Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase is such a good story. I loved the book and it's characters. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

3.5 stars

This was super fun and I loooove how (rightfully) vengeful Vita was, she was a fantastic protagonist. The politics in this was fascinating and I enjoyed seeing the different dynamics play out. However, I think the pacing in the last quarter was off; it felt like all the build up let to a climax that didn't quite deliver. But overall, this was a good story that I would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

A splendid little story I had an amazing time reading. The characters were fleshed out and had a tenderness to them, the writing had a sort of melancholia, and the pace was just right. 4 stars.

Nothing would have stopped me from reading this when the inspiration for it was said to be female rage, revenge, Judith Slaying Holofernes. It did deliver on the rage and revenge. It delivered on a very touching, realistic sapphic bond that felt sincere, natural, and soft. This is a strong point in the writing for sure.

The book is technically fantasy, but it is very very light. It doesn’t really make a big appearance in general, and really not even until the end. The build of this book is fast then slow then fast. The first 50 pages and the last 50 pages were the best. I loved the closure of the book and I wish we’d been able to see more of what Vita is capable of throughout the whole book.

Reading this was one of those experiences where everything just clicks for you. I resonated with the writing, the characters, the plot. I especially appreciated the characterization of the main character Vita, and the use suspense--what the reader needs to know when. One of my favorite fantasies in a while.

Wow. What an amazing way to end my 2024 reading year!
Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase follows Vita, a princess of the Kingdom of Carca, who is continuously subjected to the selfishness and greed of powerful men in her life. One of whom is her father who exiles her at a very young age after the execution of her mother. Over a decade passes and she is then presented with the opportunity of marrying a general with promises of vengeance for her father’s wrongdoings. Soon after Vita meets Soline who also presents Vita with an opportunity and a deal as long as she assists Soline’s own agenda involving the magic of alchemy. How will Vita and Soline navigate this unstable magic in order to assist them in their plans of revenge against the men who have wronged them and many others? Furthermore, how will Vita and Soline navigate their own relationship as they are brought closer through their cooperation with one another?
As someone who does not typically gravitate toward fantasy, I am so happy that I enjoyed this read as much as I did. The writing is gorgeous, and I found myself highlighting so many lines as I was reading because of how genuinely impressive they were! Additionally, it felt so fast paced and easy to read but it is still obvious that so much care and effort went into the writing. I am also pleasantly surprised by just how much I adored the characters, especially Vita. She was so fascinating from a psychological perspective, but I also loved how unique her character felt. I was fully immersed in the world while reading which made the experience that much more enjoyable. I found myself thinking about the book when I was not reading and very excited to pick it up every time which is such an amazing feeling. This was a fantastic final read for 2024, and I definitely recommend it for everyone’s 2025 tbrs!

If you're a fan of Barbie's Rapunzel and you're looking for something to convey those vibes, only with darker twists and sapphic female rage to sate your thirst for revenge, search no more because Crueler Mercies will not be merciful with those who don't deserve it. With the evil witch reincarnated into a brutal warrior in search for a kingdom to rule over and a fierce lady-in-waiting playing the role of the charming prince, our Vita must come to realise she is not a damsel in distress, but a queen in her own right. I promise you, this book delivers what it says and more. You won't want to put it down and soon, when the last page will be upon you, you will hunger for more.

This book is not a pretty fairytale in which the princess sits idly while others fight in her name. No, far from it. Our Vita, locked away for days on end, takes matters into her own hands and does not shy away from getting dirty. She transforms from a fearful girl, content with a soothing touch from a pitying maid every fortnight to a queen willing to do anything for her people and her own happiness. And she just won't have it any other way. We start humble and the progress of our heroine feels so real, tangible all the way through. You cannot help wondering whether she is out there, in our own history books. The Merciless Queen. I could talk about Vita my whole life. She is every bit the human we all are and more. Pages flew by and my love for her kept growing.

As for the action, any reader into political intrigue, wars, strategies, schemes, and most importantly, evolution, will eat this up. It might seem as predictable, but if you look at the fine layers keeping everything together, you will figure out that seldom things are what they seem to be. From cannibalism to the intricacies of a proper siege, there is not chance of getting bored. I absolutely loved how the author handled all the waiting and preparations for the major plot twists, focusing on building characters growth and strengthening the ties already formed. The execution was, I must say flawless in this regard. And don't even get me started on the brutality of it all! The dark side of humanity brought to the surface în the best bone chilling way. The villains crafted by this author were utterly despicable and by that alone you can tell how well this story was written. They make you hate them ardently, make you feel disgust and hate and all the right things when they are close to defeat.

However, the jewel of this book was the romance. Less than a subplot, it managed to find its way inside my battered heart and never leave it. You must understand: the love in this book is a quiet thing. A love spent in dark corners, in hushed whispers, and careful touches. But it is such a precious love, dear reader. It melts your heart, moulding it according to the song of two young women finding happiness in a world trying to keep them in the unyielding dark. Two young women harbouring such rage for the cage they've been locked into.

All in all. I would die for this book. It was a journey of self-discovery, an empowering tale of a princess unwilling to be forgotten, a lady in waiting ready to love her, a maid who's won her freedom and a warrior most kind and honourable. You must know not one character was overlooked and that made everything even more special.

Initial thoughts: This is the best book I've ever read. I will die for my girls. I will die for feral lesbians. Give me more. This is female rage. This is it. Fuck me. FUCK MY FACE. I LOVE MY ENRAGED LESBIANS. GIVE ME MORE. MORE. I AM BROKEN. SO BROKEN. BUT SO SO HAPPY. I HAD A FEELING when I requested this book. I knew something about it would be fire. This is the genuine portrayal of rage, of fear, of FUCKING love. Kill me now, and I will be in peace. Give me a love like theirs and I will never ask for anything else. Please. Ugh. I am not well. But they. They are my life. And I need so much more. For a debut author, Maren Chase has killed me. And if an author managed that, then they can do anything. I'm brambling, but fuck. I'm crying. 🫠 So many HAPPY AND SAD TEARS. I will be back with coherent thoughts. If by chance the author sees this, know that I thank you so much for this book. It was a journey I will always treasure. A journey I will never forget. I'll repeat my loves' names until I'm nothing but dust. Thank you once again. You have my infinite gratitude and congratulations. ❤️

I have to admit, I didn't expect that much politic and plotting (to overthrow a kingdom) in this book but I enjoyed every twists and turns. It was delicious and nicely written. Vita is a believable lead as she slowly come to her power and seized it. I also love her little found family and how they navigated things and plotting around!

