Fantasy, Romance, Political Intrigue and Taking Down The Church
Book Review of Heretic Behaviour by E.C. Glynn
Published: December 1st, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
Genres: Fantasy, Adult Romance
Series: The Secrets of Demons (book 1 of unknown)
Disclaimer: Thank you E.C. Glynn for sending me this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.
CW/TW: Imprisonment, drug use & abuse, alcohol, murder, sexual slavery, torture, slavery, discrimination, violence, kidnapping, religious trauma, religious sacrifice, gaslighting, abandonment.
Running From The Church
After years of running and hiding from the church, Mila is finally caught. Accused of being a demon, a heretic, she is sentenced to death. However, as she is being prepared to be sacrificed to the God-King Midas, she escapes.
But her freedom is cut short when she runs into the vicious Princess Jezebel. The Princess orders Mila’s execution stayed and on the condition that Mila becomes her demon pet, using her magical abilities and the rest of her to do her bidding and entertain her at court.
Mila bides her time, planning the perfect escape. Until the arrival of the handsome and ruthless merchant Prince. Mila has to decide if he will be her ruin or saving grace.
The Religious Deconstruction
I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book like this. Elyse has written a beautiful fantasy that tackles themes of religious deconstruction, morality and the different individual experiences of those within the story.
Being the first book in the series, Heretic Behaviour perfectly sets up the beginning of a religious war. The church is controlling the population and condemning those with powers, those with the ability to question and challenge the church, and classifying them as demons to be hunted down and sacrificed to appease the God-King.
This quote perfectly sums up the religious prosecution and hypocritical behaviour from the elite in Heretic Behaviour:
“This is heresy.” She shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. “The elite are always heretics when it suits them. Divine obedience is for the poor.”
Imperfect Characters
Elyse has created characters with such distinct personalities that I feel like I know them personally. It’s a beautiful thing that each of the four main characters struggles with morality in their own way. They are flawed and imperfect and real.
Before you come for my head, even Jezebel, who is quite evil, has redeeming qualities. It’s clear that although she is despicable and unapologetic, she wasn’t born that way, as villains are rarely ever born; they are made.
Mila, on the other hand, our hero, isn’t the conventional hero. A lot of her motives come from a place of fear and cowardliness. Elyse has written each of the other main characters with their own faults; and I can’t wait to see the character growth that they all go through.
Creative Powers & Limitations
I commend Elyse for her fantastical elements, especially the demons’ powers. All magical aspects within the story have their limitations. I’m a big believer that limitations (especially regarding magical abilities) allow for more creative stories as the characters have to figure out a way around those limitations. Elyse has executed this brilliantly.
Romance Takes a Back Seat
Heretic Behaviour is told in two distinct parts. The first part of the book focuses a lot on world-building, establishing Mila’s character and her suffering. With this, the pacing is slower.
While part two does continue with those aspects, there is more focus on the romance. The pacing picks up with the romance and additional action, adventure and higher stakes.
Favourite Quotes
She’d never known that the God-King viewed all Eight Heretical Behaviours as equally unforgivable. How curious to learn that the Second, ‘public displays of joy or group celebrations’, was as worthy of the same punishment as the First, ‘selling one’s soul to obtain demon powers’.
“I don’t like to share.” “I do love a challenge, Princess. You know this.” “It’s a challenge I’m afraid you’ll lose.” “I’m not sure I’ve ever felt afraid.” He playfully raised an eyebrow. “What’s it feel like?”
Deep down, she just wanted what anyone wanted: to be loved unconditionally, to have friends who noticed her needs and enjoyed her company. She wanted to be admired and respected, by colleagues and lovers, but instead, she was merely tolerated–and she knew it.
“There’s the real reason I’m here, and then there’s the reason that’s less grounded in truth, but far more entertaining. Which would you prefer to hear, Princess?”
“Yes, well, over the years, the Church has taken to picking and choosing the elements of the Holy Text they follow and enforce upon the population,” Jahan said. “It suits them to have demons as a common enemy. It means the Church remains favourably viewed amongst humans, who are kept safe from being sacrificed, and it keeps them in power. It’s all politics.”
“Anyone who tries to tell you that sex is about anything other than power is a fool.”
“I’ve travelled enough to see what has happened in other nations around the world when a minority challenges the religious majority. There’s usually a war, and religious wars are more corrosive and destructive than any other kind. There are no winners. You can never destroy a belief through force. You have to make it appealing for the belief itself to be changed. Otherwise, it only makes the zealots double down.”
She would never have to be anything other than herself ever again. It was a life-changing realisation.
“It just goes to show that some things are only a sin if you’re poor and common.”
Final Thoughts
I LOVED this book. When I received it, it jumped to the front of my TBR* (17 books were ahead of it). Even writing about it now makes me want to reread it.
If you enjoy political intrigue, fantasy, romance, some mystery and main characters over the age of 25, then please read this book; you will not regret it. The last 100 pages were intense, and I honestly can’t wait for the next book.
All that being said, the author herself has said that if you grew up in a religious household, you will either love this book or hate it. I cannot stress enough that the central theme in Heretic Behaviour is the religious deconstruction.
Side Note:
It has chapter headings! I love chapter headings, and I feel like they don’t really exist much after you move on from middle-grade books or early young-adult books.
*TBR – To Be Read list: a list of books you want/plan to read.
Author’s Website | Amazon AU | Amazon US
Where you can, please purchase from the author’s website to support indie authors
Have you read this book? Or just looking for more Bookish friends? Join me on socials and let’s talk books!
