Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5

Capitivating me from start to finish, Crueler Mercies is one of the best debuts I've read this year. The story has a great dark fairytale feel to it, with beautiful prose, and wonderfully written character development and depth for all the characters. Vita's character development from meek to vengeful was particularly fascinating to read. I can't wait to see what else this author writes in the future.

This was such a fun read. Not only do we cool Crow bird friends but a Sapphic revenge story. We start out slow with a stansfing pay off. The stru starts off with her mom betrayal and MC father makes her watch her mother's execution. Not long after sending her off where she lives in a tower along cut off from society with only birds to make friends. The story blooms from there.
I definitely recommend this to people who lobe Sapphic Fantasy.

Thank you netgalley and Bindery Books for providing this eARC for review.
2.75🌟
Mixed opinions on this one. It had a lot of potential and I found myself quite enjoying the scenes during the seige and the earlier scenes of Vita's childhood in the tower. Her friendship with the birds and how that eventually plays out at the end was very well done.
However, my main issue is the lack of worldbuilding and general substance to the book. I get the impression that the author just wanted to write a book about angry women getting revenge and didn't really want to develop much actual plot which is a shame.
At the end of a 400 page book I can't say I know anything more about the world and the magic system than I did at the beginning beyond a few place names. Vita was an interesting protagonist but the rest of the characters just felt so flat.
Considering the world kept being described to us as being oh so bad for women and all the men are terrible and the only happiness a woman can have is apart from men, this isn't what we actually see in the book. Ardaric is evil, her father isn't much better, and Sorrel kind of sucked, but apart from that they all seemed pretty decent! There is an odd bit at the beginning of the seige where Vita talks about how men have been given all the jobs to do and they do all the fighting and women are just expected to sit there looking pretty and then in the actual battle we see Soline going off to fight, a husband-wife fighting duo, and at least one female captain so that's just simply not true! If you want to write a compelling tale about female rage and revenge in a misogynistic society you have to actually make the society misogynistic, not tell the reader one thing and then go and write the complete opposite.
A lot of the end of the book felt so odd and as if scenes were just being glossed over quickly to move the story on. For example, the way Vita just kills her father with very little hesitation despite never having killed anyone before. And then the cannibalism scene which was so unnecessary and felt like it was just there for shock value really and to cement the idea that Ardaric had to die because seriously what was that?? You expect us to believe she can be told she is literally eating her father, shrug it off because she doesn't want him to see her upset, gorge herself on more, and then just never mentioned it again 😭 what??
I really do think it had potential, I just think it needed a lot more planning and a lot more world and character building.

The princess in this book is loosely drawn from the early life of Elizabeth I of England: her mother is beheaded, she's imprisoned far from Court, and her father sets out to get himself a legitimate son to rule after him. We are likely meant to feel for Vita's trauma in having watched her mother be killed (this is not a spoiler; it's announced in the first line & fleshed out in the first chapter) but she's got no personality, no grit, no goal and no drive. She just drifts along randomly musing on her past and present - very randomly - for far too long, considering this novel was blurbed as being a driven tale of revenge.

Unlike Elizabeth I's captivity, there are crows devoted to our captive princess. Fun fantasy possibilities there. Also unlike Elizabeth's young life, Vita (or Vittoria, for formal occasions) gets few books, no tutors, no music or geography or any of the other lessons generally granted to even the most firmly cast-aside of royal offspring. This is a missed opportunity for world-building, for informing the reader about the land and its people, its social classes and its political challenges, the very factors that would have shaped this princess from the moment of her birth. The missing details are thrown in later, seemingly as the author realized they were needed, rather than built into the story to underpin it from the start.

The writing is competent in terms of grammar and spelling, with only a few mis-used words to jar on the reader's eye. But in those all-important early chapters, showing and telling happen with no discernible organizing principle, robbing the princess and the readers of deeper character development and world-building. Any tension that arises, either romantically or through political/military/fighting/intrigue, very quickly drains away through lack of attention to scene structure or character development. The story-tellling does eventually hit its stride but this is definitely a case where the author, having written The End, should have gone back and rewritten the beginning to bring it up to par.

