Sons of Mercy: A worthwhile fantasy epic
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a fantasy novel the length of Sons of Mercy. I think The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson was the last. As I’ve reviewed a lot of books over the past few years, most of them have been closer to the 90 - 100,000 word range, while Sons of Mercy sits at a behemoth 190,000 words.
And those 190,000 words are filled with a true fantasy epic.
Written by John Paul Sterling, Sons of Mercy dives into a new fantasy world, with new cultures, new magic systems, and political intrigue filled with wit and machination. The scope of the narrative Sterling has written is breathtaking—for a debut indie fantasy novel, Sons of Mercy takes risks many authors are not willing to take.
I particularly enjoyed the emotion-driven magic system, reminiscent of the pushes and pulls of Sanderson’s Mistborn. The themes of love and respect and sacrifice and forgiveness will inspire readers; they’ll recall growing up reading mission-driven fantasy like C.S. Lewis. One particular moment, near the end of the novel, reminded me of a great moment in Jonathan Renshaw’s Dawn of Wonder when a character receives a breathtaking revelation of truth about the world—and themselves.
And at the end of Sons of Mercy, readers will see the long—very long—journey as worth it. Whether its Althas, Okyr, Sofad, or Kara to whom readers attach, they will feel the emotions which powered the magic of this novel.
Now onto the scores!
Writing: 7/10. The writing is crisp and flows well, though the scale of the story and the length of the book resulted in some moments of narrative meandering. I love long fantasy books, but I do think this book could be punchier if it was about forty-thousand words shorter!
Characters: 10/10. Some of the most well-developed characters in any indie fantasy novel I’ve written. I particularly enjoyed Althas—and he has a talking staff! It’s great!
Plot: 7/10. It’s a good plot—and it’s a certainly character-driven plot—but there were moments throughout the narrative where it felt like time skipped—or events occurred off-screen—that made certain moments a little confusing to follow. However, these moments are made up for by the incredibly well-written dialogue filled with political conflict, ready to pull readers forward from page-to-page.
Setting: 9/10. The magic system is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. And Sterling does a good job of not “explaining” to readers how it works—as you read the story, you’ll pick up its nuances as you go. The world itself is also expansive and filled with a rich history, expertly woven into the narrative. The cultures across the world interact with each other in curious ways, all based on that checkered past.
Overall: 8.25/10. Four solid stars out of five! I recommend this novel to anyone looking to go on a fantasy odyssey across a new world, complete with betrayal, intrigue, and magical mystery.