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camillekeepsreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
andreatraconis's review against another edition
5.0
You don’t know how much I loved this book, it’s one of those gems you find and can’t let go
readingsalt's review against another edition
How is it possible to say so much while also saying nothing at all?
numbuh12's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
charmschapter's review against another edition
5.0
This was honestly incredible. I couldn’t put it down.
The world building was just exceptional. The dialogue between the MMC and FMC were giving off Romeo and Juliet. The spice in this was chapters long!!!
Vela. Your writing style took me a hot second to adjust to as it was so different but once I got into it, I was completely hooked.
Vampires, slow burn, spicy, political, mages, magic.
The detail is in this book. OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!!
It was so good I felt like I was a character in this book watching.
Each character was built up so well. And the glossary at the end. Well bloody done!!!!
The world building was just exceptional. The dialogue between the MMC and FMC were giving off Romeo and Juliet. The spice in this was chapters long!!!
Vela. Your writing style took me a hot second to adjust to as it was so different but once I got into it, I was completely hooked.
Vampires, slow burn, spicy, political, mages, magic.
The detail is in this book. OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!!
It was so good I felt like I was a character in this book watching.
Each character was built up so well. And the glossary at the end. Well bloody done!!!!
diana_0123's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I can see why people love this book, but personally, I just wasn't able to get into it. The writing and the romance were good, but I think the main reason I couldn't get into it was because some of the chapters were just SOO LONG, and to me, long chapters just make a book feel like it's taking forever to get through. Honestly, I have mixed feelings because some chapters (like the end of the book) did catch my attention, but did they catch my attention enough to continue with the series??? I don't know because while I was reading, I was constantly checking to see how much more there was until I was done, and I don't know if I can get through 8 MORE BOOKS that I think are about the same length, if not longer. I'm sad that I didn't love this book like I thought I would.
Also, I just can't with the foot fetish
Also, I just can't with the foot fetish
boydgirl's review against another edition
For the most part I actually enjoyed this book. It was a bit long, but it didn't bother me too much because it was establishing both the world and the romantic relationship. What made me DNF is a spoiler though. Near the end of the book we finally see how Cassia's sister died only to . . .not see it. Cassia never saw her body. And with the lack of a body I just KNEW she wasn't dead, and that bothered me. It felt too cruel for her to live her whole life thinking her sister dead when she's not. I decided to look it up to be sure and, she isn't dead. But you don't "find that out" until book 6!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content
princessrobotiv's review against another edition
4.0
Blood Mercy wasn't perfect, but I really liked it, so much so that I want to dive headfirst into the next installment in the series.
Roth did a good job reimagining vampirism, and I give her big props for the liberties she took with the Hesperines and their society. It's refreshing to see a story coming at vampires in this way, where they're uniquely nonviolent people attuned to the lifeforce of all creatures rather than hungering monsters delighting in death. Importantly, the sexual appeal of vampirism--the implied or overt hedonism--isn't sacrificed to make them peaceful. Hesperines are both peaceful AND engage in bloody sexual unions, which proved a fascinating balance.
Overall, my issue with this is that the Hesperines are framed as being TOO good. I would have liked to see more variation in their purpose or examples of where their people proved to not be representative of the whole of their society.
It took some time to orient myself in the world, but once I caught on, the lore wasn't overly cumbersome. I would have liked more Summit scenes to understand the free lords and their conflicts, but largely, I caught on quick and had a good time. The final conflict resolved a bit too neatly, too, but I can easily forgive it given the quality of the book as a whole.
Now....as for Roth's choice to give made-up fantasy names to sex organs...not a huge fan of that. Just as I would prefer if authors use "fuck" instead of making up a stand-in, I think there's honestly no reason to replace the classics, and it had the additional consequence of those scenes being slightly less impactful. They were still really good, but crass words have visceral impact specific to the language of the reader that was sacrificed here for a reason I don't really understand.
I loved Lio and Cassia as characters and that their journeys separated them at the end of the book.
Excited for the next one!
Roth did a good job reimagining vampirism, and I give her big props for the liberties she took with the Hesperines and their society. It's refreshing to see a story coming at vampires in this way, where they're uniquely nonviolent people attuned to the lifeforce of all creatures rather than hungering monsters delighting in death. Importantly, the sexual appeal of vampirism--the implied or overt hedonism--isn't sacrificed to make them peaceful. Hesperines are both peaceful AND engage in bloody sexual unions, which proved a fascinating balance.
Overall, my issue with this is that the Hesperines are framed as being TOO good. I would have liked to see more variation in their purpose or examples of where their people proved to not be representative of the whole of their society.
It took some time to orient myself in the world, but once I caught on, the lore wasn't overly cumbersome. I would have liked more Summit scenes to understand the free lords and their conflicts, but largely, I caught on quick and had a good time. The final conflict resolved a bit too neatly, too, but I can easily forgive it given the quality of the book as a whole.
Now....as for Roth's choice to give made-up fantasy names to sex organs...not a huge fan of that. Just as I would prefer if authors use "fuck" instead of making up a stand-in, I think there's honestly no reason to replace the classics, and it had the additional consequence of those scenes being slightly less impactful. They were still really good, but crass words have visceral impact specific to the language of the reader that was sacrificed here for a reason I don't really understand.
I loved Lio and Cassia as characters and that their journeys separated them at the end of the book.
Excited for the next one!