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"All good theory stands up to the test of practice."
Freshly-risen from the underworld of his insecurities, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani is halfway through his journey to the fabled Pilgrim State. But the world this side of the Iphigene Sea is not an easy one: violence and subterfuge litter the way forward, and something meaner stalks the edges of Ronoah’s certainty, something that threatens to turn the very reason for his pilgrimage to dust.
To survive, he will have to be clever and kind in equal measure. To ask for help from the acrobats and queens-to-be and foreigners’ gods that cross his path. To confront that beguiling, bewildering companion he travels with, the one whose secrets are so vast and unforgivable. He will have to draw on every story he knows in order to make it to the Pilgrim State with his soft heart intact—and then make it home again.
Mythic and multilayered, the final installment of the Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming duology is a love letter to losing and regaining faith in the ways you move through the world.
Freshly-risen from the underworld of his insecurities, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani is halfway through his journey to the fabled Pilgrim State. But the world this side of the Iphigene Sea is not an easy one: violence and subterfuge litter the way forward, and something meaner stalks the edges of Ronoah’s certainty, something that threatens to turn the very reason for his pilgrimage to dust.
To survive, he will have to be clever and kind in equal measure. To ask for help from the acrobats and queens-to-be and foreigners’ gods that cross his path. To confront that beguiling, bewildering companion he travels with, the one whose secrets are so vast and unforgivable. He will have to draw on every story he knows in order to make it to the Pilgrim State with his soft heart intact—and then make it home again.
Mythic and multilayered, the final installment of the Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming duology is a love letter to losing and regaining faith in the ways you move through the world.
636 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2022
14 people are currently reading
155 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 30 reviews
October 7, 2024
took an entire month to read this because i knew that once it was over, it was over, and i just couldn’t handle that. this duology is just so unbelievably good. i feel like parts of this were written for me specifically to hold and cherish in my brain forever. this is everything i want out of the fantasy genre and more.
if you are a character-driven fantasy fan you need to read this — you WILL like it. take my hand and trust me on this.
if you are a character-driven fantasy fan you need to read this — you WILL like it. take my hand and trust me on this.
October 7, 2024
Never in my life have I savored a book like this, dragging the last 100 pages out over a series of weeks because I couldn't bear the prospect of it being over.
I will never be able to adequately talk about how good this duology is, what it means to me, how it has squirmed into the recesses of what makes up who I am and says: I see you, beloved.
Quietly putting these on the same shelf as Victoria Goddard. I have no higher praise to give. Ronoah, I'll love you forever.
I will never be able to adequately talk about how good this duology is, what it means to me, how it has squirmed into the recesses of what makes up who I am and says: I see you, beloved.
Quietly putting these on the same shelf as Victoria Goddard. I have no higher praise to give. Ronoah, I'll love you forever.
October 17, 2022
Thank you to Shale for the ARC!
How do you fall back in love with the world that destroyed you?
*This Review Contains Very Vague Spoilers*
This is the question that stayed with me as I sobbed my way through book two of The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming duology by Sienna Tristen.
I expected this would be a difficult read for me, seeing as the first book was the catalyst for me finally going to therapy to begin work on my own issues, but I still struck by Sienna’s ability to define such specific human sorrows so eloquently. The growing pains of rebuilding broken trust, the numb monotony of depression, and the fear of accepting the worst parts of yourself. The second half of Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani’s journey to the Pilgrim State sees him coming face to face with the consequences of telling the truth, and the blurred lines of cruelty and kindness. After he and his ever-enigmatic companion embroil themselves in a terrible war, Ronoah is left to question the being he has considered a friend, and its meddling has cost the world. The world is far harsher than he ever could have imagined. He himself proves to be far harsher than he ever could have imagined. As Ronoah begins to detach from his surroundings, from his companion and new-found friends, it becomes their task to remind him that though the world is terrible, there are still wonders yet to be seen.
And love, so much love, that he has yet to experience.
So. How do you fall back in love with the world that destroyed you?
You fall in love with those who inhabit it.
You allow yourself to share in their wonder, their curiosity. You listen to their stories and weep with them, or laugh with them, and remember what is to experience life yourself. You hold space for all the contradiction this beautiful, unlikely experience holds and you find a community to share it with. You make your own path forward, whatever that looks like, and sooner or later you will end up exactly where you need to be.
Of course, if there is anything to take away from this incredible series by one of the most talented storytellers working right now, it’s that change is work and no one else can do the work for you. It’s a hard thing, making the choice to live in the face of all the shit going on in the world. But tomorrow will always come, and all it asks of you is that you are here to witness it.
Sienna’s prose is stellar, of course. The dialogue sparkles, the world is breathtaking, and the characters (even the new ones) feel like old friends and, to be honest, saying goodbye is very hard. Ronoah and Reilin (Özrek, whoever they feel like playing as today) will stay with me… forever, probably. My reading of this duology has coincided with a lot of changes in my own life and in a way, the ending of this saga feels like the ending of that chapter for me. It was a hell of a journey, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.
