Wow. The best way I can think to describe this book is that it is similar to the red queen. The plot twists, schemes, love triangles, and morally gray decisions are all so amazing and build up to an amazing story. I just can’t wait to continue reading. Whenever I start these books I cannot stop and keep going because they just get better and better. Couldn’t ask for more.

I absolutely loved The Kinder Poison and I think this sequel was just as good. I thought Zahru becoming a morally grey character was very interesting and really intrigued me. It left me questioning multiple times if I agreed with her choices or not. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the royalty side to this world but I do wish we got more of Jet and Kasta’s POV.
If you are looking for a fantasy book with interesting characters and an easy world to understand, I recommend this series!

This series is so sooo good. I love the world of Orkena and NEED more. I need more Zahru, more Kasta, more of everyone and really hope to see more!

I have been dying to read this book ever since I finished The Kinder Poison, which I finished in 1 sitting, because I loved it THAT much.

The character work and development in this series is unlike any other and I have read a LOT of YA. Zahru is a great MC, but I did appreciate her story so much more in book 1… that isn’t saying much or ANYTHING negative. I was just loving Kasta so much more this time around. I know… I’m basic, right? Yes! I Stan Kastaru!

I won’t be giving away any spoilers in today’s review. But what I will be saying is that I need another book! This world is just too ducking good not to live in for another… maybe 2 or 3 more books.

Like The Kinder Poison, The Cruelest Mercy slowly eases you into the storyline and gives some great background and character development before quickly shooting us off into an intense plot line and all the action! I love, love, loved the character development Zahru goes through in this book, especially after the events of book one. Always the kind, caring, and trusting person, Zahru has to rethink how she goes about life. Clearly, trusting and believing in the good in everyone doesn't always work out and it was so interesting to watch her doubt that innate kindness less and less. 

Of course, then we have her friends, like Jet, who also see the change Zahru is going through and aren't sure what to make of it. I mean, having to rule alongside your attempted murderer and nemesis is awful, and I don't blame Zahru for not only wanting to get as far away from Kasta as possible, but for doing everything she can to make sure he can't seize power. Though it does make her friends hesitate a little bit...

Unfortunately, just like in book one, I totally fell in love with Kasta's character. He is just so charming and horribly manipulative and I fell for it. Again. I was rooting for him the entire time and was so excited to see him be so kind and considerate with Zahru, especially in uncomfortable and awkward moments. Until I realized I'm a clown and what did I really expect? I still love him though and I need an epilogue to the epilogue to know what happens next!

And similarly to book one, though Zahru is going through some changes, she still preaches kindness above all. The last thing she wants is to push the country to war, or hurt anyone. And even though she kind of sees the benefit of cruelty at times, kindness seems to be her main motivator. Even if it ends up being her ruin. 

This book, this series in general, is just so beautifully written. The transition from book one to two was so seamless and the struggles Zahru faces, while different, are equally challenging. I adore this series and highly recommend everyone read it! The rich history of these nations, the important messages and narrative, the cool world and powers that come along with it - this book has everything you could want in a fantasy novel. 

And Natalie is the queen of epilogues. I was slack jawed when I read it and I am so sad this is the ending. There's no more books when there absolutely should be! Though Natalie has said that she hopes this will be a trilogy, so maybe we'll get more books! Ahh, I hope so! Overall, if you liked The Kinder Poison, you will love the ending The Cruelest Mercy brings. And I can't wait for more books from Natalie!

Having survived the Crossing, Zahru is looking forward to her new life with Prince Jet. But right as Jet is about to be announced as the winner and the true heir to the throne of Orkena, Kasta walks in. He claims to be the true winner and heir and has the god’s mark to prove it. But what he doesn’t anticipate is Zahru also has the god’s mark. Both determined to be chosen as the heirs to the throne, Zahru and Kasta must work together to protect Orkena from war. But Zahru knows what Kasta has done to win the Crossing, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to prove his true nature.

I didn’t enjoy The Cruelest Mercy as much as I liked The Kinder Poison, and I think a big factor was the setting. The Kinder Poison is more of a quest through the desert with a clear goal in mind for Zahru: survival. Now, Zahru has survived and is training to be a ruler and there’s no quest, no epic journey. It was still enjoyable. I loved coming back to revisit the characters. But at the same time, it was a bit tedious in places.

With that said, I’m hoping this is not the last book in the series. At the risk of this being considered a spoiler, the story ended in a way that could be conclusive, but it was also open-ended and could be continued. I’m desperately hoping that this is not the end and there will be more from this series!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me a gifted copy of The Cruelest Mercy! All opinions are my own.

