THE MERCY OF GODS - James S.A. Corey


 Humans have been on the planet Anjiin longer than history has recorded, working alongside the Anjiin. The Carryx have a reputation as the galaxy's aggressive species, capturing and enslaving other civilization's wherever they go.  When the Carryx come to Anjiin, they wipe out whole communities and round up survivors. Among those captured is Dafyd Alkhor - he'd been a member of a noted research team, and worked closely with a scientist he considered to be one of the most brilliant minds he'd ever encountered.

Now Dafyd finds himself a pawn in a Carryx game of extermination.  The humans against the Anjiin - losing faction is subjected to genocide, the winners become trusted confidantes to the Carryx.

Dafyd finds himself at the center of multiple conflicts - against the Anjiin, but also, against the Carryx (is it possible they are not the unbeatable enemy the galaxy believes?, but perhaps more importantly, against himself ... forced to do some unspeakable acts for the greater good.

Everything that made The Expanse series by the authors known as James S.A. Corey so great is back ... with a vengeance. The characters are strong, unique, and identifiable.  Our main protagonist doesn't go into the leadership role willingly so much as simply being thrust into taking charge.  It isn't dogged determination that motivates him (as is the case with Holden and Miller in The Expanse series) but more instinct to survive and the intelligence to get there.

Rather than humans who have evolved differently and essentially become different races, our antagonists here are truly alien and truly frightening. Though at the same time, they feel familiar.  Have we seen or read about them in some other sci-fi franchise? Of course we have.

There's plenty of page-turning action here but underneath the layer of action is some really heavy concepts, like imprisonment, genocide, and the human capacity for trauma (inflicting it and dealing with it). Not a light read, by any means.

One of my few frustrations with the book is the sense that it's mostly a 'set-up' book meant to get us familiar with the characters, the world, and the situation we find ourselves in. The authors Corey knew it wasn't ending here and don't really even try to make it look  like a complete story.  It's clear to us that there's so much more to Dafyd and to the capture and we're really only being teased into getting excited for the next volume.

Fortunately, it's working.

Looking for a good book? The Mercy of Gods begins a new series by James S.A. Corey, noted for The Expanse series.  This promises to be every bit as good, possibly better, certainly meatier.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

The Mercy of Gods

author: James S. A. Corey

series: The Captives War #1

publisher: Orbit

ISBN: 9780316525572

hardcover, 422 pages

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