Although I enjoyed the concept, the concept was about the most engaging this about this one. Apart from the cover which is BEAUTIFUL!!! I just found it really hard to engage with this one. It felt like it stayed fairly superficial and I didn't get sucked in like I would have liked to! It was void of emotive experiences and I found it so slow that I couldn't even finish it.

Beautiful cover though! Probably the best cover of the year!

I would prefer not to post a negative review on my social media.

I've heard so many mixed reviews about this book but I have to say, I really liked it! The characters were complex and interesting and the overall idea was executed really well. I did find the pacing to be a little off towards the end of the book but apart from that, The Boneless Mercies is a really solid read. 4 stars.

Spoiler Free Section

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I ended up giving this book 3.5 stars and did really enjoy it. I did end up actually listening to the audiobook for this one which I think really did help me get through the book a lot quicker than I would have otherwise. The writing style was really well done and fit the theme of an epic fantasy where we follow our brave characters on there quest, which really is what this book is about.

The pacing of this story was quite slow, and for about 60% of the time it feels as if we are just watching these girls walking from one location to another, which did lower my enjoyment of the book overall.

This book can be considered to be quite character driven as while there is the plot of them fulfilling their quest most of the time we are just hearing from our characters and seeing how they interact with particular situations. I really enjoyed getting to know all of our main characters, they all had really interesting and tragic backstories that lead them into the mercy killing line of work. I also really enjoyed getting to see their personalities and points-of-view when it came to their tasks. I also really enjoyed seeing all of their interactions, these were all girls brought together through terrible circumstances but they somehow became a family to one another and would do anything for each other, I loved seeing these beautiful platonic relationships and learning about how they were formed.

Overall I did enjoy this book, but I don't think that it was really a book for me. I don't often read epic fantasy or novels that involve these sort of epic quests for glory and they are maybe a little too dense for my tastes but I definitely think that people who enjoy those type of books will enjoy this one too.

Spoiler Section

There were definitely some sections of this book that I feel were unnecessary, all of the Mercies interactions with both Mother Hush and the Cut Queen seemed kind of pointless and didn't really add to the story in any way except that they get a clue about killing the Blue Vee beast. They were both pretty cool settings for our characters to go through on their journey but ultimately they felt pointless.

One of the things that I really don't like in standalone fantasy is when things are left unresolved. During their journey Frey is tasked with killing the Cut Queen by Mother Hush, and when that actually happens she basically allows herself to be killed because she will be reincarnated through her magic later on, while this happens she tells Frey that they will meet again and that there is a witch war that is coming but none of this happens in the book at all. I really feel like the aspect should have been removed because it really doesn't add to the story since we will never see any of it happen.

If we did only keep the aspects of this story that actually aided in the Mercies killing the Blue Vee beast then it would have been a very short book, I really just wish that their detours would have been to achieve something that was completely necessary to achieving their ultimate goal.

Aside from the main characters we do meet quite a few other people but they are all very unmemorable and also didn't really further the plot in any way, some gave information about where they were in this kingdom but other kind of just served to try and pull them from their ultimate goal. The romantic relationships were also quite understated as some of our characters seem to be together but don't show any kind of affection. Also a few of the potential relationships didn't seem to really matter and also could have been left out of the story.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster ( Australia ), and the author, April Tucholke, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Boneless Mercies in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I was initially drawn to this book by the cover. I thought it was beautiful and mysterious. Once I read the premise, I was hooked. I am so glad I received a copy to review.
I found it an enjoyable read. I loved the central characters. I thought the storyline was well written and intriguing. Would definitely read more from this author. 3.5 stars
Worth a read for fans of the genre.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are Boneless Mercies – death-traders, hired to kill quickly, quietly and mercifully. It is a job for women, and women only. Men will not do this sad, dark work.
Frey has no family, no home, no fortune, and yet her blood sings a song of glory. So when she hears of a monster slaughtering men, women, and children in a northern jarldom, she decides this the Mercies’ one chance to change their fate.
But glory comes at a price…

All the little things that frustrate me about YA fiction at the moment are all rolled up into one story here. And it started with the blurb - sounds brilliant, doesn't it? But it really doesn't tell you the whole story. What it should say is "Gender-swapping re-telling of Beowulf. Just badly." That would have been easier...

