The Mercy Makers is the first book in The Moon Heresies series, and I absolutely love the cover. It is stunning. Tessa Gratton's worldbuilding and magic systems are always impressive; they are lush and complex. The writing is beautiful, with Gratton's prose being lyrical and rich. It may take some time to adjust to her style, but since I've enjoyed her other works, I found it easy to adapt. Iriset as a main character was so much fun to read. Overall, this book is a fantastic start to a series and I can't wait to continue this journey. Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To put it simply, I am DNF-ing this book at 18% because I am confused.

The world is interesting, as is the magic. But I have no idea how the magic works or why and who has access to it. It seems like it could be used to impersonate people? I would’ve loved more information early on.

Instead, we got a lot of information that frankly felt like our MC had a thought and then went on this super long tangent just to be like, “anyway, back to what’s happening now!”. A lot of it did not feel relevant to what was happening.

All in all, due to the lack of helpful information and the feeling of being bombarded with irrelevant information, my brain is refusing to put in the work to figure out what is going on. And that is ultimately why I am DNF-ing.

I think this story has a lot of potential and plenty of people might love it, but the writing style and exposition in this book is not for me.

I made it to the 25% mark and couldn't take any more. The writing style is terrible! It is overly descriptive, meandering, and uses unnecessary and complicated wording. It's just over done in my opinion. I cannot imagine slogging through 500 pages of this nonsense. I actually enjoyed some of her earlier books, but this one is too much.

I have finished this and not only did it take longer than I imagined, but it was also, more difficult than I was expecting.

at first I had a hard time grasping the world building. it is very religious and sci-fi, but in a very complicated and almost convoluted way. I also found the way she chose to "identify" trans and non-binary people very annoying both conceptually and grammatically. The continuous use of "female presenting" "masculine design" and "ans or an" instead of just they/them continuously pulled me out and made me frustrated. If a concept is strong enough you should only have to explain it a maximum of twice before you should be able to implement it seamlessly, it didn't do that, it continuously felt forced.

A lot of the connections and love felt forced as well. Basically with everyone Iriset got close to, it was also in my opinion a bad example of bi or pan sexuality. Just because you can be sexually attracted to everyone, doesn't mean you will be to literally everyone. It's just bad representation.

also the NAMES are just a slog. they're too much, and the amount of times they are repeated over and over is so tedious.

Pros: the actually magical system is very unique and interesting. reading about all the ways someone with skill and understanding can change things, was fascinating!

I also LOVE books that question religion and the blind devotion people follow when it comes to religious structures and beliefs, especially when they are so strong that they are ingrained and entwined with the political structure of an empire. ie: the way that the empire holds people down from growth, and expansion of belief because it is "against Ahartes will" or despite the good human architecture could do to heal and improve the lives of people, it is too close to the power of a god and so it's evil very fascinating, and very philosophical which I did really enjoy.

I did enjoy a lot of the scheming and relationships (when they focused on the politics and platonic nature) it was very engaging and enjoyable. Also I (not surprising) enjoyed all of the sex and steaminess that happened. Very good 👌

TLDR: While I enjoyed the relationships, the characters, the religious fervor and questionable nature of the fanatical empire. as well as the very unique complex nature of the magic system and it's workings. The actual length and structure of this book made it a slog to get through and the initial few chapters and adjustment period were difficult.

his is not a book for distracted minds or lazy afternoons. The Mercy Makers demands focus—and then some. The prose is thick, the world-building is relentless, and the magic system? Let's just say I had to break out sticky notes to keep track.

Set in a deeply philosophical and spiritually complex empire, the story follows Iriset—crime lord’s daughter, magical prodigy, and brilliant designer of illicit body modifications. Her quest to save her father spirals into a tangle of court intrigue, forbidden love, and the dangerous pursuit of personal and political transformation.

Tessa Gratton’s world is rich but relentless. The writing leans hard into high fantasy diction—expect invented terms, unfamiliar pronouns (“anself”), and layered systems of magic, religion, and rule. Honestly, I had to restart the book after chapter six just to recalibrate my brain. Around chapter eight, things finally began to cohere.

There’s a lot going on thematically: faith vs innovation, body autonomy, gender and inheritance, the tension between tradition and progress. These are all powerful ideas—but they sometimes fight for oxygen with the density of the prose itself.

