Rate: 3.5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
When I found out that James S.A. Corey had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait to see what new adventure they had in store after the ultra marathon of The Expanse.
The writing style has a familiar feel and we do return to the stars, but everything else about this story has a fresh, new feeling. That said, amongst the new cast, I had a very difficult time figuring out who everyone was and why they were important. I suspect part of this issue could be rooted in the audiobook medium I’d decided to read The Mercy of the Gods. As the cast started getting whittled down by Corey’s violent twists and turns, it consequently became easier to remember who everyone was.
The heart of this story follows a scientific research group, which is a setting I particularly am drawn to. I found it not surprising, with Corey as the author, that the wide variety of personalities were one of my favorite parts of The Mercy of Gods. There is the deserving arrogant research lead, Tonner, whose brilliance and hard work make him endearing despite his rough edges. Jessyn, who is initially fragile and broken, hardens in the face of danger and hopelessness. Dafyd is perhaps the most intriguing, with his mind working constantly to worry about the impossible puzzle humanity finds themselves trapped in. These characters, along with the depth of Jellit, Else, and many others make the cast vibrant and varied. With such different personalities, Corey often turns the focus into a thought exercise on how different people will react and change to extreme situations, especially when societal expectations learned over a lifetime are rendered completely void.
The Mercy of Gods could be broken into different periods, framed by ‘Before the Carryx’ and ‘The Test’, with a dehumanizing transition in between. Without giving too much away, the initial twist is brilliantly executed, though Corey peppers hints and comments early on that allude to something horrible looming in the near future. The before timeframe is steeped in drama that seems significant at the time, but soon proves to be fleeting and minor in hindsight. That said, Corey has the readers so wrapped up into all of the early political machinations that when the culling happens, we are as shocked and heartbroken as the cast. There is an interesting feel to this story as Corey continues to focus on the human perspective and their dramas that often seemed small in the face of the Carryx. But perhaps that unique focus is needed as the humans are in the dark as to the rules of this new existence for most of this read. In the face of this overwhelming vacuum of knowledge, there is so much unknown that hangs over every conversation.
Overall, The Mercy of Gods is a fantastic start to a new series that is packed with twists and turns, along with characters that are rich with detail and complexity, especially in the face of an all encompassing enemy from the stars.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- Will Dafyd realize Else was never driving when they were together and instead the swarm was?
- The more personalities The Swarm gets the more it seems prone to slipping. When will Jellit realize that her brother is not in charge? When will she put it together about Else’s death being different?
- What will happen if The Swarm is able to transmit their information?
- What are the time differences or other changes that result from the asymmetrical travel that everyone experiences on the transit?
- I couldn’t figure out who The Swarm had taken over and was shocked for some reason when it was Else.
- How will the rest of society react to Dafyd being high priest? What will the Carryx want next with the humans?
- What is happening back in Anjin?
- Is Dafyd’s aunt still alive?
The Critiquing Chemist 