled, and while he maybe whined a bit, he didn’t give up. Despite his fear, he kept driving forward and trying, and trying, and trying again and I loved seeing that! It was such a delight to have a male MC that wasn’t this macho caricature of a person, too. Who didn’t seek to destroy or battle anyone, but who wanted to sit and learn, observe with kindness and tenderness for all he met. I loved the contrast that Reilin provided against Ronoah. His confidence, his excellence in almost everything he tries. How he slowly, meticulously, teases the greatness out of Ronoah. He’s a fun character, his banter witty and sarcastic, and he provided a perfect foil to Ronoah’s sweetness.
But, in terms of a fantasy, you won’t find much of that here. You get flavors with Ronoah’s godling and hints of it with the world in regards to the Shattering and an extinct race of beings who had once enslaved humanity. The most fantasy you get is with one of the characters that Ronoah meets along the way (I won’t say who specifically). This character only ever gets tangentially explained in terms of WHAT they are; we know more of what they are NOT by the end. But the description and how they change, and what they can do is lovely, I just wish I didn’t feel as if I hD missed something along the way? I rather liked just the flavors of fantasy strewn about the novel, but if you are expecting more, or just glorious displays of magic, you won’t find that here so go into this story knowing that.
This book is exceedingly hard for me to review, let alone rate. I really did enjoy the book, its overall story and especially the writing style. A novel of mainly purple prose and literary tones isn’t for everyone, but I loved it. But the book was… slow. The synopsis says it’s a slow burn travelogue and it’s 100% correct on that score, but I wouldn’t even say this was a burn at all. There was no real excitement, barely, if any, danger. The stakes for Ronoah are all very, very personal and internal. This is all about a character’s personal growth and not a ton else. Which is fine! But it meant I could put the book down and not feel a burning need to go back to it, to know what happens next. The mild mystery tugged me back occasionally, but there was never that feeling of “Oh my lord I have to read the next chapter to find out what happens!” That may be the hallmark of literary fiction though, which can, at times, clash with what you expect in fantasy which is why I’m settling on 4 stars, as this is, ultimately, an incomplete journey by the end. That being said, I can’t wait for the next book and would highly recommend this to patient readers, readers who love prose filled writing, and literary fiction! And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review.
August 13, 2024
FUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
Read
October 8, 2019At risk of waxing philosophical: this kind of book is the hardest kind of book to rate/review on here, and really calls into question the futility of assigning a rating at all. But, this exists to help people find books that they would like, so here we go.
The difficulty in reviewing this comes in the fact that this kind of story is simply not my cup of tea, but there's nothing inherently wrong with that. So, how to rate it? How subjective is a subjective rating?
If your ideal fantasy story is something slow-paced, filled with expansive world-building and lush description, heavy on theme, with tension and conflict that are far more internal than external, you'll probably really enjoy this book. The world of Shale is very interesting, and it's clear that the world-building has been done lovingly and enthusiastically. The prose is often very beautiful, it's incredibly compelling and really adds to the overall tone and experience of reading.
I also thought that the themes were really interesting, even if I couldn't connect completely with them (and I'm really not sure why). I'm always here for some ruminating on the meaning and purpose of stories, and the accompanying themes about change and culture fit well with it and were also explored interestingly.
Heretic's Guide to Homecoming reminded me a lot of, of all things, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Again, I think that the similarities come from the emphasis placed on storytelling, and the expansiveness of the world-building (as often done through stories).
In terms of my own reason for rating 3/5, I think one of the main barriers was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Ronoah's internal struggles are lovingly constructed and compelling, but he's very rarely an active participant in the story, and we don't get a good sense of his motivation until very deep within the book. Reilin/Özrek is too distant to really be a compelling foil (for a reason, but still), and though the troop of performers are really great, they leave half-way through the book.
The other barrier was that I generally prefer for fiction to have some sense of rising tension or stakes, and that also felt somewhat missing for me. The tension rose only occasionally, and these were, for me, the highlights, but then it would descend just as quickly. Furthermore, the lack of stakes made it harder for me to root for Ronoah.
Again, these are things for which I'm sure mileage will vary wildly. Just because I have a preference doesn't mean it's correct, and I think there's still a lot to admire about The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming, especially in supporting indie authors. You are all free to make your own decisions, and I am just a mere Goodreads reviewer, humbly dispensing opinions.
The difficulty in reviewing this comes in the fact that this kind of story is simply not my cup of tea, but there's nothing inherently wrong with that. So, how to rate it? How subjective is a subjective rating?
If your ideal fantasy story is something slow-paced, filled with expansive world-building and lush description, heavy on theme, with tension and conflict that are far more internal than external, you'll probably really enjoy this book. The world of Shale is very interesting, and it's clear that the world-building has been done lovingly and enthusiastically. The prose is often very beautiful, it's incredibly compelling and really adds to the overall tone and experience of reading.
I also thought that the themes were really interesting, even if I couldn't connect completely with them (and I'm really not sure why). I'm always here for some ruminating on the meaning and purpose of stories, and the accompanying themes about change and culture fit well with it and were also explored interestingly.
Heretic's Guide to Homecoming reminded me a lot of, of all things, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Again, I think that the similarities come from the emphasis placed on storytelling, and the expansiveness of the world-building (as often done through stories).
In terms of my own reason for rating 3/5, I think one of the main barriers was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Ronoah's internal struggles are lovingly constructed and compelling, but he's very rarely an active participant in the story, and we don't get a good sense of his motivation until very deep within the book. Reilin/Özrek is too distant to really be a compelling foil (for a reason, but still), and though the troop of performers are really great, they leave half-way through the book.
The other barrier was that I generally prefer for fiction to have some sense of rising tension or stakes, and that also felt somewhat missing for me. The tension rose only occasionally, and these were, for me, the highlights, but then it would descend just as quickly. Furthermore, the lack of stakes made it harder for me to root for Ronoah.
Again, these are things for which I'm sure mileage will vary wildly. Just because I have a preference doesn't mean it's correct, and I think there's still a lot to admire about The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming, especially in supporting indie authors. You are all free to make your own decisions, and I am just a mere Goodreads reviewer, humbly dispensing opinions.
February 3, 2023
It seems harsh, but my rating scale is based on my personal enjoyment of a novel, so despite this being a generally well written and inoffensive novel, it gets two stars. if you think you will like it for the reasons that other reviewers have liked it, you probably will. it does feel very harsh for me to rate this novel two stars, given it's essentially a well-written, thought out, slowburn fantasy (which by all means, I should love).
the only quarrel that I have with the actual writing of the book is that it's somewhat dense and overwritten at times. it's pretty clearly a debut novel as some of the chapters seem a little bit like all the author's best metaphors crammed into the narrative wherever they fit.
I preferred the first 40% of the novel, which is concerned with the tellers and the journey across chiropole. I thought the characters were stronger and the short stories that they told were generally more entertaining than whatever was going on with the plot.
the key issue I had with this novel was Ronoah, the main character, because he is simply a miserable perspective to read from. he drew up seriously uncomfortable feelings within myself, as I have at times been as seriously mentally unwell as he is throughout most of this novel. it felt like a mirror was being turned on me and it was embarrassing and humiliating to read about.
