The Mercy of Gods

This book was different than anything I've read in a while. It is complex, emotional, and plays out in different perspectives and goals. It's hard to describe but it's nothing like The Expanse. The story started out a little bit confusing and it was not what I thought it would be, and yet it evolved into something I felt was amazing. It's written in complex layers much like Stephen King's elaborate story weaving. I wanted so bad to love it at 5 stars but I finish this book wanting to read it again for better understanding. It was amazing, really, but it will take some time to digest it all. I think it boils down to a scenario and species that is so different from anything I've internalized before from a book.

Most reviews are filled with spoilers, it's good. I cannot wait for the next book.

Coming back to doing reviews after a year away. Sometimes, reviewing everything feels like a job (especially as I was doing reviews on both Goodreads and Mastodon) so a break was needed. It's kind of a shame this is the first review as the book was kind of not very good for me. I was a huge fan of The Expanse and one of it's great strengths, even in moments where it dipped a bit (a 9 book series is going to have dips), was the engaging characters. The Mercy of Gods very much did not have engaging characters, for me. Given the plot was a bit lacking in interest as well, this didn't make for a book that I could whole-heartedly enjoy or even recommend. It may have suffered from 'first in a series' issues but if the first in the series does not engage then how can someone be expected to get into the next installment? In short, something was off with this for me so I am giving it 3 stars. In my personal scoring lexicon that's a 'decently executed and I finished it but I can't recommend'.