The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming

review from 2018:

I have just finished reading Book One: Theory of The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming and in a less-than-eloquent way of putting it, I’ve lost my shit.

First and foremost, 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 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.

I first read this book when it came out and did again before Part 2: Practice came out. Honestly, I probably read it 2 or 3 times between that, and now I've begun reading it again.

It took me a few tries to get started but once I did, this book consumed my focus. I have come to love Ronoah, the world Sienna Tristen created, and the stories within a story. Everything is so rich, whether it is the culture of different peoples, the languages they speak and the difficulties of finding translations, or the expansive world that extends out and out. Every time I read Heretic's Guide, I find myself finding new nuggets of story and joy.

My biggest complaint upon finishing was that I had to wait for the second book. Luckily for us, it is now out! I cannot recommend reading this duology enough.