At nerdywe love a battle-tested friendship. What could be better than deep connections forged in the midst of dire danger? There's nothing like an epic adventure to bring people together. And that's why we're thrilled to exclusively reveal the cover of DAW Books' The snake called mercy, a Malaysian Chinese-inspired fantasy from debut author Roanne Lau. The underlying and firm friendship between the protagonists of The snake called mercy creates the beating heart of this story. But in addition to resonant interpersonal dynamics, the fantasy-adventure book also promises heart-pounding battles and mysterious (and ferocious) sun-cursed beasts. And we feel that we can see all this well represented The snake called mercythe cover of
You can check it out below.
Exclusive cover reveal for The snake called mercy
Okay, isn't this cover awesome? We are blown away. The Screaming Serpent Thanksthe magnificent cover of by Rowynn Ellis (they/them) and art directed by Katie Anderson. We absolutely look forward to seeing all of these monsters in the story. But both literally and figuratively, we're already obsessed with them. The elemental energy, the dynamic action, the adorable little touch of friendship in the corner, we feel it all in this cover. Ferocity, fury, and small brushes of kindness come together perfectly to help us understand what awaits readers in The snake called mercy.
(But seriously, get this guy his own streaming show, stat. We'd follow him to the ends of the earth.)
This cover will probably only get more beautiful as fans grow to know its true meaning as they read the book. But we are honestly thinking of buying a second copy The snake called mercy just so we can display this piece in our home.
More about The snake called mercy
Just in case The snake called mercyIf the swoon-worthy cover reveal isn't enough to sway you, here's a little more about the book. A statement shares that “Fans of tense, dynamic action and battle-tested friendships like The Sorcerer i Squid Game you'll love The Serpent Called Mercy, where a debt-ridden slumdog joins an illegal monster-fighting ring for a quick buck, but quickly learns that the more dangerous beasts lie outside the ring. Essentially, this book strives to answer the question, “What if an epic fantasy with already high stakes met with even higher stakes and you added a heartbreaking friendship on top?” It seems guaranteed to have us both sobbing and on the edge of our seats. And we could ask for little more than that from a book. We also just have to say that the home of this novel adaptation should definitely be Netflix. An even more complete synopsis of the book can be found at the end of this article.
Of additional interest to some, Roanne Lau's novel will feature asexual and neurodivergent representation, which we definitely support and applaud. Both asexuality and neurodivergence deserve more representation in the media, and books that feature representative characters should be championed.
Pre-order The snake called mercy by Roanne Lau Today
The snake called mercy it will be published on December 3, 2024. You can pre-order it Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-millioni Bookshops.org. You can also follow Lau on Twitter, @roannelauand Instagram, @roannelaufor more updates on the story.
The snake called mercyFull synopsis of
Here's the full synopsis The snake called mercy by Roanne Lau:
Lythlet and her only friend Desil are chained to a life of debt and poverty that she fears they will never escape. Desperate for money, they sign up as Conquerors – arena fighters who battle sun-cursed beasts in the city's underworld.
Matchmaster Dothilos is initially enamored of Desil's reputation for brawling, but after seeing Lythlet lead the pair to success with her quick wit, he takes her under his wing, disdainful of Desil. Ambition takes root in Lythlet's heart as a life of fame and fortune unfolds in his imagination.
But Lythlet isn't the only one looking for currency and glory, and she soon finds herself playing an entirely different game: one of politics and deception. As the cost of his ambition grows, he must decide if sacrificing his honor, and friendship alone, is worth the chance to shape his own fortune.
A whirlwind of bloody battles as characters wrestle with their choices in the face of wealth and financial security, the heart of The Serpent Called Mercy is the underlying, steadfast friendship between its protagonists.