Here's to the glorious unknown.
How do you fall back in love with the world that destroyed you?
*This Review Contains Very Vague Spoilers*
This is the question that stayed with me as I sobbed my way through book two of The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming duology by Sienna Tristen.
I expected this would be a difficult read for me, seeing as the first book was the catalyst for me finally going to therapy to begin work on my own issues, but I still struck by Sienna’s ability to define such specific human sorrows so eloquently. The growing pains of rebuilding broken trust, the numb monotony of depression, and the fear of accepting the worst parts of yourself. The second half of Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani’s journey to the Pilgrim State sees him coming face to face with the consequences of telling the truth, and the blurred lines of cruelty and kindness. After he and his ever-enigmatic companion embroil themselves in a terrible war, Ronoah is left to question the being he has considered a friend, and its meddling has cost the world. The world is far harsher than he ever could have imagined. He himself proves to be far harsher than he ever could have imagined. As Ronoah begins to detach from his surroundings, from his companion and new-found friends, it becomes their task to remind him that though the world is terrible, there are still wonders yet to be seen.
And love, so much love, that he has yet to experience.
So. How do you fall back in love with the world that destroyed you?
You fall in love with those who inhabit it.
You allow yourself to share in their wonder, their curiosity. You listen to their stories and weep with them, or laugh with them, and remember what is to experience life yourself. You hold space for all the contradiction this beautiful, unlikely experience holds and you find a community to share it with. You make your own path forward, whatever that looks like, and sooner or later you will end up exactly where you need to be.
Of course, if there is anything to take away from this incredible series by one of the most talented storytellers working right now, it’s that change is work and no one else can do the work for you. It’s a hard thing, making the choice to live in the face of all the shit going on in the world. But tomorrow will always come, and all it asks of you is that you are here to witness it.
Sienna’s prose is stellar, of course. The dialogue sparkles, the world is breathtaking, and the characters (even the new ones) feel like old friends and, to be honest, saying goodbye is very hard. Ronoah and Reilin (Özrek, whoever they feel like playing as today) will stay with me… forever, probably. My reading of this duology has coincided with a lot of changes in my own life and in a way, the ending of this saga feels like the ending of that chapter for me. It was a hell of a journey, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.
Here's to the glorious unknown.
July 31, 2022
It's been a few days since finishing this book, and thus finishing this story and I'm still feeling so full. The poeticism and word-wizardry is such a gift to read and the continuation of the story is beautiful.
This book made me laugh and cry and smile and reflect, not only on Ronoah and his friends and experiences, but on my own self. To be able to invest yourself so deeply into a book and its story and characters and to have that book prod back, lodging itself into your little brain folds to think on its philosophies and theories to apply in your own practices is a gift.
I already cannot wait to re-read 💕
This book made me laugh and cry and smile and reflect, not only on Ronoah and his friends and experiences, but on my own self. To be able to invest yourself so deeply into a book and its story and characters and to have that book prod back, lodging itself into your little brain folds to think on its philosophies and theories to apply in your own practices is a gift.
I already cannot wait to re-read 💕
March 17, 2023
This duology, that was first pitched to me as a fantasy travelogue, then as a journey through an emotional underworld, is quietly a love letter to humanity and it’s diverse stories and experiences, and it’s among the best things I’ve ever read. Over the thousand-page journey, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, but most importantly, I’ve found myself falling deeper in appreciation of life. One of the few books I’d give 6 stars if I could.
October 21, 2022
Pure perfection.
Frtc!
FULL REVIEW BELOW
HIGHLIGHTS
~Passing For a Demon 101
~all is the Wish and the Wish is all
~the secret’s in your pocket
~fire-dancing
~how to fall back in love with the world
:this review contains spoilers for Book One: Theory!:
This is one of the top books of 2022, hands down. Hells, it’s one of the top books of the decade.
On every level, in every regard and aspect, it is flawless. It’s wondrous. It’s intimate and mythic, thoughtful and dazzling, intricate and wildly imaginative. It’s heartwarming and heartrending. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before and like coming home, both at once.
The story picks up right where Book One: Theory left off, with Ronoah and his mysterious, wonderful, impossible companion on their way to the Pilgrim State. But the being who once went by Reilin – and who uses the name Chashakva for the first chunk of this book – asks that they make a pit-stop, and Ronoah is more than happy to delay the end of their adventures by taking on a side-trip. Just a brief pause to find out how an ancient war in the area ended, since Chashakva last came this way.
It turns out to be less side-trip and much more capital-q Quest, though. Because the war, which should have been long over, is still going.
If Theory‘s main plotline took place in Ronoah’s inner landscape, then this part of Practice is a little more conventional, as it takes place outside of Ronoah (although he remains a vital part of it). In Theory, though he touched other lives and was touched by them, the only one who could get hurt as a result of his actions was himself; this time around, Ronoah’s words and actions will have ripple effects over an entire country and its religion – this time, he’ll be leaving his signature on history.