I didn't want to finish this. I didn't really want to be reading it because it made me feel miserable. Ronoah is deeply anxious and depressed, and the author does a sincerely amazing job of portraying the overwhelming reality of this. but it's just not enjoyable to read about in this much excruciating detail, for pages upon pages upon pages.
there was also a kind of weird conversation with one of the side characters about how him creating an empire had benefitted everyone and I thought that was just fucking weird. (maybe I misinterpreted this but it seemed sketchy to me)
I am sad I didn't like this because it's been on my want to read for over two years, but it just really wasn't for me. you can probably tell by how long it took me to read, seeing as I normally read a lot faster. I'm glad I got through it, but I'm disappointed.
the only quarrel that I have with the actual writing of the book is that it's somewhat dense and overwritten at times. it's pretty clearly a debut novel as some of the chapters seem a little bit like all the author's best metaphors crammed into the narrative wherever they fit.
I preferred the first 40% of the novel, which is concerned with the tellers and the journey across chiropole. I thought the characters were stronger and the short stories that they told were generally more entertaining than whatever was going on with the plot.
the key issue I had with this novel was Ronoah, the main character, because he is simply a miserable perspective to read from. he drew up seriously uncomfortable feelings within myself, as I have at times been as seriously mentally unwell as he is throughout most of this novel. it felt like a mirror was being turned on me and it was embarrassing and humiliating to read about.
I didn't want to finish this. I didn't really want to be reading it because it made me feel miserable. Ronoah is deeply anxious and depressed, and the author does a sincerely amazing job of portraying the overwhelming reality of this. but it's just not enjoyable to read about in this much excruciating detail, for pages upon pages upon pages.
there was also a kind of weird conversation with one of the side characters about how him creating an empire had benefitted everyone and I thought that was just fucking weird. (maybe I misinterpreted this but it seemed sketchy to me)
I am sad I didn't like this because it's been on my want to read for over two years, but it just really wasn't for me. you can probably tell by how long it took me to read, seeing as I normally read a lot faster. I'm glad I got through it, but I'm disappointed.
August 9, 2018
This book is absolutely fantastic in every way. It was the first book I picked up in a long while, having fallen a bit out of my love of reading due to school, work, and life in general, and it revived my passion for reading in the most magical way. This is largely because this world Sienna has built reaches beyond the bound pages here and into the stories and world-building of The Shale Project, but also working your way into your own brain, asking yourself deeper questions, and wanting more from yourself to gain more out of life.
As for the book, every bit of it is mind-blowingly smart as anything. From the first paragraphs to the last, as new as each character, place, name, god was to me, at its core, it is comforting and familiar. When you think about it separate from reading, it may seem impossible to comprehend receiving so much information, so much background, so much heart and character and detail, but nothing felt more natural than taking it all in. Not only has it rekindled my drive for reading, but it has given more fuel to how much I love and appreciate the art of storytelling.
I’ve done my first read-through and I cannot wait to read it again, this second time allowing myself to note and underline and star and sketch and allow this copy to physicalize the love I have for it, for as of now all it has to show are a few dog-eared pages from where I was forced to take a pause. I have zero doubts that it will be re-read many, many times beyond the second.
I cannot think of a beautiful or elegant way of saying please get yourself a copy of this book as soon as your fingers can press the proper keys. Just GO.
As for the book, every bit of it is mind-blowingly smart as anything. From the first paragraphs to the last, as new as each character, place, name, god was to me, at its core, it is comforting and familiar. When you think about it separate from reading, it may seem impossible to comprehend receiving so much information, so much background, so much heart and character and detail, but nothing felt more natural than taking it all in. Not only has it rekindled my drive for reading, but it has given more fuel to how much I love and appreciate the art of storytelling.
I’ve done my first read-through and I cannot wait to read it again, this second time allowing myself to note and underline and star and sketch and allow this copy to physicalize the love I have for it, for as of now all it has to show are a few dog-eared pages from where I was forced to take a pause. I have zero doubts that it will be re-read many, many times beyond the second.
I cannot think of a beautiful or elegant way of saying please get yourself a copy of this book as soon as your fingers can press the proper keys. Just GO.
November 21, 2024
In the vein of The Goblin Emperor and The Hands of the Emperor, The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming is a fantasy novel focused more on the inner development of the characters but still with a very complex and rich worldbuilding. It’s a book for when you really have time to read and enjoy the journey and not rush through the pages to the end.
Just a TW: if you have anxiety/panic disorder, know that there are detailed, visceral descriptions of panic attacks and intrusive thoughts in the book. It might feel amazing being so seen but it might also trigger you.
Just a TW: if you have anxiety/panic disorder, know that there are detailed, visceral descriptions of panic attacks and intrusive thoughts in the book. It might feel amazing being so seen but it might also trigger you.
January 12, 2019
Reviewed by Keshia Mcclantoc for Reader Views (1/19)
“The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming” is the first in what proves to be a promising series for Sienna Tristen. This story follows the boy, whose name seems larger than life, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani, as he leaves him home and looks for a path of redemption. From there, he meets the adventurous Reilin and together they take a journey full of magic, challenges, and strange and wonderful creatures amuck. As Ronoah recounts the epic journey that they take together, the reader has no choice to but to be drawn in.
And drawn in I was! As I read this narrative, I found myself amazed by the ways Tristen clearly crafted an interesting and compelling world. While many fantasies find themselves falling in step beside each other, with retellings of the same creatures and magic, Ronoah’s story felt like a breath of fresh air. With each chapter, I dove more deeply into the world that Tristen created and found myself delighted by both the light and dark magics that the characters encountered. I applaud Tristen for the deep and intrinsic world-building that was put into the novel. Although some readers would find the multilayered level of detail overwhelming, I found it compelling and complicated in all the right ways.
Tristen succeeded in creating a narrative that was beautifully written, not just in mythos but also in its treatments of its characters. Ronoah’s story is not only a story of magic but also a story of finding yourself in a world rife with complex emotions. Ronoah has anxieties, doubts, and fears which he carries throughout the entire novel. And Tristen writes on these emotions in a way that is rich with understanding and empathy. The emotions of these pages read not as some farce designed to make the character seem like they’re struggling but as real and human as the reader. When Ronoah panicked, I panicked. We he was joyful, I was joyful. And as he grew and learned to understand himself, I felt like I was learning with him. This type of emotional connection is rare for me; it takes a truly brilliant author and narrative to cultivate that and Tristen’s narrative does so.
Overall, Tristen’s “The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming” is one of my favorite fantasies I have read in a long time. Although the narrative is complex and perhaps confusing at times, it is one that is willing to wrap you into its world if you allow it. It is a novel for anyone who wants to take that dive and give themselves over to a whimsical, adventurous world. Tristen proved herself to be a capable author not only in building a compelling world but also a compelling set of characters. I’m looking forward to the worlds and characters she continues to produce.
“The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming” is the first in what proves to be a promising series for Sienna Tristen. This story follows the boy, whose name seems larger than life, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani, as he leaves him home and looks for a path of redemption. From there, he meets the adventurous Reilin and together they take a journey full of magic, challenges, and strange and wonderful creatures amuck. As Ronoah recounts the epic journey that they take together, the reader has no choice to but to be drawn in.
And drawn in I was! As I read this narrative, I found myself amazed by the ways Tristen clearly crafted an interesting and compelling world. While many fantasies find themselves falling in step beside each other, with retellings of the same creatures and magic, Ronoah’s story felt like a breath of fresh air. With each chapter, I dove more deeply into the world that Tristen created and found myself delighted by both the light and dark magics that the characters encountered. I applaud Tristen for the deep and intrinsic world-building that was put into the novel. Although some readers would find the multilayered level of detail overwhelming, I found it compelling and complicated in all the right ways.
