Book Review: Mercy
Media Type: Book
Title: Mercy
Author: Rebecca Lim
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: Paperback; 281
Release Date: October 28, 2010
Source: NetGalley
=======================
An electric combination of angels, mystery and romance, MERCY is the first book in a major new paranormal series.
There’s something very wrong with me. I can’t remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There’s nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It’s made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive.
Mercy doesn’t realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.
I went into Mercy sight unseen. I’ll admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and before I could even read the synopsis I was already opening the book to read. Yes, a classic case of cover lust. I’ll be honest.
Anyway I’m fairly certain that this is why I was so confused when I first started reading. Mercy is instantly introduced as a being who is constantly travelling from body to body. As she wakes up at the beginning of the book, we begin to see that she never chooses where she goes, nor does she have any control over when she leaves. It never even occurred to me at this point that there were angels involved in this story. I was thinking more along the lines of a lost soul, or something of that nature. Then, as I continued to read, things began to become a lot clearer to me. Although I was a bit frustrated at the beginning, I was definitely more engaged as the story went on.
As a character, Mercy has a rather powerful voice. I enjoyed coming along on her journey, especially near the end when she really comes into her own. I thought that the concept of her borrowing her host bodies was interesting, especially because of the reason why she does, which is eventually revealed. This story is a lot like a puzzle. Mercy goes about her life, slowly figuring things out. It isn’t until the majority of the pieces are in place that the story begins to make sense. Well, unless you read the synopsis. Yes, feel free to laugh at me. My point is, that you’ll need to be a bit patient if you want to really appreciate this story.
Overall this is a solid story, I just don’t think that it was one I was ready for at the time. I liked a lot of aspects of Mercy, especially the connection between Mercy and her hosts, but I still wanted more. However, as the beginning to a series, I see this as the start of something great. I’m definitely in for the long haul. I can’t wait to see where Rebecca Lim takes this next.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
