I am Mercy

by Mandi Lynn

Imagine living in a world that looks at you as a curse.

In 14th century France, Aida is accused of being a witch when the Black Death wipes through her village. Abandoned by her family, she is surrounded by death and disease, but when a woman who may actually be a witch tells her how to cure the plague, it may mean uncovering a dark magic. But if that means being able to save those you love, wouldn't you do it? Even if they didn't love you back?

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

380 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2015

About the author

Mandi Lynn published her first novel when she was seventeen. The author of multiple books, Mandi spends her days continuing to write and create YouTube videos to help other writers achieve their dreams of seeing their books published. Mandi is the owner of Stone Ridge Books, a company that works to help authors bring their books to life through cover design and digital book marketing. She is also the creator of The Book Launch Planner Series, a collection of planners designed to help authors write, publish and market their books. When she’s not creating, you can find Mandi exploring her backyard or getting lost in the woods.

Reviews

[Pamela]

I Am Mercy by Mandi Lynn

Rating: 4.3

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Young Adult Romance

Imagine living every day, knowing your family doesn’t love you. Imagine living a life in a world that looks at you as a curse. In 14th century France Aida is accused of being a witch when the Black Death wipes through her village. Abandoned by her family she is surrounded by death and disease, but when a woman who may actually be a witch tells her how to cure the plague it may mean uncovering a dark magic. But if that means being able to save those you love, wouldn’t you do it? Even if they didn’t love you back? (Goodreads blurb)

Characters: Aida de Luna, poses as the strong female lead character. Throughout the story, she experiences many hardships, and ends up falling in love with a boy named, Garren. He shapes the way Aida thinks and inspires her to be optimistic and act courageous when the going gets rough. Her best friend, for the majority of the book, is Hadley, who has a heart of gold, keeping Aida constantly questioning the boundaries of love and mercy.

After reading I Am Mercy, it’s hard not feel a sense of catharsis. Mandi has a special way of capturing emotion within her characters. She makes them grip tight onto a feeling and never let go—even at the end. And when a character seems so human, it’s impossible to put a book down.

Plot: The book is separated into four parts. Each part tells a portion of Aida’s past from her early life in Marseilles, France (1343), to the present. The book’s pacing went smoothly. I didn’t feel the need to rush reading chapters. The story’s characters also had great chemistry, really making me feel attached to them.

I definitely saw improvement and growth in maturity in Mandi’s writing style, since the publication of her first book at the age of sixteen. Her language usage is a lot more sophisticated and descriptive. I also noted that there was a much better balance between the amount of description and dialogue in I Am Mercy, unlike Mandi’s last book, Essence, which in my opinion, didn’t have enough dialogue, and a little too much description.

My favorite part was when Aida escaped her parents’ home near the beginning of the story. They treated her horribly. I mean who despises their own daughter just for having different colored eyes? That’s ludicrous! How Aida conquered still amazes me.

Cover Analysis: The I Am Mercy cover resembles a significant scene inside the book. I don’t want to spoil it for everyone, but right after the scene in the picture happens, Aida’s whole world drastically changes. Be prepared for that high tide!

Key Notes: Make sure you know exactly what the Black Plague is in history before reading I Am Mercy. You’ll understand Aida’s POV and the mindsets of her family members.

Overall: I loved reading this book. However, I saw A LOT of similarities between Essence and I Am Mercy. Hopefully the next book Mandi writes, has a different approach towards the plot. The conflict felt unclear and stagnant at some points.

[D.A. Paul]

I was given a copy of I Am Mercy from Mandi Lynn, and I’m so happy I got a chance to check it out before it was published. I loved the time and setting Mandi chose for this book. It was dark, depressing, and perfect for anyone wanting to delve into a little historical fiction during Halloween. Though this book wasn’t super gory by any means, my favorite part was the plague and sickness. It’s such a fascinating piece of history and I love how she incorporated it into the story.

[chloe]

*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*


This book was amazing. I’m not even kidding. I have read some really good books this year and this book deserves a place in the top five. This was the first book I have read by Mandi Lynn and probably won’t be the last. I plan to jump to Amazon and purchase Essence, her début novel.