Tristen succeeded in creating a narrative that was beautifully written, not just in mythos but also in its treatments of its characters. Ronoah’s story is not only a story of magic but also a story of finding yourself in a world rife with complex emotions. Ronoah has anxieties, doubts, and fears which he carries throughout the entire novel. And Tristen writes on these emotions in a way that is rich with understanding and empathy. The emotions of these pages read not as some farce designed to make the character seem like they’re struggling but as real and human as the reader. When Ronoah panicked, I panicked. We he was joyful, I was joyful. And as he grew and learned to understand himself, I felt like I was learning with him. This type of emotional connection is rare for me; it takes a truly brilliant author and narrative to cultivate that and Tristen’s narrative does so.
Overall, Tristen’s “The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming” is one of my favorite fantasies I have read in a long time. Although the narrative is complex and perhaps confusing at times, it is one that is willing to wrap you into its world if you allow it. It is a novel for anyone who wants to take that dive and give themselves over to a whimsical, adventurous world. Tristen proved herself to be a capable author not only in building a compelling world but also a compelling set of characters. I’m looking forward to the worlds and characters she continues to produce.
April 25, 2018
“The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming: Theory” is a marvelous journey that left me the reader feeling, much like the story’s main character, privileged to have been allowed along as part of it. The story begins with our main character Ronoah alone far from home; unsure of both where he is going next, and everything that has brought him this far. Conversation with an enchantingly mysterious stranger escalates to an invitation on a journey across the continent to the holy Pilgrim State. The narrative that unfolds from there is a beautiful saga of haunting pasts, uncertain destinies, and the most daunting of journeys: self discovery. Most important throughout is the telling of stories, and the ways that they shape ourselves and the world around us. Fans of such series as King’s “Dark Tower” and Rothfuss’ “Kingkiller Chronicles” would certainly find themselves in familiar territory. Sienna Tristen writes with such unparalleled emotional intelligence and insight, every character comes alive waiting to be reached out and connected to. I would highly recommend this book to any reader prepared to discover and fall in love with a new world. I received a free advance copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2025
I didn't know when I started reading this book that I was actually a crumpled up paper ball slowly being unfurled. I reached a tipping point at about the 60% mark and couldn't put the book down - I had to know if Ronoah would actually begin the process of healing he believed himself incapable of. The gentle pacing, the deep character study, the lore, the stories told within... I loved everything about The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming. Ronoah is so believable a person trapped in his own head. I cannot wait to start reading the book 2!
June 14, 2022
"I shall give them a name for themselves, a way to distinguish from place and parentage and godling, for it is by this distinguishment that they will grow into their reason for being. I shall give them a name for themselves, that they may feel the spark of their own unbridled individuality and know themselves important, no matter the forces which may seek to persuade them otherwise.
Make it so, exclaimed the gods.
With pleasure, said grinning Genoveffa. Behold: from language, life."
(4.5 stars) the heretic's guide to homecoming is a book that contains multitudes, coming alive, rearing its sentience above simple pages. a deeply empathetic and all-encompassing story tempered by hundreds of thousands of stories interwoven within, creating a world of palpably rich flavor and depth. it is about kindness and courage, at the same time about injustice and fear. about friendship and family, all the same about gods and godlings. it cuts relentlessly deep in its portrayals of both festering anxiety and progressive healing. and most notably, as the book is a "guide," we bear witness to ronoah's inner musings, and follow him on his travels, one physical through the world of shale, the other mental—a quest to self-acceptance, self-possession.
this book is written with gentleness and hope, and i went into it expecting this, but what i did not anticipate was the mental fortitude i needed to persevere through the story. our main character ronoah has an intense internal dialogue with his anxiety, and much of the text tails him on his downward spirals as he reacts to and moves through the world. while i found myself in keen resonance with ronoah as a character because of this, it was also difficult to see such struggles so accurately depicted on the pages, difficult to read as he dwelled on his perceived shortcomings when he actually had so much to offer. that being said, ronoah is so easy to empathize with and love, not only because of his grapple with mental health, but also because he tries his hardest to be kind and honest, to listen, to be observant and attentive, to appreciate others and his surroundings. really, to put it shortly, he just tries, period. in doing that, i found it so soothing to tag along on his journey, to watch him experience new things, to experience him kindling meaningful relationships. to see him fall, reflect, and get back up over and over again was incredibly inspiring. "life is transformation," he encourages himself stubbornly, "so change already."
ronoah's companion, reilin, is a perfect foil. although they share many traits (compassion, attentiveness, wisdom), reilin is much more self-confident from the get-go and therefore a quite a bit more unpredictable. so unpredictable, cryptic, and mysterious, in fact, that i occasionally found him rather frightening. despite that, though, i felt that i was able to trust him. time and time again, he shows ronoah what he needs to see, and tells him what he needs to hear (albeit with copious amounts of subtlety), nudging ronoah along, helping him find his footing, his voice, and himself. and surprisingly—or maybe unsurprisingly, given his character—reilin does this all for his own gain. so for reilin, i am truly grateful. he is one of the most interesting and uniquely multifaceted characters i've read about in a long time.
if the main characters weren't enough, the world of the heretic's guide and its people were full of intrigue. with every bend in the road, ronoah and reilin discovered something new. with every new friend met, every teller heard, every story and legend told, i was struck with true wonder. it is tremendously apparent that this world was built with so much love, thought, and care. even after hearing so much about each place, each culture, i still feel that there is so much more to know. i am still dizzy with awe at how real this story felt, and at the same time how magical it was. and like ronoah, i never stopped wanting to hear more.
it's hard to describe exactly what happens in this book, because truthfully, not much does. much of the expedition is internal, driven by the development and growth of its characters, characters who happen upon stories instead of the other way around. but luckily, that is just the type of story that i love. i adored every bit of it, its lessons on empathy and kindness, on vulnerability and trust, on failing and learning. i think the greatest maxim, however, was this—listen to others, believe in their stories, and don't forget to do the same for yourself.
“'I am changing. I am better, and getting better every day that passes, I know it, and you know it, because there was once a time where nothing could have separated you from the dusty roads you walked. You know the power an adventure has to transform you. It is worth the suffering. But—' His voice wavered just a bit, suddenly timid. 'But one day I will visit, and end your suffering. I will show you how changed I am, and I hope you will like what you see.'”
Make it so, exclaimed the gods.
With pleasure, said grinning Genoveffa. Behold: from language, life."