If you enjoyed The Kinder Poison get ready for another crazy adventure (less so of a physical adventure this time and more of a mental rollercoaster).

After following the chaos that follows Zahru, Jet, and Kasta, there's a whole new set of issues in this story! I found the plot of this story super intriguing and I think I may prefer this plot to the first book.

Despite plenty of twists and turns, I found Zahru's character development in this story incredibly frustrating (though I won't say more because I don't what to spoil anything).

As for romance, things get a bit more interesting in this book! I know book three isn't confirmed, but I would LOVE to see how things progress!

If you enjoyed The Kinder Poison you need to pick this one up! If you haven't read The Kinder Poison and want to enter a magical fantasy adventure, this is the series for you!

Natalie Mae's writing continues to be exciting and riveting in this next book. I loved the characters and I found myself turning page after page! Amazing work.

“Leave the monsters to monsters.”

There comes a moment when a morally grey character walks into your life and upends your sense of self goodness. Mae, you officially have me questioning my heart’s sanity after finishing this round. Book two picks up a moon or so after the closure of The Kinder Poison.  Now anyone can read the synopsis of this second installment and have the mouth drop ending of book one blown, but I will skate around that portion for those who haven’t had a chance to read it yet.  It really set the stage for how much I enjoyed this series. Skipping the plot line, I’ll go into my overall feelings which begin with the characters.

The characters… I love them. These are character driven novels and I appreciate the depth and emotion Mae puts into each one. Even down to the furry counterparts running amuck. Zahru may make some questionable life choices, but she is a character that has shown growth in every book so far. I even believe I saw an inkling of the morally grey streak her persona this round and I have to admit that I liked it. Still debating if I am a fan of Jet. You know those characters that seem just too good to be true?! Maybe I am just used to being blindsided by a dark side too often, but this is what makes these books so fun. Jet, I am keeping an eye on that one… you just never know what will happen next. Mae definitely keeps things on edge.

The magic system sticks to the same easy to follow level but with a few added twists that amp up the fantasy factor and really play into the climax well. There is still a simplistic worldbuilding too me since it is character driven, but I do love the vivid descriptions when they are present. If I had any qualms it tended toward the inner monologues of Zahru. Her inner mental battels made me want to shake her sometimes. Who doesn’t get that way though when the story is in the thick of it? There are some slower areas but overall, I loved getting back into this world.

If you’re a fan of The Kinder Poison, I am pretty sure you’ll enjoy where book two takes you. I’d also recommend this to YA fantasy lovers who enjoy a well-crafted character driven read. Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you PenguinTeen for giving me this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am debating between 2.5 and 3 stars for this book. If you don't know, I read the first boo, The Kinder Poison, not long ago. And I absolutely loved it (I gave it 5 stars). And so, going into this book, I was very excited to see the characters again, and to read about the magic and how the plot was going to carry on. However, this book was a letdown.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

The positives:

I thought that the main plot point that this book revolved around- Kasta and Zarhu both being chosen by the gods, was super interesting and a great way to open up the story. I felt as if Zarhu and Kasta's relationship was done very well throughout this book, and that the plot overall was solid. In my opinion, Kasta, by far, is the most interesting and well-done character. I loved seeing his explanation for his actions and his past, and how he truly changed throughout the story. I also very much enjoyed the magic in this.

The Cons:

I felt as if it would be easier to break my list of cons into sections, and then explain them further.

Zarhu's character:
Wow. Zarhu absolutely annoyed me so much in this story. In the first book, I did really love her character, but I can't say the same sadly for this one. Throughout the entire book, the only thing she was doing was searching for dirt on Kasta's back. I can understand why she may not want to trust him, but she just became so obsessed with proving that she was the hero and Kasta was the scary villain. And looking into it more, I think that she became more of a villain in this book then Kasta ever was. She was also very hypocritical. She was mad because Kasta may be using his powers to harm, and yet she constantly only used her power against and to manipulate others.

Jet's character:
Again, another character who I loved in book one. But in book two, his character fell flat for me. Zarhu constantly told him all of these bad things she did, some of which involved her kissing his brother (Kasta), and he just let them all slide like it was nothing. Except for a few moments, his character just became this person who was so dependent and so inclined to agree with Zahru on everything. He felt, along with many of the other characters, very flat.

