Lythlet is down on her luck. Recently fired, living in debt and poverty, she has nowhere to turn and no one but her best friend Desil. Until the chance comes her way: if they swear themselves to the arena, they can compete as conquessors, facing lurid mythical beasts from beyond their city in the hope of winning a cash prize large enough to liberate them both…

Lythlet is quick-witted, Desil brawny, and perhaps together they’ll make it through. But the criminal underworld is a murky place to enter, and threats beyond the monsters they face begin to materialise.

The worldbuilding in this is incredibly rich. My only possible criticism is that there isn’t MORE: more lore behind each of the beasts, greater detail on the clear political depth of the city; the mythology of their ancestors that brought them here; the history behind the religion. There’s is so much going on, I would have read three times as much content from Lau. But what she does with what she has!

The commentary on capitalism, morality, humanity is razor sharp without becoming didactic, because it’s all told through the lens of the characters - particularly Lythlet, whose growth in this is stunning, a rollercoaster arc that is nevertheless believable. The emotional impact has real gut punches here, from helplessness to hopefulness, and all told through prose that is very readable whilst being incisively crafted. wow this got me really hard? especially the parts with a duty to family whom you love but your relationship is difficult for reasons you can’t really change

Featuring:

- Gladiatorial combat with a whole bestiary of monsters
- Detective story vibes as our heroine works out what’s going on behind the scenes
- A really strong platonic friendship with no romance but a beautifully told bond. this is the new Locke/Jean, y’all
- Adorable dog/s
- Adorable bees
- Criminal masterminds, underworlds, politics and plotting
- Family trauma
- Found family

The Serpent Called Mercy is an epic fantasy novel that introduces readers to a fresh and vibrant Malaysian Chinese-inspired world. Debut author Roanne Lau takes us into the gritty underworld of a city where poverty, ambition, and monsters collide. Lythlet and her only friend, Desil, are trapped in a cycle of debt and desperation. In a bid to escape, they enter an illegal monster-fighting arena, where they face terrifying sun-cursed beasts for the chance to earn quick money.

However, Lythlet's cunning and quick thinking soon set her apart from her brawling companion, attracting the attention of the match-master, Dothilos. With fame and fortune within reach, Lythlet’s ambition grows, but so too does the price she must pay. As she navigates a world of politics, deception, and dangerous beasts, Lythlet must decide whether her dreams of wealth and power are worth sacrificing her honour and the only friendship she has left.

At the heart of this thrilling tale is the strong, unwavering friendship between Lythlet and Desil. Their bond serves as the foundation of a novel filled with blood-pumping battles and difficult choices. In a genre crowded with epic fantasy, The Serpent Called Mercy stands out with its unique setting and compelling characters. Fans of underdog stories will be immediately engrossed by this captivating adventure.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The Serpent Called Mercy follows Lythlet as she attempts to pay off her best friend's debt and escape the cycle of poverty. The world building in this book is thoughtful and intriguing- from the structure of society to the light sources, the author clearly put a ton of effort into creating it.

I love the world this story takes place in as well as the basis in mythology and the social commentary it includes, but the story itself was a little off in some places. While the author does an excellent job of using dialogue to advance the plot in some places, conversations sometimes feel forced and fall victim to info dumping. Additionally, I feel like pacing was far better in the first 60% of the novel than towards the end.

It seems like this book is more suited for YA audiences than the adult fantasy it is marketed as. I almost DNF'd it, but I am overall glad that I finished the story. It shows a lot of promise for future novels!

The Serpent Called Mercy is a debut that shows a lot of promise - while I didn’t think it was a perfect novel, Roanne Lau shows off some excellent storytelling skills that took the story in directions I wasn’t expecting. It’s debuts like this that get me really excited for the future of the fantasy genre, as this is a very solid first novel!

I was eager to pick this book up on the basis of the comparisons it is drawing to big franchises, and I wanted to address how closely I felt it matched each of them:

Is it like The Witcher?: I definitely see the comparison here - lots of the monster battles are won with brains over brawn, and studying the creatures carefully for habits and weaknesses plays a key part in the narrative.