Where did it go wrong? Well, in numerous places...

We are promised four incredible female characters. What an opportunity to really tell a powerful story. Instead, we got 4 bland and colourless (of personality) characters that I had zero interest in by about page 50. They were just carbon-copies of each other.
Also, after an intriguing opening, this quickly became a struggle to stay connected. Page after page of characters telling us about nothing happening. But we never felt that anything was ever going to happen to the MCs - it was that dull and lifeless.

But, for the ultimate of insults, if you are going to re-tell a classic piece of literature, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING! It was like :
Author: "I have this great idea about gender-swapping a famous fable...but that's about how far through I have thought..."
Publisher: "We love it. Get it done."
Author: "Ummmm, okaaaaaaaay…"

There were so many characters that had no influence on the story, so much mythology really early on to allow any real kind of world-building, and 4 main characters that I couldn't have cared if they lived or died (especially Frey - unbelievably dense).

So, no, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.


Paul
ARH

Yesssss for a stunning cover! Yesssss for girl power! And, HELL YES for the writing. Great dialogue, description, and a plot! I am IN LOVE!

I was given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are Boneless Mercies – death-traders, hired to kill quickly, quietly and mercifully. It is a job for women, and women only. Men will not do this sad, dark work.

This book was beautifully written, which meant that I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. It is dark and beautiful and the elements of mythology within was perfect.

Recommend to all!

I WANTED SO BADLY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK BUT IT JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR ME AND I'M SO DISAPPOINTED!!

BUT I did love the murder bandit girls, so here's my character thoughts:

FREY was the MC and she was okay... idk just had no strong feelings about her.
JUNIPER was my actual fave thooooooooo!!!!! She was such a softie™ and the cutest little sea witch on the face of the planet, my absolute FAVE thing in the whole book!
RUNA Was a lil bit feisty and vicious, but really liked her
OVIE I kinda forgot about her tbh... She was so quiet! And I do love me some quiet characters, but I just kind of forgot she existed and idk man... I just wanted to know her better!

The romance was so meh tho... Like, I can't even remember the love interests name!! (Jks, it's not that bad, but it's pretty meh.) Thankfully that was not the main focus of the story, or I would've been hecka disappointed...

But it wasn't bad. Even though I wasn't a fan of the world-building style and didn't get super into it, it was a good story and I would really like to try something else the author has written someday.

When I heard that there was going to be an all-female cast, gendered swapped Beauwolf I was excited! Boneless Mercies did not disappoint, it was highly entertaining and a great read.

A fast-paced, unique & absorbing story with real depth. The cast of strong, independent female characters was fantastic to see in a YA novel and àlways felt genuine & believable. Would love to read more from this very capable author.

I've been reading much less YA over the last year than I used to. Thankfully though, there's some amazing YA novels coming out, and when I do read it I've been lucky enough to find absolute gems. That held true with The Boneless Mercies, a retelling of Beowulf set in a Vorse (Viking + Norse) setting of snow and blood and the absolute bond of those who had to find their family.

Frey and her band of Mercies are a travelling group, dispensing mercy killings to those able to pay for the release. It's a job only held by orphaned teenage girls in this world, and even as the novel started it was clearly weighing on the group. So when they hear of a chance for fame and glory if they can relieve a Northern jarldom of it's monster problem, they're all for it - and into adventure they hurl themselves, head first.

The setting itself is a mildly skewed version of our own history, with a touch of magic. Viking + Norse is a pretty good summary - we've got longboats, trolls, skinfights and seers. I actually felt like the book was at it's strongest when it wasn't trying to show just how Norse it was, but it's a first novel and sometimes you've just got to build a world. And as it let the dreaded infodump be avoided, I'll be forgiving.

