hanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a lot going for it. The world is really cool and the concept for the "magic" used in the book is really unique. I really enjoyed a lot of the world building that occurs.

My biggest struggle with the book is the main character. She feels all over the place with what she wants and her actions do not always make sense with her shifting goals.

Something to note is that this book is explicit. Which isn't a problem, but it wasn't necessarily something I was expecting to come up as much as it does

Ultimately if this sounds like you would like I would check it out and I am curious to see where it goes from here.

Plot: 4
Setting: 4
Characters: 3
Personal Enjoyment: 4
Overall:4

The first thirty percent was painful for me to get through with how intricate the prose was, and the borderline overdone character descriptions. But the character arc's, political intrigue, and addictive plot pacing made up for it all.

I quickly became invested in our FMC Iriset/Silk, and found the side characters to be intriguing, the plot gripping, and the setting unlike anything else I have ever read. While I have read of similar magic systems prior, the spin on the idea of 'threads' Gratton took I found to be fresh and unique. I really enjoyed the vulnerability portrayed in Lyric our MMC, while also illustrating his masculine traits creating a balance and depth in his character that has me hooked and invested.

The spice deserves its own paragraph:
HOLY...
1. I was not expecting it.
2. I have never been so scared that people around me could read my thoughts LOL. The bath scene was HOT, blush causing, and unforgettable. The tension and scenes with Lyric also had me scared my husband spontaneously developed mind reading abilities.

I will say, in the beginning Iriset's character felt juvenile to me, to the point that later on, during her first sexual encounter I felt uncomfortable reading it since her character had been made to seem so young, as time went on, her character developed, and I no longer felt this way and the way she was portrayed felt less child like. Iriset does come into herself as a woman which is part of the juvenile portrayl of her character in the beginning, but I feel the child like innocence could have been made less prevalent.

By the end of this, I loved the characters, wished book 2 was on netgalley (lol), and found myself in a book hangover from how much I enjoyed this world, setting, and the politics.

Tessa Gratton's Mercy Makers is an intriguing start to what promises to be a sweeping and sensual epic fantasy trilogy. The premise is immediately captivating: a world where a talented heretic, Iriset, known as Silk, uses forbidden magic to create extraordinary disguises and dreams of pushing the boundaries of human potential. The description by Jacqueline Carey as a "wondrous lucid dream…laced with a vivid sensuality" is certainly fitting.
Gratton crafts a world that feels rich with potential, hinting at complex political and social structures, particularly with the "fanatical ruling family" and the empire's apparent fragility. Iriset is a compelling protagonist, driven by a desire to both save her father and to explore the vast possibilities of her magic. Her ambition to grant wings, night-sight, and even challenge mortality itself is undeniably fascinating and raises profound questions about what it means to be human.
The core conflict – Iriset's infiltration of the palace and her need to gain the trust (and perhaps love) of the emperor and his sister – sets the stage for a high-stakes game of intrigue and emotional entanglement. The promise of forbidden love adds a layer of romantic tension that feels integral to the plot, especially given the emphasis on Iriset's own mysterious heart-magic.
While the world-building and the central premise are strong, at times the pacing felt a little uneven. Certain aspects of the political landscape could have been explored in greater depth to fully realize the stakes Iriset faces. Additionally, while the sensuality is present, it occasionally felt more alluded to than fully realized.
However, these are minor quibbles in what is ultimately a promising and imaginative fantasy novel. Iriset's journey is compelling, and the exploration of forbidden magic and its potential is thought-provoking. The ending leaves you eager to see how Iriset navigates the treacherous waters of the imperial court and how her relationships with the emperor and his sister will evolve. Mercy Makers is a solid four-star read, brimming with originality and the promise of a captivating trilogy to come. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

This was exactly what I want when I am looking to immerse myself in a new world of high fantasy-- incredibly unique and creative, fully immersive. Bonus: it was super hot?!

DNF 10% so don't take my rating too seriously.

This book came highly recommended by a friend and they absolutely loved it, said it was one of the best books they read this year, so this might work for you it just unfortunately didn't do it for me.
The reason I DNF-ed it when I absolutely hate doing it to ARCs: I couldn't get past the writing style. The prose walks in circles, it's not flowery exactly because I love writing that overly describes things with complicated words, but here it just confuses the reader unnecessarily. Maybe it gets better, but my kindle was telling me I still had 7 hours and I just couldn't do it.
I encourage you to try it, because like I said before I know people who loved it. I will probably buy the final version when it comes out in June and try again, but for now it is a DNF.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have incredible appreciation for Tessa Gratton's lush prose and thoughtful world-building. I also think Gratton is one of the few who actually gets the subtle different between Romantasy and Fantasy With Romance correct. However, on the flip side, the dense nature of the text and the ill-explained magic system made the story difficult to crack. The broad premise - that of a magical and religious heretic seeking to infiltrate the royal family for revenge - was highly intriguing. However, reading the story felt like looking at an attractive picture. The characters lacked sufficient substance to endear me to them, which in turn made the relationships feel hollow. I was especially struck by this in the case of the character Lyric, who had great potential but became more a vehicle to allow the plot to unfold than a person in his own right.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf this book at 16%. the premise of this story sounds absolutely incredible, but the writing was very meticulous and slow, and because of that I had a hard time picking it up. I felt that I had to go back and reread paragraphs and pages to figure out what was happening.

