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A Born Assassin #1
Merciless
"The Guild is my life. I didn't choose it, didn't want it for years. But when I stopped fighting it, stopped trying to resist all the ways they were trying to change me, I realized I enjoy it. All the teasing, all the mocking, all the quips about pointy ears and the girl whose parents didn't want her—they don't matter in a fight.
I'll be hated for the work I do—and I'll love every minute of it."
Merciless is a Young Adult fantasy epic perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.
After being taken by the illustrious Assassins' Guild when she was one week old, Mercy has endured seventeen years of grueling training in the art of killing. She is covered in more scars than she can count—gifts from her cruel tutors and the human apprentices who do not tolerate being bested by an elf—and she's more than ready to prove her worth to the head of the Guild.
In the capital city of Sandori, elf-human violence runs rampant and a king mad with grief rules with an iron fist. All that stands between Mercy and her chance to become the greatest Assassin the Guild has ever trained is the handsome and kind Prince Tamriel. If she succeeds in killing him, she will earn the respect and admiration of her childhood tormentors and will be immortalized in the Guild. Faced with political tension, rampant disease, and strange supernatural occurrences, Mercy realizes that her actions not only affect her and Tamriel, but that the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance.
I'll be hated for the work I do—and I'll love every minute of it."
Merciless is a Young Adult fantasy epic perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.
After being taken by the illustrious Assassins' Guild when she was one week old, Mercy has endured seventeen years of grueling training in the art of killing. She is covered in more scars than she can count—gifts from her cruel tutors and the human apprentices who do not tolerate being bested by an elf—and she's more than ready to prove her worth to the head of the Guild.
In the capital city of Sandori, elf-human violence runs rampant and a king mad with grief rules with an iron fist. All that stands between Mercy and her chance to become the greatest Assassin the Guild has ever trained is the handsome and kind Prince Tamriel. If she succeeds in killing him, she will earn the respect and admiration of her childhood tormentors and will be immortalized in the Guild. Faced with political tension, rampant disease, and strange supernatural occurrences, Mercy realizes that her actions not only affect her and Tamriel, but that the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance.
488 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2019
150 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Pawl
15 books75 followersJacqueline Pawl can be most often found reading, writing, or shopping for even more books to add to her ever-growing ‘to-read’ pile. (She swears, someday she’ll get a chance to read all of them.) MERCILESS is the first book in her Throne of Glass-esque fantasy series, complete with tough-as-nails assassins, snarky blacksmiths, a dreamy prince, and a mad king.
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December 18, 2018I really wanted to absolutely love this book. This world was great the characters were pretty great too. However the third person thing kills me! Especially when the author put in multiple perspectives without making the switch obvious such as headers or a specific marking.
The characters are really well developed! The prince was kind and genuine! I mean he risks his life for the poor citizens of his kingdom! Callum was the type of character you love to hate but kind of really like. Like hes charming and caring but he's also selfish and a jerk.
Mercy.. I hate Mercy if I'm being honest. Not for lack of character depth or anything like that; in fact Mercy was so well written she had character flaws that I couldn't stand.
The plot of this book is the perfect rollercoaster of emotions. Up and down, tense and humor, love and hate.
There a few things I wish the author would've done differently, however I am still looking forward to the next book!
The characters are really well developed! The prince was kind and genuine! I mean he risks his life for the poor citizens of his kingdom! Callum was the type of character you love to hate but kind of really like. Like hes charming and caring but he's also selfish and a jerk.
Mercy.. I hate Mercy if I'm being honest. Not for lack of character depth or anything like that; in fact Mercy was so well written she had character flaws that I couldn't stand.
The plot of this book is the perfect rollercoaster of emotions. Up and down, tense and humor, love and hate.
There a few things I wish the author would've done differently, however I am still looking forward to the next book!
October 28, 2021
Mercy has belonged to the assassins guild since she was a baby, she's never even seen outside the Forest of Flames. She was raised learning to fight, to attack, to be the person you feared at night. When Mercy gets her first assignment she is thrown into the capital city, the most dangerous place for an elf to be. But on closer examination of her target and the contract, she realizes there are more secrets in the royal family than already portrayed.
Prince Tamriel grew up with a mad father and no mother. His orphaned cousin was like a brother to him. And Tam has secrets of his own, including a forbidden sympathy for the elves. When Mercy crosses his path as Lady Marieve he doesn't expect to become so enraptured with her. And while she surprises him, he doesn't expect ill will from her, let alone a mission to end his life.
I absolutely loved this book when I read the first publication 3 years ago. I love this edition even more, with the added scenes and the altered point of view. Jacqueline's voice is so fun to read, there's a lot of great witty humor and banter. I can't wait to see how she's updated the rest of the series.
(First Review)
This definitely reads like Throne of Glass by Sara Maas. So any readers looking for something similar you’ve found it. I actually started out strongly disliking Mercy and have grown to adore her as the book went on. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the book started out slow for me to get into (as did ToG) but once I was maybe a quarter of the way through I became more and more intrigued and found it harder to put down. I love the characters Pawl has created in this book, the back stories are both complex and simple. And more than once I looked at the page and said, “wait, what?!” I am definitely interested in reading book 2.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Prince Tamriel grew up with a mad father and no mother. His orphaned cousin was like a brother to him. And Tam has secrets of his own, including a forbidden sympathy for the elves. When Mercy crosses his path as Lady Marieve he doesn't expect to become so enraptured with her. And while she surprises him, he doesn't expect ill will from her, let alone a mission to end his life.
I absolutely loved this book when I read the first publication 3 years ago. I love this edition even more, with the added scenes and the altered point of view. Jacqueline's voice is so fun to read, there's a lot of great witty humor and banter. I can't wait to see how she's updated the rest of the series.
(First Review)
This definitely reads like Throne of Glass by Sara Maas. So any readers looking for something similar you’ve found it. I actually started out strongly disliking Mercy and have grown to adore her as the book went on. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the book started out slow for me to get into (as did ToG) but once I was maybe a quarter of the way through I became more and more intrigued and found it harder to put down. I love the characters Pawl has created in this book, the back stories are both complex and simple. And more than once I looked at the page and said, “wait, what?!” I am definitely interested in reading book 2.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2018
Hmm I really struggled to rate this book. I wavered between a 3 and a four. I really enjoyed some aspects but found myself skipping bits too. My reasons?
The writing style I both liked and disliked. The characters and the plot was the same.
Let’s get the dislikes out of the way.
I struggled initially with the present tense but got used to it, what threw me several times was when the author began to swap in POV’s from other characters in addition to the two main characters without signposting it. It became a little confusing.
The main character is trained as an assassin but gets her arse kicked more than she doesn’t, which is irritating. The romance is suddenly there between the main characters despite there being very little build up which fell a little flat for me but perhaps that will grow in the following books. Mercy suddenly kills a fellow ‘assassin’ despite knowing the assassins will hunt her down and all to save a prince she has been trying to kill herself and isn’t sure about—hmmm? And to top it all off the character who is responsible for lying to everyone, including her, getting her arrested, forging her contract and almost killing her and the prince, she ends up protecting and working with, Why? It made no sense to me at all. Anyway, I expect the author has her reasons and all will become clear eventually.
DESPITE ALL THAT.
The actual writing style and the development of the characters was well done. They are written in a believable way. There is a lot of clever court intrigue interspersed with some well written action. If you like that kind of thing, fantasy and a small amount of romance then story this is definitely for you.
The writing style I both liked and disliked. The characters and the plot was the same.
Let’s get the dislikes out of the way.
I struggled initially with the present tense but got used to it, what threw me several times was when the author began to swap in POV’s from other characters in addition to the two main characters without signposting it. It became a little confusing.