(4.5 stars) the heretic's guide to homecoming is a book that contains multitudes, coming alive, rearing its sentience above simple pages. a deeply empathetic and all-encompassing story tempered by hundreds of thousands of stories interwoven within, creating a world of palpably rich flavor and depth. it is about kindness and courage, at the same time about injustice and fear. about friendship and family, all the same about gods and godlings. it cuts relentlessly deep in its portrayals of both festering anxiety and progressive healing. and most notably, as the book is a "guide," we bear witness to ronoah's inner musings, and follow him on his travels, one physical through the world of shale, the other mental—a quest to self-acceptance, self-possession.
this book is written with gentleness and hope, and i went into it expecting this, but what i did not anticipate was the mental fortitude i needed to persevere through the story. our main character ronoah has an intense internal dialogue with his anxiety, and much of the text tails him on his downward spirals as he reacts to and moves through the world. while i found myself in keen resonance with ronoah as a character because of this, it was also difficult to see such struggles so accurately depicted on the pages, difficult to read as he dwelled on his perceived shortcomings when he actually had so much to offer. that being said, ronoah is so easy to empathize with and love, not only because of his grapple with mental health, but also because he tries his hardest to be kind and honest, to listen, to be observant and attentive, to appreciate others and his surroundings. really, to put it shortly, he just tries, period. in doing that, i found it so soothing to tag along on his journey, to watch him experience new things, to experience him kindling meaningful relationships. to see him fall, reflect, and get back up over and over again was incredibly inspiring. "life is transformation," he encourages himself stubbornly, "so change already."
ronoah's companion, reilin, is a perfect foil. although they share many traits (compassion, attentiveness, wisdom), reilin is much more self-confident from the get-go and therefore a quite a bit more unpredictable. so unpredictable, cryptic, and mysterious, in fact, that i occasionally found him rather frightening. despite that, though, i felt that i was able to trust him. time and time again, he shows ronoah what he needs to see, and tells him what he needs to hear (albeit with copious amounts of subtlety), nudging ronoah along, helping him find his footing, his voice, and himself. and surprisingly—or maybe unsurprisingly, given his character—reilin does this all for his own gain. so for reilin, i am truly grateful. he is one of the most interesting and uniquely multifaceted characters i've read about in a long time.
if the main characters weren't enough, the world of the heretic's guide and its people were full of intrigue. with every bend in the road, ronoah and reilin discovered something new. with every new friend met, every teller heard, every story and legend told, i was struck with true wonder. it is tremendously apparent that this world was built with so much love, thought, and care. even after hearing so much about each place, each culture, i still feel that there is so much more to know. i am still dizzy with awe at how real this story felt, and at the same time how magical it was. and like ronoah, i never stopped wanting to hear more.
it's hard to describe exactly what happens in this book, because truthfully, not much does. much of the expedition is internal, driven by the development and growth of its characters, characters who happen upon stories instead of the other way around. but luckily, that is just the type of story that i love. i adored every bit of it, its lessons on empathy and kindness, on vulnerability and trust, on failing and learning. i think the greatest maxim, however, was this—listen to others, believe in their stories, and don't forget to do the same for yourself.
“'I am changing. I am better, and getting better every day that passes, I know it, and you know it, because there was once a time where nothing could have separated you from the dusty roads you walked. You know the power an adventure has to transform you. It is worth the suffering. But—' His voice wavered just a bit, suddenly timid. 'But one day I will visit, and end your suffering. I will show you how changed I am, and I hope you will like what you see.'”
September 16, 2024
“It is the unexpected things that impact us the most.”
how unexpected, indeed, to stumble upon a story that becomes a part of you. drawing you in like the comfort of sunlight filtering through trees, of waves lapping against the shore, of hushed conversations around a crackling campfire, of home.
the heretic’s guide to homecoming left me enchanted, mesmerized, simply wonderstruck. i fell in love with the people ronoah—our kind, curious, soft-hearted protagonist—and reilin—our bewildering, outrageous, marvelous foil—encountered, the tales they heard and told, the places they saw. this immersion was quite the double-edged sword, however, because as we follow ronoah on his journey we also bear witness to his relentless battle with anxiety and come to understand, in painful detail, how it governs his life.
“What were you thinking, acting like you’re so important, so worldly, making it out like you’re some big intellectual champion when all you really are is a petulant runaway with a few bits of trivia stuck in your useless head? Talking and talking like you’re an authority on anything—who do you think you are?”
i deeply resonated with ronoah’s self-consciousness, his fear of failure, of rejection, of taking up space, of leaving behind nothing but a trail of mistakes and regrets. with every self-doubting, self-loathing thought ronoah had, my heart broke a little more. but rest assured, this is a hopeful tale. of going on a journey to regain your spirit. of not allowing your past to dictate your present, your future. of daring to be vulnerable and connecting with people even when you are scared. of learning to be kinder to yourself, gentler, more patient.
“There’s no way you can do it, sneered a voice in his head.
So, said a second voice, a warmer voice, quieter but stronger—so find a way to learn.”
i will never stop thinking about this book, so compassionate and thought-provoking, so masterfully and lovingly crafted, so intimate, like a secret whispered in my ear, burrowed deep in my heart.
how unexpected, indeed, to stumble upon a story that becomes a part of you. drawing you in like the comfort of sunlight filtering through trees, of waves lapping against the shore, of hushed conversations around a crackling campfire, of home.
the heretic’s guide to homecoming left me enchanted, mesmerized, simply wonderstruck. i fell in love with the people ronoah—our kind, curious, soft-hearted protagonist—and reilin—our bewildering, outrageous, marvelous foil—encountered, the tales they heard and told, the places they saw. this immersion was quite the double-edged sword, however, because as we follow ronoah on his journey we also bear witness to his relentless battle with anxiety and come to understand, in painful detail, how it governs his life.
“What were you thinking, acting like you’re so important, so worldly, making it out like you’re some big intellectual champion when all you really are is a petulant runaway with a few bits of trivia stuck in your useless head? Talking and talking like you’re an authority on anything—who do you think you are?”
i deeply resonated with ronoah’s self-consciousness, his fear of failure, of rejection, of taking up space, of leaving behind nothing but a trail of mistakes and regrets. with every self-doubting, self-loathing thought ronoah had, my heart broke a little more. but rest assured, this is a hopeful tale. of going on a journey to regain your spirit. of not allowing your past to dictate your present, your future. of daring to be vulnerable and connecting with people even when you are scared. of learning to be kinder to yourself, gentler, more patient.
“There’s no way you can do it, sneered a voice in his head.
So, said a second voice, a warmer voice, quieter but stronger—so find a way to learn.”
i will never stop thinking about this book, so compassionate and thought-provoking, so masterfully and lovingly crafted, so intimate, like a secret whispered in my ear, burrowed deep in my heart.
February 23, 2023
6/5: I stayed up late and skipped work to read it. I cried at least twice. I sat in stunned wonder for a good 10 minutes when I finished it.
I was recommended this story for someone who liked A Conspiracy of Truths, as a book that has stories within stories, and is character focused.
Ok. Look. 5/5's are hard to earn for me. This book earned it's 5 less than halfway through. I cried at least 3 times. I wanted to pluck the characters out and give them hugs for being beautiful, messy people. I highlighted more passages in this book than in the rest of the books I've read this year combined. I thought I wasn't a sucker for good prose, and boy did this book prove me wrong. It's one of the few slice of life books I've really liked. It is really that good, and more people should read it.
This book might be "slow paced" and "character focused", but it is not slice of life, in the sense that it is all about daily struggles. This is a story about personal growth, but it is an entire novel of a person's conflict with himself, and that tension absolutely drives the story.
Pros:
The prose!
The journey! (Both the internal character journey, and the external travel)
The metaphysics!
The way that it's about stories - the ones we tell ourselves, and the ones we tell others.
Cons:
The book delves deep into a highly accurate anxiety spiral, pulled tight in on Ronoah's perspective. It's...uncomfortable to read, though the depiction of anxiety is spot on. I ended up skimming a lot of those parts and mentally filling in . These parts are essential, but hard to read.
I was recommended this story for someone who liked A Conspiracy of Truths, as a book that has stories within stories, and is character focused.