Is it like Squid Game?: Not really in my opinion. The ‘illegal’ nature of the ring fights felt a little shallow and not particularly secretive. The rich spectators watching the poorer contestants fighting definitely checks out, but it didn’t have the trademark horror theme I associate with Squid Game.

Is it like Slumdog Millionaire?: Yes, definitely! A poor Slumdog character shows off their skills to try and win an unfathomable fortune, while trying to work out who to trust in this new world.

Is it like The Hunger Games?: Kind of - in terms of character development, I do see a bit of Katniss Everdeen in the protagonist Lythlet, and the story does have an ever present theme of overthrowing a corrupt system.

My drawbacks in this novel that prevent it getting 5 stars mainly come down to pacing, which felt a little all over the place personally. The novel did a good job in stopping the battle scenes getting repetitive, but with some chapters covering several months and others several minutes felt jarring. The worldbuilding exposition also felt a bit clunky and unnatural at the start, where lots of information on the wider world is imparted and then never returned to. If there are future books set in this world, I’d love to see other parts of the world incorporated, particularly where the monsters from the ring call home. As negatives go, they weren’t bad enough to knock my enjoyment of the book, and at its best the action scenes and character twists were electrifying!

This author has a lot of potential, and it was an entertaining read for a debut novel.

The characters were decently fleshed out and entertaining to read. Even if they were not nice characters, you were still invested in their actions, and the world around them. It's a shame that the world itself is not fleshed out more, because what we do see of it - a world of decay and beauty, a world of gods and wardens and a religion that seems to penetrate into most aspects of life - is incredible. There just isn't nearly enough to properly set the scene of the world and most of what is offered is given without and context. Which leads into my biggest issue with the book - the power the main character has. She can control reality (I think) for eight seconds. It's a divine, god given gift but the book does not explain enough. At one point its spoken of as a myth, but then a chapter or so later, she is able to use it, in full view of people. They are startled but then... accept it? Is it magic? Is it really that rare? Why does nobody care more or use it for their own benefit?

A lot of stuff is handwaved away; for example the main characters are given an advantage in the fighting ring, one that makes the ring master suspicious, and then we are just told that the main character said 'something' to belay his fears. It's a shame they are given that advantage, because the fights that they did without it really made the two leads shine, we got to see the MFC's smarts and how she used the world and her observations to solve a puzzle, they were enjoyable to read.

The ending might not be for everyone, but I actually enjoyed its bittersweet, realistic ending. This is an author I'm sure will grow in confidence and looking forward to their next book.

The Serpent Called Mercy is certainly a great debut! I loved the concept and the characters, and I genuinely found myself laughing at some of the interactions involving Shunvi and Ilden. The action was well written and kept me hooked, especially in the latter stages where the stakes were constant. The only letdown for me was that I personally found the first half of the book very heavy with rushed info-dumping, particularly in dialogue which felt very stilted and at times awkward to read. However, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story, and these issues were mostly smoothed over in the latter half after the world had been established. Overall a nice fantasy read!

This was a solid book that I really enjoyed. It's a bit dark, at times, but it ends up being quite hopeful.

I enjoyed the friendship between the two main characters the most, and especially the character growth of the FMC. She had to make her mistakes to get there, but it was a good journey to go on.

The book didn't go in quite the direction I thought it was going to go in, I have to admit. I thought it was going to trend a little more towards the mythological rather than the political, but it didn't. Or maybe, it was a different kind of political than what I thought it would be. That's not bad, but it was surprising.

However, once I clocked on that it was the kind of political book that it was, it became somewhat predictable. That didn't make it any less enjoyable to read though.

I look forward to seeing more!

Two friends enter the undergeound world of monster fighting to clear their debts in this fantasy debut. An intriguing premise and a strong, poignant relationship between Desil and Lythlet, but unfortunately the book is let down by overwrought writing, underdeveloped world-building and a lack of focus on either the fights or the politics of the city. Not one for me.