That’s a lot of responsibility for someone who’s just reached internal equilibrium with their clinical anxiety!
I said this storyline was more conventional, but that doesn’t actually make it conventional. Ronoah is not a warrior or a mage; there are no forces of evil to fight, no daring heists to pull off, no feats of (physical) strength to perform. In the stories that are told of these events by future generations, he will be mentioned, but not featured. Chashakva has the spotlight, always. Ronoah is not the main character of the story happening around him. Which means we’re really getting two stories: the one that Chashakva is spinning, the one that is designed to become legend, and the smaller, more intimate, more accurate human perspective.
It’s incredible.
And this isn’t even the whole book! The War of Heavenly Seeds, and Ronoah and Chashakva’s work to bring it to an end, takes up maybe the first third of Practice; at most, the first half. They still have to make it to the Pilgrim State, and the journey there includes a metaphorical journey to the emotional underworld, as Ronoah reels from the implications of the truth about the Heavenly Seeds. And then there’s what happens when they actually, finally, reach the Pilgrim State at last.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
Frtc!
FULL REVIEW BELOW
HIGHLIGHTS
~Passing For a Demon 101
~all is the Wish and the Wish is all
~the secret’s in your pocket
~fire-dancing
~how to fall back in love with the world
:this review contains spoilers for Book One: Theory!:
This is one of the top books of 2022, hands down. Hells, it’s one of the top books of the decade.
On every level, in every regard and aspect, it is flawless. It’s wondrous. It’s intimate and mythic, thoughtful and dazzling, intricate and wildly imaginative. It’s heartwarming and heartrending. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before and like coming home, both at once.
A portrait; a portent. A promise.
The story picks up right where Book One: Theory left off, with Ronoah and his mysterious, wonderful, impossible companion on their way to the Pilgrim State. But the being who once went by Reilin – and who uses the name Chashakva for the first chunk of this book – asks that they make a pit-stop, and Ronoah is more than happy to delay the end of their adventures by taking on a side-trip. Just a brief pause to find out how an ancient war in the area ended, since Chashakva last came this way.
watching the clouds as they polished the black opal of the sky.
It turns out to be less side-trip and much more capital-q Quest, though. Because the war, which should have been long over, is still going.
Little wishgranter, half-formed, cooing in the cradle of its god.
If Theory‘s main plotline took place in Ronoah’s inner landscape, then this part of Practice is a little more conventional, as it takes place outside of Ronoah (although he remains a vital part of it). In Theory, though he touched other lives and was touched by them, the only one who could get hurt as a result of his actions was himself; this time around, Ronoah’s words and actions will have ripple effects over an entire country and its religion – this time, he’ll be leaving his signature on history.
That’s a lot of responsibility for someone who’s just reached internal equilibrium with their clinical anxiety!
But he had also traced himself a new tributary, carved a new river of thinking by hand.
I said this storyline was more conventional, but that doesn’t actually make it conventional. Ronoah is not a warrior or a mage; there are no forces of evil to fight, no daring heists to pull off, no feats of (physical) strength to perform. In the stories that are told of these events by future generations, he will be mentioned, but not featured. Chashakva has the spotlight, always. Ronoah is not the main character of the story happening around him. Which means we’re really getting two stories: the one that Chashakva is spinning, the one that is designed to become legend, and the smaller, more intimate, more accurate human perspective.
It’s incredible.
their hopes and expectations followed him like goats over the grazing lands, but his own heart was the goatherd, always had been.
And this isn’t even the whole book! The War of Heavenly Seeds, and Ronoah and Chashakva’s work to bring it to an end, takes up maybe the first third of Practice; at most, the first half. They still have to make it to the Pilgrim State, and the journey there includes a metaphorical journey to the emotional underworld, as Ronoah reels from the implications of the truth about the Heavenly Seeds. And then there’s what happens when they actually, finally, reach the Pilgrim State at last.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
January 25, 2025
Que perfección de libro, no puedo dejar de pensar en este, me quitó y me devolvió las ganas de vivir.
February 25, 2025
This was so much more than I could’ve imagined. I was deeply impressed with the first one, but still hung up on how slow it was at times, how stuck in his head Ronoah was. This one, this one pulls out all the stops at least around the 15% mark onward. Different lands and a war amongst 18 tribes and their individual gods, and a progressive city, and the Pilgrim State. Finding yourself, dealing with your trauma appropriately, finding safe and beneficial coping mechanisms. And when you wallow in self pity and lose everything that means anything to yourself, knowing when to just fucking stop and ask for help. Even when you don’t know what kind of help you need because the abyss is so large and encompassing.
Ronoah and Reilin, Ozrek, all the names and beings it takes on, are a magnificent duo. They are utterly unique. Everything about these books is unique. And impressive. And emotional. Holy shit are they ever emotional. From book one, realizing just how down on himself Ronoah is, why he struggles as badly as he does. The way he reacts to kindness like an abused puppy damn near killed me. But even as he grows and questions himself more and learns more, he’s still deeply affected by every aspect of the world around him, and it doesn’t even have to be a deeply emotional scene for it to just smack you right upside your head just right.
