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Mercy #3
Muse
An angel searching for answers, for her destiny…
In the third MERCY paranormal romance, Mercy wakes in a new unknown host, her love for Ryan and Luc burning stronger than ever. But who will she make the ultimate sacrifice for?
There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone…
Mercy is thrust into the excessive world of fashion when she awakes in the body of a troubled Russian supermodel, Irina: bitchy, hot-tempered and known to be dabbling in things she shouldn’t, Irina is on the verge of a very public breakdown.
Against the glamorous background of opulent Milan, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan to lead her back to her immortal lover, Luc. But this time Mercy is aware that her memories and powers are growing ever stronger – and she begins to doubt Luc as The Eight reveal more of her mysterious past. Are Luc’s desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?
The grand scale celestial battle for Mercy’s soul builds to an incredible stormy crescendo as archangels and demons clash in a cataclysmic showdown that not all will survive…
In the third MERCY paranormal romance, Mercy wakes in a new unknown host, her love for Ryan and Luc burning stronger than ever. But who will she make the ultimate sacrifice for?
There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone…
Mercy is thrust into the excessive world of fashion when she awakes in the body of a troubled Russian supermodel, Irina: bitchy, hot-tempered and known to be dabbling in things she shouldn’t, Irina is on the verge of a very public breakdown.
Against the glamorous background of opulent Milan, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan to lead her back to her immortal lover, Luc. But this time Mercy is aware that her memories and powers are growing ever stronger – and she begins to doubt Luc as The Eight reveal more of her mysterious past. Are Luc’s desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?
The grand scale celestial battle for Mercy’s soul builds to an incredible stormy crescendo as archangels and demons clash in a cataclysmic showdown that not all will survive…
354 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2011
33 people are currently reading
3696 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Lim
39 books732 followersRebecca Lim is an Australian writer, illustrator and editor and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a Kirkus, Amazon and Booklist Best Book, CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award-winner), Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky (NSW History Award-winner and Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award-winner) and the bestselling Mercy. Her work has been twice shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, ARA Historical Novel Prize and Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, shortlisted multiple times for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and Davitt Awards, and longlisted for the Gold Inky Award and the David Gemmell Legend Award. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese and Russian. She is a co-founder of the Voices from the Intersection initiative and co-editor of Meet Me at the Intersection, a groundbreaking anthology of YA #OwnVoice memoir, poetry and fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
January 12, 2012
This is how this book left me when I finished.
This book is my favorite out of the series so far. I think mostly because it had way more paranormal elements and action than the previous two books. I was deeply satisfied. The angels were way more prominent in this book and we learned a lot more about Mercy and the angels. Also I liked that it felt like we were finally getting answers. Things happened a lot faster than in the previous book, which killed me because it was like the light at the end of tunnel would never be reached. I wanted so badly for things to quickly transpire for Mercy.
I enjoyed the chaos of Irina's life. (this is the new person whose body Mercy's inhabits)Irina is a supermodel and her life is crazy because of it. She's followed everywhere, everyone wants to know about her life, there are people who don't like her, she's struggling with her life because it has spiraled out of control. It is an extremely demanding lifestyle, one that Mercy doesn't understand, especially because it doesn't make sense to her that someone would subject themselves to this sort of life, but I think Irina's chaotic life is nice parallel to Mercy's inner struggles. Because this is the book in which she discovers more things about herself, the Elohim, and where she starts piecing everything together. She finally realizes why she was exiled to begin with and the horror of this realization is huge. And on top of all this, she once again is in search of Ryan. Even though she has doubts since technically speaking they are not compatible. He is human and she is an angel. Her life is at the most chaotic it has ever been. I loved it.
And oh man, the action sequences were epic. I had to listen to these two songs to make it even more epic for myself:
http://youtu.be/_osIEMhDDls
http://youtu.be/6xCCAs8iglY
These songs were just perfect for me and the mood of the book. Usually I don't have to listen to specific music while reading, any music will do. But for this series, I just felt compelled to listen to this type of music. Then it was like I HAVE to listen to this or I can't concentrate on the story. I guess I got too into it? Haha I don't know. And I still haven't gotten bored of listening to the same songs. Also this book made me lose sleep because I just wanted to finish it. I only got like 3hrs of sleep. I had to get up early to go to a meeting since I'm producing a new movie.
Anyway, here are some pictures that describe the epicness of the action sequences.
Can't wait for the last book to come out. And I really need to buy these books for my bookshelves. Someone please gift them to me!
This book is my favorite out of the series so far. I think mostly because it had way more paranormal elements and action than the previous two books. I was deeply satisfied. The angels were way more prominent in this book and we learned a lot more about Mercy and the angels. Also I liked that it felt like we were finally getting answers. Things happened a lot faster than in the previous book, which killed me because it was like the light at the end of tunnel would never be reached. I wanted so badly for things to quickly transpire for Mercy.
I enjoyed the chaos of Irina's life. (this is the new person whose body Mercy's inhabits)Irina is a supermodel and her life is crazy because of it. She's followed everywhere, everyone wants to know about her life, there are people who don't like her, she's struggling with her life because it has spiraled out of control. It is an extremely demanding lifestyle, one that Mercy doesn't understand, especially because it doesn't make sense to her that someone would subject themselves to this sort of life, but I think Irina's chaotic life is nice parallel to Mercy's inner struggles. Because this is the book in which she discovers more things about herself, the Elohim, and where she starts piecing everything together. She finally realizes why she was exiled to begin with and the horror of this realization is huge. And on top of all this, she once again is in search of Ryan. Even though she has doubts since technically speaking they are not compatible. He is human and she is an angel. Her life is at the most chaotic it has ever been. I loved it.
And oh man, the action sequences were epic. I had to listen to these two songs to make it even more epic for myself:
http://youtu.be/_osIEMhDDls
http://youtu.be/6xCCAs8iglY
These songs were just perfect for me and the mood of the book. Usually I don't have to listen to specific music while reading, any music will do. But for this series, I just felt compelled to listen to this type of music. Then it was like I HAVE to listen to this or I can't concentrate on the story. I guess I got too into it? Haha I don't know. And I still haven't gotten bored of listening to the same songs. Also this book made me lose sleep because I just wanted to finish it. I only got like 3hrs of sleep. I had to get up early to go to a meeting since I'm producing a new movie.
Anyway, here are some pictures that describe the epicness of the action sequences.
Can't wait for the last book to come out. And I really need to buy these books for my bookshelves. Someone please gift them to me!
November 6, 2011
Muse begins with Mercy awaking in yet another new body. While the transition from body to body has grown surprisingly easier for her lately, the new life she's now living is far from smooth. She's in the body of a high-profile supermodel who can't leave the house without an entourage of paparazzi following her every move. Irina Zhivanevskaya has allowed her life to spiral so far out of control - drugs, public displays of rage and a bitchy attitude have led to countless doors in the modelling industry being slammed in her face. She has one shot left to make her comeback and it's up to Mercy to make it happen. This is Mercy's shortest time yet trapped in a human vessel, but her most chaotic as she juggles Irina's demanding lifestyle and her own confusing existence as answers dangle closer than ever and she's finally connecting the dots to her terrible exile.
Both men in her life - beloved angel, Luc, who she shared her heart and soul with an eternity ago and the human boy, Ryan, who she fell for during a previous life - are closing in, desperate to find her for very different reasons. Who will reach her first? And are their motivations as noble as they claim? A dark and deadly storm is brewing with the gorgeous Milan as the stunning backdrop. All along, Mercy has begged for answers and now she's finally going to get them, but not without consequences.