The real strength of the book for me was in the characters - the bonds between them were so well portrayed. The differing friendships between each of them were so skillfully done, and it really meant that we learned so much from each character just by seeing what they were like with each different person. Obviously, female friendship taking such a centre stage is always a plus, but this was just brilliantly handled.

It's a very strong start to the series. And let me just emphasise - while it's the first in a series it is a stand alone story in it's own right, and <i>thank you</i> to the author because it's so important for other authors to see how to write a fantastic and complete story that still has the reader excited to go on to the next. I know I am.

ok so, I wanted to love this. I am a massive fan of the old tales, instilled in me from a very young age by a historically curious father. Contrary to popular opinion, I love Homer's Odyssey, Beowulf and the tale of Hades and Persephone (stop judging me!). The Boneless Mercies however failed to hit that ever important 'mark'.

The main characters while relatable some of the time caused a horrendous disconnect at others. While the majority had terrible backstories by which they ended up in the Mercies, this fact was mostly only conveyed when it came time for their history to be revealed before some tragic event occurs or major decision is required.

Secondary characters, while potentially well written had such lacklustre character arcs that i felt no need to emotionally invest, to me Hush and Cut Queen felt more like small squabbling children than Heads of their various followers (I am so sorry to anyone who loved them. I feel horrible).

World building is where Tucholke really excelled. It is quite evident that she put long hours into researching Norse mythology and its various sagas. The reader can almost feel the sea breeze, the cloying air of the swamps and the claustrophobia of the brambles, feeling relief at the protagonists escape from such a restrictive environment.

Overall I felt that what is essentially a gender bent retelling of Beowulf, it was lacklustre. It felt as though it was missing... Something. I cant quite put my finger on it. Perhaps its my early education into the classics, perhaps it was just not 'the right time' per se for me to be reading it.

I would however definitely recommend it to those who love retellings of mythological tales such as Circe and The Odyssey.

Oh my goodness. This book just held me enthralled. The amazing story that Tucholke has created here is just mystical, magical... Dark, and beautiful. Just wonderful. I may just be gushing now so I'll try to get down to some specifics.


The characters each have their own tale to tell, but you get precious little from them initially. Even Frey, the character we walk with, tells you little of her own story, and focuses more on the present - the next mark, the next meal, the next town. Each character is so wonderfully unique, but similar in being drawn together to do their dark work. Another character, Trigve, fascinated me as well, but honestly I was most fascinated with Juniper - her tale is just magical.


This is a retelling of sorts of Beowulf, and I could see the similarities throughout the story, but never really felt like I was reading a direct copy or anything like that. Tucholke has created her own magnificent world here, and her writing is just captivating and beautiful all at once. I often had to sit back after reading a particular sentence to just marvel and the mastery that she seems to have over the words - this is definitely a writer that I need to read more of.


Anyway, if I haven't gushed enough already, I think you ought to try this book out if you're fond of darker fantasies. Highly recommended.

‘Whatever I did next, the Mercies had my back. To the end. Loyalty like this was a rare thing, beautiful and pure.’

It’s been a long time between YA fantasy treks for me but what a fabulous novel to return to this genre with. The Boneless Mercies reads like a quest, full of danger and adventure, as four young women set themselves on a new path to determine their fate. This is a novel that celebrates female empowerment with a high value placed on friendship and loyalty. To me, the fantasy world was Viking inspired yet entirely unique, the story punctuated with wonderfully original mythic legends that wove neatly into the narrative. The Boneless Mercies is a clever novel, refreshingly unconcerned with romance and teenage angst. These young women are warriors, loyal to each other, with a strong belief in the afterlife and the legends of their world. They lift each other up and work together and they don’t defer to men, nor do they rely on them. I think this is a terrific novel for young women to read, in this age of isolation and connectivity via social media. Celebrating the strength of female friendships and highlighting the importance of female independence, The Boneless Mercies ticks all the right boxes for me. Highly recommended.

