Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Five Thorns Press

Genre: Romantasy, Fantasy

Tags: Slow Burn Romance, Vampire with Human, Politics

Length: 666 Kindle Pages

Reviewer: Kazza

Purchase At: amazon, audible

Blurb:

One human. One immortal. Will their alliance save the kingdom, or will their forbidden love be a death sentence?

When Cassia seeks out a Hesperine, he could end her mortal life in a heartbeat. But she has no fear of his magic or his fangs. She knows the real monster is the human king, her father. If he finds out she’s bargaining with his enemy, he’ll send her to the executioner.

As a Hesperine diplomat, Lio must negotiate with mortals who hate him. Cassia is different, but politics aren’t why she captivates the gentle immortal. He wants more than her blood, and if he can’t resist the temptation, he’ll provoke the war he’s trying to prevent.

Slow-burn, steamy romance meets classic fantasy worldbuilding in Blood Grace. Follow fated mates Cassia and Lio through their epic story of forbidden love for a guaranteed series HEA.

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Review:
“Very well. Who offers himself as my champion tonight?”
“Deukalion Komnenos. But my lady must call me Lio, as my friends do.”
“A pleasure to meet you…Lio. I am Cassia.”
You  know how you sometimes have a bunch of necklaces that have somehow all knotted together in your jewellery box and it’s the dickens of a job to unravel them?  Well, Blood Mercy felt like that at times. It contains a very, v e r y  s l o w plot and romance set around an upcoming Equinox Summit in Tenebra’s capital, Solorum. One where the Tenebrans – humans – are meeting with the Hesperines – a vampire-like race – for peace and accord between their people and neighbouring lands. It has been four-hundred-years since the last Summit and it is more complex than I can write about here. At times, the storyline frustrated me because I like to piece things together as I move through a story and that wasn’t always possible because this book is often covert in what it gifts the reader. The romance between Lio and Cassia, not a problem, but the politics and the spiritual co-mingling, that required patience. At times I questioned myself, did I miss something? Knotted goddamned necklaces! Closer to the end I understood all the threads that had previously seemed like nebulous strands of information just out of reach. Some of the bigger questions I asked myself consistently are below, there are answers to them but most took time, particularly the first question –
  • Why would the Hesperines put all this energy into a Summit with Tenebra and a king who is known to be cruel, especially aimed at – but not limited to – the Hesperines and their home of Orthos? I mean, really? The guy is such a piece of work. Basically, diplomacy is always a tricky thing, not all parties are committed, even if they say they are, and there are times an alliance is strategically necessary.
  • Why did Cassia, who does not often speak let alone draw any attention to herself, manipulate a situation as much as she possibly could so she could be at Solorum for the Equinox Summit with her father? She, being a barely tolerated bastard daughter. One who the Free Lords are also open to be unkind to.
  • Why is Cassia seeking out a Hesperine? What could be so important to make connection with a race her fellow countrymen and women see as the boogeyman, something that can have her killed for being treasonous simply for trying to speak to them. 
  • Deukalion, a Hesperine, is in Solorum for his first foray into foreign diplomacy, he’s basically written a thesis on King Lucis Basileus’s reign, so that makes sense. He wasn’t at the last Summit, four-hundred-years earlier, unlike most of the others who are also a part of this current Hesperine diplomatic envoy. He also wonders why Cassia made connection with him-
She dreaded being near her father, and yet she wanted to be here at Solorum. What could be so important to her that it was worth putting herself through this? Were her encounters with Lio a collateral convenience or an integral reason for her actions?
Cassia sees a Hesperine at a meet before the Summit and she knows it’s him she wants to talk to. He seems interested in her as well. Because there is a dual POV we know that Lio scents her and is intrigued, which is good because Cassia has one pressing question she desperately wants answered. She is cautious in the asking because it would damn her, consorting with the enemy. However, she witnessed something so profound when she was young that she needs to understand it. This outweighs the danger and a lot of her fear. Because it’s been hundreds of years between Summits, and she is mortal, it may be her one and only chance to know the truth. She needs this Hesperine to tell her what the Mercy actually means. A surprised Deukalion, or Lio, wonders how she even knows of the Mercy, it’s not like Tenebrans talk about anything positive or even truthful in regards to the Hesperine, who wisely keep a lid on a number of their ways. 
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She had called one of their most sacred practices by its proper name, the Mercy, when the kindest terms humans normally used were desecration of the dead, corpse theft, or necrophilia. She knew the Mercy to be none of those things. Where had she learned the truth?
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While Lio’s race are caring, emotionally intelligent people who prefer peace and diplomacy to war, they are very powerful in their own right. There could easily be a war once again if things are not handled with the utmost affability. Still, Lio has to be sure Cassia isn’t asking this question, making his acquaintance, for nefarious reasons. In light of a new mage being brought to the Summit by Tenebra, one who seems to have more power than others – Amachos – it would be prudent to tread carefully. After some discussion, they strike an Oath and meet nightly as the clock counts down to the Summit. Their meetings start at the Changing Queen’s fountain, moving to the forest for extra caution. It gives them cover to meet more freely. Cassia doesn’t want to just blurt anything out because this is a scary prospect for her, asking about the Mercy. Lio has to be considered in his answers. How much can he trust the daughter of King Basileus? Cassia has so little trust and faith in anyone.
 