The main character is trained as an assassin but gets her arse kicked more than she doesn’t, which is irritating. The romance is suddenly there between the main characters despite there being very little build up which fell a little flat for me but perhaps that will grow in the following books. Mercy suddenly kills a fellow ‘assassin’ despite knowing the assassins will hunt her down and all to save a prince she has been trying to kill herself and isn’t sure about—hmmm? And to top it all off the character who is responsible for lying to everyone, including her, getting her arrested, forging her contract and almost killing her and the prince, she ends up protecting and working with, Why? It made no sense to me at all. Anyway, I expect the author has her reasons and all will become clear eventually.
DESPITE ALL THAT.
The actual writing style and the development of the characters was well done. They are written in a believable way. There is a lot of clever court intrigue interspersed with some well written action. If you like that kind of thing, fantasy and a small amount of romance then story this is definitely for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
This was a great book.
January 10, 2019
Hi friends! I was graciously given an ARC of this wonderful new book by Jacqueline Pawl to read and review before its release date on January 21st.
This was a definite five-star read for me. I absolutely loved the world-building in this book. I'm always amazed at the amount of detail authors can squeeze in to paint a picture of their world. This novel was no different. It had it's own currency, it's own religions, and even it's own hierarchy of power. It wasn't just kings/queens, lords/ladies, and so on. It was kings/queens, and then she introduced Serens/Serennas and a few others that were unique to this world. I loved it!
Another interesting tidbit about this world that I found interesting is that she flipped the stereotypical hierarchy of species. This book had humans and elves, and usually in literature you see elves as the more superior race with humans being boring and at the bottom. This world had it flipped. Elves were slaves and lower than dirt, while the humans were at the top of the food chain. I thought that was a fun spin on what you usually see.
Mercy is the main character in this book, and I absolutely adored her. She starts being a driven apprentice that wants nothing more than to become a Daughter of the Assassin's Guild. She was treated poorly her whole life, and that drove her to become the best. She wants to prove to everyone that she is more than just an elf. When she's granted that opportunity (in a very badass way, too), she takes her job very seriously. She's sent on a mission to assassinate Prince Tamriel and she goes in disguise as a noble neighboring kingdom where elves hold the monarchy. She plays her part so well, I was jealous. It was flawless.
This book kept me hooked until the very end, and it left me wanting more. I'm so happy there will be a second book! This is definitely a story I want to follow. There were often several events going on at the same time, much like real life, and it was so much fun to read about Mercy's journey. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced read with plenty of action. I haven't read the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas yet, but I have read Game of Thrones, and I can definitely say that if you like GOT, you will like this book.
Check out my blog for more! http://www.bysamanthaskye.com/
This was a definite five-star read for me. I absolutely loved the world-building in this book. I'm always amazed at the amount of detail authors can squeeze in to paint a picture of their world. This novel was no different. It had it's own currency, it's own religions, and even it's own hierarchy of power. It wasn't just kings/queens, lords/ladies, and so on. It was kings/queens, and then she introduced Serens/Serennas and a few others that were unique to this world. I loved it!
Another interesting tidbit about this world that I found interesting is that she flipped the stereotypical hierarchy of species. This book had humans and elves, and usually in literature you see elves as the more superior race with humans being boring and at the bottom. This world had it flipped. Elves were slaves and lower than dirt, while the humans were at the top of the food chain. I thought that was a fun spin on what you usually see.
Mercy is the main character in this book, and I absolutely adored her. She starts being a driven apprentice that wants nothing more than to become a Daughter of the Assassin's Guild. She was treated poorly her whole life, and that drove her to become the best. She wants to prove to everyone that she is more than just an elf. When she's granted that opportunity (in a very badass way, too), she takes her job very seriously. She's sent on a mission to assassinate Prince Tamriel and she goes in disguise as a noble neighboring kingdom where elves hold the monarchy. She plays her part so well, I was jealous. It was flawless.
This book kept me hooked until the very end, and it left me wanting more. I'm so happy there will be a second book! This is definitely a story I want to follow. There were often several events going on at the same time, much like real life, and it was so much fun to read about Mercy's journey. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced read with plenty of action. I haven't read the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas yet, but I have read Game of Thrones, and I can definitely say that if you like GOT, you will like this book.
Check out my blog for more! http://www.bysamanthaskye.com/
January 30, 2019
I am absolutely flabbergasted. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. This story is wonderful. I am amazed that a fairly new author could write
such a polished story. Now, I
don't necessarily mean editing. There are a few typos. But the storyline is incredible. Once I finally started reading it (having put it aside because I wasn't expecting much, I'm embarrassed to say) I couldn't put it down.
You'll want to follow Mercy through her beginnings. How she meets Tamriel, which starts her on her journey. How she becomes an assassin, which is unexpected. Who Calum is and why you'll want to hate him. You'll even want to know the story behind the king, Ghyslain (where did she come up with that name??) and his mistress Liselle. There's so much backstory here, and it blends in beautifully without really needing a prequel (there is one, and that's next!).j
I read a lot of books from beginning authors, and most often the first book in their series needs work. Usually it needs to be pretty good for me to continue, and I will to give the author a chance. And I love the ability to watch these authors grow. Jacqueline Pawl surpassed all that and went straight for mesmerizing. I know I'm gushing, and I do apologize since this is not my usual form, but I can't seem to help it. This story has captured me from the get, which I am loving! So, please forgive me for overselling.
I can't say it strongly enough. VERY WELL DONE, Jacqueline Pawl, EXCELLENT WORK! You most definitely have my vote and support for a series with such a captivating beginning!
I received this book as an ARC copy, and this review is my own opinion given of my own free will with no coercion from anyone else. All me, folks!
such a polished story. Now, I
don't necessarily mean editing. There are a few typos. But the storyline is incredible. Once I finally started reading it (having put it aside because I wasn't expecting much, I'm embarrassed to say) I couldn't put it down.
You'll want to follow Mercy through her beginnings. How she meets Tamriel, which starts her on her journey. How she becomes an assassin, which is unexpected. Who Calum is and why you'll want to hate him. You'll even want to know the story behind the king, Ghyslain (where did she come up with that name??) and his mistress Liselle. There's so much backstory here, and it blends in beautifully without really needing a prequel (there is one, and that's next!).j
I read a lot of books from beginning authors, and most often the first book in their series needs work. Usually it needs to be pretty good for me to continue, and I will to give the author a chance. And I love the ability to watch these authors grow. Jacqueline Pawl surpassed all that and went straight for mesmerizing. I know I'm gushing, and I do apologize since this is not my usual form, but I can't seem to help it. This story has captured me from the get, which I am loving! So, please forgive me for overselling.
I can't say it strongly enough. VERY WELL DONE, Jacqueline Pawl, EXCELLENT WORK! You most definitely have my vote and support for a series with such a captivating beginning!
I received this book as an ARC copy, and this review is my own opinion given of my own free will with no coercion from anyone else. All me, folks!
December 18, 2018
I read the blurb of this story and I loved it and even though my workload was ridiculous, I had to read it. I love a good “Underdog Emerging Triumphant” story and quite frankly a girl who is the best of the best of the Daughters of the Guild was just too much for me to resist.
The book is written as a third person omniscient narrative in the present tense – and I've read books written in this way before but for some reason, this time, it made me feel like I was a peeping tom eavesdropping on these characters playing out their roles. This narrative is not my favourite as it makes it very difficult for me to feel like I am part of the story and to connect with any of the characters; even Mercy, who is our protagonist and the person I wanted to root for most.