Unfortunately, this just wasn’t the book for me! Ig you are into very meticulously-woven stories and complex writing and lots of detail - I would definitely recommend!

I would be willing to try to pick it up again in the future, or try another book by this author!

The Mercy Makers is a masterclass in worldbuilding, political tension, and identity. Set in a religious empire founded on sacred architecture and elemental forces—rising, falling, ecstatic, and flow—the story follows Iriset mé Isidor, a secret architect working under the alias “Silk.” When her father is captured by the empire, she is drawn into a web of deception, forbidden magic, and emotional upheaval that changes her identity—and her fate—forever.

At first, I found the opening chapters dense and hard to navigate. The introduction of the religion (Silence), the empire’s history, and a wide array of characters made it a slower start for me, especially as someone who reads quickly. But once I acclimated to the setting and Gratton’s lyrical, descriptive style, I was completely immersed.

The empire’s structure is a brilliant fusion of architecture, theology, and power. Using the four elemental forces, architects like Iriset can alter not only buildings, but even the human body—a practice strictly forbidden. The dominant racial group, mirané, reflects the empire’s built-in racism, while same-sex relationships are more culturally accepted than heterosexual ones due to religious law. This kind of inversion added unique texture to the world.

As Iriset’s role in the empire shifts, the stakes grow higher and more personal. What begins as an attempt to save her father turns into something much larger and more dangerous, forcing her to navigate court intrigue, religious politics, and forbidden magic. Tensions mount within the palace walls, and hidden identities begin to collide with public expectations. Gratton masterfully builds suspense as Iriset is drawn into a plot that could alter the course of the empire—and her own life—forever.

Assassinations, betrayals, and secrets bubble beneath the surface, leading to an emotional crescendo that’s as tragic as it is inevitable. Love, loss, and loyalty all come into question, and just when you think the story has reached its climax, Gratton delivers one final, haunting twist that completely redefines the endgame. The conclusion is both shocking and strangely poetic, leaving you with a deep sense of unease—and admiration.

Gratton’s writing is rich, layered, and emotionally devastating in all the right ways. I’ve never read anything by her before, but The Mercy Makers left me deeply impressed. This is a book that demands patience and attention, but rewards it with brilliance, heartbreak, and a story I won’t forget. Can’t wait for the next installment of this series!

I needed this to be released and in my hands a week ago. I don't even know where to start talking about everything I loved. This was so distinctly and blatantly queer. Various genders and sexualities were present. I loved that Iriset was bisexual and how normalized it was to be trans, nonbinary (including with the use of neopronouns!!!), or experience same sex attraction (this was even pushed as preferable to having un-sanctioned children) which is something we need to see more of with the state of the world and the current push against trans and other queer people.

Iriset was everything I wanted in a main character. She's clever and intelligent, driven by her love for her father and her art. I loved her argumentative nature and how she pushed Lyric philosophically. She wasn't vengeful, which I wouldn't have minded, but it seems to be formulaic at this point when a heroine has her family taken or killed by the rulers. Her relationships with Amaranth, Lyric, Raia, her father, even Bittor, were all really well developed.

The magic system was incredible. I have never seen anything like it before and it was well constructed without any failed logic holes in it. The rest of the world building was also really well done. I loved that the ruling class wasn't white, nor were the subjugated groups, which introduced even more shades of black and white when it came to the morality of the ruling class. There wasn't a lot of info dumping either, which tends to be normal when it comes to fantasy. All of the politics and morals, both for those who believe in Aharta and balance and those for chaos and apostasy, were subtly intertwined in the story which made it feel natural to question it with Iriset as you're reading.

I needed book two yesterday and book 1 hasn't even released yet. This is for fans of A Memory Called Empire and The Traitor Baru Cormorant. It's deliciously sexy (yes there are sex scenes), politically intriguing, and unapologetically queer.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-rc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to DNF this. The premise sounds very interesting, but the writing is entirely too flowery and not cohesive to where you can't really keep track of what's going on and I found myself having to re-read paragraphs just to kind of figure out what's going on. This is my first attempt at this author's work, and I'm not sure if this is how Gratton writes all the time, but if so, they may not be an author for me. If you enjoy their work though give it a try as you may like it.

4 stars!