The Serpent Called Mercy is truly a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world. When I saw this being pitched as The Witcher meets Squid Games, I was immediately sold. Illegal monster fighting?! Ok, you’ve got me there.

The world-building in this was beautifully crafted, allowing me to fully envelope myself in the story as I could perfectly envision everything that was happening in my head.

Our fmc Lythlet is stubborn, fierce and determined. Out of all the things I loved about this book, characters were the highlight for me, and Lythlet is the stand-out. If there’s one thing about her, it’s that she will never stop fighting for what is right, even if it means sacrificing everything.

A stunning debut novel peppered with themes of socioeconomics, corruption and political intrigue. A refreshing step away from the romantasy genre, perfect for those who prefer friendship over romance.

I would love to see this continue into a duet or a trilogy because I feel there is so much to be done with this world and Lythlet’s story. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy.

I thought I'll love this one: Monster hunters, from zero to hero poor ordinary protagonist, jaded calculating autistic-coded fmc & himbo mmc, no romance, but platonic friendship stronger than love and political intrigue on top of it - sounds amazing. Sadly, the book utterly falls apart on the technical level and fails to fulfill the promise of the thrills the blurb was selling to me.

First problem: there's no plot tension! Everything comes to the protagonist too easy. Defeating the monsters becomes a cakewalk. Even when the mc screws up and I thought there will be nasty consequences... there weren't any.

There's also no interpersonal tension. Even though Lythlet and Desil are like night and day, they never argue and everything that Desil wouldn't approve of, Lythlet does behind his back and he never has any issue with it either, and she doesn't run into problems by leaving him behind, nope, she actually praises herself for going with the other person. Same with Master Doritos whatshisface. Lythlet constantly suspects him he'll exploit her, but he just keeps helping her and even if there's some big betrayal coming later, the tension wasn't there.

Second problem: The long, boring, moralizatory speeches. It felt excessively juvenile and soapboxy. "Teaching" the protagonist a lesson should be done through actions not speeches. It feels like lecturing the readers about the cycle of poverty. If I wanted that, I'd pick a non-fiction title.

Third problem: jarring tone differences. We learn how this world is so, so cruel, lead by some criminal organization the authorities turn a blind eye to. There are brutal gladiatorial tournaments, child trafficking, animal abuse, violent debt collectors, thieves, scammers, abusive bosses and a mentally ill mother who routinely self-harms and half the days isn't even sane to talk to. But then the plot treats the characters with kids' gloves on and nothing really bad happens to them after the plot starts (initially they get beaten a couple of times but that stops happening soon after).

I wanted to dnf at around 25-30% or so when the characters faced the first real setback and nearly lost the match and Lythlet's reaction was... "we're quitting". No, you won't, because then the book won't happen. So let's have chapters upon chapters of convincing the reluctant hero to go back into action... I thought meeting her parents will be more dramatic and convince her she can't go back to poverty, but it was again fairly devoid of tension. I really regret I didn't dnf it there.

I kept giving it a chance because I like jaded underdog protagonists, I want to see more fantasy without romance, I love to see autistic-coded protagonists well represented (Lythlet was very analytical, developed speech late, socially awkward, didn't like crowds or being touched, and had a strong sense of justice combined with a good dose of social naivety - I really think it represented common autism experiences well), and I love thrilling battles and cunning political intrigue. I kept waiting until the book gets better, but I slowly lost hope it ever will. It wasn't thrilling and it wasn't clever either.

My reading experience was bouncing between 2.5 and 3.5 and I'm setting on 3. Just when it "was getting better" we get into yet another boring speech or skimmed-over monster fight.

It's well-written on the prose level, but the scene composition and overall structure is all messed up, it focuses on the boring parts (speeches, slice of life scenes) while skipping the interesting parts (monster fights, political intrigue, sleuthing around).