I nearly gave up but my specific compulsions wouldn’t allow it and I had to power through it. I wanted to connect with the characters and the story, especially Mercy, especially in light of how much she has had to endure at the hands of others in her life. Oddly enough, I liked Mercy’s friend before I liked her and even through the duration of the story, I wasn’t 100% sure of how I felt about her. Sure, I felt sympathy and I wanted her to be better than her experiences but while I felt better and better about her, I didn’t feel a fierce adoration or protective caring for her that I wanted to have; I did (and do) however, have a fierce desire for her to be better and to overcome everything that she’s been involuntarily immersed in, but most of all, to overcome… herself.
The world-building and descriptions of the action and the weaponry was very good, but again, a bit disappointing on the Mercy side, especially in light of what my expectation was.
So those are my negatives and I needed to get them off my chest but I need you to understand that that was by no means all there was for me. Once I pushed through the deity-like feeling brought on by the narration, I got caught up in the story and the mystery and intrigue – it was very much like unwrapping one of those gifts that never quite runs out of wrapping paper or that gift tissue stuff that people use that I don’t understand the purpose of when it comes to gifts, but that totally hits the right notes in this book.
There isn’t a single character who is exactly what you think they are – no one is quintessentially good or bad – and you do find yourself feeling entirely sympathetic for the person that you initially thought was a scaly dweeb. That being said there is one chick whose motivation, I’m pretty sure doesn’t go further than herself and right now I feel like she’s pretty dodgy and one-dimensionally manipulative so I do wonder how that’s going to work out.
I loved Prince Tamriel, he is everything that a tortured, betrayed, more-than-meets-the-eye Prince should be. And I love that there’s no insta-love, immediately pouring their hearts and history out to each other. And when you realise that there is a second installment coming and how much there still is to unravel, to uncover, to learn… I’m incredibly grateful that there is.
Yes, it was a slow start for me and I struggled to immerse myself at first but I am very glad that I persevered and got to experience this rich world with its intrigue and drama; deception and secrets; discrimination and its painful resonance and the suprises – man, oh man, the surprises are so very “Woah, I did not see that one coming!”
It was worth the extra effort!
The book is written as a third person omniscient narrative in the present tense – and I've read books written in this way before but for some reason, this time, it made me feel like I was a peeping tom eavesdropping on these characters playing out their roles. This narrative is not my favourite as it makes it very difficult for me to feel like I am part of the story and to connect with any of the characters; even Mercy, who is our protagonist and the person I wanted to root for most.
I nearly gave up but my specific compulsions wouldn’t allow it and I had to power through it. I wanted to connect with the characters and the story, especially Mercy, especially in light of how much she has had to endure at the hands of others in her life. Oddly enough, I liked Mercy’s friend before I liked her and even through the duration of the story, I wasn’t 100% sure of how I felt about her. Sure, I felt sympathy and I wanted her to be better than her experiences but while I felt better and better about her, I didn’t feel a fierce adoration or protective caring for her that I wanted to have; I did (and do) however, have a fierce desire for her to be better and to overcome everything that she’s been involuntarily immersed in, but most of all, to overcome… herself.
The world-building and descriptions of the action and the weaponry was very good, but again, a bit disappointing on the Mercy side, especially in light of what my expectation was.
So those are my negatives and I needed to get them off my chest but I need you to understand that that was by no means all there was for me. Once I pushed through the deity-like feeling brought on by the narration, I got caught up in the story and the mystery and intrigue – it was very much like unwrapping one of those gifts that never quite runs out of wrapping paper or that gift tissue stuff that people use that I don’t understand the purpose of when it comes to gifts, but that totally hits the right notes in this book.
There isn’t a single character who is exactly what you think they are – no one is quintessentially good or bad – and you do find yourself feeling entirely sympathetic for the person that you initially thought was a scaly dweeb. That being said there is one chick whose motivation, I’m pretty sure doesn’t go further than herself and right now I feel like she’s pretty dodgy and one-dimensionally manipulative so I do wonder how that’s going to work out.
I loved Prince Tamriel, he is everything that a tortured, betrayed, more-than-meets-the-eye Prince should be. And I love that there’s no insta-love, immediately pouring their hearts and history out to each other. And when you realise that there is a second installment coming and how much there still is to unravel, to uncover, to learn… I’m incredibly grateful that there is.
Yes, it was a slow start for me and I struggled to immerse myself at first but I am very glad that I persevered and got to experience this rich world with its intrigue and drama; deception and secrets; discrimination and its painful resonance and the suprises – man, oh man, the surprises are so very “Woah, I did not see that one coming!”
It was worth the extra effort!
October 11, 2021
All right Bookworms, here's the scoop on Merciless!!
For those of you that don't know my outside reviews I go by categories: Writing, Plot, Smut, Characters, Ending, and on occasion an imaginative 'what if' for the next book coming. All righty, let's dive in!
WRITING: Jacqueline's writing style surprised me and I have to say it may be my favorite thing about Merciless. She slyly wrote Mercy perspective and words differently. Now I know I confused some of you so just listen. Usually when you have a character that is morally grey or full of grudge, the author describes the way she sees people and the world through a red haze. But for Mercy, Jackie was able to convey the lightness of her perspective while keeping Mercy's actions and words oozing with contempt. The controversies between the two enlightened me and gave me a sneak peek into Mercy that I wasn't able to completely see until the end. Great Job, Jacqueline!!!
PLOT: Loved the world and their wars. Although I do wish Jackie would have dived in a bit deeper into the enemies within the castle. The idea of an assassin that is hated by both parties is enticing. It was really fun to see if she would blow her cover or if Tam would figure it out. I wanted more of a backstory between Callum and mercy but I guess you would have to read on or read the novella to read that portion of their story. Overall the world was nicely created, the plot suspenseful, and kept me on the edge of my seat when wondering who was a friend and who was a foe.
SMUT: Honey, let me tell you if you are looking for some action, some steam, this is not the book for you! It is completely clean except for a kiss scene at the ending but that romance ends in a flash. I do believe that the romance will pick up in the following books but you will have to play the waiting game.
CHARACTERS: You know I love Mercy in all of her badassry (wished there was a little more fighting from her). Tamriel is a true goody prince, with the bookworm trait and everything, although he is brave and has that arrogant factor sometimes. The fellow assassins were exactly what they needed to be to make Mercy but on a personal note, I don't like Faye. I understand her anger for the ***** but really?!?! Did she have to be that like that, backstabber!
ENDING: The ending bested the beginning of the book. Seeing people choose sides and begin their journey to **********. Believe me when I say after this ending smut or not you're gonna want to see how Tam and Mercy end. I also can't wait to see how Mercy is in the wild, unfiltered, no disguise.
'WHAT IF': "What if Mercy is actually somehow related to the queen of Feyndara?"
*I rated Merciless a 4 out of 5 due to the long political conversations. I, personally, am an action girl, so talking about the council and peace plans felt a bit dull for me.*
I hope this review helps you, enjoy Merciless!
For those of you that don't know my outside reviews I go by categories: Writing, Plot, Smut, Characters, Ending, and on occasion an imaginative 'what if' for the next book coming. All righty, let's dive in!
WRITING: Jacqueline's writing style surprised me and I have to say it may be my favorite thing about Merciless. She slyly wrote Mercy perspective and words differently. Now I know I confused some of you so just listen. Usually when you have a character that is morally grey or full of grudge, the author describes the way she sees people and the world through a red haze. But for Mercy, Jackie was able to convey the lightness of her perspective while keeping Mercy's actions and words oozing with contempt. The controversies between the two enlightened me and gave me a sneak peek into Mercy that I wasn't able to completely see until the end. Great Job, Jacqueline!!!