There's a lively high fantasy story buried in here, filled with politics and intrigue and secrets and spying, and a princess who is worthy of the loyalty of her servants and the love of her cherished friend. But many readers won't slog through those disorderly opening chapters - nearly a quarter of the novel - to find it. Or her.

This debut novel is a slow-paced slow-burn sapphic romance about the brutality of war and the fires of revenge. This story was haunting, heartbreaking, and full or female rage.

Crueler Mercies is an emotionally charged story that explores themes of rage, loss, and rebellion through the eyes of Vita, a princess cast into exile after a brutal family betrayal. I appreciated how the novel dives deep into female fury and the complexities of vengeance, all wrapped in a sapphic romance that unfolds slowly but meaningfully.
The alchemy element added an intriguing magical layer that tied well into the worldbuilding, giving the story an edge beyond its Rapunzel-inspired roots. Vita’s relationship with Soline was one of the highlights, with their chemistry sparking a slow-burning connection that felt authentic and compelling.
That said, the pacing is definitely on the slower side, which might test readers looking for more immediate action or plot momentum. Some parts felt a bit drawn out, and the rebellion element took a backseat at times, making the overall narrative feel more internal and character-driven than plot-heavy.
Overall, Crueler Mercies is a strong read for those who enjoy layered character work, sapphic romance, and a brooding, simmering atmosphere. It’s not without its flaws, but the raw emotion and vivid worldbuilding make it worthwhile.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, the character development was built up throughout and the story never felt stagnant. Would deffo recommend!

RATING: 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you so much to the author, the Fantasy & Frens imprint for Bindery Books, and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

With the popularity of the fantasy genre in the book community, female protagonists are becoming more commonplace in fantasy books. What remains a niche is sapphic fantasies, and Crueler Mercies is an upcoming debut standalone novel that offers something new to the subgenre, perfect for readers who seek LGBT-centric romances in their fantasy reads.

The story follows Vita, a young princess who was exiled from her home kingdom following the execution of her mother. Left to remain hidden in a distant territory, she is left to fade in obscurity, until a siege from an enemy general shatters her sheltered life. Left with a choice between preserving her life and reclaiming her kingdom from her father versus dying with no one to remember her name, she decided to marry the enemy general. However, through a new companionship with her lady-in-waiting, she secretly plots to escape her engagement and become a part of nobility again on her terms.

I loved how this book pursued a narrative of gradual character development over a standard adventure. Vita retains her kindness and femininity throughout the story, yet embodies the style of feminine rage prevalent in many fantasy books. Her romance with Soline and tenuous relationship with Ardaric were aspects that remained strong from beginning to end, allowing me to root for Vita's eventual happiness.

I did wish the worldbuilding and alchemy component of the narrative was fleshed out a little more. As a result, the two aspects felt more like backdrops and could have strengthened the narrative with a few more dedicated chapters. Nonetheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed Crueler Mercies and I'm looking forward to checking out future books from this author.

This book over promised and under delivered. While it's a far cry from the worst book I've ever read (hence the 2.5 star rating), I expected a better... everything.

I'll begin with the negatives.
Let's start with the plot: there isn't much of it, other than a murky idea of war and suffering, and a bit more war and suffering that never feels like it's going somewhere. There are several nations involved in this war, and I have no clue who we were supposed to root for as readers (neither does the main character, so do not fret). The timeline is also very messy—I couldn't tell how much time had passed between scenes and whenever we were told that "months" or "weeks" had gone by it made it all the more confusing, since it was illogical for nothing to happen for so long, considering the dire circumstances Vita and her friends are meant to be in.

