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The Wrong Way Down (Heretic #1)

by Jake Elliot (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 16 ratings · 9 reviews

Sometimes the right way turns all wrong. I saw his body lying there. My teacher, my mentor, my friend - face down in a pool of his own blood. His white robes were starched brown with dried blood, his throat cut open by the thieves who'd stolen the spiritual artifact we'd been entrusted to protect. The Blessed Mystery smiles, we caught one of the two thieves, and it is my d...more

Paperback, 230 pages

Published December 1st 2011 by Damnation Books, LLC

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Sep 06, 2012 Candice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A great read by a new author. Quick paced, great characters, compelling plot. It's always refreshing to have a strong female protagonist, and Popolia doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to read Jake Elliot's next offering!

What my stars mean:

5 stars... this book changed the way I view life. It made me a better thinker/reader/writer/person. It holds a special place in my heart

4 stars... this book is great... I would read it again, it exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to others.

3 stars...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Dayle Grixti rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on my blog (http://legionwood.wordpress.com/2012/...)

When I received a free PDF of Jake Elliot’s debut novel The Wrong Way Down (published by Damnation Books), I wasn’t really expecting anything different out of the genre. On first glance, The Wrong Way Down doesn’t appear to be anything other than a typical fantasy adventure full of swords, sorcery, elven mages and slippery rogues. However, despite this, I found that The Wrong Way Down actually manages to be an...more This review was originally posted on my blog (http://legionwood.wordpress.com/2012/...)

When I received a free PDF of Jake Elliot’s debut novel The Wrong Way Down (published by Damnation Books), I wasn’t really expecting anything different out of the genre. On first glance, The Wrong Way Down doesn’t appear to be anything other than a typical fantasy adventure full of swords, sorcery, elven mages and slippery rogues. However, despite this, I found that The Wrong Way Down actually manages to be an enjoyable read. Although Elliot’s debut novel won’t hold much appeal for those who aren’t already fans of the oft-used conventions of traditional fantasy, it’s still an exciting, fast paced action adventure story with lots of plot twists, well written action scenes and a slight hint of horror that those tired of the epic scale and slow paced, sweeping plotlines of modern fantasy will enjoy.
The Wrong Way Down tells the story of a young priestess, Popalia, who must embark on a quest after a religious artifact protected by her order (The Blessed Mystery) is stolen by a pair of hired thieves. Although one of the thieves is apprehended during the heist, the second thief escapes, and its up to Popalia (along with two hired mercenaries and a naive elven magician) to go out into the world and bring them, and the stolen artifact, back. What follows isn’t an epic quest to the edge of the world, and nor is it a complex story of political intrigue. The Wrong Way Down is a fast paced chase story, and Elliot does a great job of keeping his readers entertained while also keeping the scope of his novel simple and manageable for those who just want to be swept away on a fun adventure (The Wrong Way Down is only 80,000 words long – much shorter than the typical 1000 page fantasy tome).

