Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly, I DNF’ed the book around 15%. I may come back to it later, but for now, I couldn’t through it. The prose was very tedious and confusing. I spent a lot of time rereading entire chapters because things weren’t making much sense to me. The long paragraphs of info dumping about the world and magic system weren’t helpful in helping me understand.

I think the plot is interesting. However, the prose was a struggle for me to look past. I made it to chapter eight and still didn’t understand much.

I heard the audiobook is good, so maybe I will give the book another shot through audio.

Again, thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

The city that is the setting for author Tessa Gratton's latest novel was created when a moon fell to earth and left a massive crater. There is another moon, inhabited by a goddess, who watches over the city. The world used to be full of magic, called architecture, and practitioners experimented, healing, changing, and even creating beings of beauty and monstrosity.

A religion called Silence sprang up around this second, moon goddess, Aharté, which posits that all is as Aharté wills it, and any change to nature is wrong, and illegal. So, the engineered beings were seen as a step too far, and labelled apostasy and outlawed. The current empire, ruled by a sister and brother, the former a priestess, the latter the emperor, is orthodox in its belief in Silence, continuing to outlaw architecture for all but themselves and the wealthy. Architecture can be used for some things, but the rulers do not support architecture use on humans for things such as pregnancy or diseases or broken bones, or the transformation of a body in the case of body dysphoria. Also, everyone sports a mask to prevent the theft of their likenesses,

Under the guise of Silk, Iriset, a genius human architect, is absorbed in the thrill of her craft, and it's this constant striving that brings about her criminal father's capture and execution verdict, and her imprisonment. No one realizes that she is the legendary Silk, and she is brought into Amaranth's, the Priestess, household, where Iriset begins to understand the inherent conservatism of the ruling class, who benefit from non-human architecture, but prevent the vast and diverse population they rule over from similar advantages.

Iriset is determined to rescue her father prior to his execution, and gets to know Amaranth's inner circle, including a princess from another kingdom who is contracted to marry Lyric, Amaranthe's brother. While Amaranth has a more relaxed view of her religion, Lyric is a fundamentalist, and though he and Iriset have interesting discussions, he is not interested in expanding the boundaries of his faith or laws of the land.

When a shocking and sudden death occurs, this difference in the siblings comes to fore and Iriset finds herself in a difficult position, and one full of inner conflict. Iriset must maintain a fiction while finding herself unwillingly liking Amaranth and Lyric and wanting to remain in their cloistered world, even while still working towards freeing her father, and ultimately bringing the empire down.

Iriset is such a different kind of protagonist. She not only is self absorbed in the pursuit of her craft, but is terrific at it, and horny as heck, without any one of these attributes being a real detriment.

Gratton's world is complex, lush, breathtakingly beautiful, and full of inequality. The writing is dense, and the author provides a LOT of background on the world, its conventions and beliefs and practices. I sometimes got a little lost in it all, but thankfully the plot tightens up once the shocking situation occurs.

I want back and forth between the text and audio, and liked how voice actor Emily Lawrence inhabited Iriset, and Singix. Amaranth is nicely cold and ruthless, while Lyric comes off as reasonable, until he isn't.

I loved how unapologetic Iriset is about what she wants and likes and does and the world is fascinating. I would have given this a full 4 stars, except for how long the story takes to suddenly focus.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orbit Books and Hachette Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.

3⭐️ – My brain has been thoroughly poked and prodded by this book’s dense and often confusing prose. The Mercy Makers is a fantasy romance told in an intensely lyrical and heavy third-person POV that demands full attention—this is not for the faint of heart. This book is for those who seek a literary challenge with little reprieve. Personally, it wasn’t until Chapter 8 that things finally started to click into place for me.

The worldbuilding stretches far but doesn’t quite land as solidly as I hoped. The magic system, in particular, could’ve used more clarity—it felt like I was solving a riddle half the time. The story centers around Iriset, a heretic who challenges the foundations of faith and tradition that shape her world by using forbidden magic that defies the Goddess. Her actions spark tension and resistance from the devout, playing into themes of transformation, science, and belief in a world steeped in spirituality.

The writing style blends high fantasy with a pseudo-archaic flair—think “anself” instead of “oneself”—which caused my brain to short-circuit more than once. I did appreciate the conceptual depth: forces as a form of magic, the weaving of a person’s “design” at birth, and the tension between internal self-perception and externally dictated faith. There’s a lot to admire here, conceptually—but the execution felt like a bit much for me. I often found myself piecing together meaning on the fly.