Destruction and mayhem descend upon Italy as heaven and hell clash in a show-stopping finale. No one will make it out unscathed. Some won't survive at all. Age-old secrets and betrayals come to light and the shocking truth of Mercy's exile is finally revealed to her... and the truth is painful. What I loved about this ending was how realistic it was. In many YA novels I've read where there are celestial forces, the big battle between good and evil is confined to one area and the general public never see these unearthly figures fight it out, never suffer the wrath of their rage. But in Muse? The grand scale is huge. The battle ground is Earth and the bad guys don't give a damn how many innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire. It's catastrophic and will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.
Muse is by the far the best novel in the series. It felt the most paranormal compared to Mercy and Exile. Littering the pages were even more secrets, more powerful, otherworldly beings and more action that literally rocks the very foundations of the earth. And smack in the middle is Mercy, the catalyst to it all, the one who both sides will do all it takes to get their hands on. The terrible cliffhanger will leave you breathless, crazed with desperation to get your hands on the fourth and final installment of this stunning series. May 2012 cannot come soon enough!!!
Both men in her life - beloved angel, Luc, who she shared her heart and soul with an eternity ago and the human boy, Ryan, who she fell for during a previous life - are closing in, desperate to find her for very different reasons. Who will reach her first? And are their motivations as noble as they claim? A dark and deadly storm is brewing with the gorgeous Milan as the stunning backdrop. All along, Mercy has begged for answers and now she's finally going to get them, but not without consequences.
Destruction and mayhem descend upon Italy as heaven and hell clash in a show-stopping finale. No one will make it out unscathed. Some won't survive at all. Age-old secrets and betrayals come to light and the shocking truth of Mercy's exile is finally revealed to her... and the truth is painful. What I loved about this ending was how realistic it was. In many YA novels I've read where there are celestial forces, the big battle between good and evil is confined to one area and the general public never see these unearthly figures fight it out, never suffer the wrath of their rage. But in Muse? The grand scale is huge. The battle ground is Earth and the bad guys don't give a damn how many innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire. It's catastrophic and will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.
Muse is by the far the best novel in the series. It felt the most paranormal compared to Mercy and Exile. Littering the pages were even more secrets, more powerful, otherworldly beings and more action that literally rocks the very foundations of the earth. And smack in the middle is Mercy, the catalyst to it all, the one who both sides will do all it takes to get their hands on. The terrible cliffhanger will leave you breathless, crazed with desperation to get your hands on the fourth and final installment of this stunning series. May 2012 cannot come soon enough!!!
May 12, 2015
1,5 - 2 Punkte. War leider dieses Mal gar nicht mein Fall :/
December 9, 2011
This is the first book in the Mercy series that didn't really work for me. It's not that I hated it, it's just that I expected something a bit different, something more than what I got.
In Mercy's third reincarnation, she is put in the body of a super(duper) model who is beautiful in a way that makes men silly and women sillier. She is also addicted toheroin a drug (all drugs? I'm not sure) and you know... meets all the stereotypes about supermodels. Like, drug addict, sexually liberated (hey, it's better than "slut"), attitude problems and an ego that would dwarf Mount Everest in size. Mercy wakes up in this woman's body and the show is on the roads, people. Fasten your seat-belts!
There are many reasons this book didn't work for me. But I think the main one (and you may think me very picky for this) is - okay. Say someone asks you a question and you, instead of answering that question start thinking about things, like for pages you are thinking and it seems like years pass and THEN you answer that question to the person who must have been waiting for your answer while you were thinking for ALL THOSE PAGES. It drove me CRAZY!
I know, I know, I'm not explaining it very well. So let me give you an example.
Woman: So do you like blue?
Mercy: (thinking) At the beginning we...............................................
..........................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
....................... (two centuries later)
Yes.
(This does not appear in the book. Just so you know.)
And okay, this is subjective, I'm well aware that it probably won't bother anyone else but it was jarring and the internal monologues in this book seemed a bit excessive.
Also missing was Mercy's intrinsic quality that set her apart from others and made her into the otherworldly creature that I so adored. Suddenly she becomes a heroine that I cannot connect with. She has a harem of men and new angels are introduced who do not seem to have had any bearing on the narrative until in this book and...let's just say their introduction to the narrative has a simple purpose - a purpose that is foretold so obviously that you can't connect to the new characters because well... you will find out.
Also, Luce? He and Mercy FINALLY meet in this installment and may I say how anticlimactic that was? I understand Luce is a villain (and if you haven't gotten that by now, child, go to the corner and read books one and two) but can he retain some of Milton's Lucifer's qualities and become an intriguing villain with depths and layers other than I WANT TO CONTROL ZIS VORLD, MWAHAHAH... er... sorry. I got carried away. The point is, there's a reason Mercy loved this guy and while you and I both know it didn't end well, let us see some qualities in him that would turn a girl's (or an angel's) head. All I got from Mercy was that "he was beautiful and irresistible" which seems mightily shallow. You know? I don't know how angels do it but surely they must have some sort of personality requirement.
Honestly, I just wanted a little less blowing things up and a lot more confrontation. A little less emotional (romantic) pathos and a lot more growth and anger. I couldn't get used to the idea of a helpless Mercy. She's told to stand aside and let the big manly angels protect her. Where's the woman who beat up the pervert in book one? I'm not giving up on this though because I have a feeling that book four might deliver but I just think that this book could have done a lot with taming down on the whole angel warfare.
Still. This book did answer some pertinent questions and moves the plot along substantially so...I guess I'll wait for the fourth book to put me out of my misery.
In Mercy's third reincarnation, she is put in the body of a super(duper) model who is beautiful in a way that makes men silly and women sillier. She is also addicted to
There are many reasons this book didn't work for me. But I think the main one (and you may think me very picky for this) is - okay. Say someone asks you a question and you, instead of answering that question start thinking about things, like for pages you are thinking and it seems like years pass and THEN you answer that question to the person who must have been waiting for your answer while you were thinking for ALL THOSE PAGES. It drove me CRAZY!
I know, I know, I'm not explaining it very well. So let me give you an example.
Woman: So do you like blue?
Mercy: (thinking) At the beginning we...............................................
..........................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
....................... (two centuries later)
Yes.
(This does not appear in the book. Just so you know.)
And okay, this is subjective, I'm well aware that it probably won't bother anyone else but it was jarring and the internal monologues in this book seemed a bit excessive.
Also missing was Mercy's intrinsic quality that set her apart from others and made her into the otherworldly creature that I so adored. Suddenly she becomes a heroine that I cannot connect with. She has a harem of men and new angels are introduced who do not seem to have had any bearing on the narrative until in this book and...let's just say their introduction to the narrative has a simple purpose - a purpose that is foretold so obviously that you can't connect to the new characters because well... you will find out.
Also, Luce? He and Mercy FINALLY meet in this installment and may I say how anticlimactic that was? I understand Luce is a villain (and if you haven't gotten that by now, child, go to the corner and read books one and two) but can he retain some of Milton's Lucifer's qualities and become an intriguing villain with depths and layers other than I WANT TO CONTROL ZIS VORLD, MWAHAHAH... er... sorry. I got carried away. The point is, there's a reason Mercy loved this guy and while you and I both know it didn't end well, let us see some qualities in him that would turn a girl's (or an angel's) head. All I got from Mercy was that "he was beautiful and irresistible" which seems mightily shallow. You know? I don't know how angels do it but surely they must have some sort of personality requirement.
Honestly, I just wanted a little less blowing things up and a lot more confrontation. A little less emotional (romantic) pathos and a lot more growth and anger. I couldn't get used to the idea of a helpless Mercy. She's told to stand aside and let the big manly angels protect her. Where's the woman who beat up the pervert in book one? I'm not giving up on this though because I have a feeling that book four might deliver but I just think that this book could have done a lot with taming down on the whole angel warfare.
Still. This book did answer some pertinent questions and moves the plot along substantially so...I guess I'll wait for the fourth book to put me out of my misery.