PLOT: Loved the world and their wars. Although I do wish Jackie would have dived in a bit deeper into the enemies within the castle. The idea of an assassin that is hated by both parties is enticing. It was really fun to see if she would blow her cover or if Tam would figure it out. I wanted more of a backstory between Callum and mercy but I guess you would have to read on or read the novella to read that portion of their story. Overall the world was nicely created, the plot suspenseful, and kept me on the edge of my seat when wondering who was a friend and who was a foe.
SMUT: Honey, let me tell you if you are looking for some action, some steam, this is not the book for you! It is completely clean except for a kiss scene at the ending but that romance ends in a flash. I do believe that the romance will pick up in the following books but you will have to play the waiting game.
CHARACTERS: You know I love Mercy in all of her badassry (wished there was a little more fighting from her). Tamriel is a true goody prince, with the bookworm trait and everything, although he is brave and has that arrogant factor sometimes. The fellow assassins were exactly what they needed to be to make Mercy but on a personal note, I don't like Faye. I understand her anger for the ***** but really?!?! Did she have to be that like that, backstabber!
ENDING: The ending bested the beginning of the book. Seeing people choose sides and begin their journey to **********. Believe me when I say after this ending smut or not you're gonna want to see how Tam and Mercy end. I also can't wait to see how Mercy is in the wild, unfiltered, no disguise.
'WHAT IF': "What if Mercy is actually somehow related to the queen of Feyndara?"
*I rated Merciless a 4 out of 5 due to the long political conversations. I, personally, am an action girl, so talking about the council and peace plans felt a bit dull for me.*
I hope this review helps you, enjoy Merciless!
January 5, 2019
I received the book from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.
I grade it 3,5 stars.
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me. Mercy has trained all her life to be an assassin and kill for the guild. It's all she want's in life and she means to get her title at any cost. Being an elf in a world where elves are second-class citizens she has to find her place in it.
I found the book to be well written, but I had a hard time connecting to any the characters, let alone the two mains Mercy and Tamerin. But it is that time of the year when you have just finished your reading goals and feel like you are in a bit of a slump. with that said, this book did not do a lot for me, it was intriguing for sure, but like I stated I had a hard time to connect with the characters or the story. The story had a lot happening and felt quite bombarding with everything happening. For being such a story packed book with new twists and turns, it felt quite boring. The love story was very meh, but it has prospects to pick up later on, although the love interest is very snooze in my opinion. Which makes me not very interested in the love story plot of the book, it's there and all, but not interesting enough. At least not in this book.
I do however wonder how the story will continue and hopefully, the connection to the characters will come in the next book.
I grade it 3,5 stars.
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me. Mercy has trained all her life to be an assassin and kill for the guild. It's all she want's in life and she means to get her title at any cost. Being an elf in a world where elves are second-class citizens she has to find her place in it.
I found the book to be well written, but I had a hard time connecting to any the characters, let alone the two mains Mercy and Tamerin. But it is that time of the year when you have just finished your reading goals and feel like you are in a bit of a slump. with that said, this book did not do a lot for me, it was intriguing for sure, but like I stated I had a hard time to connect with the characters or the story. The story had a lot happening and felt quite bombarding with everything happening. For being such a story packed book with new twists and turns, it felt quite boring. The love story was very meh, but it has prospects to pick up later on, although the love interest is very snooze in my opinion. Which makes me not very interested in the love story plot of the book, it's there and all, but not interesting enough. At least not in this book.
I do however wonder how the story will continue and hopefully, the connection to the characters will come in the next book.
December 28, 2018
Where to begin!?! Merciless was a great easy read, Jacqueline had you invested in Mercy and her story within a few chapters. What I liked most was her healthy balance of conversation and scene setting, which made for a light read you could jump into without having to think to much. I will only give this book 3 stars though as I felt the ending of the book was rushed scenes and revelations could of be drawn out and detailed that little bit more to leave you with a stronger cliffhanger ready for the book. All in all it was a good book worth a read and I look forward to seeing what comes next in Mercy's story..
January 6, 2019
“Mercy.” His lips twitch, fighting back a smile. “Strange name for an assassin.”
Mercy is a 17 year old girl who has been trained to be an assassin all her life. Within the guild, she is looked down on because of her background as an elf. However, she is given a pressing task: to kill the prince.
This book had so many twists and every time made it harder for me to put it down. I love all the characters, the world and the story
Mercy is a 17 year old girl who has been trained to be an assassin all her life. Within the guild, she is looked down on because of her background as an elf. However, she is given a pressing task: to kill the prince.
This book had so many twists and every time made it harder for me to put it down. I love all the characters, the world and the story
October 4, 2021
This is an awesome epic fantasy read that once I started I could not put it down! The world building is incredible and the storyline gripping and exciting and the twists I did not see coming! Mercy is a kickass assassin for the guild, a highly trained Elf and her task is to kill the prince! Determined to prove herself to all the haters and become the best assassin ever, can she do this in this cutthroat world or is nothing what it seems?? It’s an exciting thrilling read, a fantastic adventure and I have to say I am drawn in hook, line and sinker.
October 9, 2021
This is a fantastic read! It’s exciting and well written and there’s tons of intrigue that sure kept me on the edge of my seat! I really liked Mercy (what a name for an assassin) and Tamriel and all the characters really. Mercy just wants to prove herself and as the story progresses she really grows a lot. The author did a great job of world building and character development which are 2 big things I look for in a story. It kind of reminded me of Throne of Glass, so if you liked that, give this a try! Sorry, I’m not going to say much about the plot because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but let me just say that it kept me guessing. I can’t wait to read the next book!
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 19, 2018
I don't want to reveal any spoilers, so I will only say I greatly enjoyed being introduced into Mercy's world. She is a surprisingly likable character and easy to empathize with. I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what happens next.
January 2, 2019
This book started out slow and tbh I almost have up on it. However, it eventually picked up and I could not stop until I finished it. It is very similar to TOG and in some ways it surpasses it. Can't wait to read what happens next.
January 5, 2019
This is the first assassin book I’ve read, and I love it so much! I love the characters, especially Mercy. Her backstory and attitude are both incredible. This story has completely enthralled me, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
January 3, 2019
I loved this story!! Mercy's story is epic. I loved her interaction with Tamriel.
I also really enjoyed the world building.
There will be a full review up on my blog within the next week or so.
*I was sent an ebook copy by the author for an honest review*
I also really enjoyed the world building.
There will be a full review up on my blog within the next week or so.
*I was sent an ebook copy by the author for an honest review*
December 21, 2018
This is now one of my favourite books! Mercy is such a badass character and I just love her! The author always had me engaged and was surprising me. I can't wait until the sequel!
December 18, 2018
It is a bit slow to start, but is a good story. The characters are complex and no one is quite who they seem at first. The story slowly builds as the book goes on and you find yourself really wanting Mercy to overcome her past as she is trying to.
June 12, 2019
Merciless by Jacqueline Pawl was a wild ride!
I had volunteered to review Merciless as I really liked the premise of an Assassin Guild comprised of women who are referred to as Daughters. This is the classic story of an assassin on a mission to assassinate a nobility but fails to do so because of “complicated feelings.” Pretty straightforward, right?
NOPE!
Although the plot seems straightforward on the surface, Merciless is a story of twists and turns that will leave readers both puzzled and intrigued. There are so many “AHA” moments in this book and while not many of them left me happy, they certainly made the story more interesting.
Merciless is a story about an elf female who belongs to a Guild of Assassins. Seventeen of training under the harshest mistresses and subject to the torment of her sisters due to her being an elf, Mercy dreams of joining the ranks of the fierce Daughters. To be able to become a Daughter, the apprentices take part in a battle once they are seventeen years old, however, Mercy is unable to join as she is two months shy of seventeen. This prompts Mercy to scheme her way into the tournament.
