While I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, after that it just became frankly eh. Just… so eh.

Two poor and desperate slumdogs enter a bloodsport contest in an attempt to improve their fortunes. Lythlet is the main focus of this story. She is a child with a difficult childhood and a desperate adulthood. Her only friend Desil and her struggle to make ends meet together in this vibrantly written world. It has Malaysian flavors in a fantasy realm. The people are vibrant and the villains and heros compelling with much of their own stories of oppression and suffering. This story is fast paced and draws you in and keeps you going. It was hard to put down and lots of fun to read. A very good book all in all. Thanks to the publishers for an early copy to read.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

I think this book tries too many things at once: introduce some fascinating world building (political struggles, beasts, religions, social conflict, organised crime, social ladder), the characters (lies, trauma, hopes) & the story itself (fight beasts to escape debts & poverty). Our main character is not only a gifted fighter, avid reader & thief, magnificent bookkeeper but also has mommy & daddy issues. Sadly, none of the topics are properly explored (DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE BEE STUFF AS A BEEKEEPER) and overall it was quite predictable where the story would go. Kudos for the lack of romance, having some fighting love interests in this would have made it worse!

3 stars

Thank you to Net Galley and DAW for the ARC. I really liked the first third of the book but after that it started to go downhill. The fights became repetitive, the dialogue and themes so on the nose, the themes were literally being spoken too directly without being melded properly with the story.

This book won't be for everyone, likely because of some of the issues I had with it, but I really loved this overall. Lau is a fresh voice in fantasy with some good ideas in this strong debut. I already can't wait to read her sophomore effort. I also immediately preordered this because I fell in love with that cover, so I was thrilled to get access to an early viewing.

I never expected a book about arena fighting with Chinese and Malaysian influences to be cozy, but this book was very cozy and charming, full of platonic love, the triumph of street justice and found family. I loved seeing epic fantasy featuring slumdogs as protagonists instead of royalty, a story that focused its tableau on the lowest of the societal hierarchy and their struggles.

I found it refreshing in this age of Booktok-pushed spicy romantasy to see an endearing story about friendship that had not an ounce of romance, sex or even kissing. I would love to see more friendship stories.

Lythlet is a slumdog who knows her place as someone who's forced to work for abusive bosses and meager wages to earn her keep. But she has always dreamed of better; she just always thought she was alone other than her best friend Desil, and she had to do it all alone. But she yearns to be the protagonist of her story instead of the ugly supporting character, despite the pathetic origin of her given name - it means candle-flame. A very small beacon of hope. She also knows she doesn't have pretty privilege to rely on and turns to her wits to get by, stealing books to supplement her meager education. I loved seeing a plain-looking heroine who was clever and worked as a bookkeeper for lowlifes.

I absolutely loved Lythlet as a character and found her to be strongly developed. I was really rooting for her to succeed, even when she became obsessed with vanity and greed and could have become insufferable.

In this society the thing that most dooms the poor to a life of unregistered servitude is outrageous medical costs, a timely social commentary. Lythlet and Desil are no exception; Desil owes a debt to an unscrupulous userer to cover Lythlet's medical care.

To cover his debts, Desil, a former brawler who gave it up for a life of quiet religious contemplation, and Lythlet team up to fight sun-blest beasts, the supernatural monsters of this world. They become heroes of the arena and fall into a world far seedier and more ethically malicious than they could have imagined. But all they have to hold onto is their sense of mercy, their friendship and the fellowship of their found family of misfits.

But my gripes: I found the worldbuilding to be very sparse; I had a hard time picturing the universe and their place in it at times. I wanted a lot more backstory on the sun-blest monsters and how they came to be. I think the plot in this was so light that it would not have benefited from duology treatment. There was not a lot of story between the fights, which were also rushed through. I did like how Lythlet used her cleverness to win fights and her dexterity with solving puzzles became the strength that rocketed her to bloodsport stardom.

I also found the dialogue very cumbersome to read. They frequently gave long speeches, especially the match-master whom I found myself frequently rolling my eyes at when he started talking. There was just too much info-dumping in dialogue and it slowed down the pace even more for me.

But I loved how it all came together in the end and the platonic love between Lythlet and Desil was the stongest part of this story. I also loved Lythlet's overall transformation as a character.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and DAW for this ARC.

There is nothing more disappointing than being handed a book that feels like the outline of a novel and not a complete work. Because that's what The Serpent Called Mercy is: a novel that needs a lot of editing and rework.