Tw: animal death
Well, this book certainly lived up to its title, it felt like every chapter we were introduced to a new cruelty being committed by various characters.

At the very start of this book, it felt like reading a Disney princess story, only like it was a part of the wicked truth about Snow White or Rapunzel (i.e., its a much darker story than it initially appears). And it drags on at the start, you are reading about Vita who has been utterly alone for over a decade, absolutely helpless (for now), and has no one she can rely on as everyone wants to use her to help themselves in some way or another. On my Kindle, I noted that it was around 46% that I really started getting into it (so an investment of reading I guess) and the story began to develop and Vita became a character you could root for and watch her find her own footing.

The cruel acts only continue throughout the novel though, there were some moments that I felt were too gruesome (witnessing animal deaths, the aftermath, and brutal murders) to read about that I had to pause, but still I continued on.

Maren Chase certainly knows how to deliver a character arc and witnessing Vita and Soline develop into stronger and smarter women was enjoyable. I knew the ending (as would any by half way through) but I didn’t know how, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns of the last half of the book and the result those led to.

My main gripe with this book (besides the trigger warning being slightly buried between the cover and copyright) would be that Vita, throughout the entire book, experienced what I would call memory struggles and vivid dreams/nightmares that aren’t ever really explained. Some can be explained by an illness mentioned later on, but that doesn’t explain the occurrences from the beginning. I think if the author has a second book planned (which I do think would be a good idea) that this topic should be further explored and explained.

Crueler Mercies didn’t hold back any punches. This book was full of feminine rage and vengeance and I ate it up. The tension was palpable and I had to put my book down a few times because just when I thought it couldn’t get worse for Vita….it got WORSE. Her character development throughout the story was so incredible to witness. She went from being a princess locked in a tower to being so much more than that. I can’t really elaborate because I don’t want to spoil anything. I thought the world building was well fleshed out and the side characters were very well developed. There was a lot of political intrigue and scheming. I also have never cried over a crow before, but here we are!!!! The last half hour of reading this had me UNWELL. I truly loved this book so much.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!!

This was such a really well done novel, I was invested in what was happening with the characters and their world. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed the way the story was written. It had that elmeent that was promised and enjoyed the overall feel of this. Maren Chase has a strong writing style and can't wait to read more.

Firstly thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to kick off the new year with this book. It’s been quite some time since a story gripped me enough to read it within 24hrs but I quite literally didn’t want to stop this one. I love fantasy sapphic fantasy novels and this one hit on all the things I look for which is great stories that just happen to be sapphic. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a strong female cast of characters and characters you can just genuinely enjoy. I think the characters in the story were actually my favorite part, Maren has perfectly curated her characters in a way that when they are sad, you’re sad and when they are angry you are fuming.

My only con which is minuscule in comparison to how much I enjoyed this read is that like any fantasy book you get kind of hit with world building elements and it can be disorienting. There were just a lot of village names and such all thrown together that made it a little jarring but not enough to be off putting.

I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for future releases from this author.

Rapunzel gets herself a girlfriend, vengeance!!!, and a happily ever after. I need to start a list of "Good for her" books because THIS is apparently my favorite genre.

Crueler Mercies starts off like a dark fairytale. I just adored the prose. That might be a strange thing to bring up first, but the language was so lush and well-written, particularly coming off of my recent YA and romantasy reads in which the prose is often very basic. Some of the later conversations between our MC Vita and her love Soline were so romantic that they brought a tear to my eye. I love women and I love these two in particular.

Vita was a great character. Her growth (from finding comfort in imprisonment and lack of agency to stabbing paternalism in the gut/throat and becoming king) was delicious. I just loved how she pretended to be ditzy and most of the men ate that up. How could a woman possibly outsmart a man, right? The pace slowed down a bit for me during castle machinations, prior to the war march, and a little during the siege itself, but hoo boy that ending! Villains die! Love wins! BIRDS ARE AWESOME

And that final scene with Vita as a badass Miss Havisham will live rent free in my head!

I love a good sapphic subplot along with a generous helping of feminine rage. The politics! The character development! This was really good, especially for a debut novel. I had a blast reading this and I am excited to see what the author puts out next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who are you, Maren Chase, and how is your debut novel the best political fantasy book I’ve ever read???

Crueler Mercies was a masterclass in the genre from start to finish. It has impeccable build-up of tension, incredible payoffs, and amazing characters. I’m usually a big yapper in reviews, but I don’t even know what to say about this book other than, “Wow.”

I initially had reservations since the book starts with Vita as a nine-year-old—I was worried it would turn out to be YA. But no! Vita spends over a decade in captivity and is a full-fledged adult by the time the book kicks off. And it shows—Vita’s has a sharp mind and a gift for strategy, even if she’s understandably awkward after so many years in isolation. I loved her as a protagonist, and found her characterization incredibly astute.

Rapid-fire things I loved about the book:
- The book includes a map that’s ANNOTATED—like a character took notes on it—and it’s spoiler-free!
- The character growth! And how realistic their portrayal is.
- The political intrigue is lifelike and utterly fascinating.
- The feminist themes are thoughtful and nuanced—nothing is dumbed down for readers.
- The magical elements are so understated they’re barely there (yes, this is a pro. Trust me!).
- The romance is a true slow burn, with the love interest showing up much later in the story, after the scene has been thoroughly set.
- The "villains" aren’t Disney caricatures—they have clear motivations and believable goals.
- The narration doesn’t shy away from cruelty, ugliness or gore, but it presents it plainly and never glamorizes it.
- I was gutted by some of the events in the book. I actually whisper-screamed "NO!" out loud at one point. This book had me in a chokehold the whole time!


