3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Crueler Mercies is an interested exploration of loss, grief, love, and revenge. While many aspects of the story worked for me, there were some issues that held this book back from being great.

The main complaint I have with this book is the overall pacing. The story can be derivative of other stories at times, but overall the storyline feels well put together and connected. The pacing slows this story down at times and made it tough for me to immediately be hooked by the premise. That being said, as certain elements began to fall into place, the pacing speeds up exponentially. The rush to the ending was a bit too quick with how much setup there was, but this did not take away too much from the overall narrative.

The characterization of the characters was the strength of this novel for me. While I did not fully love all characters involved (and occasionally found the main character uninteresting), there were moments that highlighted the importance of all characters involved. The ability to make the reader hate characters so deeply and love other characters so deeply is a sign of well done characterization.

Overall, I found this book to be a good debut for an author that I hope continues to write more. While this story was not always the most gripping, the conclusion felt satisfying. Though it should be noted that this felt like a safe read. While there were stakes and emotion involved, at no point was I left guessing or worried. The author clearly has a deep appreciation for the genre and for the history that inspired this tale, but at times it was a little too safe for my liking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Fantasy & Frens for granting me a copy of this E-Arc. All opinions are my own.

Overall, this was a great book and i was hooked from the beginning. We start off with Vita in almost a fairytale horror tale of circumstances who is then basically locked in a tower. Throughout the book we see her gain agency and build a support/family system around her. Ultimately going from an ingenue with no agency to a woman who understands to be cruel is a mercy in itself when necessary.

I enjoyed the premise and seeing her growth throughout the story. I will admit the pacing halfway through the book did throw me off and slow me down, but it was worth going through to get to the climax and end. Which not to give spoilers but was very satisfying in culminating in all the rage I felt through the story. I felt for the characters and appreciated some of the gray morality in which character growth was explored.

4.5/5.0 Stars!

A dark, sapphic political fairytale!

Initial thoughts: The story hooked me and reminded me of T. Kingfisher's writing, where there are dark and depressing events that are made lighter and manageable to read through the characters and writing style. I loved how Vita was not a typical kick-butt heroine and instead found strength and power in her own personal qualities (that weren't purely physical). Also I loved the crows!

Plot: I was hooked by the first chapter and it feels like a classic fairytale with a girl locked in a tower, after that it takes some dark turns and I was enthralled by the political and social maneuverings. I thought the author did a great job of keeping a steady pace and the slow march toward disaster built great tension. The romance had room to breathe and develop naturally and the ending was satisfying.

Setting: The setting is minimal as we are limited as we follow the movement of Vita. However it was easy to understand the world and various countries in relation to one another.

Characters: This novel really shines in its depth of characters. I felt they were multi-dimensional (even the villains/antagonists) and there was a plausible motivation for each.

Enjoyment: I really enjoyed this book and think it has a unique and fresh take. I wish there was more to the magic system, which was very light and ambiguous, but I think it highlighted the power of passion, determination and sacrifice. I was hooked by the characters (including the crows) and stayed for the political intrigue and sapphic romance. I think this is an excellent debut.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy small scale political fantasy, dark fairytales, sapphic romances, themes of revenge and resilience.

omg a gothic sapphic romance? sign me tf up!! i can’t wait to dive into this book and this will be my first book by maren chase! (i’m not certain if this is a debut?) my review will be left on GR and other retailers to come 💞

Rapunzel vibes and sapphic vengeance? Yes please.

Maren Chase has created a strong and unforgettable main character in Vita. She deftly portrays the complexity of female rage—not as a simplistic or one-dimensional emotion but as a multifaceted response to injustice, trauma, and betrayal. Vita's quest for vengeance becomes more than just a desire for retribution; it is a path of self-discovery and empowerment. However, this journey is not without consequences. As the story unfolds, the weight of her actions—both the ones she chooses to take and the ones she is forced into—becomes painfully clear.

Crueler Mercies is a gripping tale of empowerment, revenge, and the tangled emotions that define the human experience. It will resonate with readers who enjoy stories about complex heroines and the painful yet transformative consequences of their actions.