Besides the headache the format of the ARC itself gave me, the story was lacking structure and conviction. The plot didn't have a definitive idea of what it wanted to be and spent the entirety of the novel hemming and hawing, before settling on being a mishmash of ideas that just don't flow well together.

All the exposition is done through dialogue dumps which doesn't make the reader feel connected to the characters and honestly makes the whole delivery feel extremely clunky and overly wordy. Places changed names halfway through I swear and Roanne Lau was not consistent on telling the reader the setup of the scenario, leading me confused on where our characters were and who was in the room with them. T

he story needed serious expansion and someone to tell them to tighten up their writing into something intelligible rather than the garbled mess it became. The delivery fumbled it hard, and it's a shame because the foundation showed promise.

3.5

The overall premises was excellent. I loved reading about the monsters and how they were described. However, I wish the author would have touched a bit more on the magic aspect. Also, the world-building could have been a bit more descriptive, I was not able to envision myself in this world most of the time.

I think Roanne is a beautiful writer, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for them in this career!

Lythlet and Desil, are two slumdogs indebted to a local loan shark living day by day, barely scraping by. When an arena seeks combatants to fight sun-cursed beasts in the underworld of their city, these two are immediately drawn in: an opportunity to pay off their debts. Although initially impressed with Desil, the Match-master Dothilos is more intrigued by Lythlet, who is far more than she seems. Now under the wing of the Match-master, Lythlet is thrown into a world of politics, and corruption and soon forced to choose between her honor and friendship or her fame.

Lau had me at Malayasian-Chinese Inspired Epic Fantasy! Unfortunately, there was not as much lore or magic as I wished there would have been but overall, I still enjoyed it. There’s one specific scene that screamed Ghibli and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. I do plan on picking up a hard copy as the cover is beautifully done.

The highlight of this novel is the characters. They will have your heart and soul. They’re realistic and relatable, and the complexities of each character are shown. I liked that there were more focuses on the platonic friendship versus expecting our leads to be lovers. I also enjoyed that it was not all sunshine and rainbows and all is easily forgiven with our characters. Lythlet and Desil make some decisions that have you coming up with moral dilemmas and revelations. The many themes that come about are thought-provoking.

I do wish there were more on the world-building. We have a lot of it (religion, history, socioeconomics, etc.) but also not enough of it. I was drawn in by the Malaysian-Chinese Inspiration but I feel like I saw very little of it. I think the novel would have benefitted from it if there were a little more on the lore. We did get some magic as well but there were fewer explanations of it. So maybe explore a little more on that too. However, even with these, I do think this book will be a favorite among people next year based on the characters and their dynamics alone.

If you like redemption arcs, detailed characters, trials, found family, life lessons, and platonic relationships. This is for you.
TW/CW: abuse and animal cruelty.

Solid 4/5

Thank you NetGalley & DAW for the ARC.

I adore lore-based fantasy novels, so the synopsis of this epic fantasy story with Malaysian Chinese influences drew me in right away. Even if there wasn't as much magic or lore as I had hoped for, it was still fun. By the end of the first chapter, I was completely engrossed in this novel. I was immediately captivated by the intense action sequences and high stakes. This was a really good standalone all around, and I'm eager to see what else the author can produce.

I have so many thoughts in my head about this book! So I’d thought I’d make it easy and make a list.

You’ll like this book if:
-You love a redemption arc.
-You like to immerse yourself totally into a completely new fantasy world that doesn’t follow the typical stereotypes.
-You enjoying exploring a character’s background piece by piece.
-You want a book about trials, found family, and a mystery all wrapped up in one.
-You like books that read like prose.

You won’t like this book if:
-You don’t want to put effort into learning and understanding a new fantasy world when it is not super relevant to the plot in the end.
-You want a clear plot. I didn’t know what this book was supposed to be about by the end. There was so much happening that didn’t always relate to the main gladiator aspect.
-You don’t like feeling like the dumbest person in the room. The geniuses in this book really talked like they were geniuses. I have never spoke to anyway that talked like the characters in this book spoke to each other.

This book was a pretty long adventure for me. But at least it was a mostly happy ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

I was so excited to read this as the premise sounded amazing - firstly, I loved the lack of romance and the exploration of friendship. It was really refreshing. The plot was excellent and I really enjoyed the set-up of the 12 battles. Roanne is clearly a fantastic writer and her prose drew me in from the beginning. Where this book lost me was the sheer number of unfamiliar words regarding the worldbuilding with different cities/countries mentioned and Gods/Goddesses without any of them being fully explored. As a standalone fantasy it might have been better to trim it slightly and expand the areas that would directly affect the story to make the reader feel more immersed and less confused? Nevertheless, I will be reading future works from this author as overall I enjoyed this book

This isn’t a plot heavy book; and while there’s a lot of world building, it’s mostly off to the side or slipping through the cracks as Lythlet focuses on what’s important to her: money. Living in poverty, with loan sharks and their violence a constant threat, she dreams of the day she can feel safe. Content. With food enough, books enough, sleep enough to say she enjoys her life. This book is her quest for those goals — all while politics go on around her as the city struggles with poverty, classism, and corruption.