If you’re into academic-style fantasy layered with theology, queer politics, and messy, power-laced intimacy, this will hit. Personally, I appreciated the ambition more than I enjoyed the process. At times, reading felt less like storytelling and more like decoding. But the reward is there—eventually.

Bonus points for unapologetic queerness, inventive world-building, and the audacity to be this complex in a genre where simplicity often sells.

Would I recommend it? Yes—but with caution. Don’t bring a beach brain to this one.

The Mercy Makers is an ambitious fantasy novel that intertwines themes of forbidden magic, political intrigue, and complex relationships. Set in a meticulously crafted empire, the story follows Iriset, a talented architect and heretic, who becomes entangled in a web of rebellion and desire.

Gratton's world-building is a standout feature, with a richly imagined setting that draws readers into its depths. The magic system is intricate and innovative, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. The sensual and dreamlike prose enhances the atmosphere, creating a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama.

However, while the world is well-developed, the character development leaves much to be desired. Iriset's internal struggles and motivations are not fully explored, making it challenging to form a deep connection with her. The romantic elements, central to the plot, feel underdeveloped, lacking the emotional depth needed to make them compelling.

The pacing of the novel is uneven, with some sections dragging due to excessive exposition. This slows the narrative and detracts from the overall engagement. Additionally, the plot's complexity may overwhelm readers, as the intertwining of magic, politics, and personal dilemmas can be difficult to follow at times.

In conclusion, The Mercy Makers offers a unique and imaginative world with a promising premise. However, its lack of character depth and uneven pacing may hinder its full potential. Fans of intricate world-building and morally complex narratives may find it worth exploring, but those seeking emotionally resonant characters might find it lacking.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"A talented heretic must decide between the pursuit of forbidden magic, or the ecstasy of forbidden love, in the start of a sweeping, romantic epic fantasy trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Tessa Gratton.

Can an empire trip and fall on a mere strand of silk?

Iriset is a prodigy and an outlaw. The daughter of a powerful criminal, she dons her alter ego Silk to create magical disguises for those in her father's organization, but she longs to do more with her talent: to enhance what it means to be human by giving people wings, night-sight, and other abilities; to unlock the possibilities of gender and parenthood; to cure disease and even to end mortality itself.

Everything changes when her father is captured and sentenced to death. To save him, Iriset must infiltrate the palace and the empire's fanatical ruling family. There, she realizes she has a chance - and an obligation - to bring down the entire corrupt system. She'll have to entangle herself in the lives of the emperor and his sister, getting them to trust and even to love her. But love is a two-way street, and Iriset's own heart holds the most mysterious and impenetrable magic of all."

So much yes here, but damn, that cover is a true work of art.

I adored the book and it was great world bujilding, im a huge fan of having big lore in general so it was great to read, it was very imaginative and New it was refreshing to read. It can be considered a dense book because the first exposure is rought and it is hard to follow but reading along comes easy like any fantasy book but it was especially felt in that one. I gotta say i loved the queer representation and how it enforced the world building as a whole while not performative, it had a way to weave it into the story that was amazing and a neo pronoun user I adored the rep.

Idk. It might be a me thing, but I was super confused while reading this. Maybe the writing style just didn’t mesh well with my brains. Cool concept though!

First, I absolutely LOVED the world building. It really did draw me further into the story. It's always fun to come across a fantasy world that feels as unique as this one does! Iriset's story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. However, it was difficult to get past the first several chapters. I can appreciate that we get snippets of lore at the beginning of many chapters, and perhaps this was in an attempt to avoid tedious info-dumping at the beginning. Yet, this world is so full of specific phrases, customs, cultures, regions, and more that are not always explained before they are brought up several times. But, I will say once things began to click they really stuck with me. After that point there were still bits of information but it felt more like the typical trickling of revelations. If you can be patient through several chapters and enjoy complex worlds with elaborate magic systems, I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Spoiler-free review: The Mercy Makers
⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm normally a massive fan of intricate prose but sadly, this book was honestly a bit too much for me. For me, it seemed like Gratton was so caught up in describing every minute detail that the plot was a bit of an afterthought at first and it was hard to follow at times. The first 20-30% of it was so confusing and exhausting to read that I contemplated a DNF, but powered through. It absolutely got better and I read the last 40% in one sitting- I can see that many people who crave unique magic systems, political intrigue, and utterly new worlds will really enjoy this. The most impressive part of this is the insane creativity and I am beyond impressed by the meticulously crafted history, magic system, and entire world that was so unlike anything I've ever read before.