Things I didn’t like about the book:
- crickets.

I’m now on my knees begging for more from this author. I will consider selling everything I own for their next book. Please feed me mother.

As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I would love it. I have been struggling with a short reading attention span lately but as soon as I started this book I truly could not put it down; I finished it within two days!

Vita was such a gripping main character and I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book as she comes to realize what she is capable of. Maren Chase has such a way with words that had me constantly highlighting sentences which moved me. The writing style had me feeling Vita’s anger, sadness, and hope alongside her. The way Vita’s father and Ardaric were depicted made me truly hate them and root for Vita to be their downfall. On a different note, the romance between Vita and Soline was lovely and heartfelt, and I wished for nothing more than for them to get their revenge and be happy. Vita’s friendship with the crows was also so endearing. There was a dark tone present throughout the book, but the sweet moments really shone through.

My only minor gripe is that I wish there was more alchemy within the story. Ultimately, I think it was used in a satisfactory way, but it would have been nice to uncover more about its mysteries and the different ways it could be used.

Overall, I think this is a satisfying revenge story with a sprinkle of magic. I am eager to see what Maren Chase writes in the future.

I didn't really have much expectations going into this, which worked out in my favor because this was really good.

The story was much more gruesome than I anticipated, with the sheer amount of brutal descriptions and cruel acts committed by Ardaric, the enemy general who sieged the fortress Vita was imprisoned in. This, and the fact Vita is said to be about twenty or so, clued me in I was reading something closer than new adult rather than YA, but it was a welcome surprise. If anything, the mature tone, the heavy political discussions, and gentle yet melancholic prose were a much needed change of pace from what I've been reading late.

Additionally, Vita is such an amazing protagonist. She spends over a decade of her life isolated, neglected, and traumatized from witnessing her mom's execution, so she's rightfully afraid and ignorant of the state of her world when the plot kicks in. But her intelligence and desire for revenge drive her to become a cunning strategist that leads to such a satisfying conclusion; her arc was written so masterfully. Plus, her romance with Soline is so damn sweet. Just two girls who wanna murder the same guy and fall in love while doing so. Good for them.

The only thing I found lacking was the alchemy/magic. There are explanations given to why it isn't as accessible and easy for the girls to do, but I do wish Chase gave a little more leeway from them to explore it more because it's utilized so loosely throughout the story. I find it weird to criticize a fantasy for not using enough magic, when it's far too common to see it used too much, but I really think this story would have benefitted more if it was more present.

All in all, this was still a great book. Although the story ending on what could be a satisfying conclusion, I am curious to see if Chase would take this further in a sequel, to possible expand upon the worldbuilding and magic. If so, I definitely will be waiting for it eagerly.

I didn’t know this book would be exactly what I needed until I started reading it and was immediately HOOKED. An equally heartbreaking and beautiful story about feminine rage, being taken from your birth right and the struggle to stand up for yourself when the world constantly knocks you down, and a fantastic lesbian romance to tie it all together!

Watching our main character, Vita, realise she cannot sit idly by after being locked away for so many years, watching her evolve into a strong, independent woman who refuses to let anyone —especially her future groom — dominate her is truly empowering.

Vita no longer wishes to be a pawn in their war, she will stop at nothing to reclaim her rightful place within the world with the person she loves beside her.

I truly recommend this book to anyone who, like me, longs for more beautifully written lesbian fantasy stories that will leave you wanting more of their story when the book is over.

5/5⭐️

This was incredible! I heard this was for fans of Samatha Shannon and Ava Reid, and that is 1000% correct! I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Chase!! I am a SUCKER for books with sapphic love and feminine rage. Even more so for a good revenge story. I’ve read all but one of the inaugural Bindery publications, and this is so far (in my opinion) the STRONGEST addition to their repertoire.

I haven’t read something that captured my attention fully like this in a long time: the feminine rage, the revenge, the magic, the characters and their arcs. I almost read this in one sitting and the fact that I didn’t is nothing to do with the book and everything to do with my other responsibilities (ew).

Vita is a princess who was forced to watch her mother beheaded by command of her father, the king. He then exiles her keeping her in solitude for 11 years before she is liberated by a man who gives her the choice between death or to become his bride in hopes of conquering her father’s land and becoming the new king. Out of survival, she chooses the latter. Thus begins a high paced plot of war, bloody and gruesome fights, dirty politics, forbidden love, feminine rage, and birds.

I LOVED Vita. A lot of the characters you fall easily in love with, but Vita’s character arc throughout the book was done with such care and ended up being phenomenal. You end up rooting so hard for her.

The antagonists were easily hateable. The writing style was so immersible. I forgot I was reading the whole time as I was easily sucked into the world and story. The world building was incredible! And at no point did the story lull or did I find myself bored.

This was incredible in every sense of the word and my first 5 star read of the year! I need everyone to preorder this NOW!!

Thank you NetGalley, Bindery, and Fantasy & Frens for this ARC!!

This book is exactly what I needed to start the year 2025. The main character, Vita, is a princess happily living in her kingdom until she has to witness her mother's execution. Exiled and isolated by the father she always thought loved her, Vita finds herself alone and has questioning her sanity for eleven years. One day her world is again turned upside down when she has the opportunity to marry a general or swiftly be executed. Feeling like she has no other options Vita accepts the proposal and meets her lady-in-waiting Soline. The two women slowly grow closer and begin to execute a plan to get revenge for all that was taken from them. If they can succeed then both women will finally have a chance at happiness.

The story is a beautiful rendition of feminine rage and the consequence of underestimating someone by labeling them a silly, helpless girl. Perhaps more important is the inclusion of female strength and love, both sapphic and platonic.