I know I read some of the last half of this book too quickly; yesterday I entertained the thought of finishing it and because of that did myself a disservice I think. I wish I had a physical copy so I could skim through and one, look for some more of the names Reilin used, but also to look for some of the things I enjoyed most. Despite having had a kindle for a few years now I’m not real great at navigating it aside from simply reading lol.
I want more people to read these books. They are healing, I think. Comforting. Even amidst the chaos and forced growth. You can’t help but turn a little introspective while reading them. Full fucking recommend. Maybe not in my top 10 ever read, but probably top 15 that will stick with me forever.
Ronoah and Reilin, Ozrek, all the names and beings it takes on, are a magnificent duo. They are utterly unique. Everything about these books is unique. And impressive. And emotional. Holy shit are they ever emotional. From book one, realizing just how down on himself Ronoah is, why he struggles as badly as he does. The way he reacts to kindness like an abused puppy damn near killed me. But even as he grows and questions himself more and learns more, he’s still deeply affected by every aspect of the world around him, and it doesn’t even have to be a deeply emotional scene for it to just smack you right upside your head just right.
I know I read some of the last half of this book too quickly; yesterday I entertained the thought of finishing it and because of that did myself a disservice I think. I wish I had a physical copy so I could skim through and one, look for some more of the names Reilin used, but also to look for some of the things I enjoyed most. Despite having had a kindle for a few years now I’m not real great at navigating it aside from simply reading lol.
I want more people to read these books. They are healing, I think. Comforting. Even amidst the chaos and forced growth. You can’t help but turn a little introspective while reading them. Full fucking recommend. Maybe not in my top 10 ever read, but probably top 15 that will stick with me forever.
February 20, 2025
I was unmade and reforged while reading this book. Reading it in silence, curled up with a hot mug of cider, was an act of quiet devastation.
If you want to further devastate yourself while reading Practice, listen to Saturn by Sleeping At Last, and try not to cry with the one thousand feelings that comprise a catharsis so deep and volcanic it etches itself upon your soul.
Sometimes a story touches you, and it touches you deeply. This is one of those stories. One of a friendship that is so incredibly profound it had me reflecting on my own relationships with the people I love. We all deserve the patience and love Ronoah is so freely given by Hanéong, and may we all strive to be as curious, head-over-heels in love with the world, and willing to try and fail as Chashakva.
This is a story about self-discovery and self-acceptance in equal measure. It's about the steady beat of forgiveness we often feel we don't deserve yet receive anyway. And the struggle to accept it. It's a story about what it means to be kind, and how sometimes kindness is an act of violence. Because kindness is not niceness. Sometimes it's harsh and you must meet its unflinching gaze and steel yourself to not blink. And then forgive yourself when you do.
Read, little stars, and open yourself to the possibility of something changing you.
If you want to further devastate yourself while reading Practice, listen to Saturn by Sleeping At Last, and try not to cry with the one thousand feelings that comprise a catharsis so deep and volcanic it etches itself upon your soul.
Sometimes a story touches you, and it touches you deeply. This is one of those stories. One of a friendship that is so incredibly profound it had me reflecting on my own relationships with the people I love. We all deserve the patience and love Ronoah is so freely given by Hanéong, and may we all strive to be as curious, head-over-heels in love with the world, and willing to try and fail as Chashakva.
This is a story about self-discovery and self-acceptance in equal measure. It's about the steady beat of forgiveness we often feel we don't deserve yet receive anyway. And the struggle to accept it. It's a story about what it means to be kind, and how sometimes kindness is an act of violence. Because kindness is not niceness. Sometimes it's harsh and you must meet its unflinching gaze and steel yourself to not blink. And then forgive yourself when you do.
Read, little stars, and open yourself to the possibility of something changing you.
April 1, 2025
4.9/5 stars! Absolutely incredible conclusion to the duology, I have never read anything like this in my life. Only reason it's not a perfect score is because I liked part 1 better in comparison. One reason is because I felt the thematic flow between the two books was lacking somehow, almost like the concepts explored in part 1 were too easily digested by Ronoah and I wanted him to mull over them more. As well, certain things mythical concepts seemed too heavy handed of a thinly veiled reference to something in our real world
I feel like I have to re-read the entirety of the series back to back again one day. It was just so delightful.
I feel like I have to re-read the entirety of the series back to back again one day. It was just so delightful.
March 1, 2025
This world is somehow even more expansive than it was in the last book, but it still feels like we get to explore it but by bit instead of having it all dumped on us at once. Honestly some of my favorite world-building ever, Tristen really knows how best to introduce us to this vibrant world she's made. I also loved Ronoah's emotional arcs throughout this book, it has the same emotional maturity that was featured in the last book into a whole new set of problems for Ronoah. Also, it was satisfying to see the fruits of his emotional labor pay off in this book, I'm so proud of our boy. The writing was absolutely phenomenal, definitely following anything this author publishes in the future
dnf
February 16, 2024I think I need to just give up on this at least for now, as I've been forcing myself to continue reading for three days now and I can't seem to muster any excitement for the story. Something following the emotional arc that finished in the first book seems to have been lost here and as much as I want to love this second instalment as it's such a patently me book, I'm not pushing myself into reading something that is making me miserable, so I think it's best to put it aside.
