The Heretic by Allysha Lavino
Research and inspiration come together in this spellbinding spiritual adventure through history and mystery. Allysha Lavino takes us on a magical journey into the hidden histories of France and the real life secrets buried in code through the ages. This enchanting visionary fiction epic invites us to step into the story and discover how the wisdom of our ancestors could change the modern world forever.
A secret was hidden in the Languedoc of France, but this ancient wisdom has always been a deadly heresy. Cultural anthropologist Lily Ann Harper is on a quest for facts when mysterious Sir Anthony Leclair invites her to Rennes-le-Château, where she is unwittingly thrust back through history. Forced to confront her greatest fears, Lily awakens to a mystical power buried deep inside. Face to face with an age-old enemy, she must choose—embrace the magic of the ancestors and find her place in the Pattern … or lose Everything.
Did you Choose the life you are living? Do YOU have the courage to follow your heart … to Choose a life that you Love?
HERETIC MEANS “ABLE TO CHOOSE.”
Victor Smith –
A Visionary Fiction Star is Born
A decade ago, while writing my own novel on the medieval Cathars and Templars in the Langue-doc of southern France, I spent three intense weeks gorging myself on the history and geography of that area, including a day visit to the enigmatic hamlet of Rennes-le-Chateau, the focal point of Lavino’s novel. In reading The Heretic I was exquisitely delighted to find myself mentally revisiting so many familiar places and characters through the descriptions of an excellent writer who is also a genuine seeker.
Since I also write historical visionary fiction, I hope it has some weight if I rank Allysha’s inaugural novel of the same genre as a stellar accomplishment in story-telling, historical research, good science, and metaphysical authenticity. Even though the famous Rennes-le-Chateau affair and the role of Sacred Geometry in its explanation were peripheral to what I was writing about, I nevertheless visited dozens of sites, read several hundred books, and contacted many experts related to the complex subjects that Allysha works into a fast-paced but meditative tour-de-force worthy of an experienced novelist.
As a reviewer, especially when it comes to quality in visionary fiction, I am a taskmaster. Still, the only real criticism I have about The Heretic is the deep sense that there is more, a lot more, to the story. But Allysha says that this is the first book of a trilogy. So, even here she beat me to it and figured out that one is not quite enough.
Mary Woldering –
In the first book of the Heretic Trilogy, the main character Lily Ann Harper is on a journey to heal herself from sorrow over the assassination of her grandmother who was also her teacher and spiritual guide. When she follows her footsteps to the sacred site of Rennes-le-Château in the Langudoc area of France, famous for grail lore, she meets many people who knew her grandmother and who have in a spiritual and actual sense been waiting to meet and teach her.
At first, this doesn’t interest her. She is interested in a scientific approach to the relationship between all the ancient sacred sites throughout Europe.
The first question posed is “Why are you here?” but the answer is much deeper than the obvious desire to do research. The journey becomes more of finding one’s place in the Pattern of Life and in the Universe.
Author Lavino, through the skillful weaving of the tale asks that we ask ourselves the question, too. All of us , at some point are confronted by that question: What’s it about? Where do I fit? Why do I fit? For many of us those questions are inadequately answered. We worry about the humbling answer we’ll receive and don’t press it.
Lily herself is on the verge of taking a flight to Rome to get away, but is called back to not only look but to actually SEE the pattern of all life, structure, the Universe and her place.
It’s also an adventure as some forces of evil assail her and try to steal her maps and notes. The wrongdoings escalate and soon Lily and her new friends are engaged in solving a whodunit.
Finally, the title “Heretic” reveals a different meaning than the standard one (a religious rebel, although the Cathars were regarded as such by the Pre-Reformation Catholic Church.) In this work
he word Heretic means the ability to decide a course for oneself – TO CHOOSE.
It’s an excellent book, and my only complaint is the anti-Catholic tone which is something of a trope these days. From reading the other reviews I am seeing the anti-Catholic focus picked up as often as the encouragement to embrace ancient wisdom. Perhaps the coming books will explain that aspect. I look forward to reading them.
A wonderful tale which I highly recommend.