And contrary to my other recent read where I struggled with pacing / lack of tension, this one can't even pass for cozy because the world is too gritty and brutal, but the narrative feels nearly cozy with it's lack of actual palpable danger, recurrent foodie scenes in the inn, and the main cast being so lovey-dovey with each other.

"...will leave you at the edge of your seat." —Amber Chen
"...raises the stakes—and your blood pressure." —Saara El-Arifi
"a thrilling spectacle from beginning to end." —Chelsea Abdullah
Yeah, nah. I wish. This is dreadfully boring and I'm disappointed.

Thank you Rebellion / Solaris and Netgalley for the ARC.

The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau offers a wealth of opportunities for an engaging and thought-provoking English literature lesson. Its rich themes, complex characters, and unique setting make it an excellent text for exploring a variety of literary concepts and skills.

The Serpent Called Mercy is a gritty, action-packed, and emotionally charged debut that blends the intensity of The Witcher with the high-stakes drama of Squid Game. Set in a Malaysian Chinese-inspired fantasy world, this novel is a thrilling exploration of ambition, friendship, and the cost of survival in a society where the most dangerous monsters are often human.

The story follows Lythlet and her best friend Desil, two debt-ridden slum dogs desperate to escape the crushing weight of poverty. When they sign up as combatants in an illegal monster-fighting arena, they see it as their only chance for fast money and a better life. Lythlet’s quick wit and cunning catch the attention of the match-master, Dothilos, who takes her under his wing, leaving Desil in the shadows. As Lythlet’s ambition grows, she begins to dream of fame and wealth, but the arena is a place where betrayal and deception are as common as blood and sweat.

One of the standout features of The Serpent Called Mercy is its richly imagined setting. Lau creates a vivid and immersive world, from the seedy underworld of the city to the brutal, sun-cursed arenas where fighters battle for survival. The Malaysian Chinese-inspired elements add a unique and refreshing flavour to the story, making the world feel alive and distinct.

Lythlet is a compelling and complex protagonist, whose ambition and resourcefulness make her both relatable and flawed. Her journey from desperation to ambition is fraught with moral dilemmas, and her struggle to balance her dreams with her loyalty to Desil adds depth to her character. Desil, on the other hand, is a loyal and steadfast friend, whose quiet strength and resilience provide a counterbalance to Lythlet’s ambition. The dynamic between the two is the heart of the story, filled with tension, love, and the unbreakable bond of friendship.

The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with plenty of action, intrigue, and emotional moments to keep readers engaged. The stakes are high, with the cost of ambition and the price of survival constantly looming over the characters. The blend of brutal arena battles, political intrigue, and personal drama creates a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Thematically, The Serpent Called Mercy explores issues of ambition, loyalty, and the cost of survival in a world where wealth and power are often out of reach. The novel also delves into the idea of honour and the lengths to which people will go to secure their future. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the pacing a bit uneven at times, with the focus on character development occasionally slowing the action. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

The Serpent Called Mercy is a must-read for fans of gritty fantasy and stories that explore the complexities of human nature. Roanne Lau has created a story that is as heart-pounding as it is heartfelt, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of danger, ambition, and the enduring power of friendship.

A gritty and emotionally charged fantasy, The Serpent Called Mercy is a standout debut that will leave readers eagerly awaiting more from Roanne Lau.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of The Serpent Called Mercy!

This is the story of Lythlet who just lost her job and has to steal money to pay her monthly debt. She lives with her childhood friend Desil and when they receive a handbill promising riches beyond measure, it is an opportunity they cannot let go. It involves fighting beasts and they accept to try making as much money as possible.


Wow. This book was utterly amazing. I devoured it! The concept and the writing made the story flow so easily that I didn’t see time passing by.

Lythlet was such an amazing main character with a difficult past and a great personality- she is honest, kind, but can also stand up for herself and super smart.

Everytime she would do something I would be in awe thinking she was the smartest person ever. Be it when she was fighting or outside of these fights.