March 31, 2017
This one was excellent! Best one so far since we get so many questions answered. And even though it's fairly predictable I enjoyed it. There's a lot more emphasis on the angelic history than in the previous books and I liked where the story is going. I'm still confused as to why Mercy is still leading with Ryan. I really liked him a lot and am definitely on Team Ryan. The combination of her host body and her soul is still there, but this one was a lot more interesting because she's inside a supermodel's body. I've always liked Mercy's internal dialogue. She never apologizes for exactly who she is. The mystery behind why she was casted is finally revealed and I'm so glad I have the final book so I can read what happens next.
November 7, 2011
When one is named “Luc” in angel book, it’s pretty obvious where things are headed. Despite aspects of it being obvious, I still enjoyed MUSE. The writing still has a different tone from books that I normally read, so I understand the lukewarm reception of others to previous installments. I, on the other hand, appreciate the lyrical quality they have. There’s just something to be said to the almost poetic way Mercy sees and thinks; I suppose it adds to her mystery. Only that mystery has been shredded in this one because one reveal after another simply had me reading on.
OK. It’s not all good though because frankly, the life she’d found herself in was not that interesting for me. Irina’s life of modeling was blegh… and everything about her went almost like an episode of one of those “Behind the Scenes of this or that Super Star.”
The biggest positive is how there’s more of Mercy and less of the other. If in the first, Carmen and Lena play big parts in the story, here Irina… who she was, what she was seemed less as more of who and what Mercy was started coming out. Another aspect that drew me in was the bigger presence of the Elohim. As said, previous stories focused more on the lives of the bodies she’d taken over… here it’s all about Mercy.
3/5
OK. It’s not all good though because frankly, the life she’d found herself in was not that interesting for me. Irina’s life of modeling was blegh… and everything about her went almost like an episode of one of those “Behind the Scenes of this or that Super Star.”
The biggest positive is how there’s more of Mercy and less of the other. If in the first, Carmen and Lena play big parts in the story, here Irina… who she was, what she was seemed less as more of who and what Mercy was started coming out. Another aspect that drew me in was the bigger presence of the Elohim. As said, previous stories focused more on the lives of the bodies she’d taken over… here it’s all about Mercy.
3/5
April 24, 2013
Muse, the third book of Mercy series isn't as silly and bad as some other badly written angel series, like: Hush, Hush and Fallen. The author has some refreshing ideas up her sleeves and the book is a quick, easy read. As long as you don't think too deeply into the details, then you'll be alright.
Plus, the cover really is pretty.
Although I'm disappointed of the revealing of Luc's true identity---the answer to this mystery is so damn obvious! And for how many times we must remind authors that Devil, Lucifer and Satan aren't the same guy!???
Still, I like how the author explains why Luc needs Mercy so badly, the idea is nice enough.
What I do enjoy, is Mercy experiencing human's life as a 19 years old devastatingly beautiful, troubled supermodel, but still...what happened to said supermodel and the other humans at the end? I want to know what had happened to them so badly! But the author seems wanting to leave all the answers for the next book.=__=
Plus, the cover really is pretty.
Although I'm disappointed of the revealing of Luc's true identity---the answer to this mystery is so damn obvious! And for how many times we must remind authors that Devil, Lucifer and Satan aren't the same guy!???
Still, I like how the author explains why Luc needs Mercy so badly, the idea is nice enough.
What I do enjoy, is Mercy experiencing human's life as a 19 years old devastatingly beautiful, troubled supermodel, but still...what happened to said supermodel and the other humans at the end? I want to know what had happened to them so badly! But the author seems wanting to leave all the answers for the next book.=__=
May 28, 2012
"Besessen" ist der dritte Teil der Mercy-Tetralogie von Rebecca Lim und im Vergleich zu den Vorgängern nimmt die Geschichte endlich Fahrt auf. "Besessen" konnte mich daher etwas mehr überzeugen als "Erweckt". Der große Wurf ist es allerdings immer noch nicht...
Inhalt: Mercy erwacht im Körper des bildhübschen, aber durch Drogen und schlechtes Verhalten kurz vor dem Absturz stehenden Supermodels Irina in Mailand. Während sie versucht sich in Irinas Leben zurecht zu finden und Ryan aufzuspüren, suchen sie immer mehr Erinnerungen an ihr früheres Leben und merkwürdige Vorahnungen heim. Doch dieses Mal bleibt ihr nicht viel Zeit, denn die Acht sind auf dem Weg nach Mailand, um sie erneut zu verstecken, denn auch Luc, der überirdische Mann aus ihren Träumen, hat sie endlich gefunden...
Das Positive vielleicht zuerst: Mercy, und mit ihr auch der Leser, erfährt endlich wer sie ist und warum sie dieses Leben ohne Erinnerungen in immer neuen Körpern führen muss. Nach den Andeutungen in den vorangegangenen beiden Bänden werden die Zusammenhänge klarer und die großen Geheimnisse gelüftet. Im Gegensatz zu den eher kleinen Fortschritten in "Gefangen" und "Erweckt" macht "Besessen" hier riesige Sprünge und legt ein ordentliches Tempo vor. Die Ereignisse überschlagen sich regelrecht und gipfeln in einem wirklich spannenden, mitreißenden und starken Finale, das auch für einige langatmigere Passagen entschädigen kann und richtig Hoffnung für den letzten Teil macht. Mit einem kleinen Cliffhanger sorgt die Autorin außerdem dafür, dass nach diesem Teil nun wirklich kein Leser mehr die Reihe aufgeben wird - ich zumindest nicht.
Auch gut gefallen hat es mir, dass Luc und die Engel jetzt auch aktiv, und nicht mehr nur in Mercys Träumen, in die Handlung eingreifen. Da gibt es noch einige überraschende Wendungen. Besonders Mercys Bewacher, der gutaussehende, sympathische Engel K'el, der sich ihr immer wieder zeigt, um sie vor Luc zu warnen, und Erinnerungen an eine gemeinsame Vergangenheit in ihr weckt, hat mir als Nebencharakter sehr gut gefallen. K'el Warnung vor Luc, der doch der einzige war, der sie zumindest in ihren Träumen nie allein ließ und sie immer dazu ermutigte nach ihm zu suchen, bringen Mercys Gefühlswelt ordentlich durcheinander. Auch Luc entwickelt sich in "Besessen" von einer eher schattenhaften Traumfigur zu einem sehr überzeugenden Nebencharakter und bringt zusammen mit K'el und einigen anderen Engeln Abwechslung und Spannung in die Geschichte.
Für eine Liebesgeschichte hätte sicher auch Mercys Beziehung zu K'el das nötige Potential gehabt - ja, vielleicht hätte mir K'el sogar viel besser gefallen als das Menschlein Ryan, das vor allem durch Abwesenheit glänzt. Dass es den auch noch gibt, konnte man ja bereits in "Erweckt" fast vergessen, und auch in "Besessen" bleibt seine Rolle bis zum Ende marginal. Seit die Beziehung in "Gefangen" ihren Anfang fand und dort genau genommen die Kinderschuhe auch nie verlassen hat, hat sie sich jetzt über zwei Bände hinweg kaum weiterentwickelt. Das ist sehr schade. Außerdem wirkt die Verbundenheit der beiden dadurch sehr gewollt. Was genau findet Mercy an Ryan, den sie eigentlich kaum kennt? Woher die große Liebe? Das kann ich mittlerweile nicht mehr nachvollziehen und es begann daher ins Kitschige abzurutschen. Ryan hat sich durch seine ständige Abwesenheit nahezu überflüssig gemacht und die Gefühle - die dann doch noch, ähnlich wie in "Erweckt", auf einer Handvoll Seiten zum Ende hin aufkamen - konnten mich einfach nicht mehr richtig berühren.