Mercy as a character is not at all likable. It’s not because I can’t stand her or her character is lacking – rather I found that she was well written as a ruthless and unemotional assassin which made me dislike who she was as a person. And this is the strength of Jacqueline Pawl’s novel. Her characters show complex emotions and battle with moral choices. There’s Callum the charming jerk, Tamriel the kind prince who hates his father, Serenna Elise, the sweet but sharp noble, Elvira the flight elf, and King Ghsylain whose relationship with the Queen and his mistress is far more confusing than hinted at. Mercy is thrust into a world where people are not as single-minded as the assassins she grew up with, not everyone is driven by the motive of success but rather have more confusing motives than Mercy is used to. This new world tests more than just Mercy’s skill with a dagger.
The kingdom of Sandori is strictly hierarchal, every person has a place in the kingdom and remains within it. There are the Kings and Queens, but instead of Lord and Ladies, the author introduces us to the king’s court of Cassisus, Seren and Serennas, and Nadras. Unlike other fantasy stories where elves hold a high standing, in Merciless, the elven race is enslaved. Despite there being a kingdom called Feyndara where an elven queen rules, the rest of the world is divided between the humans and the elves. The classist behaviors between the elves and humans lead to a lot of violence and despite the king’s grief for change, the status quo remains in order to keep the nobilities calm. The book has a lot of political talks giving us insight into the systematic ruling of the land.
The pacing of the book flows well as it moves between tension, humour, mystery, and espionage. I loved how the author was able to balance the character’s backstories and keep pace with the high stakes of the current affairs. As I mentioned before, the book leads us into many twists that raise the stakes of the plot. The twists are placed so well within the storyline, which I thought was very clever of the author as it made it exceptionally hard to put the book down.
My only gripe with this book is the perspective. It was told from a third person perspective; however, the author tended to switch perspectives within a scene which broke the flow of the atmosphere. That was annoying; as a writer, I do tend to find myself also falling into the trap of omniscient perspective, so it all comes down to a keen eye during the editing phase.
And finally, this isn’t a criticism but rather a personal take on the story-telling.
All in all, Merciless was such a fun story, and the characters were amazing to read about! The plot was well-paced with surprising twists; I could not put this book down! I highly recommend this book for readers who love their fantasy with high stakes, conspiracies, and ruthless characters.
WHAT'S TO LOVE
🌺 A guild of female assassins
🌺 Slow burn romance
🌺 Shady characters and LOTS of backstabbing!
🌺 A hint of paranormal elements
🌺 Awakening deities
🌺 Political and religious motifs
I would like to thank the author, Jacqueline Pawl, for providing me with a review copy. However, this does not affect my review of the book.
I had volunteered to review Merciless as I really liked the premise of an Assassin Guild comprised of women who are referred to as Daughters. This is the classic story of an assassin on a mission to assassinate a nobility but fails to do so because of “complicated feelings.” Pretty straightforward, right?
NOPE!
Although the plot seems straightforward on the surface, Merciless is a story of twists and turns that will leave readers both puzzled and intrigued. There are so many “AHA” moments in this book and while not many of them left me happy, they certainly made the story more interesting.
Merciless is a story about an elf female who belongs to a Guild of Assassins. Seventeen of training under the harshest mistresses and subject to the torment of her sisters due to her being an elf, Mercy dreams of joining the ranks of the fierce Daughters. To be able to become a Daughter, the apprentices take part in a battle once they are seventeen years old, however, Mercy is unable to join as she is two months shy of seventeen. This prompts Mercy to scheme her way into the tournament.
“You do not believe in anything you cannot kill with your sword.”
Mercy as a character is not at all likable. It’s not because I can’t stand her or her character is lacking – rather I found that she was well written as a ruthless and unemotional assassin which made me dislike who she was as a person. And this is the strength of Jacqueline Pawl’s novel. Her characters show complex emotions and battle with moral choices. There’s Callum the charming jerk, Tamriel the kind prince who hates his father, Serenna Elise, the sweet but sharp noble, Elvira the flight elf, and King Ghsylain whose relationship with the Queen and his mistress is far more confusing than hinted at. Mercy is thrust into a world where people are not as single-minded as the assassins she grew up with, not everyone is driven by the motive of success but rather have more confusing motives than Mercy is used to. This new world tests more than just Mercy’s skill with a dagger.
The kingdom of Sandori is strictly hierarchal, every person has a place in the kingdom and remains within it. There are the Kings and Queens, but instead of Lord and Ladies, the author introduces us to the king’s court of Cassisus, Seren and Serennas, and Nadras. Unlike other fantasy stories where elves hold a high standing, in Merciless, the elven race is enslaved. Despite there being a kingdom called Feyndara where an elven queen rules, the rest of the world is divided between the humans and the elves. The classist behaviors between the elves and humans lead to a lot of violence and despite the king’s grief for change, the status quo remains in order to keep the nobilities calm. The book has a lot of political talks giving us insight into the systematic ruling of the land.
“The Guild is my life. I didn’t choose it, didn’t want it for years. But when I stopped fighting it, stopped trying to resist all the ways they were trying to change me, I realized I enjoy it. All the teasing, all the mocking, all the quips about pointy ears and the girl whose parents didn’t want her—they don’t matter in a fight.
I’ll be hated for the work I do—and I’ll love every minute of it.”
The pacing of the book flows well as it moves between tension, humour, mystery, and espionage. I loved how the author was able to balance the character’s backstories and keep pace with the high stakes of the current affairs. As I mentioned before, the book leads us into many twists that raise the stakes of the plot. The twists are placed so well within the storyline, which I thought was very clever of the author as it made it exceptionally hard to put the book down.
My only gripe with this book is the perspective. It was told from a third person perspective; however, the author tended to switch perspectives within a scene which broke the flow of the atmosphere. That was annoying; as a writer, I do tend to find myself also falling into the trap of omniscient perspective, so it all comes down to a keen eye during the editing phase.
And finally, this isn’t a criticism but rather a personal take on the story-telling.
All in all, Merciless was such a fun story, and the characters were amazing to read about! The plot was well-paced with surprising twists; I could not put this book down! I highly recommend this book for readers who love their fantasy with high stakes, conspiracies, and ruthless characters.
WHAT'S TO LOVE
🌺 A guild of female assassins
🌺 Slow burn romance
🌺 Shady characters and LOTS of backstabbing!
🌺 A hint of paranormal elements
🌺 Awakening deities
🌺 Political and religious motifs
I would like to thank the author, Jacqueline Pawl, for providing me with a review copy. However, this does not affect my review of the book.
June 10, 2021
I’m disappointed. Mercy is the kind of character that has so much going on for her that she ends up having nothing at all. The plot is flimsy, which is reinforced by her lack of action. I guess I just expected more from her.
The romance is very bland. Too many coincidences and solutions magically appearing out of nowhere.
The romance is very bland. Too many coincidences and solutions magically appearing out of nowhere.
October 2, 2022
Started to add language and had a few too many inconsistencies in the character. She is an assassin but is caught off guard by someone already in the room?
December 26, 2019
There's a truly well thought out world and story here set in a world that's got a distinctly Dragon Age/Elder Scrolls flavour. There's mystery, intrigue, madness murder; all the basic building blocks of your high fantasy with a gritty edge. But I found it a struggle, not because of the third person present tense but because of the inconsistent and difficult to connect with characters.
Mercy is an elven Assassin-in-training, determined to graduate early because, unlike her sister recruits, she's been raised and trained her entire life instead of being inducted later on. She feels the world owes her, and when a chance comes to pass out of the Guild and into the real world she grabs it with both hands. She's going to kill crown prince Tamriel and gain the respect she deserves from the humans who scorn her. Except not everything in the city is as it seems, and not everyone can be trusted.
