Well, well, well. It’s been a while since we’ve read an epic fantasy that has completely taken over our days. Yet here we are with Roanne Lau’s fantasy debut, The Serpent Called Mercy.
The Serpent Called Mercy is a standalone novel following the journey of Lythlet and Desil, two best friends who sign up to fight sun-cursed beasts in their attempt to pay off their debt. Their time in the illegal monster-fighting arena not only tests their skill and wit but also their yearslong friendship.
We took our time reading and relishing this new book, and it may be one of our favorites so far! Here are three of our favorite things about The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau.
Book Overview: The Serpent Called Mercy
Content warnings: physical abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, mentions of child sex trafficking, rape, and pedophilia, graphic violence and gore, death, murder, attempted suicide, torture, weapons, corpses, animal abuse, classism (Please read at your discretion!)
Summary: Lythlet and her only friend Desil are shackled to a life of debt and poverty that she fears they will never escape. Desperate for money, they sign up as conquessors: arena combatants who fight sun-cursed beasts in the seedy underworld of the city.
Match-master Dothilos is initially enamored of Desil’s brawling reputation, but after seeing Lythlet lead the pair to triumph with her quick cunning, he takes her under his wing, scorning Desil. Ambition takes root in Lythlet’s heart as a life of fame and wealth unfolds in her imagination.
But Lythlet isn’t the only one out for coin and glory, and she soon finds herself playing an entirely different game—a game of politics and deception. As the cost of her ambition grows, she will have to decide if sacrificing her honor, and only friendship, is worth the chance to shape her own fortune.
The Immersive World-Building
If there’s one thing we love about The Serpent Called Mercy, it’s how we immediately became transported to the city-state of Setgad. We see firsthand the miserable living conditions of people in the Southeast slums like Lythlet and Desil. We travel to the darkest parts of the city’s underbelly, where people fight for sport and others gamble their money away. Not to mention the sun-cursed beasts Lythlet and Desil must fight, each with their own mythical appearances. These monsters showed no mercy against the protagonists, and every round had us holding our breath.
Lythlet’s Personal Journey
Mercy might seem as a weakness to some, but it is Lythlet’s number one strength and value. We absolutely loved her character development in The Serpent Called Mercy. She had a stutter at a young age, and other kids often mocked and bullied her for it. Enter Desil, who showed her kindness when no one else did. Once Lythlet and Desil earn a name for themselves as conquessors, she finally feels like she has control over her story. But Lythlet grapples with her ambition and wanting a life with more. She questions her morals, forced to be an entertainer while not knowing which lines she’s truly willing to cross.
Three-Dimensional Side Characters
Another one of our favorite things about Roanne Lau’s The Serpent Called Mercy is the cast. Former champion conquessors Ilden Highvind and Shunvi Tanna befriend Lythlet and Desil early on in the book. Their friendship dynamic is so entertaining to read. And the morally gray match-master, Renveld Dothilos, is such an interesting antagonist. He has his own tragic childhood and sees much of his former self in Lythlet. He often talked to her fondly and harshly in the same breath. We could never get rid of the uneasiness we felt whenever he appeared.
From its elaborate world-building to its core of true friendship, Roanne Lau’s The Serpent Called Mercy won us over completely. We couldn’t help but root for everyone’s well-deserved ending.
The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau comes out March 25th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Roanne Lau’s fantasy debut, The Serpent Called Mercy? Are you looking forward to its release? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
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