irisnail's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ungoliant1234's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A deeply personal book. How much one likes it depends on how much one can relate to the struggles of the main character. This is definitely a book that will stay with me for a long time.
pfeffermin's review
4.0
I will start this review by clarifying one thing. If a book is in a series that has not been completed, I will not read it until the series has been completed (and then I will usually binge read the series). Having said this, I have read this book at LEAST twice in the past few months.
I'm not usually a fan of heavy exposition or lore in my novels - my preferred type of book splashes character emotional and development arcs in short sharp prose ( I have a very short attention span). However, I decided to buy this book on a whim, (I think I follow you on twitter?) The delicateness and beauty with which you have managed to intertwine both the gorgeous treat of world building that you have managed to design and the breathtakingly realistic characters you have given us. As someone who is a part of the LGBT+ community and experiences anxiety personally, Ronoah's introspection was eerily like reading my own thoughts on a page. And of course, you don't understand how excited I was to read something so detailed and compelling that for once WASN'T set in 'Magic Faux-Medieval-Europe' for once.
As a (would-be) writer I am embarrassed to say I have often turned to several highlighted passages of your book in search of expertise on a particular turn of phrase or examples of clarity or unique metaphor and I am glad to say that each time I do this, I pick out some gem that I haven't caught previously.
One risk you took was to base turning points on a more reflective character arc rather than the reactive action to sudden crises that so saturate most books in the market today and for that I say- THANK YOU. Your book is truly a breath of fresh air.
The only negative point I can possibly scrounge up is that I don't currently have enough of the rest of the story in my hands right now so I can only beg you, Ms Tristen, to PLEASE continue in what I can only imagine deserves to be an illustrious career ahead of you. A very well done!
I'm not usually a fan of heavy exposition or lore in my novels - my preferred type of book splashes character emotional and development arcs in short sharp prose ( I have a very short attention span). However, I decided to buy this book on a whim, (I think I follow you on twitter?) The delicateness and beauty with which you have managed to intertwine both the gorgeous treat of world building that you have managed to design and the breathtakingly realistic characters you have given us. As someone who is a part of the LGBT+ community and experiences anxiety personally, Ronoah's introspection was eerily like reading my own thoughts on a page. And of course, you don't understand how excited I was to read something so detailed and compelling that for once WASN'T set in 'Magic Faux-Medieval-Europe' for once.
As a (would-be) writer I am embarrassed to say I have often turned to several highlighted passages of your book in search of expertise on a particular turn of phrase or examples of clarity or unique metaphor and I am glad to say that each time I do this, I pick out some gem that I haven't caught previously.
One risk you took was to base turning points on a more reflective character arc rather than the reactive action to sudden crises that so saturate most books in the market today and for that I say- THANK YOU. Your book is truly a breath of fresh air.
The only negative point I can possibly scrounge up is that I don't currently have enough of the rest of the story in my hands right now so I can only beg you, Ms Tristen, to PLEASE continue in what I can only imagine deserves to be an illustrious career ahead of you. A very well done!
lachesisreads's review
The writing is beautiful but the plot moves at a snail's pace. And this is my personal preference, but I also did not care for the cutesy feel-good message of the book.
joti's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really liked this one. Hard to put down. It has a lot of familiar elements from fantasy settings (a journey somewhere, non-human entities, traveling storytellers and mysterious destinies), but it's unique enough both in language and characterisation to really work. I was a bit worried about the main character (also the reason I didn't quite give it 5 stars) because at times he really is Too Much, but eventually it all worked. I think it covers a lot of explicit and more subtle themes about the power of stories and history and social anxiety, which probably makes it a fun one to reread at different points in time. For some reason it sometimes reminded me of a reverse Name of the Wind, though I haven't been able to explain it better than that yet.
penguinface's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
becomingmari's review
4.0
A bit too long but amazing character development, worldbuilding, and the character ACTUALLY GROWS AS A PERSON (shocker). I like it enough to keep reading book 2!
andicbuchanan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Heretics Guide to Homecoming is a secondary-world fantasy with a lot of depth. It has a slightly off-centre and deeply reflective approach to personal identity and growth that I haven't found very often, and there was a lot I found eye opening and sometimes resonant. Unfortunately it didn't quite land for me. Perhaps it was the length that was off-kilter with the tone and the pacing of the book, or perhaps it was just me, but I felt I had to drag myself back to it over and over. I desperately wanted to be immersed in the world, and in the minds of the characters, and it didn't happen. But it gets the four stars because the things that did work for me have lingered in my mind. If the author writes a novella (I'm going to check) I'd 100% give it a go.
hay_shock's review against another edition
5.0
I'm very torn about whether I feel this is a 4 or a 5. The more amazing books I read, the harder it is to award anything 5 stars!
I didn't want this book to end. There were parts of the story we were 'promised' that we didn't get, so part of me feels cheated. The other part knows we got everything we needed and that I'm mostly upset that it's over.
Storytelling - Is beautiful. It flows smoothly from one setting to the next, keeping you entranced throughout. There were elements that felt a little overly repeated/mentioned. For me, it was how often Reilin's stares and facial expressions were described with portraying multiple feelings. I think I'd have preferred to read more about how the looks made Ronoah feel. The description of the emotions Reilin was portraying would jerk me out of the magic towards the end of the book.
Characters - The characters and their stories were the leading element of this book. Even the characters we met briefly, were given some love and thought, by sharing elements of their story with us. I think the introduction of new characters, and part of their life is what kept the book interesting and constantly changing. There were times when I might not like a particular character, but once the book was finished with them, I loved them. Was a beautiful journey the author took us on.
World Building - I really enjoyed the world. The different cultures, creatures and worlds were fascinating. I think so much felt like our own world, that it really pulled you in to the story and then built on your imagination with the magic system, and the history.
I loved the book and was left wanting more.
I didn't want this book to end. There were parts of the story we were 'promised' that we didn't get, so part of me feels cheated. The other part knows we got everything we needed and that I'm mostly upset that it's over.
Storytelling - Is beautiful. It flows smoothly from one setting to the next, keeping you entranced throughout. There were elements that felt a little overly repeated/mentioned. For me, it was how often Reilin's stares and facial expressions were described with portraying multiple feelings. I think I'd have preferred to read more about how the looks made Ronoah feel. The description of the emotions Reilin was portraying would jerk me out of the magic towards the end of the book.
Characters - The characters and their stories were the leading element of this book. Even the characters we met briefly, were given some love and thought, by sharing elements of their story with us. I think the introduction of new characters, and part of their life is what kept the book interesting and constantly changing. There were times when I might not like a particular character, but once the book was finished with them, I loved them. Was a beautiful journey the author took us on.
World Building - I really enjoyed the world. The different cultures, creatures and worlds were fascinating. I think so much felt like our own world, that it really pulled you in to the story and then built on your imagination with the magic system, and the history.
I loved the book and was left wanting more.
mysana's review against another edition
I didn’t like any of the character? And honestly could have really used a black sensitively reader