The villain, while he was absolutely horrid as a human being, did not really inspire anything in me other than yelling "just kill him already and be done with it" at our main character. Ah, Vita. I've read in some other reviews that she barely takes action, and that the novel is basically men dictating her life—this is a good summary. I understand she's deeply traumatised by her life events, but she's got the drive of a stone. At least, until the 80% mark, where she finds her will to live, a plan, and a litany of other skills (like a speech to her troops) which are utterly unbelievable considering she has spent the last decade locked away in a tower with the barest social interaction since the age of nine. If this were anyone else, they'd be deeply socially crippled by being in isolation from ages 9 to 20-something.

In terms of worldbuilding, I would have loved to see more about the religious beliefs of these nations: we only get a few glimpses, but getting divinities, festivities, and more customs involved might have been the saving grace for the monotonous plotline.

The romance was quite minimal and started on the latter half of the book. I was expecting it to take a more central place in the story, but it's definitely more of a passing thought rather than an epic forbidden romance between a princess and her handmaiden. However, it wasn't the worst part of the book, so I'll forgive it.

On a more positive note: the writing was lovely. I doubt I would have got nearly to the end of this book if not for the well thought-out, flowing sentences. Also, the crows; the best characters.

I skimmed the last 50 pages or so, as I had a good idea of what was going to happen and could not be bothered to drag myself through these last chapters.

All in all, I believe this author is a talented writer. I don't think the plot, as well as many other elements of the story, worked out for her, but perhaps in the future we'll see something more interesting.

Trigger warnings: death, gore, animal death, war, famine, illness, emotional abuse, etc.

Thank you for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books | Fantasy & Frens for this ARC Copy!

I have been so excited to read this book since I first laid eyes on the gorgeous cover. I didn't really know what to expect from a damsel in a tower story, but even though so much of the book is practically spend in one single room, it was still so immersive, and I was completely hooked from the very beginning. The character started out so naive and timid but watching her grow as a person as well as in her anger was truly refreshing in its own way. I myself am a supporter of women's rights and wrongs, and this book is a wonderful example of that. The author does not pull any punches, and there was a lot that I did not see coming, but I appreciate the author trusting us with this story as raw and horribly as it could be at times, but also beautiful and hopeful.

The book is so good and engrossing. Vita has witnessed her mother’s death. She had an unsettling childhood. Her governess was also not good to her. The trauma she carried has shaped her today. But that’s not enough, after eleven years, she must marry an enemy general or die as a forgotten princess. Vita’s character was so strong. Despite the traumas and everything that she has witnessed, she does what she has decided to do. She meets Soline and the lady introduces her to alchemy. Loved that Vita took control of her destiny and didn’t let cruel people rule.

Thanks to the Publisher

Thank you NetGalley, Fantasy & Frens, and Bindery for the eARC! In exchange, please find my honest review:

The narrative of Crueler Mercies unfolds in a fantasy island kingdom where peace, comfort, and hope are hard won and easily lost. Vita, a princess locked away in exile since being forced to witness the execution of her mother as a child, enters back into her world in a flurry of fire, feathers, rage, and a deep-seated caring that cuts like a knife. Vita’s story is one of loss - again, and again, things are taken from her, and neither the narrative nor Chase’s prose makes a move to gentle the blows or soften the edges. This is not a novel for when you need a gentle, uplifting hopefulness - this is a novel for when you are holding on to the tatters of hope with chipped fingernails, screaming through a mouthful of blood up at the sky.

Chase does a thing that I love in fantasy novels - borrowing pieces of real-world history and reshaping them to the world of the novel. In the pages of Crueler Mercies, the reader should expect to see a brutality that echoes the brutality of our collective history - including nods to the Siege of Alesia, to Olga of Kyiv’s winged vengeance, and likely to all manner of historical episodes I didn’t quite catch. It didn’t surprise me at all to learn that Chase has a history in…well, history, as she includes these events in a way that feels natural, skillful, and true to the world she builds in these pages.