The fights are well done, the animals hinting at a greater world beyond the one Lythlet knows, confined in the city slums, and the mythology and religion that shape and guide her life feel real and well thought out. Everything in this book comes together so well, even the ending — which I can see some readers maybe not being happy with as there’s no great righting if wrongs, no climactic moment where every wrong and evil and small, selfish deed is wiped clean; but that ending wouldn’t fit with this book.

This is a character driven book focusing on Lythlet’s relationships: her best friend and soul mate, Diesel, who is as much a brother as if they’d shared the same womb; her parents, from whom she is estranged; Olden and Shunvi, friends of Desil’s who help Lythlet when she struggles. It’s a story about a young woman struggling, trying to climb her way out of poverty without losing herself, and it’s wonderful.

I so hope you give this a try, especially if you’re a fan of character driven books. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me an ARC.

“The Serpent Called Mercy” is a complex and often heartwrenching fantasy focusing on the cycles of poverty and the often complicated nature of friendship. It is one part epic fantasy as Lythlet and Desil, impoverished and with few other options to make the money to pay off their debts, take up the mantel of conquessors who much fight deadly cursed beasts in a gladiator-style arena. It is also one part a character study, examining how poverty, friendship, determination, betrayal, corruption, and the often cyclical nature of abuse play out amidst the backdrop of manipulative societal and governmental forces reinforce an abused underclass of impoverished citizens. Especially in the latter of these two aims, this book is an incredible success. The relationships between characters, especially Lythlet and Desil, is the driving force of the narrative. All the relationships are given time to develop, to change as new and often conflicting outside pressures are put on the characters and are painted with both complexity and empathy towards both the kindnesses and betrayals throughout the story. I found this—the relationships, the often philosophical discussions about how injustice is tolerated in the world and systems preserve an abused underclass—to be the greatest strength of the novel.

Another aspect of this novel that I really enjoyed was the worldbuilding. This is a stand-alone novel but manages to build an incredible interesting world that I would sincerely like to read more about. Everything from the governmental structures, the founding of the nation, the religious practices, and the technology used is well thought out and intriguing.

To me, the biggest negative of this novel is that, in some way, it feels split in two: one part the story of Lythlet and Desil the conquessors, and one part character and world study. Throughout the book, the parts that focus on the latter are consistently compelling; while the parts that focus on the former are always very enjoyable to read but take a back seat to the character studies. I felt that the philosophical side of this book could stand on its own, but the action side occasionally felt sidelined. There were a few longer stints in the book where the action is glossed over or set aside; also, there are times in the book where deadly fights seem perhaps a bit too easy for Lythlet and Desil that also detracts from the impact of these scenes. I would have enjoyed the book more if the action scenes had been more harrowing and more consistent throughout the story.

In the end, I am giving this book 4 stars. I would strongly recommend this book for readers who value the important lessons a book has to impart just as highly as the epic fight scenes of a well-written fantasy.

A trilling and fantastic fantasy book
Good plot and characters.
Highly recommend for every reader that reads this genre.

I am always a huge sucker for a riveting epic fantasy, and The Serpent Called Mercy was the perfect read to scratch that itch. It was fast-paced and gripping, and it seriously felt like I was on a rollercoaster as I read. This is definitely going to be a bestseller in 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love fantasy books based on lore, so the description of this Malaysian Chinese-inspired epic fantasy tale immediately captured my imagination. Unfortunately, there wasn’t as much lore or magic as anticipated, but it was still enjoyable.

The story follows Lythlet and her only friend, Desil, two slumdogs indebted to a local loan shark. They scrape by, pinching pennies to make their payments, and their situation seems dire. An opportunity to earn a large sum of money arises when they spot an ad seeking arena combatants to fight sun-cursed beasts in the city's seedy underworld.