‘Belonging. This Great Hall, for all its grand tree and soaring ceiling and intricately carved pillars…It was a home. A community. The burden of being lone Mercies, of being wanderers and outsiders…I hadn’t realised the toll it had taken, until now. We’d been greeted as warriors here, in the truest sense. Roth’s household had put its fear and sadness on hold for the night and stripped its cellars bare to welcome us with food and song in the way of the sagas. Despite the lean year, despite the sorrow. A bold, glorious welcome…Before we fought the beast and died like all the others. It was the least they could do. It was everything.’

Thanks is extended to Simon and Schuster Australia via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Boneless Mercies for review.

A really very pleasant surprise. Beautiful in its simplicity, The Boneless Mercies reads like one of the sagas its characters are so fond of remembering and sharing. The environment is rich and wonderfully described, elements of the story feel almost fable-like, the characters are balanced and interesting - it's absolutely stunning.
I originally gave it four stars, but changed to five to write this review, as it's stuck with me for the last 24 hours. So much more than I was expecting and I'm excited to go back and read it again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

OK, I have never read Beowulf, nor as far as I know, any retellings or anything, so this aspect had no bearing on whether I liked the book or had anything to compare it to. For me, it was just SO slow <spoiler> and I knew we were heading for a monster slaying at the end </spoiler> but the slowness just threatened to drag me down with it long before. I loved all the girl friendships, the strong women taking charge, the beautiful friendship of Frey and Trigve. I HATED the poetic writing, both the complete confusion when something wasn't explained and then weirdly the complete opposite, when something unnecessary was overly explained. Probably this is just a me thing (Probably more understanding if I had read Beowulf?...maybe) and this might not hit those who had. I'm here for the YA fantasy aspect, and well, I freely admit to being a cover snob and all editions of this are beautiful, so yeah.

Not my cup of tea, but I can see this has wide appeal and hope people read it anyway. I didn't hate it after all, it just won the middle ground for me. Three stars.

[Review to be posted on October 4th]

"I am a woman, wanderer, warrior. This is not the end of my story."

The Boneless Mercies trade in the art of death. Killing the old, sick, and wounded, their mercy kills are hired from all over Vorseland. Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Mercy Killers. They each have their own troublesome tale of how they joined a trade that included killing the innocent and suffering. However, our protagonist Frey wishes for more, a bigger, more heroic life.

When the Mercies hear of an unstoppable beast terrorising local villages, they decide this is their opportunity to defeat the beast and escape the death trade once and for all. The reward associated with the defeat of the beast will be enough gold to allow them to depart on their separate journeys, to find heroism in other lands. However, this beast is immortal, gigantic, and out for blood. So what makes the band of four female Mercies think that they can be the ones to destroy it and save the village? Hope. Hope is all they have.

April Genevieve Tucholke writes an exhilarating story of female companionship, compassion, and strength as the Mercies, who are raised to expect the bare minimum, thinking that a warm bath is too much of a luxury, finds the true meaning of heroism and the destiny of their broken lives.

Frey is a resilient young girl who hopes for a world with no more death and destruction, only compassion and bravery. Coming from a bloody childhood that left her family dead and her destiny to be a pleasurer in a Bliss House, Frey escapes to join the Boneless Mercies. However, she is always hoping for a better life, one with warrior deaths and freedom.



Each and every character in this story gave the reader hope and love for their story. Tucholke wrote the cast in such a way that has the reader completely attached to their storyline and rooting for them from their reading nooks. Not one of the characters was unlikable, even the villains. You know you have found a good author when they make the reader feel sympathy for the villains!

The world was well thought out and very picturesque, making the whole theme and tone of the novel very grim but whimsical with each village the Mercies stopped at on the way. I genuinely enjoyed every second of this book and devoured it in one sitting.

