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.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC!

I had a good time with this book! It was a fun time, and there was a ton to like, even with a few things that bothered me.

To start, the main character and her best friend. Lythlet and Desil are such a charming duo. I really, really loved their dynamic, and how much they cared for each other. There's nothing wrong with romance subplots (I definitely enjoy them), but it's really refreshing to have such a strong platonic bond between a female and male lead. The character writing in general was great, and definitely my favorite part of the book! The setting is also super unique, and really stands out from other fantasy books I've read.

My main concern was that it set up really, really interesting lore that... didn't really go anywhere, and didn't have much explanation. It felt a bit like there were many ideas for a bunch of different plot threads, but then it wasn't decided on which would be the main plot. They're all a bit rushed and not given enough time to really blossom. In particular, I liked all of the stuff with the bees and the rot!

I'd say in the end for me, it was somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 (which I've rounded up to a 4). I enjoyed my time with it, but I think it could have done with a bit more focus.

While this book is definitely not perfect, it had me caught in it's grip. The main character was written so well, I loved how real all the relationships felt and how real the conflicts were. 
All the character development was soooo good. 
I love a protagonist who's socially weird and funny looking, but her plot isn't to become pretty or socially adept, she learns to be confident the way she is, and that's so beautiful to me. 
I wish we would've gotten more on the worldbuilding aspect though. The pantheon seemed so interesting to me, but we barely touched the surface on that. Also, the magic system hardly made sense and seemed more of an afterthought. The beasts weren't as spectacular as I thought, but I still loved them and I loved how Lythlet could use her wit, time and time again. 

Overall, while it feels like the author may have wanted to do too much in just one book, the writing and the characters are so good it's a 10/10 for me. 

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for this e-ARC.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sad to say, this was a 2.5 stars read. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't a book I fell in love with.

I admit, the cover did its job well and intrigued me.
The premise sounded great, two friends fighting monsters for a shady man, trying to earn enough money to pay off their debts and escape poverty.
Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations.

The Bad.

The world and lore wasn't what I would call well developed. It’s a standalone novel, so I understand I can't expect the worldbuilding I'd get from a series, and I really enjoyed the glimpses we got of the religion, but I would've loved to have a bit more.
The magic system was non-existent. We get some vague references about powers existing in the past, but now the only things that's left are random monsters and the most deus ex machina power ever, but for only eight seconds! And only Lythlet can do it! As many times as she wants! But don't ask why or how!


I liked that Lythlet was a (somewhat) jaded protagonist full of flaws fighting for any scrap in an unjust world, but I expected her to be different. From the blurb, it seems like she was supposed to be a not-so-great fighter that could best every challenge with wit and cunning, but in the first fight she literally [spoiler]sees the threads of the universe and manipulates them for eight seconds to kill a beast,[spoiler] which should've been the climax of her journey, not a random thing she can just do.

The fights felt extremely rushed. We’re told there's one fight a month, for a total of twelve fights in a year, but then we just gloss over some fights, therefore completely skipping months, and it all feels unbalanced.

But if the focus isn't on the fights, then it's on the political games, right? WRONG.
There's some politicking going on, but it feels like everything happens in the background.
Lythlet helps for about five minutes after not thinking about it for most of the book, we're introduced to a convenient subplot in chapter 26 out of 34, she manages to overthrow a government with the help of a vaguely mentioned organization, and then nothing. There's no payoff, no consequences, nothing. Or, well, things happen but we don't feel the weight of the situation, we're just told it happened.

I understand that Lythlet isn't supposed to be The Chosen One, she just contributes, sometimes unknowingly, to Things happening, but it felt like seeing a vague post online about a thing that happened to an acquaintance.

She's supposed to be the focus of the book! She's the protagonist! And if it isn't the fighting or the politicking, then what's left?

The Good.

Her relationships, you might say. Well, dear reader, you might be onto something.

I think Lythlet feeling like a burden to her parents, enough that she never got in contact with them for years after leaving her home, was amazingly written. I will be seeking compensation (/j) because by the end there wasn't a full reconciliation, but a promise to do better.

But what I loved most is that this book, at its core, was about a friendship. Desil and Lythlet are friends, no need for romance.
Their bond felt real and raw, they had disagreements that felt justified, and the final chapter literally brought me to tears.
I loved that, despite Desil being the secondary protagonist, he was fleshed out. We see him like Lythlet sees him, as someone who's devoted and kind, as someone who could do nothing wrong.
When Lythlet discovers the truth about him, we feel the same disconnect as her, like seeing someone we know without recognising them. It was crushing.

In Conclusion.

These are my thoughts. There's some good, a lot of bad, and I wish I could've liked this more than I did. I'm sure someone will love this, but it wasn't for me and so I don't think I can, in good faith, recommend it.

The Serpent Called Mercy ended up being a 3 star for me, a perfectly fine read. Not terrible, but not great. There's some great character development here so if you enjoy that over plot, this will be the book for you. I personally needed a little more plot movement. It's there for sure, there's plenty of bloody battles going on, but I just didn't think too much was actually happening for the middle of this book. And the ending, while realistic, wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped. And I won't lie, as an animal lover, this was hard to get through, to the point I almost DNFed after one of the beast battles.

I will say, this book did have me on my feet at times. I loved the arena aspect, and all of the action that was put into it. But there was some slip overs I felt when it came to the world building itself. I feel it wasn’t explained like I would need to understand it all.
BUT, on a good note even though the world building could’ve been better, the fantasy aspects in ITSELF made it worth it. All of the different creatures and monsters were out of this world (metaphorically too lol)

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a shot at reading this book.

I think ... my expectations were a little to high for this one. I wanted a story that had a grittier protagonist, a girl who gets knocked down but gets back up again, and magic involved in her way of fighting through cage matches.

I didn't even get to the first cage match before throwing in the towel on it. The world building wasn't existing, the creatures were kind of just there, and the FL felt like a stock character instead of someone with depth and feelings of being overlooked, overworked, and poor.

I didn't come for romance, I came for a story with a Colleen Wing-esque protagonist with a tough independent streak. So blame it on me.