If you thrive on intricate, lyrical prose and dense, idea-heavy writing, this book might be your cup of tea. But if you're like me and prefer a little more breathing room between metaphors, proceed with caution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.75 stars

This book is not for everyone. There is some complex world-building and a magic system inspired by math and architecture. As one who is not very mathematically inclined, it took some getting used to.

That being said, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I’ve not read a book like this one before. It was unique and unlike other fantasy books I’ve read, I wasn't able to guess where the story was going. Like the writing style and worldbuilding, it took me some time to warm up to the characters but by the end, I was cheering on Iriset as she plotted and schemed to take down the empire. I will definitely be picking up the next book.

Thank you, Netgalley and Orbit, for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. It has been a long while since I last had the pleasure of not wanting to finish a book, because I will never get to experience it again through fresh eyes. There is one series and two books that make that list, and I am excited to add this book to it.
Tessa Gratton managed to dive readers into a complex high fantasy world while tackling heavy topics such as racism, colonization, gender, and religion all at the same time. However, I will quickly point out that this book is NOT for everyone. The prose is… let’s just say wordy and long, which in turn can make this book dry and slow. Now, I live and breathe Tolkien and have marched through hundreds and hundreds of pages just talking about walking and dry dialogue, so I am no stranger to this level of high fantasy prose. Also sometimes the descriptions of the literal world-building that was taking place (ie the buildings that the characters were walking through) can be difficult to understand and also imagine. Soo.. yeah definitely is not a book for everyone and this is a book that you need to focus your whole attention on while reading.
For me, that was a problem, not because I considered the book to be difficult to get through, but because (once a scholar, always a scholar) I kept writing mini-essays in my head about how Tessa Gratton brings in topics like conformity versus assimilation; assimilation versus colonization, gender and idenity, religion versus science, and so many other huge topics that like honestly wrote themselves while I had to do mundane everyday tasks and counldn’t read.
My favorite topic is religion versus science, and specifically the question of “When does advancement in science become too much? Where is the line that we draw so we don’t become gods?” Religion plays a major part in this question because it acts as the foundation of Moonshadow’s ethics. I can quite literally keep going on and on about this topic of the fine line between Man and God, but I will leave that to you to figure out which side you fall on while you read the book.
I am very excited to keep reading this series to see how Iriset navigates this theme because she is clearly on the side of Apostasy, but hey, with all the twists and turns that occurred in this book, no one is safe, and everyone's belief will be shaken. Overall 5/5, and excuse me while I go buy the book so I can write all my notes in the margins.

This is a wonderful, cunning, sensual, fantastical novel that was somehow everything I expected and nothing at all like I expected. Don’t ask me how it managed to achieve that seemingly impossible dichotomy; all I know is that I came out of reading this book feeling like I had been put through a whirlwind but somehow came out better for it.

The Mercy Makers somehow manages to be a book heavily centered on sex, sexual identity, sexuality, sexual politics, and gender while not being a romantasy. It’s about seduction, worship, intimacy, and love, but it’s still somehow a very intricate and dense fantasy novel–not a romantasy novel.

Tessa Gratton is no stranger to dense worldbuilding and intricate magic systems (looking at her catalog), and it really shows. This book is full of pieces of lore that don’t feel shoehorned in, descriptions of the city that help the reader visualize what’s going on without being obvious that’s what’s going on, an understanding of the different cultures and factions in the neighborhoods, and a complete history that helps to understand the social and political implications of every piece of the plot.

The cherry on top of it all, for me, was this book’s diversity. Different skin colors, hair textures, body shapes, gender presentations, and sexual inclinations all make themselves evident throughout the story. Is it perfect? No. Some of these matters are actually matters of plot. But that’s why we have two more books to look forward to. 4⭐️



I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Adult Fantasy/Book Series/Fantasy/Fantasy Series/LGBTQ Fantasy/Political Fantasy/Spice Level 1

I did not finish this book. I didn’t like the POV and some of the stylistic choices. I’m not a fan of breaking the fourth wall so times the story said things like “But what Iriset didn’t know…” threw me off. I thought the overall concept was really cool and innovative! I loved the snippets of living architecture I did see, like the man with the cat eyes passed down through generations and her bobcat with wings. I thought they were really cool! I enjoyed learning the religious aspects and traditions of their world. I thought the amount of focus placed on characters’ genders was distracting. The in-world pronouns an/ans/anself were an interesting touch that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC.