I Am Mercy is one of the most unique books I’ve read. It has a unique plot, beautiful writing and some killer sentences that will knock you for six. I will admit that it took me a while to get into the book. It started off a tad too slow for my liking but I powered through. And I’m glad I did. I can’t get over how good this book is.

The plot is just pure quality. I can’t say I’ve come across anything like it. It was beautiful but it was also sad. I couldn’t put it down. That’s I lie. I did put it down, as I reached for tissues. Some of the scenes were brutal, in a good way. All of my emotions came into play while reading and I am shocked by how affected I was. There were times where it was like I was Aida, or Luna as she prefers to be called.

Luna was just… My heart broke for her. From being cast out by her family, to losing the only person who truly understood her, she went through a lot. I just wanted to wrap the girl in cotton wool and take her away from the horrors of the world. It was heart-breaking to watch her go through all these things. Even when I thought she would be okay and all would be well, the rug was ripped from under me and my illusion was shattered. It was like I could feel what she was feeling.

Which brings me to this.

The concept of this book. Freaking wow. I had read the synopsis maybe twice before I decided to apply for an ARC. I fell in love with it before reading it. The only reason it doesn’t have five stars is because of the slow start. But in all fairness to the author, she more than makes for it. Actually, I’m giving the book five stars.

FIVE STARS!

It more than deserves it.

If there is one thing I love more than anything in this book it’s the writing style. The writing is so beautiful I want to cry. The way Lynn describes the lagoon, Tiboulain, just freaking everything, was so vivid. She brought to life lovely images and colours in just a few words. I am in awe of her ability to create amazing descriptions and make them alive inside the minds of her readers.

Once again I have found an amazing book. How many is that this year? A lot.

I can’t get over how good this book was. I don’t think I ever will. I am highly anticipating her next release. I pray that there’s a sequel but to be honest I don’t really care if there isn’t. I know it will blow me away either way.

[Amanda Grace]

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The plot and story line were refreshingly new compared to anything else I've been reading lately. I would recommend this book to everyone!

With that being said, the beginning of the book was a bit slow for me. It wasn't until about halfway through the book that I actually began to really enjoy it. However, once I reached the point that I did begin to enjoy it, it was very good. :)

[Athena Pleek]

Mandi Lynn at her best.

[Julia]

This was a great book! I loved how fast paced this was. I enjoy reading short chapters so because of how short the chapters were, I was able to get through it fast. Ada De Luna's past is so heartbreaking. Her family was so cruel to her and it was all because of the color of her eyes. I wished that Garren would have come back for her. I am hoping in Essence he will return because I want to see their relationship work out.

[Lady Elizabeth]

I got an ARC of this book and when I did my reaction was... crazy



I can't explain how much I loved this book even if it's not in my general genre because it's not a romance novel... sadly, because if it was... *breath deeply*

I was surprise to see how great it was, why? Because Mandi it's so young that I was a little worry but this girl... ohhhh... this girl know what she is talking about.

The story suck me in from the first moment and I just couldn't put it down until it was done and I cry... I am a cry baby but damn it... I cry and I remember I send a voice message to one of my best friends telling her (crying) how amazing this book was and how I needed more!

The characters were well thought out in my opinion and Mandi did her homework with the historical facts because I felt like I was living the things that Luna went thru and I just... I have to say it though...

I WANT MORE GARREN!!!!

Full Review on my Blog:
[Book Review] I Am Mercy by Mandi Lynn

[Vanessa]

This book had me in tears. Seriously. Essence made me bawl my eyes out so I was mentally ready this time and reading went a little better than the last time.

I found there was alot of confusing parts, I didn't really know what was happening sometimes, but I don't know if that's just me?

Overall the writing was beautiful, you can tell Mandi has grown alot since writing Essence and I can't wait to read more stories from her.

[Ryan]

I gotta say, Mandi Lynn outdid herself once again. I have read her first book, Essence and I genuinely enjoyed it. I Am Mercy was just as excellent. I read each chapter and am spellbound. I don't wanna give anything away to those who have read it, but if you've read Essence and loved it, you'll really enjoy I Am Mercy for sure.