The ending:
This is my last major con for this book. Throughout the book, I felt the pacing to be very slow, especially at the end. And the ending, in my opinion, was done in a very.... strange way. The gods clearly chose for Kasta and Zahru to rule side by side, and yet the book ends with Zahru throwing Kasta into confinement and claiming the throne for herself. Sure, Kasta did slip up, but so did she. And yes, he still does technically get a say in what goes, but he is basically held, prisoner. And no one stops Zahru. She claims to be this big, heroic person when most of her actions I found to be the complete opposite.

First off, I want to thank Penguin Teen for sending me this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

3/5 stars

Let me start by saying that I loved The Kinder Poison. I gave it 5/5 stars and I couldn't wait for The Cruelest Mercy to come out because I was so ready to see what was gonna happen to the characters I had grown to love. However, I was unfortunately disappointed with this book which crushes me. I hate to say this but it was a chore to get through this book. I would stop reading and then had to force myself to pick the book back because I was so frustrated with it and bored during quite a bit of it.

Before I get into the negatives I would like to highlight what I liked about The Cruelest Mercy. I think the concept of having Zahru and Kasta both chosen by the gods was really interesting and I was excited to see how they would navigate it. I really wanted to see them learn about each other and play to each other strengths. I'm not sure that's what i quite got but anyway... Even though I found parts of this boring to get through or frustrating it was still enough that I enjoyed reading it overall because I wanted to know what would happen next (I'm not sure that makes sense). The magic system is good but I wish there was even more emphasis on it because I kind of forgot about all the different types and they felt overshadowed. I also enjoyed Zahru's conflict about taking the throne, her power, and the people she would rule. I think this is something that can be brushed over by a lot of authors and I appreciated seeing her inner turmoil.

Sadly there are more negatives than positives for me which is so disappointing because I though this had so much potential. I hated Zahru's character in this book. I couldn't even recognize her from the first book because she became so obsessed with finding dirt on Kasta and proving he was the villian. And at many points I thought Zahru had become the real villain. I was so tired of hearing her inner monologue about Kasta and the countless scenes of them searching for evidence against him. I wanted to see her deal with more stuff with the kingdom like the potential war or learning about her powers and how to not abuse them (which she does). I just feel like her character had a whole 180 switch and I get it she's angry but it just didn't feel justified to me. She went from a powerful character with "weak" powers to a weak character with strong powers. One of the reasons I like her so much in the first book is because she wasn't the typical all powerful main character and she had to learn how to do without them. Then all of sudden she gets these powers and she's abusing them and basically violating people with little remorse. That's not the girl I remember.

One of the things I thought was so great in The Kinder Poison was the side characters and Jet. They were humorous and down to earth and their relationship with Zahru was so wholesome. I loved seeing them together so I was majorly disappointed to see almost none of the side characters. They were basically non existent and when they were why didn't they try and stop Zahru from basically self destructing. They noticed she was acting different and they just let it be. And don't even get me started on Jet. He was just a wall flower. He went along with everything and believed Zahru unconditionally. I wanted him to be angry at her for some of the wrong stuff she was doing and with the exception of one or two incidents he really fell flat. Also what happened to the romance in this book. There was literally none. Say goodbye to the love triangle.

I was also not really a fan of the end of this book but I'm not going to get into that.

I am still excited to read the next one and I have high hopes that it will be better.

You know when the second book completely lives up to the first one?!?!! It happened here 🥳🥳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Reasons I absolutely loved this book (and you might to):
👑 If you love Loki, you’ll probably love Kasta
👑 If you love hilarious internal dialogue, you’ll enjoy this because Zahru lives very much in her mind, where she often thinks about revenge and dessert
👑 The best side characters. So glad we got to see more of Hen and Mora because I love them
👑 Me not picking a team after the first book but waffling between them, and being extremely happy with the winning team in this one 😌
👑 Zahru working through some extreme but valid trust issues
👑 Who knew training how to kill someone could be romantic? 👉🏼👈🏼
👑 The Cruelest Mercy indeed
👑 An ending that shocked me as much as the first book’s ending.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

A month after the dangerous crossing, Zahru and Jet are preparing for Jet’s ascension to the thrown when Kasta, believed dead, appears wearing the god mark. But he isn’t the only one marked. Zahru bears the mark too. Together, both Zahru and Kasta must prove that they can rule Orkena side by side, and Zahru is willing to do anything to keep Kasta from the throne. But is she willing to become like the enemy she’s trying to thwart?

Excellent world building, flawed characters, awesome inner monologue, and a dash of political intrigue make for a great story! The second book definitely lived up to the first one. While the stakes were totally different, it was just as fun! And I’m definitely going to need a book three…like immediately! Please please please!!!

