heabooknerd's review
3.0
When I first saw the premise for BLOOD MERCY I was intrigued, though I admit I was intimidated by the page length. With an incredibly detailed and complex world and slow building forbidden romance, BLOOD MERCY was a good read but the pacing didn't fully work for me. However, while this didn't fully connect for me I do feel like a lot of readers would love this one, especially if you like to really sink down and marinate into a book's world, politics, and history.
As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Tenebra, Cassia knows she shouldn't be seeking out one of the Hesperine diplomats in Tenebra for peace talks, but once she meets Lio she can't stay away. The more time Lio spends with Cassia under the cover of darkness the more he desires her, in both body and blood, but their meetings go against all the rules and if they're found out, it could mean death.
The first 50% of BLOOD MERCY is very slow and very long and while I appreciated the attention to detail and the immersive world building it moved too slow for me. The best way I can describe it is that stuff was happening but because there's no sense of urgency to any of the characters' actions or thoughts it feels like nothing is happening. It just ends up being a lot of conversations between Cassia and Lio, or Lio and the embassy, or Cassia and the mages of Kyria. These conversations build a lot of the history of Tenebra and especially the Hesperines but with no pressures or deadlines the tension was gone.
That being said, I did like both Lio and Cassia as characters and I thought the Hesperines and their culture was really cool. Hesperines are basically like vampires, they need blood to survive and they live forever, but Hesperines are infinitely peaceful and gentle. Their biggest concern is healing and helping humans and when needed, providing the Gift so that those who are dying can live forever. Of course many humans think they're monsters so their history with the human kingdoms is fraught with problems and distrust. Lio is young for a Hesperine (only 88) and this is his first mission as an initiate ambassador; I liked Lio's selflessness and his genuine care for all those around him. He's a good match for Cassia because he respects her in ways she's not used to as the King's illegitimate daughter and his kindness wins her over. As the book goes on we see Cassia grow into herself and find her voice and this was probably one of the highlights of BLOOD MERCY for me. I enjoyed her growing confidence and her realizations that there were people willing to help her if she just reached out. I can tell Cassia is going to become a force to be reckoned with.
Once the book hits 50% it starts to pick up in pace and the romance between Cassia and Lio really starts to build. Vela Roth does a fantastic job expressing all the emotions involved; between Lio's hunger for Cassia's blood and Cassia's newly discovered desires, the intimacy between these two is very sensually written. It's a lot of emotions and desires and cravings and it really sweeps the reader into the moment. It takes a while to get there, but I think BLOOD MERCY really starts to shine in the second half. The last 25% comes in like a wrecking ball and everything starts to happen. It almost felt like a different book because suddenly things were happening, plots were being uncovered, schemes were being made and everything was culminating in a possible fight between the humans and the Hesperines. I will make a quick note that this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and Cassia and Lio's story is only just beginning.
This was a hard review to put together because even though it didn't fully land for me I do think BLOOD MERCY was an impressive fantasy romance with a lot to enjoy if you're willing to dedicate the time to it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who love forbidden romance, deep world building, and slower paced plots with lots of room to develop.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: on page anxiety and near panic attacks; recounting of Cassia's sister and mother dying; threats of rape directed at Cassia; recounting and references to women being harassed and raped; cliffhanger ending
As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Tenebra, Cassia knows she shouldn't be seeking out one of the Hesperine diplomats in Tenebra for peace talks, but once she meets Lio she can't stay away. The more time Lio spends with Cassia under the cover of darkness the more he desires her, in both body and blood, but their meetings go against all the rules and if they're found out, it could mean death.
The first 50% of BLOOD MERCY is very slow and very long and while I appreciated the attention to detail and the immersive world building it moved too slow for me. The best way I can describe it is that stuff was happening but because there's no sense of urgency to any of the characters' actions or thoughts it feels like nothing is happening. It just ends up being a lot of conversations between Cassia and Lio, or Lio and the embassy, or Cassia and the mages of Kyria. These conversations build a lot of the history of Tenebra and especially the Hesperines but with no pressures or deadlines the tension was gone.
That being said, I did like both Lio and Cassia as characters and I thought the Hesperines and their culture was really cool. Hesperines are basically like vampires, they need blood to survive and they live forever, but Hesperines are infinitely peaceful and gentle. Their biggest concern is healing and helping humans and when needed, providing the Gift so that those who are dying can live forever. Of course many humans think they're monsters so their history with the human kingdoms is fraught with problems and distrust. Lio is young for a Hesperine (only 88) and this is his first mission as an initiate ambassador; I liked Lio's selflessness and his genuine care for all those around him. He's a good match for Cassia because he respects her in ways she's not used to as the King's illegitimate daughter and his kindness wins her over. As the book goes on we see Cassia grow into herself and find her voice and this was probably one of the highlights of BLOOD MERCY for me. I enjoyed her growing confidence and her realizations that there were people willing to help her if she just reached out. I can tell Cassia is going to become a force to be reckoned with.
Once the book hits 50% it starts to pick up in pace and the romance between Cassia and Lio really starts to build. Vela Roth does a fantastic job expressing all the emotions involved; between Lio's hunger for Cassia's blood and Cassia's newly discovered desires, the intimacy between these two is very sensually written. It's a lot of emotions and desires and cravings and it really sweeps the reader into the moment. It takes a while to get there, but I think BLOOD MERCY really starts to shine in the second half. The last 25% comes in like a wrecking ball and everything starts to happen. It almost felt like a different book because suddenly things were happening, plots were being uncovered, schemes were being made and everything was culminating in a possible fight between the humans and the Hesperines. I will make a quick note that this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and Cassia and Lio's story is only just beginning.
This was a hard review to put together because even though it didn't fully land for me I do think BLOOD MERCY was an impressive fantasy romance with a lot to enjoy if you're willing to dedicate the time to it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who love forbidden romance, deep world building, and slower paced plots with lots of room to develop.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: on page anxiety and near panic attacks; recounting of Cassia's sister and mother dying; threats of rape directed at Cassia; recounting and references to women being harassed and raped; cliffhanger ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Rape
More...