What I do wish there could have been more of in the novel were smaller, human, relationship-building moments between Vita and her inner-circle. I’m such a lover of found family situations, and I think that slowing down during the middle part of the story (after Vita’s ‘liberation’ from the tower and before we enter the final act) and really fleshing out some of these relationship may have made for an overall weighty-er story with emotional hits that landed harder and lasted longer. For example: we get a couple of scenes of Vita bonding with Marius - a young soldier assigned to protect her, who becomes a fraternal figure for her - but not enough to where I really felt the sibling bond between the two, or the emotional pay-off that the conclusion of Marius’ arc deserves. Similar with Isotta, a guardian and aunt/mother figure that Vita so badly deserves - I was desperate for more scenes of these characters bonding, rather than simply being told they have done so.

The case where I felt this lack most keenly was in the relationship between Vita and Soline. To be honest, it may just be that I’m a sucker for slowburn, but I wanted more scenes in which the two get to know each other, learn to trust each other, and build a bond that I can truly believe in. I wanted scenes with the two of them working together night after night to understand alchemy - not just broad-brush descriptions of all the times it didn’t work. I wanted more conversations where they learn each other, strengthen each other, and sharpen each other’s edges. There is all of this, to be sure, but the novel left me hungry for more of it. I feel that fewer broad strokes and more detail may have led to a more emotionally powerful narrative, though, again, this is based on my personal preferences.

Other than that, the narrative was tight, if brutal. The writing is very competent - though with the inclusion of a few words or phrases that seemed jarring to me when placed against the backdrop of the grim fantasy world in which they are said (“kids”, “sure” (as an affirmative), “the kind of guy” are the ones that stick out in my memory). The characters feel real, though I wish we got to spend more time with them in quiet, relationship-building moments. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, in the way that one enjoys dark, brutal novels about coming into one’s own rage and power, even though my personal preference would be for more narrative focus to be paid to the interpersonal dynamics.

A compelling story of survival in a medieval fantasy context.

Reading this story one of those experiences where everything just clicks for you. I resonated with the writing, the characters, the plot. I loved Vita's journey to find her own strength and the ways the love of others can save her future.
I also appreciated the use of suspense - what the reader needs to know and how by the end all falls into place.
It was an amazing read that will stick with me for a long time.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Maren for allowing me to read this ARC!

Crueler Mercies is a grimdark, slow-paced tale of abuse, imprisonment, and revenge. We follow Vita in the wake of her mother's unexplained beheading and subsequent journey to an unknown city where she spends years in the same room with only the crows at her window for company.
The story starts off as a compelling, heartbreaking insight into Vita's bewildering incarceration. Her point of view offers little in the way of explanation as her world shrinks and shrinks and shrinks. We are offered gradual glimpses and snippets of the world outside Vita's bedroom until all of a sudden she is caught up in the maelstrom of the city being overthrown by a bloodthirsty general. Vita enters a new kind of prison and tries to find allies in her attepts to break free of the political tangle she has been born into.

This story felt compelling to begin with but fell flat as the pacing hiccupped and meandered towards a decidedly uninteresting and predictable ending where the supposedly shocking moments fell flat and the clever twist felt entirely too convenient despite the heavy-handed attempts to set it up. Vita spent far too much of the story being yanked around like a ragdoll and the interesting parts of her character weren't explored to any kind of satisfying conclusion. The sapphic relationship was well written and tender but could have been better fleshed out in the second half of the novel.

Overall, the second half of the novel negated the the intrigue developed in the first half and made this a disappointing read.

I thought this book would be a HEA, it was not. While I enjoyed the character growth and the story, it definitely has triggers regarding childhood trauma, family trauma and other sad events. This is a more realistic medieval story without the sugar coating. I did enjoy the story overall

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (rounding up for overall star rating)

Maren Chase's debut novel, Crueler Mercies, delivers a political romantasy that’s driven by an alchemy-based magic system and a compelling slow-burn sapphic romance. At it’s core, this is a story of vengeance and self-discovery.

