The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau

Lythlet has been working dead-end job after dead-end job with abusive employers to pay off a debt to a loan shark. Her best friend Desil has been doing the same working two jobs to pay off a loan with a ridiculous interest rate that if they weren't, slumdogs wouldn't even exist. However, a random conversation about joining the Conquessors in the Arena may just change their fate if they can survive the Match Master first. 

This is such a wonderfully straightforward conversation about the wealth gap, poverty, and those that prey upon the poor. On top of that we have Lythlet who is such a prime example of a human, whom if she had access to the same schooling, the same Healthcare, the same rights as those who were financially well off she would be an unstoppable genius. Hell, she pretty much is without any of those things. Honestly, there are many, many things that made this great, but it's Lythlet that truly put it over the top. She's such a great and relatable character. Even when she made poor decisions and she makes more than her fair share, they felt like something I'd do as well. And the gods know if you read my reviews it's the character that keeps making bad decisions that drives me bonkers but Lythlet's always seemed understandable because she was being used and abused by a man who had turned being a narcissist into a career. Quite literally. But she also admits her faults too and she doesn't surgar coat it either, she never tries to justify her actions, she just admits she messed up and moves on and that is so refreshing in a character like Lythlet. The one takeaway here is Lythlet is a borderline narcissistic herself, and she recognizes it and simply does better. 

World building is well done as well, especially in establishing what a truly shitty world this is to live in if you are poor or if you try to rise above your station. Everyone in power is crooked, literally everyone. The Watchmen, The Governor, The Matchmaster, everyone. And we aren't talking a little crooked. We are talking "sacrifice peoples lives for cheap labor" crooked. We are talking the wife of one of Lythlet's abusive bosses, who says that he should beat Lythlet harder evil. This is, of course, an important distinction because humans have a tendency to believe women are somehow not a part of these evil systems of corruption, which is one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves. Pacing is great as well, I never got bored, I never felt rushed, and omg, Lau does something other authors need to do: Skip ahead in time. That was so nice, there's no filler, Lythlet just mentions that "The last two arena battles went great," and yay, we are caught up! It was again, simple and straightforward manner of moving the story along. 

I have to mention the beasts in the Arena before I go because these things are freaking amazing. They are creepy and terrifying, and how the hell both Lythlet and Desil keep their heads through the battles is simply beyond me. Especially the one with three heads and the way they end that one? Oh man, a gruesome and clever demise that made my violence loving (only in books sheesh) soar! 

Overall, this was an excellent read that could not have come out at a better time. There is no way the publisher or Lau could have planned for American politics to go the way they are right now and it almost kind of sucks that it is speaking so loudly to the truths we are currently living but here we are and I highly recommend giving this one a shot. 

As always, thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the eArc!