I would highly highly recommend it! 5 starts from me

Ya no se puede decir que sea una novedad que se publique fantasía con inspiración asiática, es una tendencia más que consolidada. Así que la sinopsis de The Serpent Called Mercy tenía la dura tarea de atraer a un lector quizá ahíto de estos escenarios. La mención a Geralt de Rivia y El juego del calamar no es desacertada para nada, pero el libro tiene graves problemas que el marketing no puede solucionar.


La trama de la novela se centra en Lythlet y su único amigo Desil, que malviven intentado devolver el préstamo que tuvieron que aceptar por los problemas de salud de la primera. Cuando se les presenta la oportunidad de luchar en la arena contra monstruos indeterminados, parece que ven la salida a sus vicisitudes, pero hay movimientos más complejos entre bambalinas que intentarán boicotear su camino de salida de la pobreza extrema.

Los combates con los monstruos me han recordado un poco a Shadow of the Colossus, esa maravilla de juego en que tenías que enfrentarte a pantagruélicos enemigos sin mucha idea ni contexto sobre cómo vencerlos. Lythlet y Desil se encontrarán en esta situación en los primeros combates, sin saber a qué bestia se van a enfrentar ni como podrán vencerla. En este sentido, las luchas son lo más entretenido del libro, aunque se nos escamotean algunas de las doce prometidas por abreviar el libro. Pero claro, lo divertido de discernir cuál es el punto débil de los monstruos es cuando lo haces tú, no cuando ves cómo lo hacen otros.

El problema que tiene The Serpent Called Mercy es que el resto de la historia está tremendamente poco desarrollada. No solo por la ingenuidad extrema de los protagonistas, si no por los pobre recursos que Roanne Lau utiliza. Cuando le conviene echa mano de los poderes de los dioses, en unos deus ex machina que parecen innecesarios, completamente injustificados y con unas reglas aleatorias que convienen a la trama en ese determinado momento. En cuanto a la trama política, tiene menos consistencia que una sopa de piedra, y de nuevo se adecúa convenientemente en cada momento a lo Lythlet requiere para salir bien parada. Aunque la historia se desarrolla a lo largo de todo un año, tiene partes muy apresuradas y otras desesperadamente lentas, con unos problemas de ritmo que se pueden achacar al hecho de que sea una primera novela pero que no se pueden ignorar.

El libro es una amalgama de buenas intenciones con una ejecución que deja mucho que desear.

The Serpent Called Mercy is a thrilling debut. I absolutely loved the FMC, she is an underdog that uses her mind and wit to overcome so many obstacles. I also loved her friendship with her close friend, this was a delight to read. I thought we would see more of the monster fighting and go deeper into the mythology. There was a lot more focus on politics, which I did like but I did feel there was a lack of balance between this and the arena. Considering there are 12 epic fights, we only get coverage of three/four in any detail - these were the best parts of the book for me and I would rather have read this and not had the side plot with her parents. Although I can see why this was included and the character arc was charming to read. Definitely an entertaining and quick read with some cool monsters and exploration of societal systems.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Thank you to Solaris and Netgalley for this ARC!

The serpent called mercy was an overall enjoyable read. The first 10-20% I wasn’t entirely hooked into plot and had to force myself through it. However once plot really got going it was much more engaging.

I liked the characters, they were likeable and inoffensive but not especially ground breaking. Where this story really shines in monsters and mythology inspired elements. It felt really refreshing in this aspect. The worldbuilding is solid and believable, the action scenes are handled well. Overall I enjoyed my time with it and would it. As others have pointed out fans of the Witcher/Hunger Games will really enjoy this!

🐍 The Serpent Called Mercy • Roxanne Lau 🐍
★★★★.𝟮𝟱

Read if you enjoy:
🐍 Fantasy
🐍 Malaysian and Chinese inspired world building
🐍 Platonic soulmates
🐍 Monsters the Witcher would love to slay
🐍 Down with the patriarchy
🐍 Political discourse

Lythlet and her friend Desil are shackled with crippling debt, resorting to both legal and illegal means to survive the poverty. When word of an illegal monster arena reaches them, they decide to give it a shot, naively entering the city’s underworld. Lythlet attempts to avoid becoming entangled in the strings the underworld has on the city but as the master of the arena narrows in on her potential, he also attempts to tilt her moral compass.