I loved the characters and the vibe.
Sapphic and female rage combination.
I couldn't put it down.

First thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me an advanced reader copy of Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase.

This book was a bit slower for me to get into, as someone who can’t visualize things in my head the writing style was hard to adjust to, and I think would have been better for me to listen to than read, so with that in mind, I rounded up to a 4/5 star rating.

Vita was an interesting character to see develop, but what I enjoyed most was all her interactions with Soline. They provided such a perfect balance to one another, and you could see the tenuous relationship growing to friendship and then that friendship growing to more, a true definition of a slow burn.

If you are interested in a political fantasy book that has superb character development, an interesting alchemical/magic component, politics, and a moments that leave you begging for more, I’d recommend picking up this book!

Crueler Mercies absolutely lives up to its name because from page 1 the reader is introduced to one cruel act after another, right through the very end. Vita watches her mother be executed by her father as a young child and then is immediately taken away to live in isolation. Her only family are crows that she befriends throughout her period of being locked up. Once the city she's being held at is conquered, she is forced to become the bride of General so that his claim to her homeland is stronger. However, it is quickly apparent that he is ruthless and hungry for bloodshed and violence. Vita must learn how to navigate this new world thrust upon her while also learning how to live.

I absolutely loved the world that Chase created. The atmosphere of the book is very reminiscent of an Ava Reid book. The amount of politics and plotting was a lovely surprise. I often feel that these areas are neglected for larger action scenes. I thought Vita was a brilliant main character and that her growth throughout the book felt believable and not just a way to move the plot along. Her quest for vengeance and rage against what has happened to her was so fun to read, and I loved her found family that went along with all her plotting. I love when women outsmart those in power, and this absolutely delivered.

The only area I wished we had more of was actually the magic system. I didn't feel that the alchemy was very fleshed out, nor as present as I would have expected.

If you like a fierce main character, a book that doesn't shy away from cruelty, and political maneuvering, then this one will be for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book. I loved seeing the character growth of Vita and how she was written. Her interactions with every character in the story felt so meaningful and every interaction showed to be significant in the end. The ending was incredible. The ending was not at all how I expected it. I would not change anything about this book. Amazing. Very good writing and storytelling

(4.5⭐️) Crueler Mercies is a story of female rage, courtly politics, war, and sapphic love so run don’t walk to pick this up!! I am quite frankly obsessed.

The main character, Vita, is such a compelling anchor to this book and you walk with her patiently as she learns the horrors and joys of the world. I love a character who is soft and vengeful. In fact, all of the characters in this book exist in multitudes, and it was compelling to unpack the nuances of each one.

Overall, this book marches at a slower pace and the fantasy element is quiet (not bad things!), but the stakes are made clear and I was thoroughly invested throughout!

I absolutely adored every moment spent inside Crueler Mercies. It reads like a classic fairytale written with modern thinking, and gave me exactly what I was hoping for with the story, setting, and characters. I LOVE Vita and Soline, they are both such well crafted, fleshed out women and I fell in love with them so quickly. The world building feels complete while still contained enough to truly sell Vita's isolation from the outside world. This felt like the perfect slice of a fantasy cake, and I couldn't help from devouring it.

I really enjoy how Vita's confinement played such a roll in her narrative style. I often found myself thinking a question right before she'd ask it herself, and it made for such an immersive and entertaining read to learn things about the world and the characters around Vita right as she did. It's also really interesting how Vita is never written as overly naive or unintelligent. She has complex layers of grief, loneliness, rage, independence, and desire and they all work together in flawless harmony. She is such a unique and stand out character, it made following and rooting for her so easy.

I'm so in love with this book, I'll be recommending it to anyone who will listen.

Feminine rage at its finest.
Knowing you will be at a disadvantage and be underestimated and using all of that to your benefit. Quietly working against the cruel powers who would quiet and cage you until you can make your final move.

This is a brutal book that is aptly named. The not so small injustices and cruelties a woman is forced into, the way a person can only take so much before it’s their turn to deal out cruel mercies in return.

I really like this take on the feminine rage avenging woman, it’s a quiet taking while no one is looking at her rather than the popular loud and brash forcefulness that we see so often.

I hope my girl Vita is finally getting some PEACE!!
In all seriousness, this book was the fabulous feminist fantasy I didn’t know I needed. Vita grows throughout the novel through masterful storytelling, going from damsel in distress to merciless Queen Vita with the help of beloved characters and those you absolutely love to hate.

I ate up every ounce of the not-quite-sub-plot romance! The tension and yearning between Vita and Soline was written with the most beautiful prose!! My heart needed this story of vengeance and hope in these dark times we live in. Chase writes their characters with such vulnerability and relatability that it’s easy to see bits and pieces of all of the strong, intelligent, beautiful women I know and love, and even those whom history forgets.

All in all, I loved every bit of this beautiful work of art. I am so grateful to Bindery and NetGalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!! <3

Thank you Bindery Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I went into this fully expecting female rage, but found it a bit more tampered than I wanted it to be. For sure, the character buildup was well done and well paced, but more than assisting to the brutalities suffered by Vita I would have loved for her and Soline relationship to be more present - at some points their nights together spoke to me as a mean of blowing off steam rather than a deep love in the process of being built.
Also, the ending was too abrupt - I wish I could have seen at least an epilogue of a future story about The Merciless Queen or a snippet of Vita’s days as queen.
A fine book, especially writing wise, but it could have been so much more.

This would appeal to YA and Adult Fantasy readers. Those looking for a character encapsulating the idea of "female rage" will definitely find it here!

This book developed a little slowly, but when I really started getting into it I adored the plot and the writing style.
Rage and love combined into a beautiful narrative. I was so enthralled by Vita's character and her development.

Rapunzel vibes and sapphic vengeance? Yes please.

Maren Chase has created a strong and unforgettable main character in Vita. She deftly portrays the complexity of female rage—not as a simplistic or one-dimensional emotion but as a multifaceted response to injustice, trauma, and betrayal. Vita's quest for vengeance becomes more than just a desire for retribution; it is a path of self-discovery and empowerment. However, this journey is not without consequences. As the story unfolds, the weight of her actions—both the ones she chooses to take and the ones she is forced into—becomes painfully clear.

