Book: Mercy

Author: Patricia Ward

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio Children, for an advanced audio copy.

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I saw this would be good for fans of Dark and Swallow Lies, and that was all I needed to know to say I’m in. 

Mercy starts strong, and while I didn’t get Dark and Shallow Lies vibes, I was hooked. Unfortunately, Mercy loses its steam and starts to get a little stale after its strong opening. 

The story follows a small town plagued by a curse that affects multi-generational families. The curse is called the sorrowing, and it was just as intriguing as it was inconsistent. The plot didn’t do a good job at really explaining who would’ve been affected by the sorrowing when it extended to distant relatives. 

Mercy was a good main character and did a good job at driving the story. I loved how she went from accepting the sorrowing to trying to end it. 

Overall, this is a good young adult supernatural mystery that I would definitely recommend to young readers. 

Final score: 3/5