May 4, 2025
моє серденько💔
October 9, 2022
This. This freaking book. (screams and sobs)
It’s hard to collect my thoughts into something resembling a coherent review. Word of advice: Don’t do what I did and read it in 3 days (Would’ve been 1 day, but unfortunately I have responsibilities.) Too many feelings in too short of a timespan.
I thought Theory made me emotional… my reaction to Practice has been several orders of magnitude greater. I was not prepared for the directions this book went in. It’s still full of joy and hope, but it’s a good bit darker than Book 1. It also hit some really sore spots for me personally, but in a way that is 100% worth it.
Long story short, this is probably the best book I’ve ever read. I’m torn between yelling at everyone I know to read this duology, or never talking about it because this series means so much to me.
It’s been an absolute joy to watch Ronoah grow and grow alongside him. Excited to get my grubby little paws on a physical copy so I can reread and annotate the crap out of the book.
It’s hard to collect my thoughts into something resembling a coherent review. Word of advice: Don’t do what I did and read it in 3 days (Would’ve been 1 day, but unfortunately I have responsibilities.) Too many feelings in too short of a timespan.
I thought Theory made me emotional… my reaction to Practice has been several orders of magnitude greater. I was not prepared for the directions this book went in. It’s still full of joy and hope, but it’s a good bit darker than Book 1. It also hit some really sore spots for me personally, but in a way that is 100% worth it.
Long story short, this is probably the best book I’ve ever read. I’m torn between yelling at everyone I know to read this duology, or never talking about it because this series means so much to me.
It’s been an absolute joy to watch Ronoah grow and grow alongside him. Excited to get my grubby little paws on a physical copy so I can reread and annotate the crap out of the book.
September 10, 2022
Heretic's Guide is exactly the sort of duology big publishers should be fighting over, but which none would have the balls to publish. There is such a wealth of heart and emotion and careful thought in Tristen's work, particularly in the way Ronoah and "Reilin's" relationship grows, how he changes over time and the connections he makes along their shared journey. Every moment where I thought I knew what would happen, Practice took me by surprise, with gut punches and laughs and sheer storytelling magic. We should all be so lucky to craft a tale like this.
June 5, 2023
On Sunday, July 24th, 2022 at 2:59 PM I received an email with an ARC of the book from Avi Silver.
Today, Monday, June 5th, 2023 at 8:33 AM, I finished it.
The first book morphed me as a human being, and its impossible to put into words what kind of impact it left on me, just as some specific characters within these fleeting pages just cannot have their entire cosmic being forced inside of a box. About 1/4th of the way through the book, I remember going out on a walk in the middle of the day, and realizing that I was reading so slowly because I felt a sense of dread deep in my stomach. With as much as the first book meant to me, I was so deeply afraid that the second book would never live up to it, and the ending would never feel as transformative as the first one did.
Hoo boy was I wrong about that, because goddamn Sianna Tristen, you incredible lyricist and muse.
I can't even write anything coherent right now as Im still drunk on the last 20% of the book, which I read in one sitting, but never before have I empathized so much with a character on their own personal journey, and grown so fond of every aspect of it mirrored within myself.
As for anything negative I have to say about the book, I do feel that the first half of the book felt a bit lost and meandering, isn't that what life is? Isn't that how growth comes about? From a literary standpoint (and the outcome of it), it makes perfect sense in retrospect, which mirrors life perfectly. You may grow disdain for an event in the moment, or find it moving to slowly and feeling as if its an offshoot, or a side quest, distracting from the main event, but its only in retrospect that you can contextualize those moments into the greater tapestry of your own story.
Just.... Fuck. And Thank You.
I don't think I'll ever read anything as incredible as this duology again, and I am a devoted superfan of anything else that will ever come out of the shale project.
Today, Monday, June 5th, 2023 at 8:33 AM, I finished it.
The first book morphed me as a human being, and its impossible to put into words what kind of impact it left on me, just as some specific characters within these fleeting pages just cannot have their entire cosmic being forced inside of a box. About 1/4th of the way through the book, I remember going out on a walk in the middle of the day, and realizing that I was reading so slowly because I felt a sense of dread deep in my stomach. With as much as the first book meant to me, I was so deeply afraid that the second book would never live up to it, and the ending would never feel as transformative as the first one did.
Hoo boy was I wrong about that, because goddamn Sianna Tristen, you incredible lyricist and muse.
I can't even write anything coherent right now as Im still drunk on the last 20% of the book, which I read in one sitting, but never before have I empathized so much with a character on their own personal journey, and grown so fond of every aspect of it mirrored within myself.