Sword fights, flames, sinister looking faces superimposed into the background… this book has it all!
For the most part, Elliot’s writing in The Wrong Way Down is pretty solid, and the book is a very strong effort as far as debut novels go, but there are some aspects of the writing that could do with some tighter editing. The novel is written in a third person, present tense style, which helps to keep the writing fast paced and exciting, and this style is used masterfully in the action scenes. However, I did notice a considerable number of passages scattered throughout the book where this was spoiled by overwriting. Elliot uses description well at certain points of the book to establish atmosphere, and I enjoyed his skill with constructing imagery, but there are a lot of otherwise mundane sentences padded out with needless adjectives. This doesn’t detract from the story, but it does make the pace of the novel seem inconsistent, and it would have been a lot better if these parts were written a little more tightly.
In terms of story and dialogue, Elliot also does a decent job, with the adventure remaining engaging through the entire book (if a little short lived) and there are a few plot twists that may catch the reader by surprise. Unfortunately, The Wrong Way Down does suffer from a few issues with characterisation, and the characters don’t seem to have very interesting character arcs (Wynkkur the elven mage, for example, becomes a stronger character over the course of the novel but then retreats to a similar position to where he began), though they are well written, and the dialogue is never boring. It would’ve also been nice if the book’s antagonists were fleshed out more, as we never quite learn what their motives are, or their perspective on the book’s events, which would have made them more interesting foils for the protagonist. As it stands now, we’re made to dislike them simply because we’re told to, but we never really know why. This may be forgiven because, as I understand, The Wrong Way Down is the first book in a planned series, which may resolve these loose ends in a later volume, but looking at this book as a stand-alone story, it’s disappointing that there are things that still feel unresolved at the end.
Bottom line: the best part about this book is its fast paced action. If you’re a fantasy fan who wants a quick, exciting adventure to see you through the weekend, this book is for you. I did enjoy it, despite the fact that it doesn’t make much of an attempt to buck the typical fantasy tropes. If you’re looking for something that does something you’ve never seen before with the genre, or a Game of Thrones-esque novel with chapters of backstory, deep political drama or grand battles between nations for the fate of the world, Jake Elliot’s debut novel isn’t it. The Wrong Way Down is a book that seeks to take its reader on a quick thrill ride, and nothing more. If you want lots of fighting, a quick pace that doesn’t let up and simply to be entertained, you definitely can’t go wrong with this one.(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Becky Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am generally not a frequent reader of fantasy fiction, but The Wrong Way Down is an enjoyable read. The beginning of the novel is a bit reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code in its style of writing. Two thieves break into a remote monastery, kill a priest and steal a sacred artifact. One thief gets away with the artifact, the other thief is caught. Co-protagonists Popalia and Wynkkur set out on a journey to take the thief to the garrison for punishment and to recover the stolen artifact, but their...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Dina Rae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jake Elliot's fantasy epic begins with a robbery of a holy relic/sceptre at Popalia's (heroine of the story) church. She and her father have high-standing clergy roles and feel responsible for not being able to stop the thieves from killing a dear friend. One of the robbers, Katia, does not escape, but her accomplice, Thorngen, is the one who has their mystical sceptre. Popalia and Wynkkur, an elf/sidekick who also works at the church, set out to take Katia, their new prisoner, to another town f...more Jake Elliot's fantasy epic begins with a robbery of a holy relic/sceptre at Popalia's (heroine of the story) church. She and her father have high-standing clergy roles and feel responsible for not being able to stop the thieves from killing a dear friend. One of the robbers, Katia, does not escape, but her accomplice, Thorngen, is the one who has their mystical sceptre. Popalia and Wynkkur, an elf/sidekick who also works at the church, set out to take Katia, their new prisoner, to another town for justice. Katia escapes, setting off a full-blown adventure for Popalia and Wynkkur. They make friends with an elven community and track Katia down to Capitol City where things really get hairy. Without giving anything away, things look dire for the main characters until the very end. Mr. Elliot resolves the story but leaves the door wide open for a sequel.
MY THOUGHTS: Mr. Elliot has a gift for similes and metaphors which he uses at the perfect moments when describing the places Wynnkhur and Popalia travel to. He deftly gives characterization through dialogue so well, that dialogue tags become almost unnecessary. His writing is vivid and clear, keeping me engaged in the story from page one to the very end.
Humor was sparingly inserted throughout the story. I felt as if I knew the characters by the middle of the book. The action was nonstop. I also liked the stories the elves told their tribe. It reminded me of Native American lore. Jake also used themes of racism between various species described in the story which made it even more interesting. The ending had a terrific twist that I did not see coming. About the only thing I would criticize is the YA feel of the book-clean language, virgin character, fantasy/elves, and toned-down violence because Mr. Elliot told me the other novels in this series are R-rated which is very misleading. But I'll forgive him. Sometimes writing takes on a different direction from where one begins. This is a magical book that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to adults who love fantasy. (less)

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May 09, 2012 Jeremy Kline rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I'll be brutally honest, since I know the author would expect nothing less (he is published by the same company that I am, though we have never met, and he read and reviewed my novel as well). It took me about two or three chapters to get my feet firmly planted in this alternative world. Once I did, I was sold. The best part about this novel is the main character, Popalia. At first, I really didn't like her. She is whiny and stubborn and a bit self righteous. But then I realized that the author...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Ronnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I received The Wrong Way Down free through Goodreads First Reads.

I very much enjoyed The Wrong Way Down. To me, the way the main character matured as the story progressed and the way the elves were portrayed were the highlights of the novel.

One of the reasons why I didn't rate The Wrong Way Down 5 stars is because of Jake Elliot's writing style. The way some of the sentences were phrased, took a little getting used to and this slowed the story for me.

Overall this is a very enjoyable read and...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Emily Trees rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really well written. I was a bit ambivalent to reading it because the writer is my closest friend's cousin and I was sincerely surprised that by the end of the book I couldn't put it down and was begging for more!

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Mar 07, 2013 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Portland Book Review said -- http://www.portlandbookreview.com/the...

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Nov 28, 2012 Tyson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, scifi-fantasy

My review here.

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About Jake Elliot

Having left fabulous Las Vegas, fantasy author Jake Elliot and his wife chose the Pacific Northwest as a great place to have new adventures. Without kids, they are guardians over a rather hostile cat by the name of Samson. A whirlwind of slashing claws and biting teeth, Samson has inspired most of the action scenes in Jake’s books. A minimalist at heart and a master of traveling on a shoestring bu...more

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