Ok. Look. 5/5's are hard to earn for me. This book earned it's 5 less than halfway through. I cried at least 3 times. I wanted to pluck the characters out and give them hugs for being beautiful, messy people. I highlighted more passages in this book than in the rest of the books I've read this year combined. I thought I wasn't a sucker for good prose, and boy did this book prove me wrong. It's one of the few slice of life books I've really liked. It is really that good, and more people should read it.
This book might be "slow paced" and "character focused", but it is not slice of life, in the sense that it is all about daily struggles. This is a story about personal growth, but it is an entire novel of a person's conflict with himself, and that tension absolutely drives the story.
Pros:
The prose!
The journey! (Both the internal character journey, and the external travel)
The metaphysics!
The way that it's about stories - the ones we tell ourselves, and the ones we tell others.
Cons:
The book delves deep into a highly accurate anxiety spiral, pulled tight in on Ronoah's perspective. It's...uncomfortable to read, though the depiction of anxiety is spot on. I ended up skimming a lot of those parts and mentally filling in . These parts are essential, but hard to read.
July 27, 2018
First off, let me say that if you're looking for a typical first-attempt-of-the-author book, this ain't it. I was constantly surprised, pleasantly, with the philosophical insight, complex use of language and depth of character development. Fantasy normally lurks in the action hack-and-slash area, and in fairness, when you've read about one seven-foot tall barbarian with a broadsword, you've read about them all. Tristen goes to great lengths to throw the bedrock of the genre out the window in favour of a story that is far more relatable and personal, without giving up any of the suspense or wonder. I was hooked slowly but surely, going through the first half of the book in a week, and the second half in a day. As a fellow author, I rarely say this, but I could not have written this book, not by a long shot. Buy it now, and don't let it sit on the 'to read' shelf.
May 12, 2025
I don’t know how Tristen isn’t more famous than she currently is; this book is absolutely a new all-time favorite.
The story presents a gut-wrenching experience that was so relatable to me that I ended up with a proper stomach ache. It felt like I was the one living the story, with how much I recognized myself in the main character. The anxiety that plays such a major role in Ronoah’s life, made him feel fully fleshed-out; the way Reilin interacts and plays around with it, is sometimes a little infuriating but in the end, the pay-off was immense. This book was riddled with emotional epiphanies and they all hit me right in the feels.
History and culture makes up an immense part of this book and of Ronoah’s personal journey; this book contained many haunting mysteries and folklore stories that changed his view on the world, and I loved every single one of them. The myths and legends were so tied in with the main story that there was very little that felt irrelevant, if anything. Every folk tale wasn’t just told, it was experienced as if it were happening right then and there – and not just through the author’s poetic storytelling, but also through Ronoah’s reactions and perspective.
I’m very much looking to reading the sequel and I cannot stress enough how much I’d recommend this one to any fantasy reader who appreciates character growth.
The story presents a gut-wrenching experience that was so relatable to me that I ended up with a proper stomach ache. It felt like I was the one living the story, with how much I recognized myself in the main character. The anxiety that plays such a major role in Ronoah’s life, made him feel fully fleshed-out; the way Reilin interacts and plays around with it, is sometimes a little infuriating but in the end, the pay-off was immense. This book was riddled with emotional epiphanies and they all hit me right in the feels.
History and culture makes up an immense part of this book and of Ronoah’s personal journey; this book contained many haunting mysteries and folklore stories that changed his view on the world, and I loved every single one of them. The myths and legends were so tied in with the main story that there was very little that felt irrelevant, if anything. Every folk tale wasn’t just told, it was experienced as if it were happening right then and there – and not just through the author’s poetic storytelling, but also through Ronoah’s reactions and perspective.
I’m very much looking to reading the sequel and I cannot stress enough how much I’d recommend this one to any fantasy reader who appreciates character growth.
January 1, 2023
“Be clever. Be brave. Rebel against inertia. Whatever you do, do something.”
"You are certainly complicated enough to be more than once thing at once, so let yourself be more.”
There is something that touches us all at our beginning, whether that be spiritually or celestially - a soft wax seals upon our souls, marking us for greatness. Every trivial and colossally important event, and all the moments in between, write our story - appeasement of the given audience be damned because the cost of denying your destiny is not worth the opinions of others. Over-analyzing our choices before we even make them robs us of the entirety of the experience itself.
Tristen reminds us of the great gift of “why not,” to let the things we love kill us, and to stop protecting ourselves from what’s already inside each of us. At what point in time did we start looking in the mirror and dislike what we saw? What happened that made it so easily to hate ourselves? HGH made me realize that when I had taken out the parts of myself that I didn’t like, I forgot to fill them with new, healthy, constructive bricks - the empty spaces then creating their own set of problems. I fell into a mindset trap that I could passively get better. But change is work.
While Ronoah’s haunting monachopsis was a necessary starting point for his journey, HGH was the push I never knew I needed to reflect on my own beliefs and my own insecurities. This book taught me that loosing things, be it objects or people, taking or not taking opportunities, and making mistakes are both important and inconsequential, because while they shape us, they do not make us. That when we try to change ourselves and it feels as if the previous parts of us become even more entrenched, permanent, and irreversible, all we need to do is step outside the false dichotomy of one versus another and interweave possibilities, giving each and every side equal weight. Not every action has to be scrutinized to an extreme and rooted in reason based on prevention, preservation, or peaceful self-destruction. Sometimes a decision is just a decision.
Reading this book once provided an overwhelming sense of newness in which I examined myself from the inside out. But this masterpiece needs reading, and re-reading, and re-reading to truly appreciate the effortless power and powerful effortlessness of failing spectacularly. I lost a part of myself while reading this book, but I am ready to plant new seeds. “We learn from losing; we change when we are challenged.” A true tale to be revered for many years and generations to come.
"You are certainly complicated enough to be more than once thing at once, so let yourself be more.”
There is something that touches us all at our beginning, whether that be spiritually or celestially - a soft wax seals upon our souls, marking us for greatness. Every trivial and colossally important event, and all the moments in between, write our story - appeasement of the given audience be damned because the cost of denying your destiny is not worth the opinions of others. Over-analyzing our choices before we even make them robs us of the entirety of the experience itself.
Tristen reminds us of the great gift of “why not,” to let the things we love kill us, and to stop protecting ourselves from what’s already inside each of us. At what point in time did we start looking in the mirror and dislike what we saw? What happened that made it so easily to hate ourselves? HGH made me realize that when I had taken out the parts of myself that I didn’t like, I forgot to fill them with new, healthy, constructive bricks - the empty spaces then creating their own set of problems. I fell into a mindset trap that I could passively get better. But change is work.
While Ronoah’s haunting monachopsis was a necessary starting point for his journey, HGH was the push I never knew I needed to reflect on my own beliefs and my own insecurities. This book taught me that loosing things, be it objects or people, taking or not taking opportunities, and making mistakes are both important and inconsequential, because while they shape us, they do not make us. That when we try to change ourselves and it feels as if the previous parts of us become even more entrenched, permanent, and irreversible, all we need to do is step outside the false dichotomy of one versus another and interweave possibilities, giving each and every side equal weight. Not every action has to be scrutinized to an extreme and rooted in reason based on prevention, preservation, or peaceful self-destruction. Sometimes a decision is just a decision.
