✨Im Literary Anxious✨

Estimated Reading Time🕒:5 minutes

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Vela Roth✍🏻 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 767📖

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

As a reader, there’s no better feeling than reading something new and knowing, with certainty, that you’ve found your next bookish obsession. Less than ten chapters in, and I already knew the Blood Grace series would earn a cozy spot among my favorite series.

This book has it all:

🌹Forbidden love

🌹Furry best friend and protector

🌹Caffeinated vampires

🌹Court intrigue

🌹Vampires but cuddly

🌹Cinnamon roll MMC

🌹Slow burn

First of all, let me just say I am a quote slut and this book DELIVERED:

• “Power, when approached without caution, was always dangerous”
• “When you go too directly from one place to another, you miss everything in between”
• “I am the only woman who has survived him. I am not nothing.”
• “Look at me, Cassia. Just one glance. I’ll bargain that glance from you for one of mine, and I will look upon you as no one here ever has.”
• “I was thinking it is a shame upon this house that you are forced to make do with scraps of influence, when those who wield the power are unworthy of it. You deserve a seat at that table more than anyone there. If no one in this godsforsaken palace will give you what is rightfully yours, then I shall hold them accountable.”
• “My lady, he’s dangerous.”
  “So are we.”

Vela executed her world-building with just the right touch—neither overblown nor burdensome—and the character development flows effortlessly from start to finish. I lost count of how many times it made me choke up or cry (not that my husband catching me sobbing was embarrassing or anything 😅).

I loved the juxtaposition between humans and Hesperines and how it underscores humanity’s potential for, and often gravitation towards, monstrosity, framing those who are different as the “true” monsters. I also very much enjoyed Vela’s take on vampires; it’s so outside the norm of what I’m used to, and I’m a fan of any author who can successfully put a new twist on something we’ve seen a thousand times prior.

“Hespera’s Gift is what makes us what we are. That is our name for her blessing of immortality and the ability to survive on living blood, rather than dead flesh.”

“Ah. So your Gift is what humans call your curse. Insatiable bloodlust, banishment from the sun, and eternal exile from the afterlife.”

This book is brimming with fantastic characters; from the heroes to the villains, each one is so well-developed that I found myself either loving or hating them. (And trust me, I hated some of them. I’m looking at you, Tenebran Umbridge 😒)

Cassia’s transformation from a broken illegitimate daughter to a badass princess masterfully moving lords around the chessboard is a joy to watch. And as for Lio? Absolute ✨ perfection✨.

If you’re looking for a new obsession—I mean, a new book to enjoy—look no further. With the intricate politics of Tenebra, the captivating relationship between Lio and Cassia, and side characters so compelling you’ll wish they had more page time, “Blood Mercy” has it all and more.

🚨BONUS🚨:

Stream of consciousness:

• Knight is a king and must be protected at all costs
• Fairly certain Amachos is the Professor Umbridge of Tenebra
• I’ll never accept another vampire who doesn’t drink coffee 🙅🏻‍♀️
• So much talk of swords… and sheaths…
• Proof that even immortal men can be idiot
• I mean this with ALL the disrespect, fuck the king
• Lord Ferus is a festering pile of trash and I can’t wait for him to get
• Cassia did Perita dirty… I’ll allow it
• Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
• Cassia did Perita dirty… I’ll allow it
• Oh no, Perita 🥺 I take it back.
• That last confrontation between Cassia and the king? A masterpiece.

Did I mention, that you can find this on Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle girlies unite! 🦸🏻‍♀️