The world is awesome. The big, long, epic setup for the quest that will dominate the rest of the series is awesome. No really, it's Dragon Age sans dragons sort of stuff. The third person present tense might put some people off initially, but after a while I realised I was translating it to past tense in my head (weird, but it worked).
But my issue with the characters is what made me enjoy the story less. We're told Mercy is ruthless, but not really shown it - when she does do something bad she immediately reprimands herself or finds a way to fix it. . She's also supposed to be a badass Assassin trained in combat, but doesn't know much about being around other people so her disguising herself act was a bit... odd? How did she know how to act? And how did she get away with it for so long?
Similarly I didn't understand the motivations of the other mains. Tamriel and Ghyslain's relationship remained an enigma. I didn't get why Mercy was insta-friends with Calum, like they'd known each other for years, or why she was frenemies with Faye who was supposedly her BFF. The love interest thing actually did work for me though, given the slow-burn nature
There's so much going on in the end I did find it difficult to make sense of it all. Lots of side characters, some with POVs (I never got them mixed up; the swaps were indicated within a few words), some with similar names, adding in the secondary plot-line and dropping a lot of lore into conversations... In the end I did find the pacing dragging a little. If I'd been more invested in the characters I would have found it much more engrossing, but that confusion around Mercy's "ruthless" reputation despite everything being to the contrary put a bit of a dampener on it for me.
The writing otherwise is solid. Correct grammar, punctuation, everything bar tiny name-based typos. This is an author who checks their work and takes pride in it. While I'm not sure this series is for me (it's tempting to try further installments for the mystery alone), with world-building skills like these I hope to look for her work in future.
Mercy is an elven Assassin-in-training, determined to graduate early because, unlike her sister recruits, she's been raised and trained her entire life instead of being inducted later on. She feels the world owes her, and when a chance comes to pass out of the Guild and into the real world she grabs it with both hands. She's going to kill crown prince Tamriel and gain the respect she deserves from the humans who scorn her. Except not everything in the city is as it seems, and not everyone can be trusted.
The world is awesome. The big, long, epic setup for the quest that will dominate the rest of the series is awesome. No really, it's Dragon Age sans dragons sort of stuff. The third person present tense might put some people off initially, but after a while I realised I was translating it to past tense in my head (weird, but it worked).
But my issue with the characters is what made me enjoy the story less. We're told Mercy is ruthless, but not really shown it - when she does do something bad she immediately reprimands herself or finds a way to fix it. . She's also supposed to be a badass Assassin trained in combat, but doesn't know much about being around other people so her disguising herself act was a bit... odd? How did she know how to act? And how did she get away with it for so long?
Similarly I didn't understand the motivations of the other mains. Tamriel and Ghyslain's relationship remained an enigma. I didn't get why Mercy was insta-friends with Calum, like they'd known each other for years, or why she was frenemies with Faye who was supposedly her BFF. The love interest thing actually did work for me though, given the slow-burn nature
There's so much going on in the end I did find it difficult to make sense of it all. Lots of side characters, some with POVs (I never got them mixed up; the swaps were indicated within a few words), some with similar names, adding in the secondary plot-line and dropping a lot of lore into conversations... In the end I did find the pacing dragging a little. If I'd been more invested in the characters I would have found it much more engrossing, but that confusion around Mercy's "ruthless" reputation despite everything being to the contrary put a bit of a dampener on it for me.
The writing otherwise is solid. Correct grammar, punctuation, everything bar tiny name-based typos. This is an author who checks their work and takes pride in it. While I'm not sure this series is for me (it's tempting to try further installments for the mystery alone), with world-building skills like these I hope to look for her work in future.
May 14, 2019
Mercy has been raised by the Assassins’ Guild. She was given to them when she was just a week old. She has trained, and she has fought – maybe harder than other apprentices, since she is an elf and held in low esteem by humans. More than anything, she wants to be made a Daughter of the Guild. Each year, a Trial is held, in which one apprentice earns her place as a Daughter. Mercy isn’t old enough for this year’s Trial, but at the urging of Calum, she cheats her way in – and wins.
Her first assignment: go to Sandori and kill Prince Tamriel. If Mercy can do this, no doubt her reputation as a Daughter will be secure. But will she succeed?
Jacqueline Pawl builds an intriguing world here. One example: The royal hierarchy includes the usual kings and queens and princes, but also has other ranks, such as Seren. The ranks are alphabetical – the closer your designation is to the beginning of the alphabet, the higher your rank. And in a twist on the usual fantasy, elves are of lower rank and status than humans.
The characters are engaging. There are the ones you love, the ones you hate, and the ones you love to hate (and you can read and figure out which ones fall in each category). Mercy doesn’t start out as the most likable protagonist. She’s very driven and extremely ruthless at the start of the novel. Does she remain so? Tamriel is a prince, but is he a stereotypical self-absorbed royal? Y’all just need to go read.
The book is written in third person present tense, which isn’t what I’m accustomed to. It took a bit to get used to, but it didn’t throw me off so much that I couldn’t enjoy the story. The story started a little slowly, but picked up as I read more. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “un-put-downable”, but once I got into it, I really wanted to know what happened next. It also left things at a spot where I need the next book in the series to see how the story unfolds.
If you enjoy a good fantasy, check out Merciless. There is some violence (there always is, with assassins). Other than that, it’s a pretty clean read – no graphic scenes, not a lot of swear words. It’s got a couple of things that sneak up on you, too. Time to add Heartless (the second in the series) to my TBR pile!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Her first assignment: go to Sandori and kill Prince Tamriel. If Mercy can do this, no doubt her reputation as a Daughter will be secure. But will she succeed?
Jacqueline Pawl builds an intriguing world here. One example: The royal hierarchy includes the usual kings and queens and princes, but also has other ranks, such as Seren. The ranks are alphabetical – the closer your designation is to the beginning of the alphabet, the higher your rank. And in a twist on the usual fantasy, elves are of lower rank and status than humans.
The characters are engaging. There are the ones you love, the ones you hate, and the ones you love to hate (and you can read and figure out which ones fall in each category). Mercy doesn’t start out as the most likable protagonist. She’s very driven and extremely ruthless at the start of the novel. Does she remain so? Tamriel is a prince, but is he a stereotypical self-absorbed royal? Y’all just need to go read.
The book is written in third person present tense, which isn’t what I’m accustomed to. It took a bit to get used to, but it didn’t throw me off so much that I couldn’t enjoy the story. The story started a little slowly, but picked up as I read more. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “un-put-downable”, but once I got into it, I really wanted to know what happened next. It also left things at a spot where I need the next book in the series to see how the story unfolds.
If you enjoy a good fantasy, check out Merciless. There is some violence (there always is, with assassins). Other than that, it’s a pretty clean read – no graphic scenes, not a lot of swear words. It’s got a couple of things that sneak up on you, too. Time to add Heartless (the second in the series) to my TBR pile!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
February 20, 2019
Fast paced and packed with intrigue, this book binds to the pages and doesn't let go.
Mercy is an assassin through and through. Shortly after her birth, she was given to the Guild and raised with only one purpose in mind. Her heart and her soul belong to the Guild, and she's more than capable at what she does. The only draw back is that she's an elf. Bullied and mistreated by the others, she carries more scars than the rest, but also loads more determination. When she tricks her way through the Trials and receives her first contract, she's sure nothing will keep her from killing her target. But as she waits for the right moment, other secrets unfold, and she realizes much more than a life hang at the mercy of her actions. She holds the entire kingdom's fate in her hands.