The narrative centers on Vita, the former princess of Carca, whose world shatters when her own father brutally executes her mother. This horrific act sends Vita into over a decade of isolated exile. As she enters adulthood, she's captured by an enemy general intent on using her to legitimize his claim to the Carca throne. Forced to choose between marriage and death, Vita finds an unexpected ally in her lady-in-waiting, Soline. Together, they plot to reclaim Vita's destiny and dismantle the patriarchal world that has consistently wronged them.

Chase absolutely nails the antagonists in this book. Vita's father and her betrothed are truly detestable, committing heinous acts that more than justify Vita's simmering rage and burning desire for revenge. Their villainy provides a potent emotional core for Vita's journey.

The magic system, based on alchemy, also felt underutilized. We're not introduced to it until halfway through the book, and its application largely remains limited to potion creation. For a romantasy, I expected a more robust and integrated magical element (this is not necessarily a problem, just out of alignment with my expectations).

I also struggled a bit with the pacing - while the first and last 10% of the book are incredibly fast-paced and gripping, the middle section slows considerably. This uneven pacing, combined with an underdeveloped world, made some of the political intricacies difficult to fully grasp.

Despite these issues, Crueler Mercies has a lot to offer, especially if you appreciate a strong revenge plot and a well-executed sapphic romance. If you enjoyed the political intrigue of The Bridge Kingdom or are looking for a standalone fantasy that leans into character-driven conflict without being overly complex, this debut is worth checking out.

This is the second book of Zoranne's imprint with Bindery Books that really just knocks it out of the park! Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase is everything it has been marketed to be...that is to say it is a story of female rage, sapphic yearning, and revenge.

Really, those three tropes in individually would have gotten me to pick up this book, But having all three in the same book feels like it was written for me! I would say this is definitely a slow burn book, the romance is a subplot to the main story. But that was fine with me! The times when Vita and Soline did have time together, it really made that part more meaningful.

The story focuses more on Vita and her fight against the men in her life. You will find me reading any book that is all about female rage and revenge. I would recommend this book to any of friends looking for an entertaining read!

Feminine rage, sapphic content, revenge? I feel understood.

The main focus of this book is Vita's growing up, from an entitled child to a scared girl to a conqueror. Also, two girls falling in love over their plot to kill the same man? Good for them.
The amount of violence and the complexity of the politics makes it suitable for an older audience, which is not what I expected but glad it was that way.

The prose is melancholic, delicate and yet it stabs you when needed. I found the description of the siege very realistic, so that's a bonus for sure.

The only thing I wish was explored further is the magic system. We get a glimpse of that and that's it. I want a prequel about it!!!

To sum up, it's the perfect book for unhinged girlies (gender neutral) but look up the tws first

“No conqueror on earth or any god in the heavens could ever grant me the peace that you have given me”

What a luscious story about female rage, revenge, falling in love, and finding yourself. Vita is the epitome of resilience and her story is one of female empowerment despite grueling circumstances. She seeks revenge but does not prioritize that over her own morals and kindness. She learns that mercy can take different forms and that it is not always kind, but often cruel. The tenderness of Vita’s love for her friends, especially Soline, is something to be admired. She is a fiercely loyal person who will go to great lengths to protect the ones she loves.

This book will surprise you from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a story filled with rage, politics, and desperation, I highly recommend! Crueler Mercies will not disappoint!

Thank you to Bindery Books for access to the eARC!

Crueler Mercies is a dark, emotionally charged tale of exile, vengeance, and fragile alliances, with a slow-burn sapphic romance at its heart. Vita’s transformation from silenced royal to a woman fueled by rage and magic is both haunting and empowering, and the bond between her and Soline simmers with quiet intensity. The themes of betrayal, power, and feminist rebellion are compelling, and the alchemical magic adds an eerie, unpredictable edge. While the pacing falters in parts and some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, the novel’s raw emotion and striking prose make it a rewarding, if occasionally uneven, read.