As for anything negative I have to say about the book, I do feel that the first half of the book felt a bit lost and meandering, isn't that what life is? Isn't that how growth comes about? From a literary standpoint (and the outcome of it), it makes perfect sense in retrospect, which mirrors life perfectly. You may grow disdain for an event in the moment, or find it moving to slowly and feeling as if its an offshoot, or a side quest, distracting from the main event, but its only in retrospect that you can contextualize those moments into the greater tapestry of your own story.
Just.... Fuck. And Thank You.
I don't think I'll ever read anything as incredible as this duology again, and I am a devoted superfan of anything else that will ever come out of the shale project.
December 16, 2023
This is the second part of a duology. I liked both books very much. The prose is lyrical, the detail vivid, the worldbuilding assured. But it is the characters, especially the main character, Ronoah, that I like best -- the characters plus the emotional heft of this. The storytelling is unhurried and transportive. I suffered when Ronoah suffered. I delighted when he delighted.
I think I would enjoy these books even more on a second read. The reason for that --
So: very good. I hope to re-read this duology in 2024 or 2025, once my first impressions have settled down.
Four and a bit out of five pilgrim stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I think I would enjoy these books even more on a second read. The reason for that --
So: very good. I hope to re-read this duology in 2024 or 2025, once my first impressions have settled down.
Four and a bit out of five pilgrim stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
May 4, 2025
This is not even 5* out of 5*, it‘s 6* and above and I stand by it.
I don‘t even have all the praising words I want to speak of this but I shall try and even then, if you‘re reading this review, know there‘s about a mountain more I just couldn‘t form into anything more than screams of joy and fulfillment and cries and heart-throbs.
I have never ever in my life read a book filled with so much life, love, anguish, feelings, world-building, hidden meanings, deep thoughts, and play on societal stereotypes and it was only getting BETTER with each word passing.
Ronoah Genoveffa Elizi-denna Pilanovani has stopped being a character for me somewhere long ago in the text and became my friend, second soul, my worries and joys, my hope for a better me. The way he was, it‘s even hard to believe I only read the words on paper because I feel like I‘ve known and shared much more with him than the space of my mind.
The world? The first book seems to have been a play on all the ways love is viewed and accepted in the world, this one showed the societal constructs we build upon ourselves and our societies, genders and identities - while portraiting miraculous places and breath-taking stories, the cracks in humanity and the fault we seek upon ourselves.
I honestly want to scream at anybody near me, spoil this wonder upon them but I must stop myself because this journey led me places I wish they looked into.
I love this. I really really love this book and I love the author for bringing it to the world. Thank you.
I don‘t even have all the praising words I want to speak of this but I shall try and even then, if you‘re reading this review, know there‘s about a mountain more I just couldn‘t form into anything more than screams of joy and fulfillment and cries and heart-throbs.
I have never ever in my life read a book filled with so much life, love, anguish, feelings, world-building, hidden meanings, deep thoughts, and play on societal stereotypes and it was only getting BETTER with each word passing.
Ronoah Genoveffa Elizi-denna Pilanovani has stopped being a character for me somewhere long ago in the text and became my friend, second soul, my worries and joys, my hope for a better me. The way he was, it‘s even hard to believe I only read the words on paper because I feel like I‘ve known and shared much more with him than the space of my mind.
The world? The first book seems to have been a play on all the ways love is viewed and accepted in the world, this one showed the societal constructs we build upon ourselves and our societies, genders and identities - while portraiting miraculous places and breath-taking stories, the cracks in humanity and the fault we seek upon ourselves.
I honestly want to scream at anybody near me, spoil this wonder upon them but I must stop myself because this journey led me places I wish they looked into.
I love this. I really really love this book and I love the author for bringing it to the world. Thank you.
November 19, 2024
The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming: Book Two: Practice was, as the author put it, definitely a doorstopper of a book. I definitely enjoyed every moment, though I think Part Four could have probably been its own book.
I really liked Part Four. The tribes were well enough fleshed out. I liked the different wisewomen and the way they represented their tribes. I really enjoyed Nazum and what they brought to the Ronoah/Chasakava dynamic.
Part Five was interesting. Ronoah may have figured out how to be a person, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to talk about his feelings properly yet. I usually have a problem with this sort of “I’m not going to talk to you even though it might fix things” plot device, but I think it makes sense for Ronoah. He did come from a culture where that’s pretty much ALL they do, after all.
Part Six we finally arrive at The Pilgrim State. I thought it was neat. I also really liked finally getting more backstory on the being known toward the end of this part as Ybh. I liked Ronoah gaining some powers from Ybh. Seeing Tycho again was lots of fun, too.
Part Seven, we finally get to meet Ronoah’s family. This return was sweet and chill, every bit the homecoming Ronoah deserved. I liked this section a lot.
So yes, this was a doorstopper of a book. Highly enjoyable and a fully fleshed out world.
I really liked Part Four. The tribes were well enough fleshed out. I liked the different wisewomen and the way they represented their tribes. I really enjoyed Nazum and what they brought to the Ronoah/Chasakava dynamic.
