Crueler Mercies is a captivating and vividly written historical fantasy—though the fantasy elements are light, the emotional intensity is anything but. The story follows Vita, a princess traumatized by the men in her life, and her tragic journey is portrayed in such a raw, gripping way. I felt like I was right there with her in her isolation—her thoughts, her actions, and her struggles felt heartbreakingly real for someone who has experienced deep abuse and trauma.

Vita is a fascinating and beautifully written character, and the side characters are equally compelling. The villains are absolutely vile—representing misogyny and cruelty so sharply that you feel the characters’ anger and frustration in your bones. But on the other side are the friends and lovers who bring warmth, hope, and heart to the story. The romance is tender and deeply felt, a soft thread running through an otherwise intense and emotionally charged narrative.

The atmosphere is dark and immersive—moody castles, flickering torchlight, medieval island kingdoms steeped in war and corruption. The depiction of war is brutal and realistic, never glorified. The book powerfully explores themes of violence begetting violence, the corruption of patriarchal power, and the emotional toll of abuse, isolation, and female rage. It also carries strong feminist messages and features wonderful queer romance representation.

This felt like the emotional depth of a trilogy packed into a standalone. I was completely immersed and went on a full emotional journey with these characters. The ending surprised me and left me needing time to process—it’s the kind of story that lingers. My only hesitation was with the moral complexity around vengeance and a slight pacing drag near the end. Still, this was nearly perfect for me.

I’ll definitely be recommending this book. It’s not for everyone—there are heavy themes and emotional weight—but for those who can sit with it, Crueler Mercies is a powerful, unforgettable read.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

Vita is *angry*, and it is beautiful. The feelings of isolation, of desperate connection to the few familiar faces, and the struggles in emerging, felt entirely real. I haven't spent several years locked away, but I did spend a year trapped in an RTC so like.... I sorta feel her? I loved how alchemy was twisted into something unfamiliar and how each loss piled on to hurt. I loved the bonds she made with others, and how they stuck with me throughout. They were real. They were true.

And this was a gloriously angry book.

This was a miss for me. The dialogue felt stilted and some of the interactions just didn’t really make sense. I found the main character hard to grasp personality wise. Ultimately not for me. I think the world building has promise and I love an animal friend!

Thank you to NetGallery and Bindery Books for the Earc in exchange for an honest review. A solid 3.5 stars. Maren Chase really honed in on the historical fiction aspects of this novel and created characters with depth. In a world where our main character has always felt helpless and abandoned, we really learn to connect with her as she faces difficult situations. I loved how we got to see the MC build and form relationships with those around her and got to see her growth throughout the entire book. Also, I am OBSESSED with the birds and how she befriends them. A beautiful book that left me with a broken heart more than once, but Maren Chase pieced it back together again by the end. Definitely recommend.

Feminine rage served up by vengeful lesbians....say less!

I felt that Crueler Mercies was a thoughtful take on a growth arc. It explores how injustices, laid at women feet, can forge them into something fierce and unforgiving. The Choice to follow Vita after a youth of imprisonment allowed readers to empathize with her backstory while still getting to enjoy her adulthood. I think the choice was smart as the road she walked in this story lent itself better to adult writing.

I will certainly be keeping my eyes on what Maren Chase offers us next as they have proven themselves a worthy contender in the current landscape of authors.

Female rage and revenge? Say no more!

Crueler Mercies definitely delivered on these points, and I loved the gentle touch of sapphic romance too. The characterization was so well-done, and the plot was so well-organized. It's been a while since I've read something so expertly plotted and outlined! I'll definitely keep an eye out for whatever Maren Chase writes next.

This was so good, the characters were so real that I really got invested. Even the villains were portrayed in such a way that showed they at least felt justified in their actions … most of the time. It starts with a hell of a first chapter too and I loved that the author was not afraid to kill characters, this led to a lot of gasping and growing tension whenever anyone was in danger. I did wonder when we were going to get the rage I was promised because that was a slow burn but actually by the end I wasn’t mad about that, it fit the character better the way it unfolded. I loved that the author used real history to shape her story and I adored the inclusion of the birds and vitas relationship with them, which leads to my only gripe with the book and what brought it down by half a star. There’s a scene with birds later in the book which I won’t describe because it’s spoilery but it’s unclear to me what happened there exactly, if it went the way i think it did then that goes against vitas character and doesn’t sit right with me, and if it went the other way then I think that should have been made clearer. It’s one small point though in an otherwise thrilling and engaging book. I will be looking out for more books by this author

I found that to me this book read a lot like YA, I knew that the characters were technically adults but something about the prose and the characters actions made them out to be younger than they were. The overall plot was fine, but I definitely think that the book needed more world building, because there were times, especially close to the end of the book that I wasn't entirely sure what what going on or how different mechanics were working. It was A fine book overall but there were just some parts of it that felt flat, like filler or like the author wasn't quite sure exactly what was supposed to be happening. I understand the appeal of a sapphic Cinderella esque retelling, but I really do think for a book whose plot hinges around the politics of the kingdom they're in it really could have used some more world building so the audience can fully immerse themselves and care about what's going on.