“First trust, now honesty. Do Hesperines ascribe great importance to such things?”
“Do you not?”
“I think words need not be honest to be mutually beneficial, informative, or productive.”
“I see you are indeed accustomed to battling monsters. Please remember, Lady—there are none here tonight.”
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Lio is an initiate diplomat and also one of only eight bloodborn Hesperines. He is considerate and charming. That he promises to be her champion is borne out of who he is, a gentleman, and his developing sense Cassia is being open to and intrigued by his information. 
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“It is a relief to discover any Tenebran who knows my people are not throat-ripping, child-stealing monsters.”
  
Cassia has a liegehound, Knight, who is her guard and protector. Liegehounds are a large dog, impervious to many things, having been bred specifically to hunt and kill Hesperines. And Knight makes Lio aware of his presence. Cassia and Knight have a language of their own and he is the most wonderfully loyal character throughout. While there are mentions of others, even the odd intersection of lives, there is no one in Cassia’s life who isn’t spying on her or a potential threat to her. Lio’s life is different. He has members of his loving family and good friends alongside him in Solorum for the Equinox Summit.
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Lio has the ability to sense feelings, if required, via a person’s blood, the Union, and thelemancy. As he speaks to and is around Cassia more, he senses fear but no ill will. It is to this end they propose an Oath between one another. He will give her information that is pertinent, while also helping her understand their race a little more. She can talk to him as she sees fit about her thoughts and queries as well. He does not share their nightly meetings with his family because he knows it would breech protocol and they would send him home. He also enjoys this meeting as their own. As they continue to meet, Lio comes to value Cassia’s strength, her diplomatic nature, her openness, her bravery in the face of complex and dire Tenebran politics, how poorly she is viewed and treated. He simply values her. Cassia sees and feels the gentleness and care Lio displays in all things, so unlike the men she has met in Tenebra.     
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While Cassia is emotionally walled off, quite deliberately so by her father and by herself, she makes certain she is as small a target as possible to keep herself safe, it increasingly becomes about keeping Lio safe as well. Her (half) sister, Solia, taught her what ‘ladies do’ and Cassia has noted them all, and this Lady listens; at the Prisma’s temple while working the gardens, in reflection, or at the loom with other ladies, and more. Since Solia’s death, who was the original heir to the crown, there is only Knight that she can count on. Until Lio. But that relationship and her absolute trust is a book in the making. We know Lio is developing feelings for her. The same for Cassia, but both are quite oblivious because there is a lot going on and this is new to them both.
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The world building of Blood Mercy is strong. Visceral. There is a feudal-like system in Tenebra with the Monarchy, Free Lords who make up the council, and the people who work the land under them. The prose supports that with a stylised mixed tone of historical and fantasy. The tension that Cassia feels on a daily basis is subtle but it builds. Especially once Cassia starts her clandestine nightly meeting with an enemy of her father’s. Any messenger who delivers a missive for Cassia to meet with the king is even more frightening since Lio. But it is the gentle relationship development between Cassia and Lio – one that morphs from an important curiosity, to a friendship, to love, that truly drives this book.
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Extra Bits: 

