The Way to Kialo: a fictional analysis of delusion

The Way to Kialo is the first of five books that form The Kialo Series. Set against the backdrop of a fictional world, one that closely resembles the world in which we live in, the story centers around the need to be rid of delusions caused by erroneous beliefs. The main character, Axel, lives in a theocratically ruled city called Widdendream, in a land called South Umbra. There, heresy and apostacy are considered serious crimes, and met by severe punitive measures. Until recently, Axel was Widdendream's Advocate for The Defence of the Faith, a position that is second only to the High Priest. After declaring that he no longer believed in the religion he was meant to defend, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. As his world is crumbling around him, Axel meets a mysterious man named Barnabas, who tells him of a far away place called Kialo, and a path called The Way by which to get there in order to live a life of reason. Needing to escape from Widdendream, Axel takes that journey, and in doing so he ends up reconnecting with Caleb, his old friend from primary school who is also following The Way. They eventually meet a young man named Edwin from a land called Pandora. Later, the three of them meet Rupert, who is still struggling with his faith. The adventures these four men experience as they pass through many different nations, each representing particular religions, as well as some very challenging geography, is interlaced with existential commentary. The Kialo Series is a continuing saga, best appreciated by those who have either gone through deconversion or are currently deconverting from their religion. Each book in the series addresses a different aspect of the deconversion process.