Review: Heliotrope by Palmer Pickering
Blurb:
Teleo is a retired soldier descended from Mages, who were cast out of power generations ago. After years of war and sorrow, he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life on his farm and work his stonemason’s craft.
His wife and daughter had been murdered during a war raid several years earlier and his young son stolen by the enemy side. He spent years unsuccessfully searching for his son and returned home broken-hearted. At the local castle, he comes upon a war orphan stolen by his side from the enemy and rescues him from abuse, adopting him as his foster son.
Teleo is working as a mason at the castle when he finds himself in the middle of a coup. This launches a journey to protect his new family, uncover the secrets of the ancient ways, and reclaim the magic of the Mages.
"Heliotrope," by Palmer Pickering, is a Sword & Sorcery title by the award-winning author of the science-fantasy sensation, "Moon Deeds."
A cast of lovable characters:
Teleo – A gritty warrior who would do anything for you, unless you cross those he loves, then you will meet his blade.
Dinsmora – A reclusive herbalist who weaves shadows.
The fosterling – Orphan who forms a family and softens the toughest of hearts.
The animals – Characters in their own right who carry burdens and bring glory.
Magic:
Magic was outlawed generations ago but lingers in the blood of the kingdoms. There were good reasons it was outlawed and reasons it must rise again.
Review:
Heliotrope is a character-focused, slow burn epic fantasy that mixes cozy elements with action, violence, and intrigue. This is the kind of book you have to slow down and savor like a cup of warm tea. Maybe a glass of mushroom wine. Then, when you’re finished with your, you slit the corroded arteries of your enemies. Just a normal day for Teleo Stonemason.
First off, Heliotrope has an interesting story structure. The inciting incident that gets Teleo and crew on their journey is still somewhat unresolved at the end of the novel. This is a standalone, so there’s not a cliffhanger. When I first read the novel, I expected a pay off at the end, for that early conflict to be resolved. And yet, this isn’t that book. It’s not a revenge narrative. It’s a story about a man who has lost everything he loved who finds new people to love. It’s about finding family and coping with loss, and I enjoyed watching the band of characters become that family, traveling, and dealing with the different hardships along the way. This is a novel about life. At the end, not everything gets resolved, but you find closure.
Characters
Teleo: The best warrior in the Verdant Valley Kingdom, retired and now working as a stone mason. He’s lost his wife and children, but is willing to put his own life on the line to save those he cares about. Teleo is a fantastic character.. Someone I’d read ten novels about. He’s brave, honorable, and kind while also being deadly with a sword. He has a quiet wit about him and is a character you can’t help but cheer for.
Supporting Cast: Sigrid, Dinsmora, Jessum, Kaspari: All of the side characters have distinct personalities and they’re lovable in their own right, Dinsmora is a kind woman who functions as the mother figure to the children, Jessum and Kaspari. I loved watching the children grow and mature as the book went on, and I enjoyed seeing Teleo take on a fatherly role with them. Sigrid stole the show once she arrived on the scene, and her scenes with Teleo were fantastic.
Animals: I love animal friends. They make things so much better, and there are several lovable animal friends in this novel. The friendship between Jessum and Blackjack the horse is so freakin’ heartwarming!
World building:
The world is so thoughtfully put together. At the beginning, magic is outlawed and seems like something that may have just been a myth, but Teleo and company soon learn that’s absolutely not the case. I was fascinated by the Hill People and the Verdant Valley people, who had fought wars in the past, would kidnap children from the enemy when raiding. The other side would then return the favor. When the novel begins, both factions have several kidnapped orphans that function as slaves.
Magic system:
One of the more unique magic systems I’ve read. The heliotropes built by mage stonemasters function as power centers and as portals of sorts for those who know how to use them. The mages “dance the sword”: taking swords and dancing in the heliotropes. I need a movie version of this novel now just so I can see people dance the sword. I imagine a random farmer coming upon Teleo dancing the sword and wondering, “why the hell is that guy prancing around with swords out? Must have had too much mushroom wine.” We also learn that dancing the sword on the solstice increases your abilities, and find out about dark magic mind-control diamonds and other abilities like moving through walls. So intriguing!
Story: As I said at the beginning, this a slow-burn, character-driven story. That’s not to say events don’t happen, but it’s focused more on Teleo, his relationships with those around him, and his little family. Sigrid comes into the story around the halfway point and provides a romantic interest for Teleo. I loved her character and the interactions between her and Teleo. In terms of pacing, I will say, there was a conflict with the mountain queen that felt like it went on for too long. That section didn’t take me out of the story, but I did feel like Teleo made some odd choices that extended the conflict. Also, after Teleo and his companions left the mountain kingdom, their experiences there didn’t have that much to do with the next part of the journey. However, that’s life. Not everything is streamlined and it doesn’t always move at a fast pace. I think Pickering does an amazing job of telling the story of Teleo and his family as they search for some new meaning in their life after their previous lives are destroyed. It’s not a revenge story. It’s not a fast-paced adventure. It’s a deeply human story of love, loss, and family.
And it’s amazing.
