>What do you guys think of this book? Is it good?
It's wonderful book that all Christians should frequently read.
> Heretical? Prelest?
Those who claim that it is either did not read or did read it and suffer from spiritual darkness and drunkenness or even worse, from malice.
There is none other way unto life and to true inward peace, except the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification… For God will have thee learn to suffer tribulation without consolation, and to submit thyself fully to it, and by tribulation be made more humble…If thou wilt make any progress keep thyself in the fear of God, and long not to be too free, but restrain all thy senses under discipline and give not thyself up to senseless mirth…It is often better and safer for a man not to have many comforts in this life, especially those which concern the flesh. But that we lack divine comforts or feel them rarely is to our own blame, because we seek not compunction of heart, nor utterly cast away those comforts which are vain and worldly… Know thyself to be unworthy of divine consolation, and worthy rather of much tribulation. When a man hath perfect compunction, then all the world is burdensome and bitter to him.
If this is prelest then I do not what is not.
>Should I read this and will this help my spiritual life the right way?
Yes. It helped countless, many of whom end up being canonised.
>If any of you read it, how did it affect you
I realised that I have long way ahead but it all look clear now. Vices and worldly habits have less and less power over me, my prayer and liturgical life is in much better state and I am finally done (though not in perfect way yet) with decpetion that is "positive thinking".