The premise was interesting, but it overall fell flat for me. The queer prose was amazing though— Loved everything it added to this story, I just couldn’t fully love the rest of this book.

It’s def a complex read, super interested in how architects shape so much of the world, beyond buildings. The world building is detailed, magic is super unique, but the characters and the story weren’t able to connect w/ me.
Definitely not super romantic, but more on the Epic Fantasy side of things.

Overall, I wanted to love this & maybe I’ll try to in the future, but it’s just not hitting right now. I feel like the story is just circling too much & I don’t feel like it’s progressing anywhere…
Emily Lawrence did amazing narrating nonetheless!!

I really love the way that Emily Lawrence brought Tessa's story to life. The Mercy Makers centers around Iriset and her journey to save her father. I thought that there were so many twists and surprises that it kept me engaged!

This had so much potential, there was a magical prodigy with a secret alter ego, forbidden magic, and a morally grey empire ripe for rebellion? I was sold. The magic system was unique. But the prose felt a bit too heavy for me, and I found myself having to rewind often while listening.

The narration was well done, but I struggled to stay engaged. I think this book will definitely resonate with readers who enjoy intricate language, but for me, it was a bit hard to sink into. That said, I’m still curious about where the story goes next just not sure I’ll be continuing right away.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Orbit for this ARC Audio Copy!

I was completely drawn in by the cover of this book and the story looked like it would be unique and intriguing with a FMC who is not only a magical prodigy, but also an outlaw who had to do all her experiments in secret under an alter ego. So very many possibilities, but it just fell flat for me. The prose was a lot of me, and I had a really hard time focusing on the audiobook. Maybe I would have liked it more if I had read a physical copy, but I usually have no issue with audiobooks, so I fear it may have just been the storytelling that was not for me. I do see how this book will have its fans, it has a great setup, and I am really curious how things will go in the rest of the books in the series, just not sure if I am interested enough to continue on when the time comes.

This book had so many twists and surprises! To everyone that starts this book- hold on, the first chapter or two is a lot of character and world building, but I am so happy I stuck with this- I was blown away. Once the story really got started, I didn't want it to end. The narration was great and I was so drawn into the story!!

Actual Rating 1.5

This work starts with a lot of things that we’re thrown into with little-to-no context and just keeps going that way. Modern language was used throughout the conversations and exposition as well, which I really dislike in fantasy works.

The author spends a lot of time and words describing extraneous things, things that really didn’t matter to the plot, characters, or relevant world. This included detailed descriptions of the physicality of things, especially characters and their clothes. What this did was waste a lot of time on meaningless details, without providing anything useful. We didn’t learn anything much about the characters as people, which left them feeling flat. And the worldbuilding we got was a lot of macro philosophical/religious/magical stuff, but almost nothing that made the setting come to life or feel immersive. This was especially true in relation to broader discussion of gender and politics, both of which were generally too broad reaching to really feel like it mattered at all to what was going on with the plot.

Info-dumping was a major issue in this book. There were chapters of the macro worldbuilding and lore spread frequently throughout the book that drastically slowed down the pacing. Then in conversations, characters would overexplain things to each other in a way that was meant to spoon-feed the reader details (for example, “Oh yes, you’re talking about Lord X, who is related to me by marriage with my second cousin, who I used to enjoy riding horses with before our fathers got in that fight and she stole my dress.”).

I really don’t have anything to say about the characters. They existed, they did some things, the protagonist was constantly lusting, and that’s about it. The book started to get a little interesting about 50% through, but it just wasn’t enough. My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to netGalley and Orbit for the eARC audiobook.

The Mercy Makers was a fun read full of an interesting world and magic system. It definitely took a bit of time to get used to the prose, deep exposition, and understanding of the world, but as long as you paid attention (which sometimes was difficult with an audiobook in the car with nothing to reference) it rewarded you with a deeply morally grey protagonist with a god complex. Iriset was very interesting and self assured as the leading POV in the book, and the themes of questioning moral and religions was an fun tangent that strengthened as the novel progressed.

I think people are not used to lengthy prose in fantasy novels anymore, and that led to a lot of animosity about the ratings of this book, but I think it's worth the chance to sit and mull over the prose, and I'm excited to see what's in store for them all next.

I am going to be honest, I made it about 3 chapters and stopped listening.

The narration in this book was fantastically done. Her voice as wonderful for the characters, and it really sold the musicality of the text. The narrator did a fantastic job with what she had, and really had me hooked for a few chapters. That's not why I stopped listening.

There is, someone, somewhere who has time to sink their teeth into this book, but unfortunately it isn't me. While I still find myself compelled by Iriset, and find her to be an interesting character - I love shifty characters who move in the shadows - it was honestly the worldbuilding that lost me. I hate that, because I love little more than a unique world and this one is surely that, but there it is.