Reading this book once provided an overwhelming sense of newness in which I examined myself from the inside out. But this masterpiece needs reading, and re-reading, and re-reading to truly appreciate the effortless power and powerful effortlessness of failing spectacularly. I lost a part of myself while reading this book, but I am ready to plant new seeds. “We learn from losing; we change when we are challenged.” A true tale to be revered for many years and generations to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2021
This is not a bad book. It is a very well done book, by someone who has a great grasp on the English language and a good knack for worldbuilding. It's also a travelogue with very minimal stakes and quite a lot of internal monologues. I'd say it's akin to a Doctor Who story, with Reilin as the Doctor and Ronoah, the protagonist, as the companion, if the companion had crippling anxiety and more self-doubt than me and all of my friends combined, and if the evil aliens had all died a few centuries before the story began. Oh, and the second half of the season all takes place on the same set.
I'm sure it has been an enchanting journey for some readers, but I can't seem to be able to go above "nice". It is nice, really nice. I love the places Ronoah sees, the people he meets. But there are just no stakes, no real tension, no plot, no drive forward. I closed this book on the promise of a new adventure in the sequel, and I find myself not really bothered to wait and read it.
I'm sure it has been an enchanting journey for some readers, but I can't seem to be able to go above "nice". It is nice, really nice. I love the places Ronoah sees, the people he meets. But there are just no stakes, no real tension, no plot, no drive forward. I closed this book on the promise of a new adventure in the sequel, and I find myself not really bothered to wait and read it.
March 25, 2023
I love the concept of an anxiety-ridden, self-sabotaging protagonist with demon drill sergeants inside his head. It's so different to your usual hero. So relatable! But that also became what the book was about -- that and that only. There was no bad guy - the bad guy was inside him. The structure of the last third of the book is a search quest and guess what! Even the person/being who guides him through his journey is so much more interesting than we ever get to explore. We know he's .... something interesting ... but we don't get to hear his story, who he is, where he comes from, why he has such cool magical powers.... The other characters in the story are like this too, except maybe the caravan folks -- they come and go as needed, as props for the story and there's no sense that they're real or having a real effect on the main character. I started this out very intrigued and ended it disappointed.
July 9, 2024
Theory is a stunning debut that I read over a couple of months to savour the words and remain in the world for as long as I could. As I was reading, I found myself jotting down notes - words turned sentences turned paragraphs - which I felt compelled to turn into my first Goodreads review.
The plot is simple: Ronoah is far from home, and feeling lonely and destitute, is invited to join a conversation to settle a debate. There he meets Reilin, which inadvertently sends him off on a journey to the other side of the world. The journey itself is slow, and despite Reilin's impatience, they take the time to feel and breathe in their surroundings. The world has such rich history, is brimming in deep-rooted cultures, and is full of archaeological treasure troves. Ronoah, being a highly curious scholar, finds joy in new discoveries, in treading millennia-old, abandoned paths. He feels so deeply the love of learning and treats everything with reverence. On the other side, Reilin acts as an observer of an observer; he enjoys seeing Ronoah react to these finds, these hidden wonders.
But while there is a physical journey to be had, there's also a mental one that Ronoah needs to take.
This is our introduction to Ronoah, the very first thoughts we hear, and that shadow of self-loathing, of feeling unworthy never leaves. Ronoah's worst enemy is his own mind. He can cut into himself so deep because he knows his flaws better than anyone. His negativity takes over and the positives aren't able to take root. That's all he knows how to do, and he doesn't acknowledge it's only part of himself. Ronoah's mental journey is about self-acceptance; embracing his flaws and uncovering the tools to help himself.
Tristen understands that dealing with anxiety can be a slow, agonising change. Old habits resurface and it can feel like you're stuck in the same place as you always were. Even if you know what needs to be done, that doesn't mean things will fix itself; it doesn't make the monumental act of trying any easier. The frustration that can hold is palpable, and the self-deprecation that runs in your veins is always present to rebuke you, to torment yourself into believing you're attempting a futile, even impossible task.
It can be difficult being in Ronoah's mind, as it would be to be in the mind of anyone who experiences mental illness. It's explored so thoroughly that there's no escape from Ronoah's thoughts; it's unrelenting and suffocating. I'll admit it even got too much for me at times, so I simply put down the book and came back to it when I was ready (more like itching) to return.
Another reviewer compared Ronoah and Reilin's relationship to The Doctor and their companion which made me laugh, because you know what, I can see it. Reilin is shrouded in mystery and his motivations are unclear. He holds a sheer breadth of knowledge which he divulges in hints, like he's waiting for Ronoah to put the pieces together. The relationship appears imbalanced, one where Reilin holds all the cards, but Ronoah is so trapped within himself that the balance can't shift until he embraces those tools and stops letting his mind take over, even if just for a moment. Thus, ever so slowly, the scales do tip, and it's a dazzling sight when finally, Ronoah begins to deal with the shadows looming over him.
Stories also play a crucial part in the novel. How a single story can change something fundamental within yourself; how important and sometimes freeing it is to tell your story and be heard, to express and decompress; and about stories that never had their chance to be told. Stories are tied to experiences, to knowledge, which Ronoah respects greatly and feels just as intensely. Accompanying this are the tales themselves, and they are given so much weight; told without interruption so you can be present and fully immersed. The reactions, the dissection - all of that comes after you've soaked it all in.
The writing is vivid and descriptive and so beautiful. Long sentences flow smoothly, and shorter sentences flow into paragraphs like there's a current pushing them forward. It's like a rush to paint the picture exactly how it is, to show you the glamour or the tragedy; the words run until every carefully curated word has been said. I felt something similar from the way Ronoah speaks. His internal monologue is full of such vitriol that he pushes everything down except his own words which drown out all other sounds; he empathises with such fervour he can't contain the emotions it conjures - that is until it all overflows and the ensuing rush leaves him breathless.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone. As mentioned, the anxiety is all-consuming, and can make it hard to read; at the very least know what you're getting into. But if character-driven introspective journeys, lyrical writing, exploration of character flaws (and merits!), a dash of found family, and an undercurrent of brightness and warmth rings any bells for you, then please, please give this a try.
Final score: 4.5/5
Some additional thoughts:
I really enjoyed the 'Words on the Words' section, which explains pronunciations and the linguistic roots of names and places. I didn't see it until the end, but it was fun to see what pronunciations I got right, and which ones I didn't. I'm hoping there's an expanded version in book two, because it's so interesting!
Also, since I often pair music with the media I consume, I want to note the song that made me feel even more connected to the world: Voyage au delà des océans by Yogitea.
The plot is simple: Ronoah is far from home, and feeling lonely and destitute, is invited to join a conversation to settle a debate. There he meets Reilin, which inadvertently sends him off on a journey to the other side of the world. The journey itself is slow, and despite Reilin's impatience, they take the time to feel and breathe in their surroundings. The world has such rich history, is brimming in deep-rooted cultures, and is full of archaeological treasure troves. Ronoah, being a highly curious scholar, finds joy in new discoveries, in treading millennia-old, abandoned paths. He feels so deeply the love of learning and treats everything with reverence. On the other side, Reilin acts as an observer of an observer; he enjoys seeing Ronoah react to these finds, these hidden wonders.
But while there is a physical journey to be had, there's also a mental one that Ronoah needs to take.
You don't deserve your own name.