Part Five was interesting. Ronoah may have figured out how to be a person, but he hasn’t quite figured out how to talk about his feelings properly yet. I usually have a problem with this sort of “I’m not going to talk to you even though it might fix things” plot device, but I think it makes sense for Ronoah. He did come from a culture where that’s pretty much ALL they do, after all.
Part Six we finally arrive at The Pilgrim State. I thought it was neat. I also really liked finally getting more backstory on the being known toward the end of this part as Ybh. I liked Ronoah gaining some powers from Ybh. Seeing Tycho again was lots of fun, too.
Part Seven, we finally get to meet Ronoah’s family. This return was sweet and chill, every bit the homecoming Ronoah deserved. I liked this section a lot.
So yes, this was a doorstopper of a book. Highly enjoyable and a fully fleshed out world.
June 13, 2024
Stunning. Incredible. Life-changing. World-shaking.
This book is a masterpiece. I don't even know how to properly express just how good it is. 5 stars feels inadequate.
This is a book about empathy, about faith, about finding strength and healing in community, about finding said community and belonging wherever you go, about not losing your curiosity and kindness and sense of wonder in a cruel and painfully beautiful world, about defining and maintaining and evolving your sense of self, about forgiveness and making amends and fixing what you've broken, and about love in all of its often-overlooked forms—there's no romance in this book, but don't mistake that for a lack of love; there is so much love in this book.
And so much wonder as well: reading this took me back to my favorite anthropology classes in college (I've always been a nerd for this kind of stuff), and I found so much delight, awe, and sometimes fear in the vibrant, intense, and lovingly-crafted world that Tristen has created. Each distinct place and culture that our characters visited on their journey felt so unique and distinct, strange and foreign but deeply real. I wanted to immerse myself in some of them, and stay far, far away from others, but even those surprised me with the small joys and spots of brightness hidden just below the surface.
This duology truly is something special.
This book is a masterpiece. I don't even know how to properly express just how good it is. 5 stars feels inadequate.
This is a book about empathy, about faith, about finding strength and healing in community, about finding said community and belonging wherever you go, about not losing your curiosity and kindness and sense of wonder in a cruel and painfully beautiful world, about defining and maintaining and evolving your sense of self, about forgiveness and making amends and fixing what you've broken, and about love in all of its often-overlooked forms—there's no romance in this book, but don't mistake that for a lack of love; there is so much love in this book.
And so much wonder as well: reading this took me back to my favorite anthropology classes in college (I've always been a nerd for this kind of stuff), and I found so much delight, awe, and sometimes fear in the vibrant, intense, and lovingly-crafted world that Tristen has created. Each distinct place and culture that our characters visited on their journey felt so unique and distinct, strange and foreign but deeply real. I wanted to immerse myself in some of them, and stay far, far away from others, but even those surprised me with the small joys and spots of brightness hidden just below the surface.
This duology truly is something special.
September 16, 2024
how do you fall back in love with a world that has left you broken and crumbled? how do you reassemble the pieces, their sharp edges cutting your fingertips as you desperately try to pick them up? how do you find your way forward, when you are so terribly, hopelessly lost? why should you even try?
because, despite everything, there is magic and wonder and joy in you yet, and the world itself is brimming with it. please, don’t give up. keep going, into the glorious unknown, in search of lemons in lychees. you will get to where you need to be.
the heretic’s guide to homecoming: practice is a story about losing and re-discovering yourself—your faith, your gentleness, your sense of starry-eyed curiosity. a story about finding home and community in people and places all around—no matter how far you travel, you can always find a piece of home if you look. a story about forgiveness and healing and love—endless, overflowing, all-encompassing. a story that will stay with me forever, carefully nestled on a shelf in the library of my heart and soul, to be treasured, cradled in my arms, gently, for as long as i live.
because, despite everything, there is magic and wonder and joy in you yet, and the world itself is brimming with it. please, don’t give up. keep going, into the glorious unknown, in search of lemons in lychees. you will get to where you need to be.
the heretic’s guide to homecoming: practice is a story about losing and re-discovering yourself—your faith, your gentleness, your sense of starry-eyed curiosity. a story about finding home and community in people and places all around—no matter how far you travel, you can always find a piece of home if you look. a story about forgiveness and healing and love—endless, overflowing, all-encompassing. a story that will stay with me forever, carefully nestled on a shelf in the library of my heart and soul, to be treasured, cradled in my arms, gently, for as long as i live.
February 14, 2023
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2023/0...
Well, this book just blew my lil mind! I guess we had to trudge through the dark thoughts of the first book to achieve the heights of this one! SOOO much happens and there is a section in the middle that is a bit stressful (for emotional reasons, not dangers in the plot or anything), but the back third is like OMG YES, a gorgeous warm hug holding hands with adventure. I LOVE THIS, def one for the Victoria Goddard fans. A.