However, I am curious about the future of this storyline. Originally it was branded as a standalone and says so in the blurb on Goodreads, however, the end of the novel tells a different tale. The ending wraps up nicely, but there are still questions left unanswered, perfect for a sequel, or maybe two. Another instalment in this series would be vital because without it the ending would be leaving the readers wanting more, and not in a good “I don’t want this to end way” but a “well, isn’t there supposed to be another book, where is it?” way. Sure hope the publisher and the author will figure this out soon because I am already anticipating more!!!

Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster (Australia) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

I’ve never read any of Tucholke’s previous works but after reading The Boneless Mercies, I now want to go back and read them all! The level of detail, the flawless world-building, the careful unfolding of each characters backstory, the slow-building intensity leading up to the ending; almost every detail of this story was executed perfectly.

Full (spoiler-y) review here: http://wmsreads.tumblr.com/post/177957497877/

There are so many women in this book. There are very few men in this book at all. It’s glorious. It’s been a week since I read it and I recall two. Two men whose importance to the story is almost entirely tied to their emotional significance to the protagonist. Is this what being a man feels like?

The Boneless Mercies is a heroic saga focusing on a band of young women who travel a vaguely medieval eastern european continent as mercy-killers for hire. On the off chance you aren’t already leaving to go pick up a copy, I will do my best to explain why you should.

First - this is not a kissing book. This is not a book ‘about women’ where there is as much or more time devoted to how she feels about some guy as there is to the actual plot. In fact, while Frey does eventually do some kissing, the book is more than half over by the time she even thinks about it. Instead, she thinks about her quest, and her companions, and how her quest might be affecting her companions. There is a lot of entirely platonic compassion and love and I dig it.

Second, the tone of this book is GLORIOUS. Reading it felt like floating, if that makes any sense. Picking up this book is like walking into an old growth forest, hearing the complete lack of machinery, knowing you are the only person for miles. It truly captures the poetry of traditional fairytales and epics. Like breathing night air. I loved it.

Third, and this is a little big repeating, but the women in this book! They are all different, they are all complex, they all have different stories and motivations and they’re all fleshed out and deep and have skills and flaws and gosh I just love them all so much. Juniper, in particular, is my favourite.

The Boneless Mercies is a standalone novel, and it suits it, it is one heroic tale from beginning to end, but it is the kind of standalone where I wish I had another twenty chapters to tell me about how they lived the rest of their lives in comfort and safety, so that I could know for sure that my girls were okay.

[REVIEW] - The Boneless Mercies {1.5}⭐️
by April Tucholke
Thanks to @simonandschuster for providing a copy through @netgalley

"Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life." When I received the approval for The Boneless Mercies I was super excited as the book seemed to be so promising - a bunch of girls wanting to leave their miserable death-trade life looking for a new adventure? Boom, you've got me! However, this book is probably one of the top 3 most boring books I have ever read in my entire existence🤦🏻‍♀️

The plot its just soooooooo boring that I found myself struggling and actually pushing myself to go back to the book and finish it. Now I wish I had just DNF it and use that time to read another book because nothing really happens in this book. Simple as that.

The characters are meant to have different personalities due to their varied backgrounds but they are all so bland, depressing and boring that sometimes I had to go back and read again because I couldn't identify who was who. The bad guys are just a punch of crying babies and very weird ones. And the Boneless Mercies are just so depressing, hating their lives and killing old and sick people that its impossible to believe that any of them are badass enough to fight a giantess - they know nothing about fighting or combat, they are always starving and have no fighting capacity and yet they want a go at killing a creature who has destroyed entire villages? *rolling eyes mode: on* 😤

The saddest part of all is that this book had so much potential. And not only the characters or the world building had a huge lack of development: what about exploring the ethics of killing people who is sick or old? Girl, you had a gold mine in your hands! A freaking shame.