Thank you so much to the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy! This is the first time I have read a book with such prose and world-building characteristics. If I could describe this book to anyone else I would say it's like the perfect storm, brewing and thundering in so many different places the wrap you into the whole story. One aspect I did love was the how descriptive and filled of emotion everything was, honestly I was head over heels and on my toes because I felt like I needed to finish the book to see what happened at the end.

Unapologetically, this book is for anyone that loves beautiful prose, magical worlds, high fantasy, love, and ambition. For some a long read, but definitely a must read!

DNF, while I truly wanted to like this- but the start alone felt like I should’ve known more of the lore, world, and the story itself.

It almost was like I was dropped mid scene, and my brain couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I am a hard core mood reader, and so I eventually decided to forgo continuing this novel.

Orbit, I truly appreciate you approving me this ARC & look forward to more works!

DNF. The premise of this sounded unique and interesting, and while I am so grateful that Orbit gave me access to this book, I couldn't continue on. The third person writing was extremely hard to push through. Every page is so utterly dense which had me scrambling to keep up with the details of the story. There are heavy themes of religion, philosophy, and forbidden magic. Unfortunately, this didn't hold my interest, but I can see how others may enjoy it. Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐ rounded up!

i wanted to love this book more than I did! the mercy makers offers one of the most original and intriguing magic systems I've encountered in fantasy—truly unlike anything I've read before, but that uniqueness also became kind of a double-edged sword, as i found myself lacking familiar points of reference which made it difficult to fully grasp how the system worked until around the halfway mark.

the prose is dense and lush, undeniably beautiful, but I often found myself doubling back, rereading entire passages so my smooth brain could keep up. there’s something admirable in that kind of richness, but it also created a bit of friction in my reading experience. that said, iriset makes for a fantastic protagonist: layered, sharp, so great to follow. still, by the final chapters, i noticed that my focus was drifting and i struggled a bit to stay entertained.

i think this would be a fascinating read for seasoned fantasy readers, the ones who really love intricate worldbuilding and prose that asks for close attention. and the cover? STUNNING.

thank you to netgalley and orbit books for the arc!

4 ⭐️ (really like 3.75)

In the spirit of being honest I will say that I did enjoy reading this and it is technically a good book. I think the plot was really interesting and I’m OBSESSED with the magic system. That being said— while I enjoyed this and it was technically good, I almost DNFd it multiple times before getting to like chapter nine. There’s just so much front loading of information happening that it’s hard to really find the story. I also am concerned that I’ve retained like none of the information (this is probably a me issue) and that I’m going need to reread before ever continuing the series. Another issue I had while reading was the language used, it was an odd mix of super formal writing and then sometimes just throwing in a super casual sentence or an add in after a paragraph that didn’t really match the pacing or the vibe of the story.

Overall I did really start to enjoy this story and the characters. I just wish I got to know more about them rather than more about the world building.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Orbit team for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly don't know feel about this book. Im kind of in between. there were some parts that were good and some parts that weren't. I feels though the pace of the book moved way too fast for me. Sometimes I was confused and felt like I couldn't keep up with everything that was happening.

1 "lord have mercy on my reading life" star !

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an ecopy. This novel will be released June 2025. I am providing an honest reaction for the first 7 percent. I just had to stop...full stop.

I cannot go any further. The story has some interesting potential but the prose is so bloody tedious and precious and gives me both irritation and indigestion...cutting my losses....

I really did not vibe with this writing style - it felt very passive and juvenile in tone (in my opinion). Unfortunately that coloured how I felt about the whole book, so I didn’t end up enjoying this on as much as I expected to based off the synopsis.

Give it a try though, as writing styles work differently for everyone!

3.75 Stars. I really enjoyed this read. The pacing is pretty good. When it starts to get too slow you are hit with some faster paced stuff to keep you interested. Nothin is over explained or simplified, which I like and the world building is well done. Will read from Gratton again.

Honestly, I was a bit meh on this one. I thought the concept was cool, and I love reading books about criminals and intricate court politics, but I thought all of the aspects that made this book interesting were quite surface level. There was a large cast of characters, though besides the main character, we do not get to know them well enough to feel attached to them and to feel interested in following their plot arcs. Even when devastating things happen to the characters and the stakes are raised, I didn't care much. Additionally, I don't think the world building was in depth enough for such a long book. We know there's an empire that has colonized all these different groups of people, but we don't know anything about these people's cultures or the history of the empire outside of its religious origins. The magic system, while unique and creative, was also not explained well enough, considering that it played such an integral role in the plot and the characters' development.

Despite these shortcomings, I do think the book was engaging enough to read all the way through, and I ejoyed the whodunnit/mystery aspect of it (despite it being a little predictable). I also enjoyed the exploration of organized religion and how it can be used to keep people oppressed and under a ruling thumb.