I was a huge fan of the representation within this book from the various sexualities to the neopronouns (though I was initially confused because they were used a good bit prior to any explanation) and applaud Gratton for including this in a way that was extremely tasteful and not at all performative. It honestly enhanced the creativity and complexity of the world that was built.

Though this was not my cup of tea I do think a lot of people with experience in fantasy will enjoy it.

Thank you SO very much to Orbit, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC - The opinions in this review are left here honestly and voluntarily.

I truly, genuinely, detest leaving bad reviews and not finishing books, but I had to for this one. I'd like to preface and say that the author can write and has potential, but this book wasn't it for me. The writing felt overly convoluted without saying a whole lot at times. It was frustrating, and I couldn't keep doing it.

I absolutely adored this super intricate, creative magical world! It has such a unique magic system and the political intrigue and characters were stellar. It’s a very complicated book so not great for beginners but I loved this one and cannot wait for the next one😩

3.5 stars rounded up. I really deliberated with how to rate this one. The stunning plot & world I would give 5 stars alone, but, the delivery was a 2-3 unfortunately.

The author built a world and magic system that were both absolutely fascinating. The worldbuilding is so intricate and really did draw me further into the story. It's always fun to come across a fantasy world that feels as unique as this one does! Likewise, Iriset's story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing and my eyes glued to the pages.

However, it was extremely difficult to get past the first several chapters. I can appreciate that we get snippets of lore at the beginning of many chapters, and perhaps this was in an attempt to avoid tedious info-dumping at the beginning. Yet, this world is so full of specific phrases, customs, cultures, regions, and more that are not always explained before they are brought up several times. While I expect some confusion when learning new fantasy worlds, but, this felt exacerbated as the story didn't explain enough early on.

But, I will say once things began to click they really stuck with me! As more lore was explained in greater depth I finally could look back and understand specific details that had initially confused me and I do feel like it was significantly less confusing. After that point there were still bits of information but it felt more like the typical trickling of revelations. If you can be patient through several chapters and enjoy complex worlds with elaborate magic systems, I would highly recommend this book!

Reading this book felt a lot like having someone describe, in excessive detail, a mythological Renaissance painting depicting nymphs frolicking gaily at its center, and then, when you let your gaze wander towards the shadowy edges, you realize there are hidden gods peering in at the main subjects. It's a seemingly ornate, intriguing artwork to behold from its uniqueness. Gratton paints world so vividly different from our world in its architecture, political system, religion of the Moon Eater God, and its magic system, you can tell she painstakingly devoted a lot of time to designing the world. However, I think Gratton had spent so much time describing to the read the intricate visuals and alien lands, that she had forgotten to tell the story, and just remembers to sprinkle it in as herbs and spices, when really the plot needed to be the main ingredient to make the meal feel meaty rather than insubstantial.

I wouldn't say that the writing is flowery, but it is overly descriptive in aspects that do not propel the plot forward and over-indulges on emphasizing a unique world. And when it's not describing the world, a large portion of the story is devoted to love-making--not negative in itself, but at the same time, I'm like "plot is where?"

One thing that I think is commendable is the magic system in The Mercy Makers, different from other fantasy novels, divided into 4 parts: rising, falling, flow, and ecstatic.
• These forces were used to manipulate things that characters saw physically and as well as in feeling.
• However, since the magic system was so different from other novels, there was just too much cognitive load devoted to understanding it, especially when it came to the magic described relating to emotions--it's just too abstract, hence making the already description-bloated story feel too much like "vibes" rather than a concrete tool.
• Another thing that detracted from my enjoyment was the MC was largely isolated--sure there were plenty of people surrounding her, after she was captured by the royal family and forced to hide her true identity as one of the greatest architects alive (magic wielder), but Gratton primarily has her working on getting herself unensared from the trap by herself, leaving the reader alone with way too much of the MC's internal dialog. I keep saying this, this is why side-kicks are so useful when it comes to story telling, so the audience is just not trapped inside someone's head for too long.
• Also, while introducing us to this wildly different world, Gratton also uses "an"/"ans"/"anself" as a gender neutral pronoun and it's not immediately obvious, especially as you're trying to just grasp what the heck is happening and in what kind of world.

Anyways, if you're in the mood for a slower-paced high fantasy novel with a world and magic system different from other fantasy series that has a FMC very comfortable in her sexuality, then maybe this book is for you.

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.