One of my favorite aspects of this series is the world building. It’s clear that Natalie put a good deal of effort into research. Egyptian inspired, desert setting, with cool magic, and gods! What more could you want? Orkena is so fleshed out it feels so real. It’s a kingdom I want to visit. Like…I need to go there NOW. I love Zahru’s Whisperer magic, especially. Being able to communicate with animals isn’t considered a powerful by Orkena’s standards, but in my opinion, it’s one of the coolest magics out there.

What I enjoyed about this book specifically, was Zahru’s character arc. She suffered from some serious trust issues after the first book, rightfully so. But this means she is willing to do ANYTHING to keep Kasta from the throne. Even if it means becoming like him. She becomes a morally gray character. I LOVED that. Although, I did give her a stern talking to a couple times for a few of the decisions she made. And I must say, her decisions and the end did catch me by surprise…but in a good way. I shut the book with a smile on my face, desperately hoping for a third. Fingers crossed, y’all!

Another thing I liked about Zahru was her internal monologue. She’s hilarious. Constantly imagining certain scenarios and how they might play out. I feel like we could be friends in real life. And her friends in the story, especially Hen, are awesome.

This is a great series. It’s one of my favorite YAs. Perfect especially for teens but great for all ages. Even as a thirty-something I adore Zahru’s story. While I did feel that the first book was slightly more edge-of-your-seat with higher stakes, this one still delivered. I really hope Natalie Mae is given the go-ahead to write a third book. I think I’ll be pretty devastated if that doesn’t happen.

MY RATING:4.5/5⭐️

I’ve got to say, this is one of the most enjoyable yet frustrating YA fantasy books I’ve read in a while! Kasta is such an ass! Yet, why do I like his morally gray ass? I don’t know? Clearly, Zahru and I both need deep therapy, just saying …

The Cruelest Mercy picks up with Jet as Crown Prince and Zahru holding a position on his team. But …. Not so fast, my friends because Kasta is back and he bears Numet’s mark making him the victor of The Crossing and because Zahru also bears the mark, the two must rule together <gasp>

I won’t spoil this for anyone but if you loved The Kinder Poison, you will love The Cruelest Mercy. If you love action-packed adventure and deceitful political games all within a unique magical world, well, this one’s for you. Ah, and yes, there is a bit of a love triangle which, as a rule, I detest but this one had me riding the fence and from my first paragraph, you can see which side I landed on.

Highly recommend this one but you definitely need to read The Kinder Poison first! Can’t wait for the next book!

Better review coming!

I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn't sure how it would all work out especially because the first book was open enough to continue but closed off enough to be a standalone BUT LET ME TELL YOU. The last half of this book I finished in one go because the stakes somehow got higher than the first book which was literally life and death so i dunno how to author managed to pull that off (magic probably... anyway it was worth it I'm sure)!

I was screaming even at the last page because it was just so brilliantly done and honestly I'm so mind blown even after sleeping. I didn't think I'd even be questioning my loyalties for characters and switching sides over and over again this was truly just an unexpected ride I cannot wait to shove this series in people's faces.

I just truly didn't think the stakes could get even higher. I loved the characters especially because they were all complex and interesting and I questioned every single one of their decisions. Something about Zahru's narration and how she became just as paranoid and questionable as Kasta from the first book was just so pleasing to me. Seeing the progression and development of the leads was honestly phenomenal and I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fast paced high stakes fantasy!

THE CRUELEST MERCY is an intriguing second book in an enthralling YA fantasy series. After the rush and danger of the competition in the first book, Zahru is happy to have survived. She has returned to the capital to see Jet crowned as the next Mestrah or ruler of Orkena. From the near-sacrifice, Zahru has a remaining bruise that she soon realizes is actually the symbol that identifies her as the next ruler. She plans to keep silent about this until the coronation is broken up by Kasta, who has miraculously returned, and who also mysteriously has the mark.

Knowing that Kasta is full of lies and tricks, Zahru reveals her mark to contest his claim to the throne and delay his coronation. The current Mestrah, Kasta and Jet's father, delays the coronation and states that they should work together to rule during a probationary period of a moon. If one of them is unable to do so, they will be relegated to advisor while the other rules.

Zahru begins to question everything she knows about herself, her kingdom, and her ethics as she seeks to figure out the plots behind Kasta's reappearance and his plan for their country.

