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Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite
Mercy: Tears of the Fallen by Chance Dillon reaches back to the world's founding, when the Artisans—children of the gods—shaped a beautiful and fruitful land. From across the sea came poisonous red storms bringing the Blight, a corruption that drove victims to madness and twisted them into unnatural forms. The Artisans fought the force from Mersianei that followed in the storms' wake, but even they fell. Before dying, they entrusted their Tears—gems holding their magical essence—to their most Trusted. Now, centuries later, Maetlynd is united under a king and council, guided by the last surviving Artisan. But the Blight is returning, seeping into water sources, while political assassinations push the powerful to grasp for more. Eravayn, a battle-hardened drunk seeking redemption, and Arevist, a warrior driven by vengeance, are drawn together by circumstance. With the aid of mercenary twins, they journey into the mountains above the tiered city; one to reclaim his powers, the other to save the land by embedding the Tear into the soil of Maetlynd once more. What they discover will alter Maetlynd's fate yet again.
Mercy: Tears of the Fallen is an ambitious and gripping debut. Chance Dillon's worldbuilding is meticulous as each nation has its own language, beliefs, and cultural details, woven seamlessly into the plot. Characters have deep, complex histories, some stretching back millennia, and their motivations are shaped by tragedy and loss. What lingers is not just the action, but the exploration of how people endure trauma, grief, and hardship, each choice driving the plot forward. Dillon skillfully blends action, suspense, and psychological depth as the pacing shifts between breathtaking battle and tense quiet, maintaining an undercurrent of unease. The detail and emotional weight evoke comparisons to some classic fantasy series, yet the novel's darkness and rare flashes of light give it a distinct, haunting aura. This is a must-read for serious fantasy fans who crave more than a light adventure or a sprinkle of romance. Brutal, immersive, and deeply human, it's a journey into a world scarred by magic, power, and pain.
