Quick Synopsis – Lythlet and her only friend Desil are shackled to a life of debt and poverty that she fears they will never escape. Desperate for money, they sign up as conquessors: arena combatants who fight sun-cursed beasts in the seedy underworld of the city.

A whirlwind of blood-pounding battles as characters grapple with their choices in the face of wealth and financial security, The Serpent Called Mercy’s heart is the underlying, steadfast friendship between its protagonists.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Armor – Sara Bareilles

Publication Date – March 25, 2025

Bookshop Link – Order Here (if you order through this link, I do receive a percentage)

Content Notes – There is a fair amount of violence against animals though most of them are mythological beast. There is some violence against dogs, mostly off page. There is also off page child abuse both physical and sexual. There is mention of sex trafficking. There is some ableism and use of terms like “dim-witted”. There is an off-page suicide attempt as well as self-harm (not main characters). Overall, there is a fair amount of violence in this book.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐out of 5

Review – I liked this book, but didn’t love it. It felt so dense and yet I had so many questions about the world and magic. I felt like the main story could have been two books instead of one. I did love that this is a fantasy story without a real romance aspect. There is some flirtation, but always between the main characters and a side character. Lythlet and Desil are best friends, and I love the familial relationship between them. I liked how they really complemented each other and there wasn’t any heaving bosoms and stolen glances.

The book takes place over the course of just over a year. There is so much plot that takes place that I was just rushing through the end. So many of their conquessor battles are just glazed over, but I would have liked more description. I also was interested in the real difference between Sun Cursed and Sun Blessed. Also, it seemed like other nations still had magic, so why didn’t they? I know it’s explained but it just felt so vague.

I would also wager a guess that Lythlet is neurodivergent. I loved the way she was described and her interactions with people. She wasn’t a caricature, but a loving representation. The other thing this book does well is describe the harsh ways people get trapped in poverty. The predatory loans and jobs that overpromise and underdeliver. This really was a scrappy underdog story, but the ending isn’t pitch perfect. The ending depicts an imperfect world that has years to go, I like a messy ending.

I don’t know if I would read another book in this series, but if you like monster fighting rebellious fantasy, this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.