I really enjoyed this! I thought that it was bloodthirsty but belligerently entertaining. The monster arena was so fun! It had echoes of the twelve labours of Hercules to it. But although Desil seemed to have almost Herculean tendencies (strong arms), it’s Lythlet who is the force behind figuring out how to defeat these monsters. However the real element that sets this book apart is the friendship between Lythlet and Desil. Borne of kindness and upheld with a deep platonic love for each other, it was so refreshing to read about a girl/boy duo who were just friends. In fact, there’s no romance at all in this book, and I was glad of it. There was certainly no room for romantic angst in amongst the ferocious plot and the (unfortunately quite confusing) world building. The tension of defeating monsters and the political strife was enough for me.

This was a character-driven but pacey story about friendship and fighting monsters for money. It is thoroughly entrenched in the desperation of poverty and debt, as Lythlet and her best friend choose between their principles and doing what is necessary to survive. Their relationship is the highlight of the book, warts and all. In the end it did feel like a debut, which is to say that Lau has buckets of potential but not all of it was realised in this book—the wider cast of characters, the worldbuilding, the politicking were all load-bearing but not fully realised in places. I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

However: Early on I was not entirely comfortable with the language choices around disability. Things like describing a mentally ill woman’s “demented mutterings” or neighbours thinking young Lythlet’s lack of speech was because “the demons in your mother’s head had made her give birth to an idiot child” (and then we are reassured “you weren’t an idiot. No, you had a tongue, you just didn’t know how to use it right.” Hmph!) It was just kind of unnecessary, right? It’s 2025, come on. And THEN it emerges that the aforementioned mental illness is in fact demonic/dark spirit possession? Nope, we’re not doing that. It added nothing of value to the story, stakes or character development, while playing into the oldest stigmatising myth in the world. It’s sad that I have to knock of a star off for such nonsense, when the rest of the book was so enjoyable.

This was a really nice world to live in for a while, but I couldn't help feeling the world lacking. I'm not sure what in.. but it just didn't peak at all for me.
That being said, it was an enjoyable read, with some brutal elements throughout.
I did struggle to understand the relationship of the two protagonists, as the implied closeness was dropped far too quickly at a fairly crucial part of their story and I couldn't help but feel a rift since that.

The Serpent Called Mercy is Roanne Lau's debut and I absolutely cannot wait to see more from this author! I did thoroughly enjoy reading this story and truly did picture the harsh landscape that the two protagonists try to survive in.

Firstly, Runt, the puppy. Be still my heart. What a gorgeous chartacter, with such an endearing speech impediment.. Not often you see this type of representation and it was incredibly tasteful and well written. The world setting whilst incredible and atmospheric, it just needed a little more description to really paint a vivid picture, but that is only a personal opinion as I personally like very detail heavy world-building.

I love mythical creatures in stories and the whole premise of this story is Lythlet and Desil facing beats and creatures in illegal combat to pay of their crushing debts and to try and get themselves out of the poverty they have found themselves in. Some of the combat seems are so exhilarating that more than once did some of the beasts make the hairs on my arms stand up.

There is themes of betrayal, unconditional familial trust, survival and societal struggle that are all carefully weaves through each page that feel they are about to unravel into choas before being swiftly pulled and woven into a truly excellent debut story. I really can't wait to see what Roxanne does next.

I enjoyed the concept of this book. It reminded me of the hunger games mixed with maze runner and a little bit of something else.

I do feel there were some overly complex scenes that weren’t necessary and it could’ve been shorter. That being said, it was enjoyable. The FMC was likeable and I enjoyed seeing her development and admiration for her family/friends. She maintained that the whole way through.

I was hoping for a romance between the MMC and FMC. !