Crueler Mercies is a gripping tale of empowerment, revenge, and the tangled emotions that define the human experience. It will resonate with readers who enjoy stories about complex heroines and the painful yet transformative consequences of their actions.

Other notes:

Ardaric might be the best (worst?) villain I've read in years.

How many times can a book rip your heart out? (This book? Too many times.)

Vita needs a hug.

I'll be thinking about this book and these characters for quite a while. Grateful to Bindery for this ARC, and I'll definitely be grabbing a finished copy in June.

I came here for a romance, and I stayed for a rare masterpiece.

Crueler Mercies follows the exiled, forgotten princess Vita as she goes from a sunshine child to a woman enraged as she navigates the conditions of her exile and plots her way out of terrible men who have branded themselves her masters. By her side is Soline,

There are castles, birdsongs, coups, wartime strategies, and stories, but the vibe is very haunting and quiet and muffled, like you're not quite awake but your whole body is burning.

The setting isn't just set dressing for the romance. Actual wartime strategies are detailed here, and it makes me want to read about the tactics used in using disease, sieges, and food supplies to make great cities kneel in conquest.

This is my preliminary review, as I have just finished this book. A longer and hopefully more coherent review will be posted on my blog Inkhaven. I have nothing but love and tears for this book, and I will be the most annoying person alive when this gets released. Everyone who can spare 5 minutes for me has heard about this book, and it can't get here soon enough.

I absolutely loved this one. Once I picked it up, it was hard to put down. I can't wait to see what else Maren is writing.

I am receiving a physical ARC in the mail soon. Therefore, I will submit my feedback in advance and if able, update it once I've read the book.

This was such a unique, fast-paced, high-stakes new fantasy—I loved the exploration of power, gender, attraction, and rage. Eager for more from Chase!

omg a gothic sapphic romance? sign me tf up!! i can’t wait to dive into this book and this will be my first book by maren chase! (i’m not certain if this is a debut?) my review will be left on GR and other retailers to come 💞

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Fantasy & Frens for granting me a copy of this E-Arc. All opinions are my own.

Overall, this was a great book and i was hooked from the beginning. We start off with Vita in almost a fairytale horror tale of circumstances who is then basically locked in a tower. Throughout the book we see her gain agency and build a support/family system around her. Ultimately going from an ingenue with no agency to a woman who understands to be cruel is a mercy in itself when necessary.

I enjoyed the premise and seeing her growth throughout the story. I will admit the pacing halfway through the book did throw me off and slow me down, but it was worth going through to get to the climax and end. Which not to give spoilers but was very satisfying in culminating in all the rage I felt through the story. I felt for the characters and appreciated some of the gray morality in which character growth was explored.

4.5/5.0 Stars!

A dark, sapphic political fairytale!

Initial thoughts: The story hooked me and reminded me of T. Kingfisher's writing, where there are dark and depressing events that are made lighter and manageable to read through the characters and writing style. I loved how Vita was not a typical kick-butt heroine and instead found strength and power in her own personal qualities (that weren't purely physical). Also I loved the crows!

Plot: I was hooked by the first chapter and it feels like a classic fairytale with a girl locked in a tower, after that it takes some dark turns and I was enthralled by the political and social maneuverings. I thought the author did a great job of keeping a steady pace and the slow march toward disaster built great tension. The romance had room to breathe and develop naturally and the ending was satisfying.

Setting: The setting is minimal as we are limited as we follow the movement of Vita. However it was easy to understand the world and various countries in relation to one another.

Characters: This novel really shines in its depth of characters. I felt they were multi-dimensional (even the villains/antagonists) and there was a plausible motivation for each.

Enjoyment: I really enjoyed this book and think it has a unique and fresh take. I wish there was more to the magic system, which was very light and ambiguous, but I think it highlighted the power of passion, determination and sacrifice. I was hooked by the characters (including the crows) and stayed for the political intrigue and sapphic romance. I think this is an excellent debut.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy small scale political fantasy, dark fairytales, sapphic romances, themes of revenge and resilience.

As posted on Goodreads:

Crueler Mercies is a story of a damsel in distress who finds friendship, romance and revenge.

We are introduced to Vita as a small child who watches her mother publicly executed by her father, the king. Confused and distraught she is then whisked away from the life she knew and locked in a tower - as frequently happens to inconvenient and unwanted princesses.

For well over a decade she is completely alone, aside from the maid who bathes her and the birds who come to her window. Until an army rises against her father, and sees how she could be of use…

This book starts out strong (albeit incredibly depressing), and ends on a strong and memorable note. At times in the middle I felt it kind of lulled a bit and I was just waiting for something to happen, but the writing and character development was strong throughout.

My one dislike with this book was that it felt like I waited a long time for the big, dramatic ending, and it was just over so quickly. After so many chapters of Vita being neglected and abused I wanted to see her enjoy her power and vengeance more.

That being said, I think this was a great debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

(Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.)

Thank you to Bindery and NetGalley for this advanced copy. I was enamored with this debut. The feminine rage was palpable and kept me hooked until the end. Highly recommend.

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Crueler Mercies is an interested exploration of loss, grief, love, and revenge. While many aspects of the story worked for me, there were some issues that held this book back from being great.

The main complaint I have with this book is the overall pacing. The story can be derivative of other stories at times, but overall the storyline feels well put together and connected. The pacing slows this story down at times and made it tough for me to immediately be hooked by the premise. That being said, as certain elements began to fall into place, the pacing speeds up exponentially. The rush to the ending was a bit too quick with how much setup there was, but this did not take away too much from the overall narrative.

The characterization of the characters was the strength of this novel for me. While I did not fully love all characters involved (and occasionally found the main character uninteresting), there were moments that highlighted the importance of all characters involved. The ability to make the reader hate characters so deeply and love other characters so deeply is a sign of well done characterization.