[J.L. Willow]

What a beautiful story! I absolutely love Lynn's writing style. Her storytelling is effortless, and she definitely knows how to pull on a reader's heartstrings. I loved how each of the characters interacted with each other, building upon their personalities and character arcs. I can't wait to see what she does next!

[Amy Rosenfeldt]

Here's the biggest problem with the book, and it isn't even what's written in it. It's the blurb and the way it was marketed. I was promised a story about a girl becoming a witch and curing the Black Plague and I didn't get that. Read more here: https://amy-rosenfeldt.com/i-am-mercy/

[Geri]

Sad.

[Jennifer]

Family members die, she dies, a rape victim dies, a baby dies, a girl dies... this book has so much potential. Nothing funny, uplifting, or heartwarming. After 250 pages, I am putting it down.

[Becca Smith]

I found this book through following Mandi Lynn’s YouTube channel and I’m so glad I did! I am Mercy is very well written. The prose is almost poetic in its style.

I really like how the author dealt with the concept of immortality. I’m personally obsessed with immortality, but Mandi made me think of things I hadn’t thought of before. I really love it when books can do that!

I also love how the first part of the book really delves into what it would actually be like to live during the Black Death. It was heartbreaking and gruesome. Then the book veered more toward the fantasy side, but I loved how Mandi still kept the style and character portrayals consistent. Going from ‘real’ to ‘fantasy’ can be tricky sometimes, but Mandi accomplished this flawlessly.

If you’re looking for an intriguing and entertaining historical fiction, this book is definitely for you!

[Catalina Paris]

This book needs more accurate marketing. It is not a story of a girl learning magic to cure the plague, it is a story of a girl who dies and becomes a ghost. The blurb is misleading. The witch doesn't tell her how to cure anything, unless you think death is a cure for death. I feel tricked just like the main character is. It should also say somewhere that this is actually a prequel to Essence.

There are huge problems with the blurb and the way this book is marketed.
“Tells her how to cure the plague” no she doesn’t. She tells her to go to the island where she dies and becomes a ghost. “Being able to save those you love” she didn’t learn to save anyone, she died.

There’s no real plot or connecting storyline, just a series of unrelated events as she experiences life as a spirit watching others, many of whom die in sad circumstances.
The writing itself is fine, but the inaccurate marketing is very misleading, and the lack of a solid story are turnoffs for me.

A more accurate blurb would explain that this is largely the story of a girl who dies and becomes a spirit observing the tragedy of human life. NOT using magic to cure the plague.

[Christina Hannan]

I quite enjoyed this book. While I would’ve loved to see more of the beginning and explore the world of 14th century France a bit more, I thought the plot was intriguing and the characters sympathetic. It’s a book that questions what it is to be human and what life after death potentially looks like.

It was an easy read that was quick to settle into and easy to follow along with. While sometimes I did feel like it dragged, it picked up slowly when Hadley was introduced and that kept my interest. Overall, I’d say it’s a good book and is worth picking up if a YA dark fantasy surrounding the idea of spirits, their powers and the afterlife are your jam.

[Mickey]

Intense

This book was amazing! The settings and character development. I don’t often read historical fiction, but I follow the author in youtube- Mandi creates a world that is so different then the living one. She captures so much feeling and intent a d it makes you question even your own world.

This book made me realize how important character development is in a story. It spans years and Mandi has captured the changes the world has gone perfectly.

Its a good one- your should read!

[Jeffrey]

Let me start off by saying that I did enjoy this book. I found the characters well developed and I felt for Aida de Luna. However, the story was very slow going and I wasn't really sure what the point of the story was at times. It wasn't until I thought a little harder that I realized that this is a prequel to Mandi Lynn's first story, Essence. Once I figured that out it really helped me by answering some questions that Essence left me with. I truly enjoyed the story and would recommend this to anyone who liked Essence.

