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:

The Heroic Fantasy Revival We Didn’t Know We Needed

If you feel exhausted by the endless parade of bitter and irredeemable protagonists dominating modern epic fantasy, take a deep breath. Heliotrope by Palmer Pickering arrives as a welcome remedy. Spanning over two hundred thousand words, this massive standalone novel stands as a slow-burn masterpiece that revives the classic ideal of a noble hero without falling into naive tropes. Months of juggling other review commitments delayed my progress, yet a focused reading would have seen me finish it within two weeks. Packed with characters who actually possess empathy, a hard-magic system that refrains from insulting your intelligence, and a found-family dynamic that avoids cheap sentimentality, Heliotrope effortlessly earns its place among the best books of the year. Modern fantasy authors should take notes.

A Trail of Stone and Steel. Oh, and Lost Children

Our story follows Teleo, a war veteran turned master stonemason who carries a profound void in his chest. Years ago, war tore his family apart and a neighboring kingdom stole his young son. Search efforts spanning several years yielded no answers, leaving a painful open wound.

Teleo leads a quiet life now, constructing intricate stone mosaic pavings and balconies for nobility. During a project at the royal palace, he forms a quiet bond with young Princess Kaspari. Their connection grows through sparse, unspoken interactions while she secretly watches him work from a distance.

Teleo adopts Jessum, an abused orphan boy trapped in slavery, long before the realm's peace shatters. His quiet routine collapses entirely when a sudden coup d'état shatters the royal palace. Teleo acts on instinct before the traitors and their foreign allies can seize the princess. He rescues Kaspari on the spot and takes her into his care. Joined by his cousin Mora, the two teenagers, and a travel group that quickly turns into a tight family, Teleo leads the party on a dangerous trek across the realm. 

A Masterclass in Positive Masculinity

Teleo stands out as one of the finest protagonists in recent fantasy literature. Modern authors often confuse depth with cynicism, but Pickering grounds her lead in a mature capability backed by a firm moral compass. Teleo is neither an inexperienced coming-of-age boy nor an infallible champion. He makes significant mistakes, and his internal struggles carry genuine weight. Through years of enduring trauma, he refuses to let past pain poison his present actions.

He combines genuine empathy with lethal martial capability. Wrongdoing prompts immediate, decisive action without hesitation or performative angst. In an era where fantasy literature frequently equates masculinity with toxic brutality or broken cynicism, Teleo emerges as something far rarer and infinitely more rewarding: a deeply flawed hero who still serves as a genuine male role model. He carries severe emotional baggage, makes costly missteps, and wrestles with his own shortcomings, yet he never lets his flaws excuse bad behavior. He takes accountability. He protects the vulnerable without demanding deference in return. His gradual transition into a paternal role for Jessum and Kaspari provides the true emotional heartbeat of the narrative, proving that strength lies in quiet nurture just as much as a sharp blade. Teleo represents the exact kind of man, father, and friend you want in your corner, offering readers a refreshing masterclass in positive, grounded manhood. 

The supporting cast shines with equal clarity. The dynamics between Teleo, Mora, Kaspari, and Jessum form the emotional core of the novel. Beyond the human cast, Pickering extends distinct characterization to non-human elements, displaying a remarkable talent for pulling unexpected emotional levers. The group's horses carry distinct personalities, and the ships used during their voyage create intense suspense. I never anticipated sweating over the fate of a pair of livestock, yet the narrative pushed me onto a razor-edge whenever those sheep faced peril. Pickering makes you care about every living detail on the trail. The constant fear that these animals or their vessels might meet a sudden, unceremonious end kept my tension high throughout the journey. 

Sunlight, Sacred Powers, and Geometry

The titular heliotropes introduce a refreshingly unique fantasy concept. These massive, intricate stone pavings contain specific mineral arrangements. When warriors train upon these structures, the geometric patterns interact directly with their minds, provided they carry the bloodline required to unlock the stone.

It’s a triumph of creative worldbuilding. High fantasy often falls back on recycled elemental systems or vague, hand-wavy sorcery, yet Pickering integrates this power into the narrative through exceptionally original and precise mechanics. The power of the stone fluctuates depending on the season and the exact angle of sunlight hitting the pavement. Once activated, the visual resonance of the patterns heightens a warrior's physical and mental combat capabilities. Because Teleo understands the physical construction of these stones as a master mason, his connection to the magic feels deeply grounded in his trade rather than an arbitrary superpower. This brilliant interplay between stonemasonry, solar astronomy, and martial discipline gives the setting an ancient weight, and brings much needed originality and tactical depth to every action scene. 

A Slow Burn with Purpose

Heliotrope relies on a measured, deliberate pace. Pickering details the daily survival of the party: sourcing food, finding shelter, trading in small towns, and managing the physical toll of long travel. A brief section in the middle borders on repetitive as the party navigates these daily logistics, yet the narrative payoff remains immense.

Early chapters occasionally over-repeat Teleo's name in close prose, but Pickering's execution sharpens as the book moves forward. The final act delivers internal character resolutions that hit with strong emotional resonance. Pickering avoids the endless loop of breaking and rebuilding a character's core identity just to stretch out the plot. Instead, she resolves Teleo’s internal arc with maturity and quiet satisfaction.

A Self-Published Gem Worth Owning

Heliotrope concludes on a satisfying note while laying the groundwork for a broader epic. As an independently published author, Pickering faces significant financial and logistical hurdles in producing volumes of this scale. Though she continues to publish work in other subgenres, this novel stands on its own merit regardless of future continuations.

Heliotrope delivers a triumphant and thrilling heroic fantasy. From its gorgeous physical production to the numerous quote-worthy pages scattered throughout the text, this book remains a valuable addition to any serious fantasy reader's shelf. Do yourself a favor: pick up a copy, step into Teleo's world, and support one of the most talented independent voices writing today.