Well, this book just blew my lil mind! I guess we had to trudge through the dark thoughts of the first book to achieve the heights of this one! SOOO much happens and there is a section in the middle that is a bit stressful (for emotional reasons, not dangers in the plot or anything), but the back third is like OMG YES, a gorgeous warm hug holding hands with adventure. I LOVE THIS, def one for the Victoria Goddard fans. A.
July 7, 2024
This book was really cool; it was super immersive and its prose was poetic. I would've finished it much earlier if my loan didn't run out 💔. I found the approaches to gender very interesting, and found Nazum (my favourite character, sorry Ronoah), very interesting.
Also it really threw me off to learn that the author's from near me.
Also it really threw me off to learn that the author's from near me.
October 15, 2023
A stunning resolution that felt as multitudinous and expansive as its world. Honestly this felt like five books in one and really allowed for even deeper emotional explorations vs. book 1. A fantasy travelogue for the ages.
December 10, 2022
A lovely conclusion to the Heretic's duology! Tristen's writing is a joy to read.
February 17, 2025
Maybe when I stop crying I will be able to put into words how beautiful this book is
May 1, 2023
I don't quite know what I think about the two volumes of The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming.
I think I liked them quite a bit, and also that I didn't want to like them as much as I did. The story is an inner Hero's Journey, in two parts, or maybe two journeys, the first one dealing with self-esteem and anxiety, and the second with faith. There are plenty of outward adventures to go along with the inner searching, and it's a fun enough read. I can't decide if Our Hero's Mentor is fascinating or the most blatant wish-fulfillment ever - probably both, as I'm always up for a bit of wish fulfillment.
I think I liked them quite a bit, and also that I didn't want to like them as much as I did. The story is an inner Hero's Journey, in two parts, or maybe two journeys, the first one dealing with self-esteem and anxiety, and the second with faith. There are plenty of outward adventures to go along with the inner searching, and it's a fun enough read. I can't decide if Our Hero's Mentor is fascinating or the most blatant wish-fulfillment ever - probably both, as I'm always up for a bit of wish fulfillment.
January 27, 2023
An absolutely stunning novel in its breadth and depth of feeling. Tristen’s lyrical prose brims with sensory delight, whisking the reader across waters and continents, through verdant jungles and fragrant, flourishing cities. As Ronoah travels, Tristen expertly invites the reader into his rich emotional landscape as he confronts troubling ethical dilemmas, feelings of betrayal, and the gray haze of spiritual doubt. We grieve with Ronoah through his goodbyes and celebrate the tender friendships he forms along his arduous journey. We witness his growth and his healing, culminating in a long-awaited homecoming.
There is a sweetness and a hopefulness to this story that comforts without glossing over complicated social dynamics and loss. It should be noted that this is not always an easy read, and particularly those struggling with anxiety or depression may find some of Ronoah’s experiences distressing. I took my time processing alongside Ronoah, but by journey’s end, felt deeply satisfied. Ronoah’s struggle throws beauty into sharper relief once he reclaims his ability to see it.
If you’re a fan of poetry, deeply introspective characters, detailed world-building, and meaty ethical questions, I suspect you’ll find much to savor in these pages. Into the glorious unknown!
There is a sweetness and a hopefulness to this story that comforts without glossing over complicated social dynamics and loss. It should be noted that this is not always an easy read, and particularly those struggling with anxiety or depression may find some of Ronoah’s experiences distressing. I took my time processing alongside Ronoah, but by journey’s end, felt deeply satisfied. Ronoah’s struggle throws beauty into sharper relief once he reclaims his ability to see it.
If you’re a fan of poetry, deeply introspective characters, detailed world-building, and meaty ethical questions, I suspect you’ll find much to savor in these pages. Into the glorious unknown!
March 3, 2024
I'd been reading this book for a week and a half. Every single day on the way to and from school, and every free moment I had was spent reading this book. I took my sweet time, because I didn't want it to end.
I cannot put into words how much I love this book. It'll forever be one of the best reading experiences I have ever had. The love I have for each of the characters is immense and I'm so so grateful to have come across this world and these characters.
I've laughed and cried and felt hollow and grown along with Ronoah, in the span of just nine days. It feels surreal and it's hitting me really hard that this book has come to an end. I wish I could read it forever, endlessly.
I cannot put into words how much I love this book. It'll forever be one of the best reading experiences I have ever had. The love I have for each of the characters is immense and I'm so so grateful to have come across this world and these characters.
I've laughed and cried and felt hollow and grown along with Ronoah, in the span of just nine days. It feels surreal and it's hitting me really hard that this book has come to an end. I wish I could read it forever, endlessly.
December 21, 2025
Reread (which I hardly ever do) because I love this duology so so much. I feel like each time I read one of these books there's something that sticks out as being what I needed to hear in that moment. Maybe one day I'll take the time to write proper reviews for these books but I feel like once I start I won't stop and it'll become a rambling mess that I don't have time for right now. But I suspect the generic tldr would be something like this: some of the richest world building I've ever seen, which sets the stage for intensive character development that is heavily influenced by the cultures they find themselves currently immersed in.
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