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A review by ricarda_reads
The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau
4.0
Of course I can't resist a book that is pitched as The Witcher meets Squid Game in a Malaysian Chinese-inspired setting. Sounds almost too good to be true and maybe it really is, because after reading I couldn't agree less with these comparisons. I guess Squid Game refers to participating in a deadly game to clear of life-destroying debt, and The Witcher is about the monster fighting, but otherwise The Serpent Called Mercy is so unlike these stories that the pitch is basically misleading. I did enjoy this book nonetheless, so I'm not too bitter about it, but keep that in mind if that's what got your attention. It's actually an action-focused novel about monster-fighting as a sport, gladiator style. A pair of so called Conquessors is thrown into an arena with some weapons, and a wild, magical beast is unleashed upon them. Spectators bet on their success or demise, and a lot of money can be earned in the process, but some participants only earn death. After losing her job (again), protagonist Lythlet and her lifelong friend Desil enter the sport out of desperation, to finally clear of their debt and take a chance at a better life.
My favorite part of this book were definitely the matches themselves. To win the big jackpot, Lythlet and Desil have to compete in twelve matches over the course of one year, always battling a different creature. Some matches were only mentioned briefly, but the ones that happened on page were thrilling to read (and not gonna lie, the last match made my jaw drop). All the beasts had different abilities, and it was important to figure out how to fight one at all. The matches felt like little riddles that needed solving and were not about pure strength. I really liked Lythlet's analytical approach to fighting, and the way Desil complimented her with fighting experience and strength. Lythlet grows more ambitious and violent with every match they win and is soon spiraling into the criminal activities of the city's underworld. The way she was getting greedier herself while also being manipulated into continuing fighting was very well done in my opinion. Her character was truly interesting, because she always tries to justify her actions with the possibility of a better future for her loved ones while she might actually be harming them. The portrayal of different relationships was great as well, especially since there is no romance to be found in this book. I love to see it.
On the negative side of things I do have to say that the worldbuilding was truly underdeveloped, with the story only taking place in one city and sparsely mentioning anything that goes beyond it's borders. The beasts were from the wilds for instance, but no further information is given about that, and there were Gods who can grant blessings through prayers, but magic was rarely ever discussed. Instead, the book spent some time on explaining the city's politics, but all of that basically went over my head without ever catching my attention. I think more worldbuilding could have elevated the story from good to great, but as an action-focused book it was still very enjoyable for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite part of this book were definitely the matches themselves. To win the big jackpot, Lythlet and Desil have to compete in twelve matches over the course of one year, always battling a different creature. Some matches were only mentioned briefly, but the ones that happened on page were thrilling to read (and not gonna lie, the last match made my jaw drop). All the beasts had different abilities, and it was important to figure out how to fight one at all. The matches felt like little riddles that needed solving and were not about pure strength. I really liked Lythlet's analytical approach to fighting, and the way Desil complimented her with fighting experience and strength. Lythlet grows more ambitious and violent with every match they win and is soon spiraling into the criminal activities of the city's underworld. The way she was getting greedier herself while also being manipulated into continuing fighting was very well done in my opinion. Her character was truly interesting, because she always tries to justify her actions with the possibility of a better future for her loved ones while she might actually be harming them. The portrayal of different relationships was great as well, especially since there is no romance to be found in this book. I love to see it.
On the negative side of things I do have to say that the worldbuilding was truly underdeveloped, with the story only taking place in one city and sparsely mentioning anything that goes beyond it's borders. The beasts were from the wilds for instance, but no further information is given about that, and there were Gods who can grant blessings through prayers, but magic was rarely ever discussed. Instead, the book spent some time on explaining the city's politics, but all of that basically went over my head without ever catching my attention. I think more worldbuilding could have elevated the story from good to great, but as an action-focused book it was still very enjoyable for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.