This book was super captivating!!! I’m not usually a huge sci-fi reader but the introduction to the world and characters has me immediately invested! definitely gonna read the rest of the series

The Heretic by Nathan Allen.

The book is a coming of age adventure, with some overcoming obstacles thrown in
The interactions between Damian and Ned remind me of my own familial interactions right from the start and they're part is heartwarming and real. The adversity thrown in the path of Rowin, Dawn, Damian & Ned through a split timeline moatly brings out the best in these characters & leads them down the path of thoroughly enjoyable tale.
World-building is top notch and you see quite clearly that while the protagonist appears to be one thing, he is truly more remarkable with Rune skills and more.
The magic is new because it takes different forms depending on its use.
The small guy fighting a larger problem promises to be a story that provides further characters development and growth that I'm anxious to see. I disagree with some test this is slow, I just believe it's developing

Engaging and inventive, this is a fun fantasy adventure! Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Really interesting steampunk-esque fantasy with lots of different elements and a super intriguing magic system. Giving this a 4 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I won't lie that the first half of the book was a little difficult to get through. Something about the pacing just felt slow and like nothing was really moving forward, as each chapter moved between different perspectives. However the second half absolutely grabbed me and held me by the neck.

I want to know so much more about the runic magic system used in this world and how Damien learns to love himself through the friends he made. Definitely had a few plot surprises along the way and I have some theories about where things are going to go. So I am very excited for the next installment!

Full of conflict, action, and strategy, The Heretic is a great adventure read with moral dilemmas. There are so many questions I have, after finishing the book, that I am excited to find out as this series continues.

The Heretic is just a great fantasy book. Creative story idea, interesting characters, place, plot. I cannot wait to read the sequels to this book. Kudos to Mr. Allen.

This is a new concept for me about using runes as a basis for a worlds magic system. I loved it though as it made it interesting learning how this all fits in the complex world that the author has created for his characters. In the first 100-150 pages I enjoyed the fact that the author built the world up and introduced the characters to us and then continued to develop this further as the story goes on. I will interested to see how this is developed in the next novels in this new adult fantasy series.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This was an interesting read; I don’t think it was for me, but certain readers are definitely going to devour this.

It’s very heavy on lore and strong world-building. We follow two timelines through the book; present day, with our main character Damian, and the past, following Damian’s parents, and their conflict with the church.

What this book if very strong with is character development; it takes its time, therefore can feel a little slow, but the pay off is excellent! If you are a big classic fantasy lover, I would recommend this!

The Heretic by Nathan R Allen.
Runes and Ruin Book 1.
I loved the cover. That's why I signed up. It sounded so good. This was a good read. I did struggle a bit with the writing style. I had to keep putting it down and starting again. I liked Damian and Ned. It took me a while to get into this book. Once I did I couldn't put it down. I do love fantasy world. That did surprise me. I'm looking forward to the next book

4.5 stars
Wow that was some cliff hanger. I’m really sad the next book isn’t out yet because I really want to know what happens to these characters next.

Damien is thrown into the thick of multiple plots against each other with barely any details to help him through. Damien may be the underdog, half starved and with one arm and numerous scars, but he’s smart and strategic. Damien is the definition of work smarter not harder.
He starts out working on a thesis project with runes that would revolutionize technology, but he’s ripped away from his work before it can be officially turned in. He’s thrown into working for the priests/government and to get out of it he seeks help from his estranged father, a known rebel leader.
Damien is then thrown into a plot against the government to help save his brother from having been drafted early into the military. So Damien is racing against time to complete training to become an elite warrior while spying and trying to uncover their secrets that have been impossible for even the most experienced of rebels. But there’s a larger plot at play that he doesn’t know about yet.
Lies, deceit, betrayal, unlikely friendships, and hard choices are a constant in this world. Will Damien not only survive but also complete his mission, save his brother, and spare his friends?

I like that they used a strategic gambling game as an analogy for how Damien thought and worked through his solutions to the trouble he constantly found himself in. It made it easier to understand how he came to the conclusions he did, even if the game was unfamiliar, the concept behind it was not.

Damien is an interesting character because he’s not the classic hero, in fact, he does a lot of villainous things. He’s a character that’s likable but also not likable at the same time. This makes him feel very real as no one is all good or all bad, especially when thrown into impossible situations like he is.

The cover caught my attention immediately. It is beautifully designed and definitely fits the vibe of the book.

"The Heretic" is Allen's debut novel, and he did quite well in writing it. I was quickly engrossed in the world and story he created.
With an innovative magic system and an enticing fantasy world, Allen started a series I am looking forward to keep following up on.