Other notes:

Ardaric might be the best (worst?) villain I've read in years.

How many times can a book rip your heart out? (This book? Too many times.)

Vita needs a hug.

I'll be thinking about this book and these characters for quite a while. Grateful to Bindery for this ARC, and I'll definitely be grabbing a finished copy in June.

Actual rating 2.5 stars

The pacing was not it for this one.

The story starts fast, drags in the middle, and then rushes to a climax that didn’t quite land.

I was promised feminine rage and I don't think it quite hits the mark. Its underwhelming at best with so much build up that when it does happen I'm left deflated like an old, used balloon. I also wanted more magic throughout; it’s billed as fantasy, but it’s so light on the fantastical elements and the alchemy that I forgot they were there half the time.


Overall, Crueler Mercies is a solid 3 stars for me. It’s got heart, but it didn’t fully deliver on the epic revenge I craved. Still, if you’re into brooding heroines and sapphic vibes with a side of political scheming, it’s worth a read.

I came here for a romance, and I stayed for a rare masterpiece.

Crueler Mercies follows the exiled, forgotten princess Vita as she goes from a sunshine child to a woman enraged as she navigates the conditions of her exile and plots her way out of terrible men who have branded themselves her masters. By her side is Soline,

There are castles, birdsongs, coups, wartime strategies, and stories, but the vibe is very haunting and quiet and muffled, like you're not quite awake but your whole body is burning.

The setting isn't just set dressing for the romance. Actual wartime strategies are detailed here, and it makes me want to read about the tactics used in using disease, sieges, and food supplies to make great cities kneel in conquest.

This is my preliminary review, as I have just finished this book. A longer and hopefully more coherent review will be posted on my blog Inkhaven. I have nothing but love and tears for this book, and I will be the most annoying person alive when this gets released. Everyone who can spare 5 minutes for me has heard about this book, and it can't get here soon enough.

I absolutely loved this one. Once I picked it up, it was hard to put down. I can't wait to see what else Maren is writing.

I am receiving a physical ARC in the mail soon. Therefore, I will submit my feedback in advance and if able, update it once I've read the book.

It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. The marketing overpromises and underdelivers— if I had purchased this book, I’d feel very mislead (not good!). I was promised “female rage”, but 1/4 of the way through I gave up because the narrating is so milquetoast. This is a common problem with characterization, especially for debut writers. The romance and other themes are about as subtle as a brick. I understand this is a debut. The author has potential, but I would strongly advise them to work on making their characters more unique and compelling, and maybe work on some narration techniques so the next turn isn’t so easy to see.

This was such a unique, fast-paced, high-stakes new fantasy—I loved the exploration of power, gender, attraction, and rage. Eager for more from Chase!

DNF ~22%

Not sure why, but having a hard time getting into this story. The writing style is pretty straight forward, but in a way that feels a little boring to me. I normally don't like a lot of purple prose, but I would love a little more in the way of descriptions of the setting and what Vita is experiencing.

While I acknowledge I'm not very far in, it feels both like a lot has happened, but also nothing. The opening was strong with the death of Vita's mother, but then then the whole explanation of her being locked away for many years (unsure how many) felt unnecessary? Besides her making friends with the crows, most of those pages didn't need to be shared and a time jump forward I think would have been better.

There's a chance I'll return to this story, but its not doing it for me right now.

Got an e-arc from netgalley and bindery books in exchange for an honest review.

I got vibes of Mary Tudor and a bit Catherine the great from this book. Author had a interesting idea for a book but i am not sure of execution of the idea. I skimmed 2/3 of the book and tried to get into it. The main character had a lot thrown on her at one time and her reactions to male main character is normal to be apprehensive.

I am on the Fantasy and Frens discord with zorrane host and was truly excited for this book and was so excited to get a arc review. But I was very disappointed in this book,

I absolutely adored every moment spent inside Crueler Mercies. It reads like a classic fairytale written with modern thinking, and gave me exactly what I was hoping for with the story, setting, and characters. I LOVE Vita and Soline, they are both such well crafted, fleshed out women and I fell in love with them so quickly. The world building feels complete while still contained enough to truly sell Vita's isolation from the outside world. This felt like the perfect slice of a fantasy cake, and I couldn't help from devouring it.