The Match-master, Dothilos, is initially impressed by Desil’s brawling reputation but quickly realizes that Lythlet is the brains of the duo and takes her under his wing. As their winnings accumulate, so does their reputation - and with it, their risk-taking. Lythlet soon becomes entangled in political conspiracies, corruption, and intrigue, forcing her to choose between fame or honor and friendship.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, though I found the writing style a bit difficult to get into at first. It could use some smoothing out. I loved the few tales of Malaysian Chinese myths, but I would have loved to read more of them. The book mainly focuses on the fights, and I enjoyed the variety of the Sunsmith beasts. The different deities were also a lovely touch, and I adored the idea of lightning-bees.

The characters are the highlight of this story. They are well-developed, realistic, and engaging. It’s hard not to care deeply about what happens to them and how they navigate their complex lives. I loved that the heroine was plain - possibly even ugly - socially awkward, and layered with complexity. What she lacked in looks, she made up for with brains. I also loved her platonic and deep friendship with Desil, and her strained relationship with her parents was heartbreaking. No child should feel like a burden to their parents. Desil was a complex character as well, and the revelation about him at the end left me with my mouth agape.

The title is explained in the story, and I loved the explanation. I appreciated the interweaving of moral dilemmas in the plot and the questioning of values. The book also touches on themes of fighting against depravity and abuse, animal cruelty, friendship, loyalty, parent-daughter relationships, escaping the cycle of poverty, honor, empathy, and mercy. I liked the insights Lythlet gained from her fights, the life lessons passed to her by the Match-master, and her refusal to accept injustice.

The novel promises a thrilling blend of action, magic, and a vibrant cast of characters in a medieval world setting. While the cast was colorful and there was some action, there was very little magic - and even less explanation of it - except in a few fights. Watching Lythlet use her wits against the beasts was exciting, but I did feel sorry for the animals forced to fight. There’s a mention of dog fighting, and it felt hypocritical that the heroine didn’t show the same compassion to the beasts that she showed to the poor dogs.

The book could benefit from more world-building, especially regarding the magic system, and I wouldn’t have minded more Malaysian Chinese lore either. I also felt there were too many plotlines, though they did come together in the end. A bit of tightening up and another round of editing (the headings switch between capital and lowercase letters) would help. As for the ending, I wasn’t fully satisfied. Without giving away spoilers, after all the heroine went through, I expected her story to end differently. One could argue it’s more realistic this way, but sometimes, realism is overrated.

After weighing the pros and cons, I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4. The premise is unique, the tale is creative, and the imagery and atmosphere are well done. The characters are wonderful, and the internal conflicts make them even more believable. And I did enjoy the book after all. I recommend this book to fans of the genre looking for an original, albeit slow, read.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book so much. Lythlet is very relatable. Maybe a bit too much at times because I felt very called out. But I can see where the squid games aspect comes in. She feels like a realistic person with real problems that cause them to do things that they don't want to and go against their morals in order to survive. She is trying to fight for a better life for her and her friend, to have a life she always dreamed of. But now that she has a taste of what she wanted is she willing to give it up despite what it may cost her to keep. I pre ordered the hardback of this so quickly.

I had to give this one up. I liked the premise a lot but the voice of the writer and info dumping was a bit too much for me to continue.

As someone VERY partial to world building, this book was extremely satisfying. The religion, the history, the cultures, the divine blessings, the socioeconomic state of the city, the mythology, the everything, MOONMACHIST? COSMOSCAPE? BEES? Mwah

I love the main character fiercely. She’s easy to love, and her arc was incredible. I rooted for her the entire way, and I love everyone she was surrounded by too. They were all fleshed out, unique, and lovely to read about. I felt sympathy for almost all of them, and I felt what I was supposed to towards each character. I also loved how almost everyone was splotched in shades of grey.

The relationship between Lythlet and Desil was was so tender and written so beautifully. God I love platonic love. It is SO underrated, and the way it was done here made my chest squeeze and heart ache. Genuinely one of the best bonds between two characters I’ve read about this year.

This book challenges you, and has beef. It’s full of wisdom, philosophy, metaphysical schemes, very quotable and powerful lines, and I could spend forever rambling about how well this book challenges the mythos of storytelling. It also has a good deal and depth of both socioeconomic commentary and political intrigue. Not to mention the symbolism, which was detailed and plentiful; I can think of a certain scene that is VERY ghibliesque.

Overall, I thought the use of Malaysian-Chinese mythology was fantastic. It struck me as a fantastic concept for a monster-fighting arena. I was engrossed from the first page because it was so well written and had the plot I wanted. I'm happy that the characters functioned so well in this world because they had the vibe I desired. I liked how well Roanne Lau wrote and how well the characters all came together. I was engrossed from the first page because it had the plot I wanted and was so brilliantly written.