The Serpent Called Mercy

DEBUT Lythlet and her only friend, Desil, are struggling to scrape together enough coin to keep the loan sharks at bay. Competing as conquessors who battle monstrous beasts in an underground fighting ring seems like the fastest way to earn money. Quick-witted Lythlet soon earns the spectators’ respect, but this attention comes with its own kind of debt, drawing her deeper into the criminal underworld’s network of favors. As her final match approaches, Lythlet must decide what she is willing to sacrifice—morals, freedom, or even friendship—to maintain her upward momentum. The book’s characters fight their way through a unique and gritty fantasy world. Fans of tournament arc storylines will enjoy Lythlet’s clever solutions for overcoming each enemy, but her toughest battle is escaping the cycle of poverty and exploitation she has been trapped in since birth. Her desperation and moral quandaries are compelling, even if the intriguing worldbuilding is not consistently fleshed out. The focus on her lifelong friendship with Desil also stands out against romantasy’s recent genre dominance.