This is our introduction to Ronoah, the very first thoughts we hear, and that shadow of self-loathing, of feeling unworthy never leaves. Ronoah's worst enemy is his own mind. He can cut into himself so deep because he knows his flaws better than anyone. His negativity takes over and the positives aren't able to take root. That's all he knows how to do, and he doesn't acknowledge it's only part of himself. Ronoah's mental journey is about self-acceptance; embracing his flaws and uncovering the tools to help himself.
Tristen understands that dealing with anxiety can be a slow, agonising change. Old habits resurface and it can feel like you're stuck in the same place as you always were. Even if you know what needs to be done, that doesn't mean things will fix itself; it doesn't make the monumental act of trying any easier. The frustration that can hold is palpable, and the self-deprecation that runs in your veins is always present to rebuke you, to torment yourself into believing you're attempting a futile, even impossible task.
It can be difficult being in Ronoah's mind, as it would be to be in the mind of anyone who experiences mental illness. It's explored so thoroughly that there's no escape from Ronoah's thoughts; it's unrelenting and suffocating. I'll admit it even got too much for me at times, so I simply put down the book and came back to it when I was ready (more like itching) to return.
Another reviewer compared Ronoah and Reilin's relationship to The Doctor and their companion which made me laugh, because you know what, I can see it. Reilin is shrouded in mystery and his motivations are unclear. He holds a sheer breadth of knowledge which he divulges in hints, like he's waiting for Ronoah to put the pieces together. The relationship appears imbalanced, one where Reilin holds all the cards, but Ronoah is so trapped within himself that the balance can't shift until he embraces those tools and stops letting his mind take over, even if just for a moment. Thus, ever so slowly, the scales do tip, and it's a dazzling sight when finally, Ronoah begins to deal with the shadows looming over him.
Stories also play a crucial part in the novel. How a single story can change something fundamental within yourself; how important and sometimes freeing it is to tell your story and be heard, to express and decompress; and about stories that never had their chance to be told. Stories are tied to experiences, to knowledge, which Ronoah respects greatly and feels just as intensely. Accompanying this are the tales themselves, and they are given so much weight; told without interruption so you can be present and fully immersed. The reactions, the dissection - all of that comes after you've soaked it all in.
The writing is vivid and descriptive and so beautiful. Long sentences flow smoothly, and shorter sentences flow into paragraphs like there's a current pushing them forward. It's like a rush to paint the picture exactly how it is, to show you the glamour or the tragedy; the words run until every carefully curated word has been said. I felt something similar from the way Ronoah speaks. His internal monologue is full of such vitriol that he pushes everything down except his own words which drown out all other sounds; he empathises with such fervour he can't contain the emotions it conjures - that is until it all overflows and the ensuing rush leaves him breathless.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone. As mentioned, the anxiety is all-consuming, and can make it hard to read; at the very least know what you're getting into. But if character-driven introspective journeys, lyrical writing, exploration of character flaws (and merits!), a dash of found family, and an undercurrent of brightness and warmth rings any bells for you, then please, please give this a try.
Final score: 4.5/5
Some additional thoughts:
I really enjoyed the 'Words on the Words' section, which explains pronunciations and the linguistic roots of names and places. I didn't see it until the end, but it was fun to see what pronunciations I got right, and which ones I didn't. I'm hoping there's an expanded version in book two, because it's so interesting!
Also, since I often pair music with the media I consume, I want to note the song that made me feel even more connected to the world: Voyage au delà des océans by Yogitea.
September 22, 2020
Beautifully written but dense, long, and overly descriptive for my impatience.
February 21, 2025
I almost went 4.5 rounded up, but despite truly loving it after I got a bit in, there were still times I just had to set it aside. Trying to be more honest and accurate in my ratings.
If, like me, you didn’t pay attention to the “mental health” tag in the genres, go check them out. I didn’t realize that until idk halfway through or so? So in the beginning I was a little annoyed with Ronoah, how much text was focused on his stress and feelings of inadequacy. But even as he began showing the smallest amounts of growth, it clicked for me. I thought my anxiety was bad at times, but it’s got nothing on this man. And representation is important. So it does pick up, we still spend time with him fighting, well, himself, but there is forward movement.
Ronoah is a young man in a foreign land, far from home, with only the most basic grasp of the local language when he overhears two young men arguing about what I assume used to be demigod-type beings, who at one point had an entire super continent of humans enslaved; one believes they aren’t all truly gone, the other asking why on earth he would think that. And like magic, the older of the two looks up and makes eye contact with Ronoah and invites him to their table. And holy shit, this stranger speaks Ronoah’s language though he lives in a desert far from here, where most people cannot even imagine a desert. They pass some time and Ronoah finds a pair he didn’t know he had and asks if he can join this stranger on his quest to the … Pilgrim Stone or something similar. Along the way they join a traveling group of storytellers, Reilin (aka the stranger) bartering for food and shelter in exchange for he and Ronoah telling stories every night. Much to Ronoah’s frustration, because Ronoah is one who is quite capable of many things, but if the risk of embarrassment hits like a .5 on a scale of 5,000 he shuts the fuck down.
I don’t want to just lay the plot out for you when there is a blurb right here on GR plus many others’ reviews, but I also know you don’t really give a shit about how my heart ached and broke and grew and healed for and with Ronoah. It is slow at times, yes, even once I was fully invested. This took a long time for me to read, compared to how quickly I usually read. And though a lot of the “self help” stuff doesn’t really apply to me, some of it did and it was nice to read it in a fictional character, and to hear what his sounding board had to say about some of it. I was so excited for him in the end, I KNEW what was coming, and I celebrated with him. He is courageous, and empathetic, and honest, and just. But he also doubts himself, is afraid to speak up, is afraid to make waves, and all of this will come out later as he begins telling us about where he grew up and their customs, and to see what he STILL managed to make for himself before he even met Reilin is nothing short of miraculous.
I would recommend this, but probably not for people looking for short, quick stories with romance and sex. You have to be patient, be willing to get truly under the character’s skin, wait for him to show you himself. But it’s so worth it. I’m looking forward to book two and only hope I’m able to read it a little quicker, lol.
If, like me, you didn’t pay attention to the “mental health” tag in the genres, go check them out. I didn’t realize that until idk halfway through or so? So in the beginning I was a little annoyed with Ronoah, how much text was focused on his stress and feelings of inadequacy. But even as he began showing the smallest amounts of growth, it clicked for me. I thought my anxiety was bad at times, but it’s got nothing on this man. And representation is important. So it does pick up, we still spend time with him fighting, well, himself, but there is forward movement.
Ronoah is a young man in a foreign land, far from home, with only the most basic grasp of the local language when he overhears two young men arguing about what I assume used to be demigod-type beings, who at one point had an entire super continent of humans enslaved; one believes they aren’t all truly gone, the other asking why on earth he would think that. And like magic, the older of the two looks up and makes eye contact with Ronoah and invites him to their table. And holy shit, this stranger speaks Ronoah’s language though he lives in a desert far from here, where most people cannot even imagine a desert. They pass some time and Ronoah finds a pair he didn’t know he had and asks if he can join this stranger on his quest to the … Pilgrim Stone or something similar. Along the way they join a traveling group of storytellers, Reilin (aka the stranger) bartering for food and shelter in exchange for he and Ronoah telling stories every night. Much to Ronoah’s frustration, because Ronoah is one who is quite capable of many things, but if the risk of embarrassment hits like a .5 on a scale of 5,000 he shuts the fuck down.