Leider hat auch Mercys Charakter wieder ein wenig nachgelassen. Vorher war sie stark und hat vieles selbst in die Hand genommen, doch je mehr sie über sich erfährt, desto lebensunfähiger wird sie. Das ist wohl zum Teil gewollt, doch ihr ständiger Schwindel, ihre Benommenheit und ihr gedankliches Abschweifen bis hin zur Halluzination bei jeder Kleinigkeit, die sie entfernt an etwas Vergangenes erinnert, haben mir etwas die Freude an der ansonsten überzeugenden und immer sehr glaubhaft dargestellten Ich-Erzählerin genommen. Sie ist ständig ausgeknockt und lässt sich von anderen durch Irinas Leben schleifen - ein Leben im Übrigen, das abgesehen von einem kleinen persönlichen Konflikt, bei dessen Mercy kurzzeitig mir ihrer alten Stärke glänzen kann, keinen vergleichbaren Tiefgang zu bieten hat, wie das Leben der Lela oder gar Carmens Leben mit der spannenden Suche nach Ryans Schwester in den Vorgängerbänden.
Der Schreibstil ist nach wie vor sehr gut. Es lässt sich flüssig lesen und wirkt sprachlich sehr natürlich. Sowohl die Sprache als auch die Geschichte machen die Mercy-Reihe trotz Herausgabe als Jugendbuch auch für erwachsene zu einem Lesevergnügen. Gestalterisch bleibt das Cover mit dem gehighlighteten Auge im Mädchengesicht der Reihe treu, allerdings finde ich es farblich etwas weniger spannend als die beiden anderen Teile.
Fazit: Ich bin etwas unschlüssig. Spannend ist dieser dritte Teil geworden, keine Frage, und das Finale ist herausragend gut. Leider bin ich aber von der Liebesgeschichte erneut enttäuscht und Mercy verblasst mit der Passivität in ihrer Entwicklung ein wenig, was durch starke Nebencharaktere wie Luc und K'el nicht ganz wieder ausgeglichen werden kann. Insgesamt hat es mir deutlich besser gefallen als "Erweckt", auch wenn es noch ein paar Schwachstellen gab. 4 Sterne - und bei dem Finale kann "Befreit" jetzt eigentlich nur ein richtiger Knaller werden. Ich warte gespannt...
Inhalt: Mercy erwacht im Körper des bildhübschen, aber durch Drogen und schlechtes Verhalten kurz vor dem Absturz stehenden Supermodels Irina in Mailand. Während sie versucht sich in Irinas Leben zurecht zu finden und Ryan aufzuspüren, suchen sie immer mehr Erinnerungen an ihr früheres Leben und merkwürdige Vorahnungen heim. Doch dieses Mal bleibt ihr nicht viel Zeit, denn die Acht sind auf dem Weg nach Mailand, um sie erneut zu verstecken, denn auch Luc, der überirdische Mann aus ihren Träumen, hat sie endlich gefunden...
Das Positive vielleicht zuerst: Mercy, und mit ihr auch der Leser, erfährt endlich wer sie ist und warum sie dieses Leben ohne Erinnerungen in immer neuen Körpern führen muss. Nach den Andeutungen in den vorangegangenen beiden Bänden werden die Zusammenhänge klarer und die großen Geheimnisse gelüftet. Im Gegensatz zu den eher kleinen Fortschritten in "Gefangen" und "Erweckt" macht "Besessen" hier riesige Sprünge und legt ein ordentliches Tempo vor. Die Ereignisse überschlagen sich regelrecht und gipfeln in einem wirklich spannenden, mitreißenden und starken Finale, das auch für einige langatmigere Passagen entschädigen kann und richtig Hoffnung für den letzten Teil macht. Mit einem kleinen Cliffhanger sorgt die Autorin außerdem dafür, dass nach diesem Teil nun wirklich kein Leser mehr die Reihe aufgeben wird - ich zumindest nicht.
Auch gut gefallen hat es mir, dass Luc und die Engel jetzt auch aktiv, und nicht mehr nur in Mercys Träumen, in die Handlung eingreifen. Da gibt es noch einige überraschende Wendungen. Besonders Mercys Bewacher, der gutaussehende, sympathische Engel K'el, der sich ihr immer wieder zeigt, um sie vor Luc zu warnen, und Erinnerungen an eine gemeinsame Vergangenheit in ihr weckt, hat mir als Nebencharakter sehr gut gefallen. K'el Warnung vor Luc, der doch der einzige war, der sie zumindest in ihren Träumen nie allein ließ und sie immer dazu ermutigte nach ihm zu suchen, bringen Mercys Gefühlswelt ordentlich durcheinander. Auch Luc entwickelt sich in "Besessen" von einer eher schattenhaften Traumfigur zu einem sehr überzeugenden Nebencharakter und bringt zusammen mit K'el und einigen anderen Engeln Abwechslung und Spannung in die Geschichte.
Für eine Liebesgeschichte hätte sicher auch Mercys Beziehung zu K'el das nötige Potential gehabt - ja, vielleicht hätte mir K'el sogar viel besser gefallen als das Menschlein Ryan, das vor allem durch Abwesenheit glänzt. Dass es den auch noch gibt, konnte man ja bereits in "Erweckt" fast vergessen, und auch in "Besessen" bleibt seine Rolle bis zum Ende marginal. Seit die Beziehung in "Gefangen" ihren Anfang fand und dort genau genommen die Kinderschuhe auch nie verlassen hat, hat sie sich jetzt über zwei Bände hinweg kaum weiterentwickelt. Das ist sehr schade. Außerdem wirkt die Verbundenheit der beiden dadurch sehr gewollt. Was genau findet Mercy an Ryan, den sie eigentlich kaum kennt? Woher die große Liebe? Das kann ich mittlerweile nicht mehr nachvollziehen und es begann daher ins Kitschige abzurutschen. Ryan hat sich durch seine ständige Abwesenheit nahezu überflüssig gemacht und die Gefühle - die dann doch noch, ähnlich wie in "Erweckt", auf einer Handvoll Seiten zum Ende hin aufkamen - konnten mich einfach nicht mehr richtig berühren.
Leider hat auch Mercys Charakter wieder ein wenig nachgelassen. Vorher war sie stark und hat vieles selbst in die Hand genommen, doch je mehr sie über sich erfährt, desto lebensunfähiger wird sie. Das ist wohl zum Teil gewollt, doch ihr ständiger Schwindel, ihre Benommenheit und ihr gedankliches Abschweifen bis hin zur Halluzination bei jeder Kleinigkeit, die sie entfernt an etwas Vergangenes erinnert, haben mir etwas die Freude an der ansonsten überzeugenden und immer sehr glaubhaft dargestellten Ich-Erzählerin genommen. Sie ist ständig ausgeknockt und lässt sich von anderen durch Irinas Leben schleifen - ein Leben im Übrigen, das abgesehen von einem kleinen persönlichen Konflikt, bei dessen Mercy kurzzeitig mir ihrer alten Stärke glänzen kann, keinen vergleichbaren Tiefgang zu bieten hat, wie das Leben der Lela oder gar Carmens Leben mit der spannenden Suche nach Ryans Schwester in den Vorgängerbänden.
Der Schreibstil ist nach wie vor sehr gut. Es lässt sich flüssig lesen und wirkt sprachlich sehr natürlich. Sowohl die Sprache als auch die Geschichte machen die Mercy-Reihe trotz Herausgabe als Jugendbuch auch für erwachsene zu einem Lesevergnügen. Gestalterisch bleibt das Cover mit dem gehighlighteten Auge im Mädchengesicht der Reihe treu, allerdings finde ich es farblich etwas weniger spannend als die beiden anderen Teile.
Fazit: Ich bin etwas unschlüssig. Spannend ist dieser dritte Teil geworden, keine Frage, und das Finale ist herausragend gut. Leider bin ich aber von der Liebesgeschichte erneut enttäuscht und Mercy verblasst mit der Passivität in ihrer Entwicklung ein wenig, was durch starke Nebencharaktere wie Luc und K'el nicht ganz wieder ausgeglichen werden kann. Insgesamt hat es mir deutlich besser gefallen als "Erweckt", auch wenn es noch ein paar Schwachstellen gab. 4 Sterne - und bei dem Finale kann "Befreit" jetzt eigentlich nur ein richtiger Knaller werden. Ich warte gespannt...