I also listened to the audiobook version of Blood Mercy because I was enjoying the book. I already know Kale Williams’ voice, I’ve listened to many of his audiobooks previously. He has such a soft and calming narration, it perfectly suited Lio. Caren Naess did a good job of Cassia’s voice as well. It was an excellent combination. I found listening to the audio very soothing. It’s 5 star narration. 

Like a lot of fantasy/romantasy books, gods and their temples form a backdrop to the story. Different race, different gods, though it’s the politics and diplomacy styles that are more intricate here in Blood Mercy. The way the Hesperines and the Tenebrans view life, they’re not alike. The Hesperines are more in sync with peace and kindness, they flow with the world and its surrounds. The Tenebrans are more about fear and wrath, they kick aggressively against the world for power’s sake. King Basileus has ruled for a while, and while his is not a kind reign, he is willing to hold another Summit. It means something to the Hesperine in Solorum, allowing them to continue their work and have their people in Tenebra as needed. I could see the hope of the Hesperines, but the politicking of Tenebra is self-serving and power-hungry.    

There is a different spin on the vampires Hesperine. They can go out in the sun. They can eat. They have many names for different things like the Mercy. Blood Union. Grace. Avowal, etc. They have different magic abilities, like thelemancy- mind healing – or light magic.

Lio’s skin was warm. She felt his body heat through the cloth, as surely as she would a human’s. The tales of Hesperines as cold as the grave were all lies.

Cassia’s deceased sister has a highly emotional part to play in this book and is the catalyst for the initial connection Cassia seeks with Lio. I have to admit to a great deal of anger and some real gut-wrenching  hurt in a section of Blood Mercy surrounding Solia that lingered long afterwards. 
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Cassia garnered great empathy from me. I was impressed with her quiet determination. She is incredibly strong. But it is kind, dear Lio that made me love this book just that bit more. His sense of equality. His genuine love of all creatures, great or small. His tender-hearted care for Cassia when he could see she was so painfully alone. Between his patience and her inquiring mind, it allows Cassia to come back to him nightly. To feel emboldened by his care. The genuineness of Hesperine’s ways speak to Cassia, as does their home of Orthos. The way their queens rule. She already felt she might owe them a gratitude but what she discovers is so much more than that.    
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On their nightly meetings, as the clock continues it’s countdown to the Spring Equinox, Cassia hears many things that are incredible from Lio. She also hears something that is frightening from other sources, ‘a Lady listens’. Because of Lio, and because of her sister, because she sees the imbalance of power more clearly now, the escalation of cruelty, this helps Cassia have growth. Again, it’s a deliberate build. I was so happy to see her determination bloom, believing in herself, with hope that a woman in King Lucis’s life can actually survive him.
There is absolutely no sex for sex’s sake within these pages. They do eventually make love. Neither of them have ever been with another and the way Roth wrote it made it quite special. The blood exchange is beautiful as well. Everything is respectful.
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Overall:
A slow but deliberate and different romantasy book, Blood Mercy hits all the feelings. It has a lot to say without being a battering ram. It is a gorgeous romance, I’d say it’s a love story – there is a difference. There is such an ethereal quality to the storytelling. A beauty. The uniqueness of Cassia and Lio’s story still has me thinking about them a week after finishing. It’s taken me that long to review Blood Mercy as well. The only issue I now face is that there are nine books to read in this series and I am a slow reader. I could be wrong but I believe that Cassia and Lio don’t fully become partners until near the end. That worries me. I will be reading and reviewing the next book, Blood Solace, very shortly and I’ll see how that goes. This book deserves some more love. 4.5 Stars!