I had no idea how the forces (the magic system) worked with each other, only that they were referenced quite frequently and Iriset was a master at manipulating them (which, don't get me wrong, is super cool). I understand that they could be used on inanimate objects (fine and legal) or on people (absolutely prohibited). But somehow, even with the wonderful narrator who did her best, I couldn't get there. I'm willing to go along with things I don't understand for quite a while; some of my favourite books have extremely weird concepts/worlds that you just have to figure out by vibing for a bit.

The beginning of the end for me was when the author used it in description. I listen to audiobooks when commuting or doing chores, and the whole description of the city went over my head. I had to keep rewinding and listening again, trying to picture it, but I'd get lost again. Then, later, we encounter what I am sure would have been a very intriguing character whose actions result in the capture of Iriset and her father... only the author has invented her own pronouns, which I support in theory, but in practice made it very difficult for my brain to grasp. This is especially true given that they are an/ans - and my brain recognized the former as a totally different word and would get hung up on it whenever I heard it. I even picked up a print copy from work to see if reading it would be better, and alas, no.

Hence my 3 star rating. The idea, the story, the narration - all good. It was the execution of the first two that led to me ultimately putting this book down for now after several attempts to pick it back up. I will likely try again later, because I am absolutely positive that there is a story in there that I will like, but right now, it's too obtuse for me to dig into.

Though this took me a bit to get into, once the story starts it’s a ride. It’s so unique, so unlike anything I’ve read before. The narrator is so talented.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of the audiobook.

I'm sorry to say I did not enjoy this one as much as I had hoped. The premise sounded intriguing, and it was, but by the time things started to pick up I felt tired. Though I enjoyed the narrator very much, the writing style made my brain foggy and I had trouble staying focused. Had to take many breaks while listening. Also, as many others, I do other things while listening (stuff around the house, etc.), and I found myself rewinding so often, because I missed something, or I thought I did. I like it when books flow, this one felt a little like treading through mud. By the end, I just wanted to be done with it.

I am giving this book 3 stars, because I feel like maybe I just was not in the mood for such this story, and maybe it would have been a better experience if I physically read it, giving it 100% of my attention. Still, I believe people will love it. This one just was not right for me.

I have been trying to get through this audiobook for almost a month and it’s unfortunately just not holding my attention. 30% in and I just can’t continue. Everything about this seemed right up my alley too. It’s not terrible by any means, it’s just not for me too even though I wanted it to be.

Goodness, I could not finish it. It was just too much. I was too confused and lost about what was going on when I was reading it. There was just too much to try to piece together and that as a reader we were supposed to know what things meant when we weren't told yet. Idk. It wasn't for me.

The Mercy Makers had a ton of potential, but sadly, it fell incredibly flat for me. The world building of this story immediately drew me in. The Mercy Makers takes place in a world in which "architects" design more than buildings. They can design costumes and spells to completely change a person's genetic makeup. Iriset, our main character, dreams of conquering flight and gender norms with her designs, all made of silk. It's a really cool, though admittedly a little complex, magic system. Unfortunately, every other aspect of the novel let me down. The pacing was entirely off as the plot dragged on, none of the characters drew me in, the prose felt stagnant and dull, and the romance was entirely uninteresting, borderline off-putting. There was a bit of a love triangle, and yet whomever the main character was paired off with, I still couldn't care less. Not to mention the smut - also unenjoyable. Overall, I was really looking forward to a sapphic, political, high-fantasy, but The Mercy Makers did not deliver on what it promised. I'll probably give a different one of the author's books a try at some point, but this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Hachette Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF 45%. I'm very sorry, but I feel as confused as if you just stood there yelling math equations at me. It's not even that I dislike the story or the characters, because I absolutely do not, I just can't keep up with them. There is such a thing as too much worldbuilding and I fear I found it with this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Tessa Gratton and Hachette Audio for this ARC,

The Mercy Makers is the first instalment of The Moon Heresies …duology? trilogy? It’s my first official romantasy and, honestly? I didn't liked all that much. The fantastical elements of the narrative were actually really cool and interesting, but GODDAMN! There was so much sex, like, girl, the world as you know it might end at any moment and you are thinking of d***?

Ireset, the protagonist, is horny 24/7. Every person she meets she takes time to think how they would be in bed, like, girl, calm tf down.

Besides that, it was quite nice. Major kudos to Emily Lawrence, the narrator, who had quite the task at her hands.

This book was addictive, from the alternating action and world building to the themes of empire and conquest. The magic system, comprised of threads and built around ideas of design and architecture, was fantastic. I loved getting to know Iristed as herself, catching glimpses of Silk, and the other supporting characters were equally complex and interesting. Gratton spins in her commentary on oppression and how the powerful maintain control beautifully. I cannot wait for the second book in this series!