Read
March 20, 2012WARNING: This review will likely have spoilers for the Mercy series by Rebecca Lim, which includes Mercy and Exile.
Caitlin: My favourite thing about this book? ANSWERS! I love getting answers, don’t you?
Christine: I do. Some of them I’d already figured out before the main character, Mercy, but the BIG one was answered. Of course it was an ‘A-ha!’ moment, like yes, I should have realized that was the answer before and now I feel kind of silly that it took me this long to get it. *sigh*
Caitlin: Yes, I understand this feeling. I never figure anything out early. So, this time Mercy wakes up in the body of a young, hugely famous modal in Milan. It is days before her big runway show that is set to save her career but all Mercy wants is to find Ryan, the human she has feelings for, or Luc, the angel she is obsessed with. Or possibly she wants both. She is very confused on the subject of men.
Christine: Aren’t we all? By the end of the book, though, I think she’s clearly made her choice about that particular problem.
The fashion and model thing really threw me for a loop during this book. I’m used to her being placed in normal girls with not much going for them, someone she can embody in order to hide her from Luc. I know why they put her in who they did, but it wasn’t altogether clear at the beginning. It was, however, rather funny reading about her stumbling attempts to wear five inch heels and learning the art of standing still while wearing very expensive clothing.
Caitlin: It all seems like it would be so easy. Except for the heels. I’m no good with heels either. Besides fashion and drama in the fashion world, we get to see a lot more of the angels responsible for Mercy’s current situation. Which was good but also strange? Like how the world just stopped for like two chapters so Mercy could have a conversation with one of them. Right when she was in the middle of a busy…thing. It made me restless and eager to get back to the normal world while they were just chatting.
And we didn’t get to know her real name. This bothers me so much. I need to know. It was used by others in the book but we don’t get to know. Why????
Christine: Take a deep breath. I have a feeling we’ll learn it in the next and final book, Fury. Which by the way, I love that title. It’s definitely time for Mercy to fight back instead of being a doormat.
I’m actually okay not knowing her real name, probably because I’ve read other books where people’s real names are not used (The Time Machine, anyone?). It doesn’t take anything away from Mercy as a character.
Can we all just take a second to look at Ryan and his choices and his absolute faith in Mercy and how incredibly awesome he is? I want a Ryan. I want someone to love me so much he’ll fly to the other side of the world for me. Oh, Ryan. You’re too perfect to be real.
Caitlin: I’m hoping we see more of Ryan in Fury as well. It seems like we will because of…well…things. I’ve missed him these past two books.
I liked that there was some intense death and destruction at the end. Rebecca Lim is not afraid to just kill people off, just when you’re starting to care about them. It was a very exciting last couple of chapters and I like how everything came together at the end.
Christine: Yes! Very exciting. I hated putting the book down during those last chapters. I have no idea how that’s all going to play out, since you know there were cameras everywhere and people love stopping in the middle of the street to take video with their phones. It should make for a very exciting end book.
For as much as we’ve learned about Mercy and probably will learn, I liked how she kind of came into her own during the end of the book. In the first book and in Exile, you get a hopeless and almost martyr sense from her while she’s looking for answers about her existence. While I understand her reliance on Luc, I’m glad she finally got to see him as he is now, instead of how he portrays himself to be in her dreams. I also liked seeing her fight back. You saw small bits of that fire in her in the other books, but this one really brought it out of her.
Caitlin: I suspect she will continue to be a little angry in Fury. I mean, the title is a bit of a clue. But other than Mercy being angry I cannot quite imagine what is going to happen in the next one. Or where it’s going to leave us at the end. I realize April isn’t a terribly long wait for a book but why do we have to wait at all?
I need to know what happens to Mercy and Ryan.
Christine: Me, too, which is why I’m so glad I know you and will be able to read the book early. Silly US publishers and their weird publishing schedule.
Caitlin: You’re welcome.
+++++
A reminder that Christine and I read the Canada/UK release of this series. The Australian release is, I believe, ahead of us, and the USA one behind. After some sluething around I have only found contradicting information about when book two, Exile, is going to be released. Rebecca Lim’s Goodreads blog says both that it will be released in April and 2012 and April 2013. I’m not sure what’s up with Hyperion on this.
Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on January 30, 2012.
Caitlin: My favourite thing about this book? ANSWERS! I love getting answers, don’t you?
Christine: I do. Some of them I’d already figured out before the main character, Mercy, but the BIG one was answered. Of course it was an ‘A-ha!’ moment, like yes, I should have realized that was the answer before and now I feel kind of silly that it took me this long to get it. *sigh*
Caitlin: Yes, I understand this feeling. I never figure anything out early. So, this time Mercy wakes up in the body of a young, hugely famous modal in Milan. It is days before her big runway show that is set to save her career but all Mercy wants is to find Ryan, the human she has feelings for, or Luc, the angel she is obsessed with. Or possibly she wants both. She is very confused on the subject of men.
Christine: Aren’t we all? By the end of the book, though, I think she’s clearly made her choice about that particular problem.
The fashion and model thing really threw me for a loop during this book. I’m used to her being placed in normal girls with not much going for them, someone she can embody in order to hide her from Luc. I know why they put her in who they did, but it wasn’t altogether clear at the beginning. It was, however, rather funny reading about her stumbling attempts to wear five inch heels and learning the art of standing still while wearing very expensive clothing.
Caitlin: It all seems like it would be so easy. Except for the heels. I’m no good with heels either. Besides fashion and drama in the fashion world, we get to see a lot more of the angels responsible for Mercy’s current situation. Which was good but also strange? Like how the world just stopped for like two chapters so Mercy could have a conversation with one of them. Right when she was in the middle of a busy…thing. It made me restless and eager to get back to the normal world while they were just chatting.
And we didn’t get to know her real name. This bothers me so much. I need to know. It was used by others in the book but we don’t get to know. Why????
Christine: Take a deep breath. I have a feeling we’ll learn it in the next and final book, Fury. Which by the way, I love that title. It’s definitely time for Mercy to fight back instead of being a doormat.
I’m actually okay not knowing her real name, probably because I’ve read other books where people’s real names are not used (The Time Machine, anyone?). It doesn’t take anything away from Mercy as a character.
Can we all just take a second to look at Ryan and his choices and his absolute faith in Mercy and how incredibly awesome he is? I want a Ryan. I want someone to love me so much he’ll fly to the other side of the world for me. Oh, Ryan. You’re too perfect to be real.
Caitlin: I’m hoping we see more of Ryan in Fury as well. It seems like we will because of…well…things. I’ve missed him these past two books.
I liked that there was some intense death and destruction at the end. Rebecca Lim is not afraid to just kill people off, just when you’re starting to care about them. It was a very exciting last couple of chapters and I like how everything came together at the end.
Christine: Yes! Very exciting. I hated putting the book down during those last chapters. I have no idea how that’s all going to play out, since you know there were cameras everywhere and people love stopping in the middle of the street to take video with their phones. It should make for a very exciting end book.
For as much as we’ve learned about Mercy and probably will learn, I liked how she kind of came into her own during the end of the book. In the first book and in Exile, you get a hopeless and almost martyr sense from her while she’s looking for answers about her existence. While I understand her reliance on Luc, I’m glad she finally got to see him as he is now, instead of how he portrays himself to be in her dreams. I also liked seeing her fight back. You saw small bits of that fire in her in the other books, but this one really brought it out of her.