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC of this story.

Crueler Mercies follows Vita, a princess locked for most of her life in a dungeon away from home. Until one day, the city is sieged and the general of the army offers her freedom from her tower in exchange for her hand in marriage. Being the daughter of the current king, this seems like a way to get closer to her father for the vengeance she dreams of.

I went in having in mind this was marketed as being adult fiction so I was excited to get to this ARC.

The story started strongly but very quickly lost all excitement as everything felt very juvenile. A lot of dialogues, little description, making for a poor worldbuilding and a YA vibe through and through. The protagonist sometimes feels like a passive element to the story, it's hard to explain but it's like she's secondary to the plot and the other characters' doings feel more important.

If you enjoy YA, you can enjoy this story I'm sure. The writing is nice, the characters are interesting, the plot is promising but as a person that hardly ever enjoys YA, this was a bit of a disappointment. I wanted way more world building and a bigger introspection into the main character's mind, to really be able to feel the rage and the need for reparation after all those years in a forced confinement.

For an adult fiction book, it is lacking in many aspects. Therefore, I do believe the target audience should definitely be YA readers. And if it had been the case, my rating would definitely be higher.

It took me a while to finish this one for reasons outside of my control, but I ultimately ended up loving it! The first chapter gripped me immediately and although the pacing was a little slower from that point on, I loved the journey Vita took as her relationship with Soline grew as well as their desires for revenge. The character we see at the beginning is definitely not the person we see in the end. I loved the character development, the brutality, and political intrigue, but also the moments of beauty. I’m so glad I said yes to this book when it showed up in my inbox.

As someone who had both a strong Tudor phase and Grimm Fairytale phase growing up this book was PERFECT for me. I absolutely loved the parallels to Anne Boleyn and all the fairytale references.

Crueler Mercies is both a sapphic love story and a BRUTAL fairytale revenge fantasy. Definitely one to check out if you enjoyed the darker elements of the Grimm Fairytales or are in need of some good feminine rage storytelling!

Vita, as our main character, goes through an incredible transformation through this story. She starts her journey as a young princess..loved and adored. Through political machinations, she finds herself without her mother and locked away far from her home. Her only company a servant and some crows she feeds, she remains for 11 long years cut off from the world.
When a saviour appears, can he be what he says he is? He promises to return her to her home as his queen and to punish her father for the atrocity he committed against her mother. Vita receives a new companion in Soline, who opens a new world of alchemy and more...even while her husband to be reveals himself to be heartless and cruel. As Vita comes into her feminine rage...she vows revenge on anyone who hurt her.

I really enjoyed this story! It's a little dark and that's ok. It's not fast moving but the progression keeps you wanting more.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC to read and review. My thoughts are my own.

In a story filled with feminine rage, damsel in distress and found family themes, I was hoping for more across the board.

Now don’t get me wrong, this book delivered on everything it said was contained, and I did enjoy the story, however I simply wanted more. I am a lover of big books as I think there is actually enough time to develop all of the characters and plot and then have a good resolution without feeling like something is missing. I felt as if I was missing a lot here.

As a reader, I felt very disconnected to Vita, our main character, as much of her thinking and reasoning during pivotal points of the book are left out. You can figure out what she thought based on the next actions, however we lose out on her own thinking in the moment. The chapters were very short, I know some people enjoy that, for me it just seemed like everything resolved or were moved on from too quickly.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and do recommend it for others to read, especially if you’re not one looking for lengthy depictions and world building and character growth, but if you are looking for more in depth depictions and reasonings, this maybe isn’t the one for you. Regardless, the story here about Vita and how she fights to regain control of her life, is very moving and well worth the journey.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and after anticipating it for months, I’m so happy I could get an ARC of it!

This is a light fantasy book where the story revolves around the main character’s rather violent coming of age in her particular position as an exiled princess of a foreign kingdom, with a sapphic romance subplot.

The writing pulled me in immediately and the first chapters were truly an impressive reading experience. In them, we’re introduced to our main character Vita and to the scene promised in the synopsis: the execution of her mother by her father; and then to her exile and start of her years kept away in another kingdom.
I immediately felt for our main character, and loved how she was written. Vittoria - or Vita - and her relationships with both animals and people, but also how engaging her story was, made for a beautiful read.
I didn’t know going in about the kept-away-in-a-tower aspect of this story; and was pleasantly surprised as someone who deeply loves Rapunzel’s story and the character herself. This is by no means a retelling and wasn’t marketed as one, but I still appreciated how these elements fit Vita’s story. The sapphic romance was delightful to me, and while it wasn’t that contributive to the plot and could have been more fleshed out, I still found it an essential aspect of Vita’s character arc.

My only qualms are that there are a few points in the plot or in Vita’s thoughts that were clunky or even contradictory. I think that if those had been corrected the pace might have felt more even, and these were only noticeable because of the slower pace of the major middle part of the book. It didn’t stop my enjoyment; but I do think it would appeal to most readers if the entire book’s pacing was more balanced. The overall pacing being uneven isn’t a fault in itself, and that’s why it didn’t deter my enjoyment.