This novel was a wondrous fever dream that I never wished to wake from. The worldbuilding was heavy, yet it laced throughout characters' interactions. Although I was overwhelmed, I refused to stop reading such beautiful otherworldliness. Even this realm's normal, everyday activities and routines were shockingly breathtaking. The details made my reading experience rapturous.

The magic system was enthralling to learn about, especially its infamous, heretical reputation. Magic's condemnation influenced all aspects of life within this novel. Cultural norms such as avoidance of eye contact or wearing masks were practical solutions against identity theft from mages. Although magic became intensely regulated, such practices are still encouraged as basic etiquette. Because of this history, magic was no longer an entertaining fantasy, but an actual threat.

I almost DNF’d this at 12%—not because it was bad, but because the worldbuilding was so dense I felt like I needed a decoder ring and a PhD in Fantasy Linguistics. Tessa Gratton throws readers headfirst into a wildly original world with no glossary and very little explanation. Words like “Architecture,” “Stylus,” and “Petal” mean wildly different things depending on the context (and sometimes the paragraph). It wasn’t until Chapter 8 that things really started clicking.

But once they did… wow. I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before—based on altering bodies, which is outlawed in this world for deeply religious and ethical reasons. There's this powerful underlying question: If you could change the human body—heal injury, cure cancer, eliminate disability—should you? It reminded me of real-world debates on gene editing and bodily autonomy, and I wish that theme had been explored even more.

The FMC is intense, brilliant, unapologetic, and gloriously independent. She knows her power, and she owns it—especially when it comes to her body and her sexuality. The world in general is sex-positive, with more queer than straight characters, and normalized nonbinary identities (though prejudice still exists).

A small critique: the way the FMC tries to guess someone’s ethnicity based on skin color and features was... uncomfortable and felt out of place, even in a complex fantasy world.

Heads-up: there is smut (not Iron Flame level, but definitely present), and yes, that helped motivate me to push through the early confusion.

I really wish a glossary had been included in the book, so here’s the one I made myself. It’s not perfect or complete, but it might help you survive the first few chapters:

Glossary (unofficial, compiled while reading):
- an/ans/anself – gender-neutral pronouns
- Apostate – unethical person
- Apostasy – unethical act
- Architecture – the body, any structure, or even abstract forms
- Design – soul, body, emotions, inventions
- Mirané – ethnicity; ruling class with peach-brown skin
- Petal – wing of a palace, noble entourage, or flower petal
- Quad – possibly the word for week
- Silent – ethical; balanced state of the four forces
- Silicate – invention material
- Stylus – tool for manipulating magic/forces
- Vortex Seal – monarch, but also the palace itself

Tough start, but worth the payoff if you’re into complex fantasy, philosophical magic systems, and strong, morally grey women.

This was rough. The premise had so much potential, but the writing completely got in the way. It’s not flowery in a beautiful or lyrical way; it’s just confusing. I love descriptive writing, but this felt like words for the sake of words, not to build atmosphere or move the plot forward.

The worldbuilding and magic system were a total mess. Terms are thrown in with zero explanation, and you’re expected to just keep up. I had to reread entire pages just to get a vague idea of what was happening, and I still felt lost. The third-person narration is also way too dense. You look away for a second, and suddenly you're ten steps behind.

The Mercy Makers is one of the most unique books I've read. The reader is kind of thrown into the world at the start and forced to learn as they go. This is a book that you need to take your time with and not rush to get through or else you'll miss out of important info. There is heavy worldbuilding in the beginning, which is to be expected since it is a fantasy book.. The magic system was fascinating and unlike any I've come across before.

What I liked most about this book was the author's writing style. I think that's what made the book most unique to me and kept me reading. I did a combination of reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job on the audiobook and bringing the story to life. I'm glad that I had both the ebook and audiobook. There were times I needed to go back and reference a previous chapter and, while possible on the audiobook, it is a lot easier with the ebook.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the author's writing and am looking forward to the next book in the series!

I really wanted to love this but I found myself having a hard time getting into the story and really losing myself within it---I think it was the prose. I was unable to not think about the prose while reading, which makes it hard to get immersed in a story where you're constantly having to think about the way sentences are constructed and decipher the prose. There were times where I had to reread a passage because I just could not understand what I had just read. Because of that, I don't have much else to say. I never really got a feel for the world or characters, and the plot became background noise as I tried to parse even a little of what was going on.
This had a really cool concept, but I think in execution it needed a bit of editing for clarity/removing the verboseness of the writing.

