Title: Mercy
Author: Rebecca Lim
Published: October 28, 2010 by HarperCollins
Pages: 281
Buy: Amazon / Book Depository
Series: Mercy #1
Rating: 5/5
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love. (Goodreads)
Review: I would never have picked this one up if I hadn't read a bunch of glowing reviews. The whole angel genre kind of turns me off and the cover for the NetGalley edition had a girl with wings on the front (the blue cover with the floating girl is so so SO much better). Also, if they hadn't mentioned angels I wouldn't have been sure until the end of the book. Mercy doesn't read like the story of a fallen angel looking for redemption (which is what I expected). It had much more of a body-snatcher vibe. I was reminded of Infinite Days by the main character's personality and reaction to her situation, reminded of Host by the situation itself. This is not a sugary-sweet angel we're talking about here. "Mercy" knows only that she keeps taking over people's bodies randomly, remembering nothing of who she was originally or how she became a body snatcher. She just wakes up in someone else's body and tries desperately to figure out who she is, where she is, and how she is supposed to react to those around her. It's very interesting watching her try not to tip off those around her. I loved this book! The whole thing was so mysterious, suspenseful, and creepy. She has no idea who she is, mysterious men are appearing to her with contradictory orders, and the body she is occupying is supposed to be an extraordinarily talented soprano. She has a lot on her plate here. The answers to who she is, how she got this way, and how she can become a real person again are not answered. They are hinted at, enough that I think I might know what's going on, but nothing is given away. I'm looking forward to finishing this amazing series. Please, publisher, tone down the angel marketing! This series is so much more than an Angel Story.