Caitlin: I suspect she will continue to be a little angry in Fury. I mean, the title is a bit of a clue. But other than Mercy being angry I cannot quite imagine what is going to happen in the next one. Or where it’s going to leave us at the end. I realize April isn’t a terribly long wait for a book but why do we have to wait at all?
I need to know what happens to Mercy and Ryan.
Christine: Me, too, which is why I’m so glad I know you and will be able to read the book early. Silly US publishers and their weird publishing schedule.
Caitlin: You’re welcome.
+++++
A reminder that Christine and I read the Canada/UK release of this series. The Australian release is, I believe, ahead of us, and the USA one behind. After some sluething around I have only found contradicting information about when book two, Exile, is going to be released. Rebecca Lim’s Goodreads blog says both that it will be released in April and 2012 and April 2013. I’m not sure what’s up with Hyperion on this.
Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on January 30, 2012.
April 22, 2025
More tolerable than its predecessor but I still had major frustrations with the pacing. It felt like nothing happened in the first half of the book which was a shame because the concept of the book had a lot of potential.
February 4, 2012
WARNING: This review will likely have spoilers for the Mercy series by Rebecca Lim, which includes Mercy and Exile.
Caitlin: My favourite thing about this book? ANSWERS! I love getting answers, don’t you?
Christine: I do. Some of them I’d already figured out before the main character, Mercy, but the BIG one was answered. Of course it was an ‘A-ha!’ moment, like yes, I should have realized that was the answer before and now I feel kind of silly that it took me this long to get it. *sigh*
Caitlin: Yes, I understand this feeling. I never figure anything out early. So, this time Mercy wakes up in the body of a young, hugely famous modal in Milan. It is days before her big runway show that is set to save her career but all Mercy wants is to find Ryan, the human she has feelings for, or Luc, the angel she is obsessed with. Or possibly she wants both. She is very confused on the subject of men.
Christine: Aren’t we all? By the end of the book, though, I think she’s clearly made her choice about that particular problem.
The fashion and model thing really threw me for a loop during this book. I’m used to her being placed in normal girls with not much going for them, someone she can embody in order to hide her from Luc. I know why they put her in who they did, but it wasn’t altogether clear at the beginning. It was, however, rather funny reading about her stumbling attempts to wear five inch heels and learning the art of standing still while wearing very expensive clothing.
Caitlin: It all seems like it would be so easy. Except for the heels. I’m no good with heels either. Besides fashion and drama in the fashion world, we get to see a lot more of the angels responsible for Mercy’s current situation. Which was good but also strange? Like how the world just stopped for like two chapters so Mercy could have a conversation with one of them. Right when she was in the middle of a busy…thing. It made me restless and eager to get back to the normal world while they were just chatting.
And we didn’t get to know her real name. This bothers me so much. I need to know. It was used by others in the book but we don’t get to know. Why????
Christine: Take a deep breath. I have a feeling we’ll learn it in the next and final book, Fury. Which by the way, I love that title. It’s definitely time for Mercy to fight back instead of being a doormat.
I’m actually okay not knowing her real name, probably because I’ve read other books where people’s real names are not used (The Time Machine, anyone?). It doesn’t take anything away from Mercy as a character.
Can we all just take a second to look at Ryan and his choices and his absolute faith in Mercy and how incredibly awesome he is? I want a Ryan. I want someone to love me so much he’ll fly to the other side of the world for me. Oh, Ryan. You’re too perfect to be real.
Caitlin: I’m hoping we see more of Ryan in Fury as well. It seems like we will because of…well…things. I’ve missed him these past two books.
I liked that there was some intense death and destruction at the end. Rebecca Lim is not afraid to just kill people off, just when you’re starting to care about them. It was a very exciting last couple of chapters and I like how everything came together at the end.
Christine: Yes! Very exciting. I hated putting the book down during those last chapters. I have no idea how that’s all going to play out, since you know there were cameras everywhere and people love stopping in the middle of the street to take video with their phones. It should make for a very exciting end book.
For as much as we’ve learned about Mercy and probably will learn, I liked how she kind of came into her own during the end of the book. In the first book and in Exile, you get a hopeless and almost martyr sense from her while she’s looking for answers about her existence. While I understand her reliance on Luc, I’m glad she finally got to see him as he is now, instead of how he portrays himself to be in her dreams. I also liked seeing her fight back. You saw small bits of that fire in her in the other books, but this one really brought it out of her.
Caitlin: I suspect she will continue to be a little angry in Fury. I mean, the title is a bit of a clue. But other than Mercy being angry I cannot quite imagine what is going to happen in the next one. Or where it’s going to leave us at the end. I realize April isn’t a terribly long wait for a book but why do we have to wait at all?
I need to know what happens to Mercy and Ryan.
Christine: Me, too, which is why I’m so glad I know you and will be able to read the book early. Silly US publishers and their weird publishing schedule.
Caitlin: You’re welcome.
Caitlin: My favourite thing about this book? ANSWERS! I love getting answers, don’t you?
Christine: I do. Some of them I’d already figured out before the main character, Mercy, but the BIG one was answered. Of course it was an ‘A-ha!’ moment, like yes, I should have realized that was the answer before and now I feel kind of silly that it took me this long to get it. *sigh*
Caitlin: Yes, I understand this feeling. I never figure anything out early. So, this time Mercy wakes up in the body of a young, hugely famous modal in Milan. It is days before her big runway show that is set to save her career but all Mercy wants is to find Ryan, the human she has feelings for, or Luc, the angel she is obsessed with. Or possibly she wants both. She is very confused on the subject of men.
Christine: Aren’t we all? By the end of the book, though, I think she’s clearly made her choice about that particular problem.
The fashion and model thing really threw me for a loop during this book. I’m used to her being placed in normal girls with not much going for them, someone she can embody in order to hide her from Luc. I know why they put her in who they did, but it wasn’t altogether clear at the beginning. It was, however, rather funny reading about her stumbling attempts to wear five inch heels and learning the art of standing still while wearing very expensive clothing.
Caitlin: It all seems like it would be so easy. Except for the heels. I’m no good with heels either. Besides fashion and drama in the fashion world, we get to see a lot more of the angels responsible for Mercy’s current situation. Which was good but also strange? Like how the world just stopped for like two chapters so Mercy could have a conversation with one of them. Right when she was in the middle of a busy…thing. It made me restless and eager to get back to the normal world while they were just chatting.
And we didn’t get to know her real name. This bothers me so much. I need to know. It was used by others in the book but we don’t get to know. Why????
Christine: Take a deep breath. I have a feeling we’ll learn it in the next and final book, Fury. Which by the way, I love that title. It’s definitely time for Mercy to fight back instead of being a doormat.
I’m actually okay not knowing her real name, probably because I’ve read other books where people’s real names are not used (The Time Machine, anyone?). It doesn’t take anything away from Mercy as a character.
Can we all just take a second to look at Ryan and his choices and his absolute faith in Mercy and how incredibly awesome he is? I want a Ryan. I want someone to love me so much he’ll fly to the other side of the world for me. Oh, Ryan. You’re too perfect to be real.
Caitlin: I’m hoping we see more of Ryan in Fury as well. It seems like we will because of…well…things. I’ve missed him these past two books.
I liked that there was some intense death and destruction at the end. Rebecca Lim is not afraid to just kill people off, just when you’re starting to care about them. It was a very exciting last couple of chapters and I like how everything came together at the end.
Christine: Yes! Very exciting. I hated putting the book down during those last chapters. I have no idea how that’s all going to play out, since you know there were cameras everywhere and people love stopping in the middle of the street to take video with their phones. It should make for a very exciting end book.
For as much as we’ve learned about Mercy and probably will learn, I liked how she kind of came into her own during the end of the book. In the first book and in Exile, you get a hopeless and almost martyr sense from her while she’s looking for answers about her existence. While I understand her reliance on Luc, I’m glad she finally got to see him as he is now, instead of how he portrays himself to be in her dreams. I also liked seeing her fight back. You saw small bits of that fire in her in the other books, but this one really brought it out of her.