As always I appreciate every opportunity I am given to read and review an ARC.

While I tried my best on two separate occasions to get into this book, I just don’t think this is for me. The premise of the book has such great potential and I have no doubt that the overall story would have been decent. Unfortunately, I could not continue reading this. The writing had me confused and I felt genuinely lost immediately. I know this book had a particular target audience and will be loved by them. It just isn’t for me. And that’s okay! I hope this book finds the right people for it.

DNF at chapter 5

Appreciate Orbit and NetGalley for providing this eARC but I unfortunately cannot continue reading this. It's convoluted. I thought it was just me trying to read it late at night but even after staring over and giving it the benefit of the doubt, I've retained nothing.

I've read enough of Gratton's books to know that you never enter them lightly: they are very inventive but can also be dense and inscrutable. Characters can be hard to like and there is always a feel of disenfranchisement with them. But if you like being challenged with your reads, she always delivers.

Story: Iriset is the daughter of an underlord kingpin, happy to help her father using her very unique and potent magic skills. Those skills have made her and her father a target - and she will find herself challenged to keep her identity of "Silk" a secret while humoring a spoiled Princess and her entourage.

The magic here is intricate and well thought out - as is the political system. I was greatly reminded of Renaissance Venice throughout the book. Here, the maneuverings come from Magic rather than poisonings and assassinations and certainly there is a lot more to the lore. Everything is well thought out and certainly explained in depth (perhaps to the story's detriment).

Iriset is thoroughly unlikable: she's selfish, single minded, and aloof - only the goal to save her father and be able to use her magic as she wants count. At the court, she acts the pet to the princess and her companions but behind the scenes she is always scheming. The other characters are very nuanced and operate on their own wills and wants.

There is a lot of casual sex and certainly this is the antidote to the overidealized YA romantasy that is so popular right now. It is high fantasy though more of a Renaissance than medieval feel. Just be prepared to invest time since the book is more about setting up the world, magic, and politics than it is about interreacting with the characters. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I have found Gratton's stories some of the hardest to review. She is undoubtedly a master of lush atmospheric imagery but often the bones of the story lose me, feeling unnecessarily dense and convoluted.

In The Mercy Makers, readers follow Iriset, the daughter of a criminal and a wielder of unique magic. Despite her talents, she longs for more. When her father is captured and held captive at the palace, Iriset life takes a turn that will either break her or see her born anew.

As I eluded, this story is laden with dense atmosphere and beautiful prose. Gratton undeniably has a way with words and it's hard not to be impressed with the way she wields them. I did find that the plot, with all it's intricacies, overwhelming and awkwardly paced.

I was lucky enough to bounce between the physical and audio of this offering and it's worth noting that the narration is spectacular. The nuanced delivery brings the story to life and kept me captivated when physical reading felt like a slog.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I about 25% into this one and I just could not get into it. I'm not sure if it's the writing or the story itself but it was not clicking with me. Wish I could have finished but unfortunately, it's not for me.

I absolutely loved this book! The world building, characters... so many exciting things and I couldn't wake to turn the page. Wonderful book!

DNFing at 63%, which is sad because this is a 19 hour audiobook. I really could not get into it, which is unfortunate because the premise had a lot of promise. And why is our FMC so horny and sleeping with everyone all the time?!

Thank you to Orbit and Hachette Audio for an ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 3.5⭐️
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Overall rating: 3.5/5⭐️

This book is for the dreamers and fairytale readers. With a silver-pink moon in the heart of the city. Richly detailed with vivid descriptions and imaginative.
A Queer normative, forbidden magic, political intrigue, romantasy. A fiery FMC who leads a rebellion. The first in a new trilogy called The Moon Heresies.

Iriset is considered a heretic because of her magic. Her magic involves reshaping the human body and identity with masks and the use of spider silk. But Iriset has a vision that her magic can be used for so much more.
Exploring gender fluidity through the use of silk magic to alter genders but also vision and wings. Tensions rise as the ethical use of her magical abilities come into question. Her father is an undercover crime lord, the black cat, and is sentenced to death. In order to save him she must adopt her alter ego “Silk” and infiltrate the Imperial Palace.

“You see, Iriset was always destined to break the world.”