Overall, I found this book to be a good debut for an author that I hope continues to write more. While this story was not always the most gripping, the conclusion felt satisfying. Though it should be noted that this felt like a safe read. While there were stakes and emotion involved, at no point was I left guessing or worried. The author clearly has a deep appreciation for the genre and for the history that inspired this tale, but at times it was a little too safe for my liking.

This was a bit of a slow read for me but around the mid-point I was captivated. I noticed bits that seemed to be inspired from Rapunzel, Game of Thrones, Henry the VII(History) and Olga of Kieve (History) - and I love a story with a slow-burn sapphic romance, feminist themes and feminine rage too. This did feel light on the world building (especially the magic system) and the characters felt more new adult than adult, however, Vita's character development felt realistic and I enjoyed it.
I feel like if this story had been developed a bit further it would have been an easy 5-star from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery (Fantasy & Frens) for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase is a third person-POV fantasy. As a child, Princess Vittoria’s mother is accused of having an affair and Vita is sentenced to spend the rest of her life in the attic of a noble family after her mother is executed. For years, Vita essentially lives in isolation with little contact with the outside world. When a relative of her mother comes to overthrow Vita’s father, he desires to marry Vita to have a claim to the throne, but Vita is done being controlled.

A decent portion of the book is Vita reacting and never completely realizing that she has any agency at all. While this can be frustrating in a lot of narratives, I did understand why that was Vita’s journey as she was, for all intents and purposes, locked away in a tower with no way out. She even curses herself for not being braver as a child because maybe, just maybe, she could have escaped. But, I also think that when someone is in a situation like that, it is a bit unfair to ask why they didn’t fight back harder and push back more and more when they finally get some freedom. Living in isolation is a form of torture and for it to happen to her as a child is even more horrific as it is the kind of tortured designed to break someone.

No one here is a truly good person with many characters being self-centered and disdainful, to put it mildly, towards Vita. Ardaric, her fiance, views her as a means to an end and makes absolutely no secret that he has no desire to be loyal to her. I don’t find that aspect so detestable because if both parties agree to a political union where they can define the boundaries of it, that’s fine. Vita even seems fine with the arrangement. My issue with Ardaric was more that he never truly sees Vita as her own person and that he never reprimands his lover, the wife of one of his most trusted men, for the way she mistreats Vita. I kind of cheered when Vita was done with his behavior.

Soline and Vita’s romance is a slowburn that is rooted in Soline respecting Vita’s autonomy, one of the first to ever do so. Soline is made a handmaiden of Vita’s, but she steals multiple pieces of jewelry from Vita to perform alchemy. Instead of letting Ardaric execute Soline, Vita claims she gave Soline the necklaces as a form of appreciation, which starts their friendship that evolves into a sweeter romance.

Content warning for depictions of sexual assault, abuse, animal death, and cannibalism

I would recommend this to fans of Sapphic fantasy with less fantastical elements and readers of fantasy centered on women who survive abusive situations

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

Crueler Mercies is a dark, powerful debut fantasy with a lovely sapphic romance and captivating character development.

I had a lot of fun with this one. Vita was a spectacular main character; her personality and development hooked me from the start. I loved her romance with Soline, who was an intriguing and well-developed character. All of the characters were vivid and engaging, and I enjoyed the variety of relationship dynamics. The pacing fit the story nicely, and I adored the powerful and satisfying ending. The alchemy magic was intriguing, and Vita’s connection to birds was fun and interesting. Maren’s prose was beautiful and enrapturing. I had hoped for more world-building, but overall, this was an entertaining fantasy read that I would recommend to fans of sapphic fantasy with Rapunzel vibes!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

I really liked the main character. The way that she is written is very believable and her inner monologue is interesting to hear.

Bindery is absolutely killing it with all their books and this is no exception! I love the premise of the story and the execution didn't fail. I was so invested right from the start and it kept my interest, making it hard to put the book down.

Firstly- CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH TO ZORANNE AND MAREN!!!


This book is so good! I feel awful for Vita and I was so angry for her!

When we first meet Vita she is young, selfish, and a little shit. Then her life is completely turned upside down when he father has her mother executed and she is locked away in exile in a tower. She is then forced into a marriage with a powerful General Dickhead-sorry I mean Ardaric. At least her lady in waiting isn’t so bad 😏.

Vita is later on put into a position where she must choose between Soline and protecting everything that matters to her.

I really loved the alchemy in this!

A gorgeously-written and blood-spattered semi-retelling of Rapunzel (I think). Love and hatred, betrayal and deception, thrilling battle and secret Sapphic devotion. And so...many...sweet...BIRBS.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC in return for an honest review.

Oh, Crueler Mercies, what praise could I bestow that might possibly come close to what you deserve?

This was an exceptional tale of empowerment and femininity, and not a single moment left me weary. Vita's story is shocking, dangerous and cathartic in a way far beyond words- and yet words are exactly the medium they've been expressed with, masterfully at that. Chase has notable skill in portraying not only a beautiful tender sapphic romance, but deep and meaningful platonic bonds as well. Even the smallest of interactions, between characters we only see once or twice, feel believable.

I would reread this in a heartbeat. And I will reread it again another heartbeat later.

I have to be honest: at about a quarter of the way through Crueler Mercies, I was a little bored. Vittoria (Vita) is a sympathetic character, if a bit shallow - which is honestly to be expected given her age and upbringing - and you can’t help but pity her for the circumstances she finds herself in, but the book is quite slow to pick up momentum. Author Maren Chase spends a lot of time in Vita’s head, and while some of it is not only appropriate given her environment (I’m not trying to be cryptic, but I don’t want to drop spoilers here), but welcome, it does drag on. To Chase’s credit, some of those details that seem inconsequential do pop up later in the book and prove to be very important indeed.