As for representation, I’m not sure if it was intentional, but as an autistic person I truly related to Vita as she struggles with overstimulation and sociability, and as she has a few coping mechanisms and traits similar to mine.

Ultimately a very good read, with a great beginning and a satisfying ending, characters I cared about, and lovely writing that makes me want to read what the author comes out with next ! 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery (Fantasy & Frens) for the ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year!
(I don't like to rate books, but for the purpose of reviewing an ARC : this is a 3.75 stars rounded up.)

Crueler Mercies is an amazing book that takes on an enormous topic in a strikingly personal way. Vita, the daughter of a king, is sent away to spend years of her life isolated from the outer world and consigns herself to the tiniest shreds of human contact. When an invading force opens her eyes to the possibilities of her station and her rage, we begin to learn who Vita is and can become.

Tackling female rage and revenge, this book allows us to imagine a different history where women carve out a life for themselves.

I am here for this sapphic vengeful fantasy. Anyone who enjoys a good revenge story should be eyeing or buying this book immediately! I was crying over crows, cheering on Vita and Soline, and getting progressively angrier at a king and general (shockingly since I started out pretty darn mad at them!) if you are able to read this book without getting emotionally attached, I worry for you.

I read this as an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

A wonderful first novel and a 3.5 rounded up to 4! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This novel had a lot of strengths. I really liked Vita as a protagonist, and her arc through the novel was compelling. In some ways, it's a pretty common arc for characters in Fantasy Books About Women's Empowerment (i.e. quiet girl to Girl Boss TM), but I found the rendition engaging. So many books these days claim to have the arc, but I felt it with Vita. There was a reason for her to be that sheltered and trusting, and it was something that she had to grapple with as she experienced the intrigue around her. I loved that she read as neurodivergent, a little treat for me, who would probably also be deeply confused by the intricate rituals of how exactly to be nice to your servants without having your weirdo fiance get too overprotective. She also had female friends! Yay! Isotta for the win! Soline maybe doesn't count as a friend (they were roommates), but still! Speaking of Soline, I liked her, and I thought the intimacy between her and Vita was really lovely and sweet. Happy Pride everyone.

I also really like Ardaric as an antagonist! He wasn't just some cardboard cut-out whose only personality trait was hating women; he was some guy obsessed with control and conquest, including of women. His tender moments with Vita were almost scarier than when he was outright being cruel, because you were waiting for the switch to flip. He feels like a real type of guy that exists, and that makes him a lot scarier. I also loved the De Bello Gallico reference (Chase, I got what you were putting down when you talked about the three walls well before the acknowledgements, and I was dreading the other really famous thing about that siege long before it appeared).

However, there were a lot of weaknesses alongside those strengths. The middle of it was a bit boring, I think because Vita didn't really have a concrete goal that she was working towards. I tend to need something pretty concrete for where we're going in a narrative, and Vita's was "survive", which wasn't solid enough for me in this type of story, where her basic needs are being met and the odds of that situation changing are low. Her motivations do pick back up, saving the book for me to be quite honest, but the gap isn't great. For how much alchemy is talked about in the blurb, I was expecting it to feature much more heavily. I don't hate that it didn't, but it basically disappears for like half of the book after being introduced. I think the concept needed either to be woven in a little better throughout the novel or cut entirely. However, these weaknesses mostly feel like first novel sort of problems.

Overall, it's a solid read, and I am excited to see what Chase comes up with next!

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This was okay. I liked the writing style and prose. The beginning was fantastic, it drew me in immediately, and the ending packed a punch. I enjoyed the alchemical magic system. But, while I loved the beginning and ending, the middle was a slog and somewhat boring. I wanted more from the romance that felt very lackluster and underdeveloped. All the characters except Vita felt very flat. The world-building was decent but could have been better, and while I liked the alchemical magic system, I wished we would have had a more in-depth exploration.

For a debut novel, I thought this was okay but definitely had room for improvement.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery (Fantasy & Frens) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was really excited for this one so I'm sad to say this one didn't work for me. Ultimately I think some of my disappointment came from mismatched expectations. I think if this was marketed as a YA fantasy with sapphic romance instead of an adult fantasy with sapphic female rage I would have had a better experience. This is something that I would have enjoyed as a young teenager, but unfortunately did not have enough for me to connect to as an adult.

I found the characters to be fairly flat, and the magic to be essentially nonexistent. I think I am learning that I am a thematic reader, and this is a very straightforward good vs. evil with little exploration of anything deeper than a basic revenge story. While the ending was immensely satisfying, I do not think 10 pages at the end of a 300-400 page book qualifies as a "female rage story". Having Vita as a softer FMC could have made for a fascinating look at female rage, but unfortunately this was not my experience.

Unfortunately I needed more from this book in every aspect, but I could see how this would work for a younger audience or a reader going in with different/managed expectations.