Boredom is not a word to describe this read. Mercy is merciless and ruthless to a fault. She can't wait to fulfill her duty as an assassin and is more than capable at handling her job. Raised with only the assassin's life before her eyes, her attitude is logical and realistic, but it makes her difficult to like. While she is very engaging to follow, I found myself hoping she'd realize her mistakes and change. In other words, character arc is big in these pages. The other characters are also easy to fit into categories of like or dislike...until the intrigue sets in. There are many twists, subplots and turns which make this a novel packed to the gills. While some are wrapped up nicely, others hold loose ends, which hopefully, will come around in the next books.
This is not a book easily set down. Every page holds something new and draws in. The scene descriptions sit, and there's a wonderful balance between dialogue, action, and intrigue. Fans of Game of Thrones will enjoy this tale. The only thing I found a little difficult was the narrative form. It took several pages to settle into and even then, kept a distance to Mercy and the Prince. While both were interesting and engaging, the complete connection wasn't there, and it felt more like watching them play out their roles. Even with this, I couldn't put the book down and am eagerly waiting to see what the next book in the series will bring.
I received a complimentary copy and found myself caught up into the pages until the very end.
Mercy is an assassin through and through. Shortly after her birth, she was given to the Guild and raised with only one purpose in mind. Her heart and her soul belong to the Guild, and she's more than capable at what she does. The only draw back is that she's an elf. Bullied and mistreated by the others, she carries more scars than the rest, but also loads more determination. When she tricks her way through the Trials and receives her first contract, she's sure nothing will keep her from killing her target. But as she waits for the right moment, other secrets unfold, and she realizes much more than a life hang at the mercy of her actions. She holds the entire kingdom's fate in her hands.
Boredom is not a word to describe this read. Mercy is merciless and ruthless to a fault. She can't wait to fulfill her duty as an assassin and is more than capable at handling her job. Raised with only the assassin's life before her eyes, her attitude is logical and realistic, but it makes her difficult to like. While she is very engaging to follow, I found myself hoping she'd realize her mistakes and change. In other words, character arc is big in these pages. The other characters are also easy to fit into categories of like or dislike...until the intrigue sets in. There are many twists, subplots and turns which make this a novel packed to the gills. While some are wrapped up nicely, others hold loose ends, which hopefully, will come around in the next books.
This is not a book easily set down. Every page holds something new and draws in. The scene descriptions sit, and there's a wonderful balance between dialogue, action, and intrigue. Fans of Game of Thrones will enjoy this tale. The only thing I found a little difficult was the narrative form. It took several pages to settle into and even then, kept a distance to Mercy and the Prince. While both were interesting and engaging, the complete connection wasn't there, and it felt more like watching them play out their roles. Even with this, I couldn't put the book down and am eagerly waiting to see what the next book in the series will bring.
I received a complimentary copy and found myself caught up into the pages until the very end.
January 22, 2019
Mercy wants nothing more than to be an Assassin, instead of just the initiate she has been for the last 17 years- her whole life, unlike the girls who are given the opportunity to test this year to be an Assassin. When Mercy gets the opportunity to participate in the competition, completely against the rules, she leaps at it with no regard for the consequences. What comes next is a dangerous mission that Mercy may actually come to regret taking part in because not everything is as it appears.
I have a total case of cover love going on here, it is just so gorgeous and I love it! I am interested to see what the next book in the series will have on the cover because I am a total cover snob.
There was a definite Throne of Glass meets The Lord of the Rings feel for me here. We have an abandoned girl training her whole life for this one (terrible, unethical?) goal of being an assassin, willing to do anything to achieve it. The world itself felt like an epic fantasy with elves and adventure, and a life altering (shattering?) quest. I will admit that I had a rocky start with Merciless, I had a hard time getting into the book for at least the first fourth. I was learning about the world right during the middle of a huge event for the Assassin's Guild, while trying to understand the guild AND get to know Mercy- I was overwhelmed and confused. It made it hard for me to connect to Mercy as a person since I did not know if I should root for her or want to hate her. Once I fully understood what was going on I was able to get invested in the story and all the twists and turns Mercy took. Even if I did not always agree with her choices, I cared about Mercy and her well being.
Side note here- I really loved Calum. When I first met him I thought he would be a great love interest for Mercy but then their relationship evolved into a snarky banter, almost as if they were siblings or life long friends and I liked the change between them.
The ending of the story was most certainly not the end but the beginning of more danger and hard choices for Mercy. I would love to see what happens next!
I have a total case of cover love going on here, it is just so gorgeous and I love it! I am interested to see what the next book in the series will have on the cover because I am a total cover snob.
There was a definite Throne of Glass meets The Lord of the Rings feel for me here. We have an abandoned girl training her whole life for this one (terrible, unethical?) goal of being an assassin, willing to do anything to achieve it. The world itself felt like an epic fantasy with elves and adventure, and a life altering (shattering?) quest. I will admit that I had a rocky start with Merciless, I had a hard time getting into the book for at least the first fourth. I was learning about the world right during the middle of a huge event for the Assassin's Guild, while trying to understand the guild AND get to know Mercy- I was overwhelmed and confused. It made it hard for me to connect to Mercy as a person since I did not know if I should root for her or want to hate her. Once I fully understood what was going on I was able to get invested in the story and all the twists and turns Mercy took. Even if I did not always agree with her choices, I cared about Mercy and her well being.
Side note here- I really loved Calum. When I first met him I thought he would be a great love interest for Mercy but then their relationship evolved into a snarky banter, almost as if they were siblings or life long friends and I liked the change between them.
The ending of the story was most certainly not the end but the beginning of more danger and hard choices for Mercy. I would love to see what happens next!
January 11, 2019
*I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for a fair, honest review.*
I have quite a lot to say about this book (some good, some bad). I have tried to keep it relatively spoiler-free, but there are characters I will talk on a lot and some plot lines I'm going to dive into.
First, here's the things I liked:
- I think that Mercy, contrary to some other ARC reviews, is actually a really solid character. I understand where her motivations lie and she is very kick-ass. I understand that she can be a little bland sometimes, but in general, I like her sassy attitude.
- The plot was introduced quickly. I'm really sick of books where you have to wait forever for something to happen, and I promise you that does not happen with this book. It's fast paced.
- The concept of a Guild is not original, necessarily, but it is written well here. There's a strong female feel and I think the 'school' system itself works.
Now for some of the things I didn't enjoy. Spoilers from here on in:
- The ending did not surprise me. Calum's behaviour right at the start of the book made it pretty clear that his intentions were not good, and therefore I was unsurprised by his 'betrayal' at the end.
- I feel like this book is a little long for the plot. Yes - I love big books, truly. But there was a whole chunk where I found myself scimming pages. I think it couldn't been shortened.
- Above all else, the third person narration bewildered me. For a while, at least, it was difficult to read: there are changes in perspective and suddenly you don't know which character you're viewing. It makes me wonder if this book ever hit and Beta Readers?
Anyhow - I don't regret reading this book. It's a really nice take on a YA Fantasy with just the right amount of girl power in it. If you enjoyed Throne of Glass, this is something you could consider reading. But it wasn't completely for me.
I have quite a lot to say about this book (some good, some bad). I have tried to keep it relatively spoiler-free, but there are characters I will talk on a lot and some plot lines I'm going to dive into.
First, here's the things I liked:
- I think that Mercy, contrary to some other ARC reviews, is actually a really solid character. I understand where her motivations lie and she is very kick-ass. I understand that she can be a little bland sometimes, but in general, I like her sassy attitude.
- The plot was introduced quickly. I'm really sick of books where you have to wait forever for something to happen, and I promise you that does not happen with this book. It's fast paced.