[Peighton Weber]

It was a great book with excellent writing/imagery and a beautifully emotional story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The only reason I am not giving it five stars is because the story itself only followed the synopsis to a certain point and then went in a completely different direction. While it was a beautiful story, I do wish that it hadn't had such a drastic plot change that was not mentioned in the synopsis.

[Tabatha Shipley]

What I Loved:
-The concept of living forever at a price.
-The focus on love in various forms.
-The scene descriptions are well written, Mandi writes like a poet!

Who Should Read This One:
-People who are into stories about the afterlife (or who could be)
-People who love stories about love

For full review visit https://youtu.be/C1BWsbGxyes

[Payton Balog]

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I thought it would be which was a good thing. It's very emotional and sad but fascinating.

[Hannah Schuessler]

I just have a few things to say about this book, even if my thoughts are all over the place...

First off, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of historical fiction that this book had. Mandi Lynn did a great job depicting the time period of the book, (1343, France) and I found it all to be very believable. (In a good way).

Now On To Other Things...

My heart just broke for Aida, when I learned what she was going through, and how her family didn't love her and instead just casted her aside. My heart broke for her, and continued to break for her the whole way through the book. She knew that the world around her was dying when the pestilence hit, and that made me feel for her a lot.

I thought it was interesting how when she woke up in the lake of Tiboulain, she found out that she's been gone for over four-houndred years.

I thought the concept of an Essence was intriguing, and how Aida later finds out that Essences have different powers was also interesting to read. There was also the part how Aida told the other people who became an Essence, not to refer to themselves as dead, but only an Essence. And I thought the thing with the stones and how they continued a person's soul was interesting too.

I noticed that days, years, and centuries flew by quickly in this book, but I personally found it a bit weird for time to have passed by that quickly. But I enjoyed it, nonetheless.

And most of all, I wanted Garren and Aida to be together so badly, and when they were separated, I had high hopes of him finding her so that they could be together again. I want more Garren!

I found all the concepts of this book to be very interesting. Overall, the pacing of the novel was good, and I liked how there weren't any slow parts.

I will admit, this book wasn't my favorite, but I still did really enjoy it. I'm usually bad at writing book reviews, but I hope that this review was good enough. I needed to get some of my thoughts out there for this review.

Even though I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't my favorite, I still give it four stars. It was good, after all, and I did like the writing style of this book. I would also recommend it to those who haven't read it, if you're in the mood for historical fiction.

[Ryan Slattery]

I am Mercy is Mandi Lynn's second book and is tied to her first book, Essence. It's centered around a similar concept as Essence - that some persons, by a mystical process become "essences," who inhabit but are not really part of the physical world. They are eternal and trapped and must find their value in that state.

What I liked:
Mandi is excellent at painting a scene. The places all felt vivid and real - especially her description of France during the black plague. There was an early dream sequence that captured the feeling of the dream state that was probably my favorite part of the book.
I also liked the themes present in the first 1/4 of the book. I had never really felt the despair (and hope) of people living in during the black plague, but Mandi captures it extremely well. It was both disturbing and philosophically interesting. My favorite scene in this category involves a young boy, but I'll say no more.

What missed the mark for me:
The book felt like it was confused as to its tone. This could have been on purpose as the book is divided into four "books," so this criticism could be moot, except its related to the next point.
My largest frustration with I am Mercy was that the main character never seemed to have a overarching goal that spanned the four "books." I wanted to see her be more proactive. Here are my recommendations
-----SPOILERS AHEAD------

Book 1: I wanted to see Aida try to find a way to prove to her family she was not a witch. This would have given her something to do.
Book 2: I would've liked to see Aida struggle to find a way to become human again. May seek out Mystral for help or revenge?
Book 3 and 4: I wasn't sure why Aida didn't try to find a way to get back to Garren. She resigned herself to the fact that she couldn't, but I was unclear on why.

-----SPOILERS END------

If you are a fan of Mandi's first book, I think you'll enjoy this one even more. If you're looking for a protagonist who drives the story, you may have to look elsewhere.

[Henry]

I loved the gripping intensity of the book.
I loved how the fantasy mixed with the historical content of superstitions.

[Braxton Stewart]

This book was amazing! It had a great plot great characters! I loved it so much