I don’t want to just lay the plot out for you when there is a blurb right here on GR plus many others’ reviews, but I also know you don’t really give a shit about how my heart ached and broke and grew and healed for and with Ronoah. It is slow at times, yes, even once I was fully invested. This took a long time for me to read, compared to how quickly I usually read. And though a lot of the “self help” stuff doesn’t really apply to me, some of it did and it was nice to read it in a fictional character, and to hear what his sounding board had to say about some of it. I was so excited for him in the end, I KNEW what was coming, and I celebrated with him. He is courageous, and empathetic, and honest, and just. But he also doubts himself, is afraid to speak up, is afraid to make waves, and all of this will come out later as he begins telling us about where he grew up and their customs, and to see what he STILL managed to make for himself before he even met Reilin is nothing short of miraculous.
I would recommend this, but probably not for people looking for short, quick stories with romance and sex. You have to be patient, be willing to get truly under the character’s skin, wait for him to show you himself. But it’s so worth it. I’m looking forward to book two and only hope I’m able to read it a little quicker, lol.
April 24, 2023
This might be my favorite book. It is definitely joining a list of favorite books, of which the list is exclusive.
tldr: Please read it, it'll change your life, and it is tragically underrated, but give it about 30 pages because it starts off a little too slow. Characters I don't know debating history I don't know is not the most exciting way to start a book, but after that it's great!
Full Review
It's a beautiful book that shouldn't work. It's plot is so simple that I could spoil the external events for you and it wouldn't matter because it's just a simple journey, and externally, little happens. They debate history in a coffee shop. They hang out with some storytellers. They explore some ruins in a mountain. It's chill. Cozy, even.
But internally, my god, internally it is a roiling, epic journey of the psyche. Ronoah is a lovely protagonist--brave enough to travel on his own, but with painfully relatable anxiety about himself and the world. Many will recognize his internal monologue, his perpetual self-beratement, and wonder how Tristen listened in on their thoughts.
Managing this anxiety is what drives the plot. When Ronoah begins traveling with Reilin, the enigmatic northerner, the man puts him in stressful situation after stressful situation, and the plot, the *real* plot, is about Ronoah trying, failing, and trying again to handle them. With the love and support of friends, along with his own considerable efforts, he finally begins to grow and heal.
Two scenes from this journey really stand out to me: and
Here's some specific thoughts on specific components:
Characters: Ronoah is an A+ protagonist. Despite his anxiety, he's a good, skilled, agential person, and I appreciate that he's a rather gentle male protagonist who doesn't need to learn to be "tougher." Reilin also makes for a compelling companion as a foil to Ronoah.
Prose: If you don't like flowery prose, keep walking, but my goodness did I find it beautiful. It really sets the atmosphere of the book, allows you to get immersed in the world and in Ronoah's head.
Worldbuilding: I usually care little about worldbuilding. I'll read a million faux-Medieval Fantasy books and not bat an eye. But Tristan has a way of creating a rich, fun, authentic world without too much info-dumping. I found myself a constantly-excited tourist, drinking in all of the different customs and cultures Ronoah experienced as he traveled. It was a beautiful world built with care, and it's one of the few fantasy worlds I wish I could visit.
Overall, I am delighted to have seen this book recommended on Reddit. I wish I'd found it when I was younger, but as someone still struggling with anxiety, it turns out I still needed to read it now.
tldr: Please read it, it'll change your life, and it is tragically underrated, but give it about 30 pages because it starts off a little too slow. Characters I don't know debating history I don't know is not the most exciting way to start a book, but after that it's great!
Full Review
It's a beautiful book that shouldn't work. It's plot is so simple that I could spoil the external events for you and it wouldn't matter because it's just a simple journey, and externally, little happens. They debate history in a coffee shop. They hang out with some storytellers. They explore some ruins in a mountain. It's chill. Cozy, even.
But internally, my god, internally it is a roiling, epic journey of the psyche. Ronoah is a lovely protagonist--brave enough to travel on his own, but with painfully relatable anxiety about himself and the world. Many will recognize his internal monologue, his perpetual self-beratement, and wonder how Tristen listened in on their thoughts.
Managing this anxiety is what drives the plot. When Ronoah begins traveling with Reilin, the enigmatic northerner, the man puts him in stressful situation after stressful situation, and the plot, the *real* plot, is about Ronoah trying, failing, and trying again to handle them. With the love and support of friends, along with his own considerable efforts, he finally begins to grow and heal.
Two scenes from this journey really stand out to me: and
Here's some specific thoughts on specific components:
Characters: Ronoah is an A+ protagonist. Despite his anxiety, he's a good, skilled, agential person, and I appreciate that he's a rather gentle male protagonist who doesn't need to learn to be "tougher." Reilin also makes for a compelling companion as a foil to Ronoah.
Prose: If you don't like flowery prose, keep walking, but my goodness did I find it beautiful. It really sets the atmosphere of the book, allows you to get immersed in the world and in Ronoah's head.
Worldbuilding: I usually care little about worldbuilding. I'll read a million faux-Medieval Fantasy books and not bat an eye. But Tristan has a way of creating a rich, fun, authentic world without too much info-dumping. I found myself a constantly-excited tourist, drinking in all of the different customs and cultures Ronoah experienced as he traveled. It was a beautiful world built with care, and it's one of the few fantasy worlds I wish I could visit.
Overall, I am delighted to have seen this book recommended on Reddit. I wish I'd found it when I was younger, but as someone still struggling with anxiety, it turns out I still needed to read it now.
April 16, 2025
5/5*
I don't remember ever being excited about a book as much as when I've read the first few dozen pages of this one. I was thrilled, over-joyed and have already highlighted about 20 quotes at that point alone.
It's beautifully written and carefully woven together, the metaphors and stories made my heart flutter every few sentences just by how poetic and lovely they were and there was never an end to them.
The characters, our main and all around, had so much personality, story to their life, realism to their feelings. They weren't just words on paper, they were alive the entirety of the story and I take all of them with me in my heart.
It's sort of an odd book I haven't imagined I'd ever cross paths with- or rather, I haven't imagined there is one like this out there.
It concentrates a lot on personal growth and inner-journey, reveals the reality of some personality flaws and obstacles in life while also being diligently wrapped in gold leaves that the fantasy settings and world-building is. Spectacular.
The way it said just enough, about the metaphors, about the way the world works, the way it was built... it combats the usual take on fantasy that tells you all and doesn't leave enough for the "human knowledgeless" we all possess even about the working of our own world.
As I said, beautifully crafted book. Very very special.
I don't remember ever being excited about a book as much as when I've read the first few dozen pages of this one. I was thrilled, over-joyed and have already highlighted about 20 quotes at that point alone.
It's beautifully written and carefully woven together, the metaphors and stories made my heart flutter every few sentences just by how poetic and lovely they were and there was never an end to them.
The characters, our main and all around, had so much personality, story to their life, realism to their feelings. They weren't just words on paper, they were alive the entirety of the story and I take all of them with me in my heart.
It's sort of an odd book I haven't imagined I'd ever cross paths with- or rather, I haven't imagined there is one like this out there.
It concentrates a lot on personal growth and inner-journey, reveals the reality of some personality flaws and obstacles in life while also being diligently wrapped in gold leaves that the fantasy settings and world-building is. Spectacular.
The way it said just enough, about the metaphors, about the way the world works, the way it was built... it combats the usual take on fantasy that tells you all and doesn't leave enough for the "human knowledgeless" we all possess even about the working of our own world.
As I said, beautifully crafted book. Very very special.
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