- The concept of a Guild is not original, necessarily, but it is written well here. There's a strong female feel and I think the 'school' system itself works.
Now for some of the things I didn't enjoy. Spoilers from here on in:
- The ending did not surprise me. Calum's behaviour right at the start of the book made it pretty clear that his intentions were not good, and therefore I was unsurprised by his 'betrayal' at the end.
- I feel like this book is a little long for the plot. Yes - I love big books, truly. But there was a whole chunk where I found myself scimming pages. I think it couldn't been shortened.
- Above all else, the third person narration bewildered me. For a while, at least, it was difficult to read: there are changes in perspective and suddenly you don't know which character you're viewing. It makes me wonder if this book ever hit and Beta Readers?
Anyhow - I don't regret reading this book. It's a really nice take on a YA Fantasy with just the right amount of girl power in it. If you enjoyed Throne of Glass, this is something you could consider reading. But it wasn't completely for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
The concept of this book spoke to me, I love stories like that! Strong female character that can kick some ass, a fantasy world that sucks you right in and a bit of mystery to make everything even more climactic. And I have to say, "Merciless" was an interesting adventure, although not perfect.
My biggest problems are the main character and some rules of the world (but about them a bit later). I was a bit dissapoined with Marcy, going into the book I imagined her as the biggest badass there is – that's what blurb leads us to think – and she wasn't. That didn't take away the fun from reading though! It's just not... what I expected. The rest of characters I found really interesting, with Prince Tamriel on top.
As for my other problem with the book, the main reason why I couldn't rate it 5/5, some things in this world don't make sense to me. Maybe it's because I live in a country where learing about Middle Ages was a huge part of my history education, but it doesn't change the fact that monarchy (or the Assassins' Guild) just would never work like it does in the book.
Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed "Merciless"! If you stop being too focused on the rules of politics in such realities, you can have a lot of fun. There is no time for boredom, so much is happening! The mystery Mercy is slowly trying to solve is quite capturing and made me wanna keep reading. And use of the present tense made it even quicker for me to read with all my attention focused on the story.
I'm looking forward to the second book, "Heartless", and finding out more about Marcy's adventures. There is plenty of space for the author's development, so hopefully next book will be even better. It's an interesting read, perfect for some time off. And if you are a fan of "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas you just might find this book worth a while! :D
My biggest problems are the main character and some rules of the world (but about them a bit later). I was a bit dissapoined with Marcy, going into the book I imagined her as the biggest badass there is – that's what blurb leads us to think – and she wasn't. That didn't take away the fun from reading though! It's just not... what I expected. The rest of characters I found really interesting, with Prince Tamriel on top.
As for my other problem with the book, the main reason why I couldn't rate it 5/5, some things in this world don't make sense to me. Maybe it's because I live in a country where learing about Middle Ages was a huge part of my history education, but it doesn't change the fact that monarchy (or the Assassins' Guild) just would never work like it does in the book.
Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed "Merciless"! If you stop being too focused on the rules of politics in such realities, you can have a lot of fun. There is no time for boredom, so much is happening! The mystery Mercy is slowly trying to solve is quite capturing and made me wanna keep reading. And use of the present tense made it even quicker for me to read with all my attention focused on the story.
I'm looking forward to the second book, "Heartless", and finding out more about Marcy's adventures. There is plenty of space for the author's development, so hopefully next book will be even better. It's an interesting read, perfect for some time off. And if you are a fan of "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas you just might find this book worth a while! :D
March 24, 2022
If you are looking to read a coming of age assassin romance featuring a strong female lead prevailing in the face of prejudice with plenty of political intrigue and backstabbing - this book has all that and more. What is is missing though, is a dose of gritty reality. Everything is Star Trek squeaky clean and shiny and I know that is a bad analogy for fantasy but it truly is the rose colored glasses version of so many issues dealt with in this book. While I thought it was a great book, Mercy's compassionate actions and thought processes never matched the background she had been given. It is a sweet fantasy escapism version of this type of story - not the gritty, cruel realism I was expecting from the description.
Pawl has a lot of potential as a writer, and I think as she gets older and has more life experience she will write some incredible books; this one is not quite there yet. This is a highly structured book, almost reads as a serial, in fact, another author might have released it in 4 parts, it is that clearly delineated. Each section has a clearly defined conflict arc and resolution that ends in a huge twist leading to the next section (or a teaser for book 2 at the end). Despite the highly scholastic format, there is a lot of heart and soul in this book and the characters truly do come to life in the various sections where they play a role. I also suspect Pawl might have been a touch surprised by some of the twists herself as the book could have used a touch more foreshadowing or continuity in places.
For all my above mentioned quibbles, I really did enjoy the storytelling and am intrigued to see where the story will go next.
Pawl has a lot of potential as a writer, and I think as she gets older and has more life experience she will write some incredible books; this one is not quite there yet. This is a highly structured book, almost reads as a serial, in fact, another author might have released it in 4 parts, it is that clearly delineated. Each section has a clearly defined conflict arc and resolution that ends in a huge twist leading to the next section (or a teaser for book 2 at the end). Despite the highly scholastic format, there is a lot of heart and soul in this book and the characters truly do come to life in the various sections where they play a role. I also suspect Pawl might have been a touch surprised by some of the twists herself as the book could have used a touch more foreshadowing or continuity in places.
For all my above mentioned quibbles, I really did enjoy the storytelling and am intrigued to see where the story will go next.
December 28, 2018
Even better than it sounds!
This is a really good book. The writing was wonderful and I never had a moment that I couldn't vividly see in my mind as I followed Mercy through the entanglements and adventures of the assassin's life. It's easy to understand and like Mercy but I do have to say that for a person who's supposed to have been raised as a contract killer she seems ill suited for the task. She's too curious and has a ingrained, instinctual need to impact the the movements around her. Being a healer would've been the perfect calling for her, but alas, a healer named Mercy is just to obvious I suppose..yes, an assassin named Mercy (named by a "mother assassin) seems appropriate, doesn't it? *Rolls eyes* I'm hoping that in the future books there's some type of personal joke or unknown prophecy revealed so as to explain why Mercy was given such an ironic name. And with that being said it's probably unnecessary to further say that I enjoyed this book and I plan on continuing the series but I suppose it must be said so that there's no possiblity of confusion about my opinion and recommendation.
So ya, I enjoyed this book and plan on continuing the series and I recommend this book to you, fellow reader who's interested enough to read all the way down to this part of the review rather than just skimming the first few lines like most people do. If you're that interested in what's being said about this book to read this far then you should just stop wasting your time and buy it so you can spend your extra time reading it.
This is a really good book. The writing was wonderful and I never had a moment that I couldn't vividly see in my mind as I followed Mercy through the entanglements and adventures of the assassin's life. It's easy to understand and like Mercy but I do have to say that for a person who's supposed to have been raised as a contract killer she seems ill suited for the task. She's too curious and has a ingrained, instinctual need to impact the the movements around her. Being a healer would've been the perfect calling for her, but alas, a healer named Mercy is just to obvious I suppose..yes, an assassin named Mercy (named by a "mother assassin) seems appropriate, doesn't it? *Rolls eyes* I'm hoping that in the future books there's some type of personal joke or unknown prophecy revealed so as to explain why Mercy was given such an ironic name. And with that being said it's probably unnecessary to further say that I enjoyed this book and I plan on continuing the series but I suppose it must be said so that there's no possiblity of confusion about my opinion and recommendation.
So ya, I enjoyed this book and plan on continuing the series and I recommend this book to you, fellow reader who's interested enough to read all the way down to this part of the review rather than just skimming the first few lines like most people do. If you're that interested in what's being said about this book to read this far then you should just stop wasting your time and buy it so you can spend your extra time reading it.
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