I really enjoy how Vita's confinement played such a roll in her narrative style. I often found myself thinking a question right before she'd ask it herself, and it made for such an immersive and entertaining read to learn things about the world and the characters around Vita right as she did. It's also really interesting how Vita is never written as overly naive or unintelligent. She has complex layers of grief, loneliness, rage, independence, and desire and they all work together in flawless harmony. She is such a unique and stand out character, it made following and rooting for her so easy.

I'm so in love with this book, I'll be recommending it to anyone who will listen.

DNF at 50%
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the opportunity to read and review this book..
Unfortunately this book was not working for me. It felt like a mashup of Princess Mary Tudor combined with Rapunzel if the Princess was rescued after a decade in a tower by a warlord who claimed her as his bride for political maneuvering and then ignored her. I’ve seen lots of comments about this being about female rage but I have seen nary a drop of even a bit of anger. In general this one wasn’t enough to keep me interested so it’s being DNF’d. Two stars for rating purposes which puts it firmly in meh status for me.

Feminine rage at its finest.
Knowing you will be at a disadvantage and be underestimated and using all of that to your benefit. Quietly working against the cruel powers who would quiet and cage you until you can make your final move.

This is a brutal book that is aptly named. The not so small injustices and cruelties a woman is forced into, the way a person can only take so much before it’s their turn to deal out cruel mercies in return.

I really like this take on the feminine rage avenging woman, it’s a quiet taking while no one is looking at her rather than the popular loud and brash forcefulness that we see so often.

I hope my girl Vita is finally getting some PEACE!!
In all seriousness, this book was the fabulous feminist fantasy I didn’t know I needed. Vita grows throughout the novel through masterful storytelling, going from damsel in distress to merciless Queen Vita with the help of beloved characters and those you absolutely love to hate.

I ate up every ounce of the not-quite-sub-plot romance! The tension and yearning between Vita and Soline was written with the most beautiful prose!! My heart needed this story of vengeance and hope in these dark times we live in. Chase writes their characters with such vulnerability and relatability that it’s easy to see bits and pieces of all of the strong, intelligent, beautiful women I know and love, and even those whom history forgets.

All in all, I loved every bit of this beautiful work of art. I am so grateful to Bindery and NetGalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!! <3

Interesting in premise, I found the writing to be hard to follow and I was not a fan of the main character. there were one or two supporting characters that stood out to me but all in all, one that I will not revisit.

Got an e-arc from netgalley and bindery books in exchange for a honest review.

The story of Vita's revenge starts slowly, but stick with it—the plot eventually falls into place, and the payoff is worth the wait.

While the tension is low until the final arc, this slow-burn approach works perfectly for Vita's compelling character development. The protagonist, a passive narrator for much of the story, patiently bides her time, making her eventual growth feel both organic and well-earned. I'm not that used to reading about this type of passive protagonists, so this was a nice change of pace.

The central f/f romance is sweet, though it did feel a bit underdeveloped. Vita's allies suffer this same fate but you'll find yourself genuinely rooting for them and hurting with them nonetheless.

In contrast, the antagonist fares better: His cruelty is disturbingly realistic and nuanced, avoiding cartoonish villainy and capturing the multi-faceted nature of abusers.

This solid antagonist along with the well-crafted worldbuilding is what I think ultimately made the narrative work, it provided a strong foundation for the complex political intrigue and warring factions that drive the latter halves of the plot, making it all feel very grounded.

(3.5 ⭐)

While I loved the setting and prose in this book I found the main character a bit too “perfect”, so it was hard to enjoy the story as a whole. Vita mastered politics, diplomacy, alchemy, history and strategy mostly by herself after enduring an isolated upbringing. Even before her mother’s death, Vita was portrayed as distracted at best rather than some sort of prodigy. I would have loved to see Vita rely on the other people in her life more rather than do everything herself! 2.5⭐️