Caitlin: I suspect she will continue to be a little angry in Fury. I mean, the title is a bit of a clue. But other than Mercy being angry I cannot quite imagine what is going to happen in the next one. Or where it’s going to leave us at the end. I realize April isn’t a terribly long wait for a book but why do we have to wait at all?
I need to know what happens to Mercy and Ryan.
Christine: Me, too, which is why I’m so glad I know you and will be able to read the book early. Silly US publishers and their weird publishing schedule.
Caitlin: You’re welcome.
July 2, 2012
4.5 Stars
I started reading Muse a couple of months ago and had to put it down for a rainy day. I knew I'd need it as a back up after a particularly terrible bout of YA books. Based on other reviews I've read, I know that some readers don't like Mercy as a character. I personally love her. She's cold and often uncaring and just the closest representation of how I think an angel would behave.
This installment sees Mercy sub planted into the host body of world famous supermodel Irina. I love how Mercy is unaffected for the most part by Irina's lifestyle and beauty. She neither covets nor shuns Irina's looks and astounding wealth. Though that doesn't extend to her appreciation of beauty in her male counterparts. A trait she freely admits to having. And who could blame her? If I rolled with a horde of gorgeous angels I'd be swooning over them too. Not that Mercy does this is the normal YA sense. In fact Mercy does nothing in the normal YA sense and I think that's why I love her so much.
Mercy finally breaks free of the bonds which hold back her memories and we learn of the events leading up to her exile as an angelic body snatcher. I must admit I'd already figured out most of the reveals, but that didn't really phase me. It was obvious that the memories weren't meant to be difficult to work out, more that Mercy herself had so much trouble piecing them together because the angelic interference brought on my her constant body shifts.
It's clear how much research Lim has done for this series. Where other books just skim the surface of the world of angels, Muse in infused with layer upon layer of it. I'm doing a lot of research into angels for my own story and I had a semi attack of excitement every time another angel I recognized appeared.
I'm going to take a moment to let myself be jealous of Rebecca Lim's incredible writing talent. Like the previous books in this series, I can only describe the writing style as a poetic symphony. The style fits particularly well with the heavenly plot, adding a sense of etherealness that I haven't seen before in any book except maybe Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lainy Taylor.
I complained of a lack of Ryan in the last book. That complaint still stands. What's with Aussie writers and the ability to imprint a character so vividly on a reader without giving them much page time? Ryan is the kind of love interest I want to be able to write. He's sweet and easy going which is hard to pull off given the scale of the events in this book. Sure it's unbelievable that he keep uprooting himself to go in search of her but no less so than some of the other stuff that happens in other books. I'm in awe of how accepting he is of the stratosphere of crazy that gravitates towards Mercy. How vulnerable he is as a mere human in the face of the highest order of angels. I can't see a HEA for Mercy and Ryan but that won't stop me from hoping for it.
I've only just realised how large the print in this series is and wish that the books were longer so that more time could be devoted to flashing out a few things. Things like people's reactions to Mercy's true nature for one. I know if I found out there was an angel inhabiting the body of someone I knew my reaction would be a heck of a lot of screaming and not such easy acceptance.
I started reading Muse a couple of months ago and had to put it down for a rainy day. I knew I'd need it as a back up after a particularly terrible bout of YA books. Based on other reviews I've read, I know that some readers don't like Mercy as a character. I personally love her. She's cold and often uncaring and just the closest representation of how I think an angel would behave.
This installment sees Mercy sub planted into the host body of world famous supermodel Irina. I love how Mercy is unaffected for the most part by Irina's lifestyle and beauty. She neither covets nor shuns Irina's looks and astounding wealth. Though that doesn't extend to her appreciation of beauty in her male counterparts. A trait she freely admits to having. And who could blame her? If I rolled with a horde of gorgeous angels I'd be swooning over them too. Not that Mercy does this is the normal YA sense. In fact Mercy does nothing in the normal YA sense and I think that's why I love her so much.
Mercy finally breaks free of the bonds which hold back her memories and we learn of the events leading up to her exile as an angelic body snatcher. I must admit I'd already figured out most of the reveals, but that didn't really phase me. It was obvious that the memories weren't meant to be difficult to work out, more that Mercy herself had so much trouble piecing them together because the angelic interference brought on my her constant body shifts.
It's clear how much research Lim has done for this series. Where other books just skim the surface of the world of angels, Muse in infused with layer upon layer of it. I'm doing a lot of research into angels for my own story and I had a semi attack of excitement every time another angel I recognized appeared.
I'm going to take a moment to let myself be jealous of Rebecca Lim's incredible writing talent. Like the previous books in this series, I can only describe the writing style as a poetic symphony. The style fits particularly well with the heavenly plot, adding a sense of etherealness that I haven't seen before in any book except maybe Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lainy Taylor.
I complained of a lack of Ryan in the last book. That complaint still stands. What's with Aussie writers and the ability to imprint a character so vividly on a reader without giving them much page time? Ryan is the kind of love interest I want to be able to write. He's sweet and easy going which is hard to pull off given the scale of the events in this book. Sure it's unbelievable that he keep uprooting himself to go in search of her but no less so than some of the other stuff that happens in other books. I'm in awe of how accepting he is of the stratosphere of crazy that gravitates towards Mercy. How vulnerable he is as a mere human in the face of the highest order of angels. I can't see a HEA for Mercy and Ryan but that won't stop me from hoping for it.
I've only just realised how large the print in this series is and wish that the books were longer so that more time could be devoted to flashing out a few things. Things like people's reactions to Mercy's true nature for one. I know if I found out there was an angel inhabiting the body of someone I knew my reaction would be a heck of a lot of screaming and not such easy acceptance.
September 9, 2015
Be warned that I do not actually usually do my reviews like this. Once in a while, yes because gifs are fun!
PS: Did you know if you included emojis in reviews, anything typed after the first emoji disappears?!
I almost died when my entire review was gone... Thank the creators of Google and Goodreads for cookies/session (if you don't understand those terms, it's okay).
So...
Review:
After I finished Exile (Book #2), I was beyond excited for Muse (Book #3). I picked up the book and LITERALLY settled it beside my laptop so I could read it immediately after I was done with whatever I was doing on my laptop.
Then I started on Chapter 1... It was really a mood-downer, a party pooper.
I had so much high expectations after Book #2, the start of Muse is really bad. So imagine my big disappointment.
Thus after months of contemplation, I decided to finish the book despite the bad introduction.
Initially I just read the book BECAUSE I wanted to finish it but my interest was long gone. Surprisingly Muse managed to pick up its standard again.
To emphasize on this fact, it was when K'el appeared and Mercy demanded answers. When some of my previous questions were finally answered, I was so excited again and I begin reading it due to pure curiosity and interest. I was still confused but at least I finally had the confirmation that Luc is CENSORED DUE TO SPOILERS.
Unfortunately I do not like the ending or more specifically when the fight began. It just happened in such a rush that I could not take a breather and enjoy it slowly... Moreover thanks to the rushed ending, this series just got a whole lot more of questions from me...
In my strongest opinion, Rebecca Lim could have easily ended Muse with a cliffhanger BEFORE the fight and start Fury (Book #4) with a kick ass fight that DOESN'T feel rushed at all. For example, she could have ended the book abruptly after Mercy met eyes with Luc.
PS: Did you know if you included emojis in reviews, anything typed after the first emoji disappears?!
I almost died when my entire review was gone... Thank the creators of Google and Goodreads for cookies/session (if you don't understand those terms, it's okay).
So...
Review:
After I finished Exile (Book #2), I was beyond excited for Muse (Book #3). I picked up the book and LITERALLY settled it beside my laptop so I could read it immediately after I was done with whatever I was doing on my laptop.