Reading this book was like biting into a ripe plum. This book is incredibly rich - in detail, in world-building, in prose, in character growth. I already feel the need to read it again! One of my top favorite reads of the year.

If you like dystopian, science fiction, and/or fantasy, you simply MUST add this book to your TBR. Expeditiously.

I already can't wait for the next installment in this series. I NEED to speak with everyone I know about this book. I already know I'll be thinking about it for weeks.

The "architecture" of the novel was so intriguing - I felt immediately pulled into the rich, sensual swirls of the magic structure of this world, and viewing it through the heretical viewpoints of both Iriset and the Vertex Seal added layer on layer of contrast. Everyone is wrong, and some people are a little right. I can't wait to find out who wins out in the end.

Iriset herself is at times unlikeable, making morally grey choices, which is exactly why I liked her so much. There are definitely qualities of her character that I enjoyed, but she is also very much imperfect in an extremely humanizing way, which felt real and refreshing.

The way this book approaches gender and sexuality was also extremely refreshing! The ways in which the characters interact with one another and the viewpoints they hold on gender and sexuality in their society was beautiful. A peak of acceptance and fluidity we should strive to achieve!

I want to scream from rooftops about the various twists and turns in this novel, not to mention THE ENDING. I need more, now. I need to reread, now.

This book was such a joy to read - I hope it takes off and reaches the level of appreciation it deserves. I can only imagine how fantastic this would be if turned into a screen adaptation. Gratton's writing is so vivid and visceral, I could see everything blooming and unraveling in my mind, and a movie or TV adaptation of this would be an addictive hit. Maybe as much of an addictive hit as the prose itself. So grateful to have received an ARC of Mercy Makers.

This book is as dense and intricate as the webs Iriset weaves - it's not meant for rapid consumption, and it's not a quick read. It's meant to be savored - if you attempt to breeze through it, you will miss the beauty and genius within it. I recommend setting aside time to absorb every detail and moment within it - you won't regret it!

Maturity: 18+

This book includes:
- a very unique magic system
- non-binary and LGBTQ+ representation
- politics and manipulation

I wanted to love "the Mercy Makers" so badly. It has so many cool elements and had one of the most unique magic systems I have read in a long time. Unfortunately, I found the FMC immediately insufferable. The writing was convoluted to a point of annoyance, and I felt like the author was more concerned with writing a unique sentence than delivering a plot or characterization. There were many plot holes and it felt impossible to keep any of the details straight.

I also found the narrator's voice was not a match for my listening preferences.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Tessa Gratton, and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

I’m always looking for unique magic systems and this one is so fascinating and my only wish is that it was fleshed out more.

The queerness of this story and the characters was fantastic for pride month. Between relationships, identities, and gender roles, Tessa explores them all with a unique lens. I especially enjoyed the way she explored gender identity and presentation in the scope of the magic system.

I love political intrigue in fantasy because it’s so much better than the politics of the real world. There are so many sides to the political happenings and they are constantly shifting to keep you on your toes. Motives are definitely not what they seem.

I listened to the audio and the narration was phenomenal. My only gripe, however, is that 1x speed is insanely slow. I normally listen to books, especially fantasy with complex magic, at 1x for the first read, but I had to put it to 1.5x so I didn’t feel like it was droning. Eventually, I moved to 1.75x as I got more used to the narrator.

This story didn’t gently ease me into its world. Oh no. It kicked the door down, yeeted me into a sea of lore, religion, queer politics and outlawed architecture magic, and was like “Good luck, sweetie ” while vanishing in a puff of aesthetically threatening moonlight.

But listen… I didn’t hate it. Actually? I vibed.

The Mercy Makers is not here to spoon-feed you. It’s rich, unapologetically weird in the best way, and the magic system?? It's literally built (pun intended) around architecture. Yeah, people be redesigning bodies and souls like they're cursed blueprints and I was eating it up like a heretic at brunch.

Our girl Iriset, aka Silk (YES she has an alter ego and YES it slaps), is a morally grey chaos goblin with the architectural skills of a god and the libido of someone who’s too smart to be shamed. She’s messy, brilliant, a little emotionally detached, and I wanted to both slap and adopt her.

Was it dense? Yup. Did I pause 74 times to reprocess what the f*ck was going on? Also yes. But I did the audiobook + ebook double whammy and honestly? Saved my life. Emily Lawrence absolutely devoured the narration, especially the tension filled, knife’s-edge scenes where betrayal and unresolved sexual tension are making eye contact in the corner.

Look, if you go in expecting a cozy easy-read, you’ll cry. But if you want a dark, lush, sexy-as-hell story with religious cults, crumbling empires, court drama, genius girlies, and a splash of “oof, that hit too hard”? This one’s for you.

4 stars from me, because while the first act had me internally buffering, once it got going? I'm in. Book two, I’m ready, build me something unholy.