The world building isn’t incredibly detailed. There is a well drawn map to accompany the book, and one could probably follow it along pretty easily if they chose. I should add here that as a fantasy reader I have always paid far less attention to the topography of a fantasy world and more to the social and cultural aspects. The world in Crueler Mercies seems to have much in common with medieval Europe, with all of the misogyny and brutality that entails. The reader is given only snippets of politics and history, and on the one hand this does make some of the whys and wherefores a bit murky. But to be frank this is a bit of a tightrope at the best of times; too much of it and a reader has a desperate desire to nod off.

The “magical” system of Crueler Mercies is fitting for the setting, but as one could reasonably ascertain from my use of quotation marks, it’s not strictly magic. I was very much of mixed minds about this aspect of the story. On the one hand it’s a unique direction. On the other it felt very mundane. It has to be said, however, that as with so many other fantasy novels, our heroine miraculously masters this magic with little effort and, seemingly, largely by having some innate latent talent that is never explained.

Having said all of that, I will also say that my formative years were spent with the likes of Eddings, Lackey, and McAffrey, and that sets a high bar. I will also add that while I made note of these things, largely for the purpose of writing a thoughtful review, they didn’t detract overly much from my enjoyment of the book. It’s worth pushing through that slow start.

Watching Vittoria come into her own is pure joy, and by the end the reader feels a profound sense of justice. Or at least this reader did. The relationship arc between Vita and Solene is sweet and fierce, but the love scenes are closed door, so if spicy scenes are a prerequisite for you, this book isn’t. Personally, I enjoy a good lovemaking scene, but I appreciate even more writing that evokes emotion, and Crueler Mercies does that. The reader has a front row seat while Vita manages to create for herself the family she was deprived of and learns what it is to lead even while terrified and doubt ridden in the depths of your own mind.

As a side note, the war scenes in the book are not sugarcoated. There are some graphic moments here (though no gratuitous scenes depicting violence against women, for which I personally was grateful. We all know this happens, but some of us prefer not to read about it in our fiction) and some readers may find it disturbing. Personally, I felt that Chase struck a reasonable balance between portraying the brutality of war with accuracy and glossing it over as some glorifying adventure.

The ending is not one everyone will love. It’s not a fairytale. But (stop now if you don’t want to read a tiny bit of a spoiler) the heroine gets the girl, and the bad guy gets his due. And sometimes that’s enough.

4.5⭐️

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.

This book is the heartfelt story of Vitta, how she was abandoned, forgotten, used. But also how she finds friends in her birds and eventually in other people, finds family after hers left her.
Its not particularly dark I would say but not particularly happy either. Its an emotional ride, we experience all of Vittas pain but also her happy moments.

I really liked the villain, I felt like even though he is cruel and power hungry his actions make sense, his actions are calculated, strategic. We see what power does to someone and how it degrades them.

The romance takes up very little screen time but plays a major role in Vittas motivation.

The magic was a bit of a mystery to me and I would have liked more depth there. Some "spells" did not make sense.
I would have also liked an epilogue to get a glimpse of the future, maybe we get a sequel? Some side characters I wish had gotten more space.

Thank you to netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with an ARC

Crueler Mercies is the kind of book that sneaks up on you—quiet, simmering, but absolutely brimming with tension. It’s not loud or action-packed, but every moment feels dangerous. It’s a slow unraveling of power and desperation, and I loved every second of it.

Vita is such an interesting protagonist—naïve, traumatized, and passive for much of the story, but her transformation is so satisfying to witness. She’s both soft and furious, which adds a layer of female rage that I don’t often see depicted this well. This story isn’t just about rebellion—it’s about survival in a world where women are treated as ornamental, where power is wielded by men while women watch from the sidelines. And yet, Crueler Mercies makes that feel intentional rather than like a flaw in the narrative. The lack of action doesn’t mean a lack of stakes—this book pulses with danger, heartbreak, and the kind of tension that makes you hold your breath. And it does NOT pull its punches.

Vita and Soline’s sapphic relationship is woven into the fabric of the story in a way that feels natural and beautiful. Their connection is gorgeous, and their quiet moments are some of the best in the story. I also loved all the secondary characters, even if we didn't get to explore them too deeply.

That said, I did have some minor complaints. While the alchemy is fascinating, I wish it had been explored more—it felt like a plot device rather than a fully fleshed-out system. The ending, while satisfying, felt a little too easy and fast compared to the slow, methodical build of the rest of the book. And the pacing is a bit uneven at times, but honestly, I didn’t care. I devoured this story, heart aching the whole way through. It’s a book that lingers, that makes you feel the weight of what these characters endure. Maren Chase, you have my attention.

Thanks so much to Colored Pages Book Tours, Bindery Books, and the author for the opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

“For so long, she’d seen hope the same way, too delicate to survive a gust of foul wind.”

I had an awesome time while reading Crueler Mercies, starting with the writing style. The author expresses feelings and sensations perfectly, and I adored how we have a strange feeling of time along with Vita, through that and pacing. Magic and romance are here, but quite discreet and make way for more down-to-earth and heavy subjects.
I loved how Vita’s isolation left space to speak about education and internalized prejudices, how her readings allowed her to humanize people around her, to try to understand them –despite their very questionable behaviors– and how it makes her resentment grow. Her weakness (being locked up) soon becomes a strength because she had time to study, to be able to put things into perspective. I also loved how historical and “accurate” it felt. We were at the siege with her, experiencing the cold and the fear. It felt like being in the Middle Age AND in a Fantasy World, all at once.
But my favorite part of the book, before anything else, is that we go through very real feelings, as Vita suffers to be used by men as a tool to gain/keep power, belittled, underestimated. Her rage grows and so does our. And what a female rage it is. It’s deep, raw, powerful. Real. It had been a very long time since I’ve read such a great depiction of female rage.
That story is immersive, sometimes very fast paced, sometimes slower (depiction of time, as I said); sometimes tender (I loved Vita’s relationship with Soline!), sometimes super-violent. That review would be incomplete without talking about the crows, yet saying too much would become a spoiler.
In one world, I really enjoyed that story!