What I loved: This world is beautifully imagined, and the magic and related magic-based caste system is really thought-provoking. The writing pulls the reader into the story and has them questioning Zahru as she questions herself and what she believes to be true. Whether Kasta is back with good intentions or not is a constant unknown that fluctuates with what they know and believe. The twists that this second story takes keep the reader on their toes.

There are some interesting themes around trust, personal ethics, and revenge that I found to be thought-provoking. Zahru knows Kasta as the boy who grew up learning to twist everything to survive and gain love, but she also knows him as the man who marked her for sacrifice and then actually sacrificed her. As she tries to wrap her head around these two aspects of his personality and stop his ascent to the throne, she must determine how much of her actions are for revenge and which parts of herself and her ethics she is willing to let go of in the quest for it. Zahru's personality is not yet set in stone, and she is reaching to identify herself and what she wants most while she also attempts to expose Kasta and prevent his ascent to the throne.

The romance in this book was almost non-existent, but I did not miss it too much, though I hope we'll get more insight and resolution in the next book. I did really appreciate how most of the major questions in this book were answered by the end of it, though there is certainly more to come. This helped the book to not feel so much like a middle story, but I am still eager to read the next!

Final verdict: Atmospheric, twisty, and engaging, THE CRUELEST MERCY weaves a YA fantasy with compelling characters, thought-provoking themes, and intriguing world-building. A solid sequel to the first, readers will definitely be eager to continue this series with the next! Highly recommend this series for fans of THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, THE RED QUEEN, and AN EMBER IN THE ASHES.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

What a HIT! The Kinder Poison (#1) was fast faced, where you meet all the characters, follow the premise, and in The Cruelest Mercy (#2) is where most of the incredible action happens.

After the major cliff hanger in The Kinder Poison, I was NOT OK. Luckily for me, I read The Kinder Poison knowing I could dive right in to the next one! With this being said I definitely recommend anyone who hasn’t read the first book, please do before diving into this one.

I loved the narrative/writing style. First person writing has always been my go to, it almost feels like the reader is in the main characters shoes, and as a reader you develop that super close connection, I become more invested in the story for sure! The novel is filled with action, suspense, some romance (at moments awkward cringe like romance) and it reminded me a lot of An Ember in the Ashes, so if you loved that title you’ll love this one!

Not sure if there will be a third novel, it seems to be a duology for the time being, but I hope the adventure continues for us in the future!

Spoilers! I am so glad to be back in the world of The Kinder Poison!

I absolutely love how this one starts out with Jet and Zahru. I started to ship them again and then I remembered Kasta!

I love the new plot line for this one how it’s similar to the first book but it’s different enough that it has you totally enthralled again. I really enjoyed watching Zahru adjust to all things royal.

I love the slow burn with Kasta especially on the hunt. I was really hoping that that they would rekindle the romance. Everytime they deceived each other, I just shipped them more!

I enjoyed seeing their new magic powers and how they were developing. I really love in books when you get to learn the magic with the main character.

I really enjoy how the love triangle never goes dry. You’re constantly switching which team you’re on depending on the chapter.

I really enjoyed how she had an internal battle with herself throughout the novel and how even though there was multiple plot points going on, it all flowed together really well. I’m really looking forward to hopefully a book 3 or we can see what happens with the war.

"Perhaps I have no one to blame but myself. For continuing to yearn for what I shouldn't, even when I know how thoroughly to can destroy me."

The Cruelest Mercy by Natalie Mae is the sequel to last year's The Kinder Poison. Starting not long after the first book leaves off, Zahru is back at the palace in Orkena, set to become an advisor when Kasta shows up, shockingly alive and well and ready to claim the throne...or part of it. Zahru and Jet are not about to let that happen, but to what lengths will Zahru let herself go to stop it? Is she willing to become the villain she claims Kasta to be? With a lot of political intrigue, twists, turns, magic, and a kingdom on the brink of a war, The Cruelest Mercy offers as much excitement as the first book did. I enjoyed the "down" time moments as much as the high intensity moments. They allow the reader to get a feel for the everyday life of royalty. While the ending is satisfying in itself, it doesn't exactly close off an opportunity for a third installment. I guess we'll just have to anxiously wait and see.

Disclaimer: The quoted text is from an advanced reader copy I received from Penguin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review!

Immediately following the life-threatening chase of Kinder Poison, I felt that cruelest Mercy was too slow for me. Going from the fast paced life-or-death of Kinder Poison, I think I just wanted a bit more action. I still loved the characters and the setting and magic of this world, but I definitely preferred book 1. It might translate better as an audiobook, so I think I'll reread it and see if I feel differently!