"A thrilling and rewarding action-packed fantasy novel that showcases the importance of friendships as conquessors fight to the death in a bloodsport arena. "
Richly imagined and feisty as heck, I was as hooked as a hooked thing can be by this epic fantasy. Lythlet and Desil, desperate to pay off their debts, travel to an underground arena set up to offer bloodsports for the amusement of the crowds. I sank into and was completely devoured by this story that offers so much variety. Author Roanne Lou not only has the ability to create immense battle scenes within a vibrantly different yet somehow familiar world, she also sinks below the surface of emotion to the hidden recesses, exploring the negative and positive sides of humanity. She exposes the social and political consequences of greed and dishonour all while encouraging a thundering adventure to fill the pages. While I loved the relationship between Lythlet and Desil, I particularly enjoyed Lythlet’s reaction to the match-master, who evoked so many different emotions in me. The monsters are just fabulous, is it wrong of me to want a baby bugbear? While huge battles rage, the nuanced elements ensured that this novel joins our LoveReading Star Books and also sits as a Liz Pick of the Month. Loaded with fire, friendship, and monsters, The Serpent Called Mercy is an exciting and compelling read.
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.
Roanne Lau is a speculative fiction author whose works are informed by her Chinese heritage and her experiences living in Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. She was selected for the Pitch Wars mentorship program in 2021. Her debut novel The Serpent Called Mercy sold at auction in North America, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth—but the accomplishment she remains proudest of is being a finalist in a Lord of the Rings trivia competition when she was nine. Find her on Twitter or Instagram (@roannelau), and subscribe to her newsletter (roannelau.substack.com).
