A review by moonchildlhevi
The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

ARC from Netgalley and Solaris Books

Burdened with debt, childhood friends Lythlet and Desil just want out of their never-ending cycle of poverty. Desperate for a way out, they become "conquessors", arena fighters battling ferocious sun-cursed beasts in the city’s dangerous underworld.

As they rack up victories, Lythlet dares to hope that in conquering these battles they could conquer the poverty that had them chained most of their lives. With each cheer and flash of fame, her ambition grows, pulling her deeper under the wing of the match-master. But soon, she finds herself tangled in the messy world of underworld politics and deception, forcing her to choose between her morals and the people she loves.

The Serpent Called Mercy is an epic fantasy inspired by Malaysian Chinese culture and folklore. With its thrilling action and rich world-building, it’s a stunning debut from Roanne Lau.

Lythlet, for me, is a remarkable and compelling character, flawed as she is I found myself rooting for her - not just for her conquering the arena against the sun-cursed beasts, but also for how she conquered the challenges life threw at her, and how she continues to fight in achieving the life she had always dreamed of. Her determination and grit make her journey feel incredibly real and inspiring.

The world-building is vivid, but I wish there was more lore on the sun-cursed beasts, where they come from and how they differ from sun-blessed ones. The ending is a bit bittersweet, but it made the story even more powerful.

Overall, The Serpent Called Mercy is a must-read for fantasy fans. If you’re into action-packed adventures with strong characters and emotional depth, you’ll want to grab this one when it drops on March 27, 2025