"The Serpent Called Mercy" by Roanne Lau is an exhilarating rollercoaster of epic fantasy, where the stakes are as high as the blood-soaked battles! With a Malaysian Chinese-inspired world that feels both fresh and familiar, this novel draws you in with its gritty, fast-paced action and keeps you hooked with its rich layers of ambition, betrayal, and friendship. Lythlet’s journey from debt-ridden slumdog to a cunning conquessor in the monster-fighting arena is packed with edge-of-your-seat moments, and watching her navigate the deadly games both inside and outside the ring is nothing short of thrilling.

What truly sets this book apart is its heart—the bond between Lythlet and Desil shines amid the chaos, adding an emotional depth to the story that balances out the ruthless fight for survival. The political intrigue and the harsh reality of the cost of ambition make this more than just an action-packed fantasy; it's a gripping exploration of power, honor, and loyalty. With a unique world, unforgettable characters, and twists that will leave you breathless, "The Serpent Called Mercy" is a must-read for fans of intense, high-stakes fantasy!

The cover and description is what drew me in and I was so glad I was able to read this. I loved the use of Malaysian-Chinese mythology worked overall. I thought it was a great idea for a monster-fighting arena. It had that plot that I wanted and it was so well written that I was hooked from the first page. The characters had that feel that I wanted and glad they worked so well in this world. I enjoyed how strong Roanne Lau’s writing was and that the characters worked overall.

loved this book. the worldbuilding felt so unique and so did the story? i was HOOKED with everything going on in the arena. i loved how morally grey all of the characters were, even if they didn’t appear to be so at first— like, the REVELATIONS? also, desil is the Best Boy. 4.5 stars rated up

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.

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 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.