Thank you to the author, Bindery Books and Colored Pages Pr for the eARC via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Crueler Mercies is everything it promised and more. Vita’s path is not only one of vengeance but also of grief and empowerment, fighting not only those who’ve done her wrong but also everything that was assumed of her. The world trapped me and it’s characters left no indiference in me, they felt so real I lived each story and presence as if I knew them.
This book surely put an end to my reading slump, if I was not reading I was hoping I was.
It’s for stories like this that I love books and the fantasy genre.

In the kingdom of Carca, Princess Vita has led a life filled with opulence, lessons and etiquette. However, this changes when she is taken to see her mother, the Queen, in the depths of a cell urging her to look away from what comes next. In a flurry of events, the Queen is executed and Princess Vita is exiled away, confined to a tower where her only companions are birds and the servants who come to her in varying days. But when a general overtakes the city with the intention of making Vita his queen and bride, slowly but surely a new physical prison arises. She wishes to not marry but she knows she wants vengeance, and soon enough she realizes the General is no better than her tyrannical father. In the midst of it all, she finds herself falling for Soline, her lady-in-waiting who wants her own reparations. But just how can a woman make due in a man's realm?

Beautifully written prose in this fantasy, I truly appreciated the worldbuilding as well as the unflinching view and costs of how war can trickle down. Vita is a powerful FMC, despite her jaded upbringing and naiviety, I loved the simmering of feminine rage that lives in this book. I will be thinking of it for days to come.

Well-written with unique characters and relationships, especially between Vita and the birds and Marius. I felt each of their deaths and mourned them right along with her. The story did slow for me about the 80% mark and I was ready to get to the end. Lost a star in the rating due to the lag in the pacing.

This story follows Vita, an exiled princess, as she struggles to find her position in a life ruled by men who sees her as nothing more than a pawn in their games of power. She is expected to do as she’s told without asking questions, while living under constant threat. We experience her growing rage and thirst for revenge against her tormentors, as well as get to watch love blossom in the unlikeliest of places.

The story had me hooked from the first chapter, with immediate action to ensure you kept reading for answers. Its beautiful prose and fantastic characters, and specifically the character development of Vita, made the story hard to put down.

It is a fantastic debut by Maren Chase, and I can’t wait to read more of her works in the future.

Thank you to BinderyBooks and NetGalley for the eARC in return for my honest review.

Absolutely amazing. Vita has my whole heart. The budding sapphic romance was so well executed and I really got into the story!

The book kicked off really well and ended on a strong note, but the middle was a bit all over the place, with in different themes and plotlines.

The ending, though, was intense and pretty dark, and honestly, it wrapped everything up in a way that felt really satisfying.

Vita is the beloved princess of Carcea
but at the age of 9 her mother is executed by her father the king and vita is forced into exile
living in a tower for 11 years, befriending only the crows that visited her tower
vita is given the choice of marrying an enemy general or dieing in the tower
confused and lost she agrees to marry General Ardaric who has dark plans of his own
when vita and her lady in waiting start growing alittle to close and the rise of her fathers army against her husbands, vita is forced into a position of protecting her people, her family or the person she loves the most
a story of love, magic, war and death, you feel the feminine rage

I adored this, it gripped me from page one and didn't let go!

Crueler Mercies is filled with female rage, tension and rebellion. Whilst its dangers aren't always loud or in your face you'll be on the edge of your seat the entire time.. Expect female characters who are raw and real, who are traumatised and on not merely a journey of revenge but of healing. This tales characters are what really stood out to me, they all had their own motivations, they had depth and you couldn't help but root for them.

Our MC starts her journey betrayed by a man she should have been able to trust the most, abandoned and hidden in a room without any real experience of the world. She's lost, her anger has softened over her years in isolation and she's naive but when found and put into play by another man, her rage grows, she finds friendship and heals whilst planning her revenge.

Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase tells the story of Vita, a young princess who's lived the last ten years of her life in exile, living locked up in a single room with only some crows to keep her company. However, as the lawful heir of the kingdom of Carca, Vita is still considered by some a valuable game piece. But as she's pulled into a game of thrones between the father who abandoned her and the general she'll be forced to marry, Vita proves herself to be much more than just a pawn in their game.

I would describe Crueler Mercies as Game of Thrones but with less old men and more lesbians, which, let's face it, is an AMAZING premise. Whereas the book is not without its flaws, I think this is a very strong debut novel and I enjoyed reading it. The story started off pretty strong, felt a bit boring in the middle, but HOLY HELL the last 10% were AMAZING. At one point my jaw actually dropped. Just wow.

One of the things I liked most about this book is that it doesn't romanticize the war it's depicting. There's a lot of (sometimes shocking) death, of both humans and animals, and a lot of cruelty. That makes the story ring true and also server to raise the stakes of the story. I also loved the relationships Vita formed along the way (especially the one with Solene), but my absolute favorite thing was the VENGEANCE! (have I mentioned that before somewhere?) The just rage that fuels Vita is just delicious to read, and I love that the story gets a proper ending instead of a cliffhanger one.
Much like Game of Thrones, Crueler Mercies has a lot of war politics, training and strategy talk, which is honestly not my jam. At times during the middle of the book I'd get bored, but then suddenly something shocking would happen and I'd be all in it again. Resembling Game of Thrones in this aspect too, I didn't really connect with the characters. I loved Vita and Solene's quest for vengeance, but I wasn't that invested in the characters themselves. (Except Vita's crows. I love those crows, bro.)

All together though, Crueler Mercies was great and I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you like high fantasy with more war and vengeance and less magic. (Not NO magic, just less magic.)

Thank you Netgalley and Bindery Books | Fantasy & Frens for the free e-arc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. Holy moly this is a debut book, I'm shook. It was so dang good. I love a revenge, strong af women mcs and just the level of details. It felt a bit like Hansel and gretel / beauty and the beast / and Romeo and juliet.

No notes loved it.

Highly recommend.

5/5☆