Then I started on Chapter 1... It was really a mood-downer, a party pooper.
I had so much high expectations after Book #2, the start of Muse is really bad. So imagine my big disappointment.
Thus after months of contemplation, I decided to finish the book despite the bad introduction.
Initially I just read the book BECAUSE I wanted to finish it but my interest was long gone. Surprisingly Muse managed to pick up its standard again.
To emphasize on this fact, it was when K'el appeared and Mercy demanded answers. When some of my previous questions were finally answered, I was so excited again and I begin reading it due to pure curiosity and interest. I was still confused but at least I finally had the confirmation that Luc is CENSORED DUE TO SPOILERS.
Unfortunately I do not like the ending or more specifically when the fight began. It just happened in such a rush that I could not take a breather and enjoy it slowly... Moreover thanks to the rushed ending, this series just got a whole lot more of questions from me...
In my strongest opinion, Rebecca Lim could have easily ended Muse with a cliffhanger BEFORE the fight and start Fury (Book #4) with a kick ass fight that DOESN'T feel rushed at all. For example, she could have ended the book abruptly after Mercy met eyes with Luc.
May 9, 2012
The story is really coming together. Fabulous detail & insight in this one
Please bear in mind that this is the third book in the series and may therefore contain spoilers for the previous books.
Following the dramatic ending of Exile (Review HERE) there isn't much time to place Mercy into a new host. When Mercy awakens in the body of Russian super-model Irina she has regained most of her memory. Her own thoughts and feelings although she enigma of Luc and why she is on earth is yet to be revealed. The background detailing into Mercy's character, angels and the interactions of angels, fallen ones and humans really filled out the plot.
The insight into the fashion industry especially the life of a super-model was amazing. No wonder some models act like such divas when people fawn over themselves to so anything for you no matter how degrading. How every little detail of your life is made public, true or not, all on display for media vultures to pick over. Plus the tedium they have to endure would be enough to drive me over the edge.
The theme of looks being deceiving is dramatically portrayed. The imagery within this book was outstanding, not only the glitz and glamor of the fashion industry hiding depravity.The use of the weather reflecting the actions and battle of good versus evil was a stroke of imagery genius.
Revelations come thick and fast in this book, the action speeds up as Mercy remembers more and more of her own history. The background into Mercy's confinement and the necessity of keeping her hidden from Luc comes together piece by piece. Sympathy for Mercy abounds through these revelations, trapped in other peoples bodies to atone for something she had no control over, her only 'sin' being naivety especially where Luc was concerned.
The introduction of two pivotal characters in this book provided a fresh appreciation of the main characters and their actions as viewed from an outside perspective. I especially adored Gia, Irina's PA, although Irina treats her like dirt she comes bouncing back, not because she adores Irina its because she is an absolute professional. Gia is tough and genuinely likeable especially for her straight forwardness. Gia is very perceptive and identifies Mercy underneath Irina pretty quickly. Her efficiency is something I covet (lol), her decency shines through as well as her optimism (although she tries to hide it under a coating of snark) Gia really is a terrific character and addition to the book as a whole.
This is probably my favourite book in the series so far.
Please bear in mind that this is the third book in the series and may therefore contain spoilers for the previous books.
Following the dramatic ending of Exile (Review HERE) there isn't much time to place Mercy into a new host. When Mercy awakens in the body of Russian super-model Irina she has regained most of her memory. Her own thoughts and feelings although she enigma of Luc and why she is on earth is yet to be revealed. The background detailing into Mercy's character, angels and the interactions of angels, fallen ones and humans really filled out the plot.
The insight into the fashion industry especially the life of a super-model was amazing. No wonder some models act like such divas when people fawn over themselves to so anything for you no matter how degrading. How every little detail of your life is made public, true or not, all on display for media vultures to pick over. Plus the tedium they have to endure would be enough to drive me over the edge.
The theme of looks being deceiving is dramatically portrayed. The imagery within this book was outstanding, not only the glitz and glamor of the fashion industry hiding depravity.The use of the weather reflecting the actions and battle of good versus evil was a stroke of imagery genius.
Revelations come thick and fast in this book, the action speeds up as Mercy remembers more and more of her own history. The background into Mercy's confinement and the necessity of keeping her hidden from Luc comes together piece by piece. Sympathy for Mercy abounds through these revelations, trapped in other peoples bodies to atone for something she had no control over, her only 'sin' being naivety especially where Luc was concerned.
The introduction of two pivotal characters in this book provided a fresh appreciation of the main characters and their actions as viewed from an outside perspective. I especially adored Gia, Irina's PA, although Irina treats her like dirt she comes bouncing back, not because she adores Irina its because she is an absolute professional. Gia is tough and genuinely likeable especially for her straight forwardness. Gia is very perceptive and identifies Mercy underneath Irina pretty quickly. Her efficiency is something I covet (lol), her decency shines through as well as her optimism (although she tries to hide it under a coating of snark) Gia really is a terrific character and addition to the book as a whole.
This is probably my favourite book in the series so far.
October 27, 2011
Mercy has been a consistently fantastic series, and Muse doesn't break the trend. After a second book that was a great read but in which the overall plot didn't seem to move forwards, book three hits the ground running. Mercy finds herself in the body of a diva supermodel, and now both Luc and her human love interest, Ryan, are looking for her as the final conflict between heaven and hell approaches.
Lim's prose is as clear and luminous as ever. Her characterisation is deft, and her talent for creating atmosphere and tension is just astounding. We finally get the big reveal about Luc's backstory and why Mercy has been trapped in a succession of human lives, which means there's real potential for disappointment--but Lim delivers. The explanation makes perfect sense, right down to the specifics of Mercy's 'punishment' and the nature of her relationship with Luc, and actually intensifies the nature of the conflict rather than dissolving suspense.
The best aspect of Muse is Mercy herself. She's sympathetic and strong in a way that Lim shows expertly rather than telling us:
I really cannot recommend this series enough. The setting is fully realised: Lim brings Milan fashion week to life with her description, and though at times some characters seem to be touched by the exposition fairy, they are for the most part fully-realised and convincing. Even Ryan, who gets very little screen time, comes across as a distinct person in his own right rather than a generic love interest.
Lim is absolutely one of the best writers in the field of YA at the moment, and Muse is not a disappointment. Anyone who enjoys YA should pick up this series. I can't recommend it enough.
Lim's prose is as clear and luminous as ever. Her characterisation is deft, and her talent for creating atmosphere and tension is just astounding. We finally get the big reveal about Luc's backstory and why Mercy has been trapped in a succession of human lives, which means there's real potential for disappointment--but Lim delivers. The explanation makes perfect sense, right down to the specifics of Mercy's 'punishment' and the nature of her relationship with Luc, and actually intensifies the nature of the conflict rather than dissolving suspense.
The best aspect of Muse is Mercy herself. She's sympathetic and strong in a way that Lim shows expertly rather than telling us:
"Any one of us would have been a better match for you than Luc. Even me." His mouth twists again.You go, girlfriend.
I feel my face flush with angry blood. As if alone I was nothing. I was only something when I was someone's companion, someone's consort.
I really cannot recommend this series enough. The setting is fully realised: Lim brings Milan fashion week to life with her description, and though at times some characters seem to be touched by the exposition fairy, they are for the most part fully-realised and convincing. Even Ryan, who gets very little screen time, comes across as a distinct person in his own right rather than a generic love interest.
Lim is absolutely one of the best writers in the field of YA at the moment, and Muse is not a disappointment. Anyone who enjoys YA should pick up this series. I can't recommend it enough.
June 29, 2018
We leave Mercy in Exile dead on the cafe floor still in the body of Lela. As Lela’s spirit begins to move on, Mercy is still entangled. She races to find the knot that binds their souls together and when freed only awakens to find herself thrown into the life of another human.
Irina is a super model with a busy life full of drugs, fittings, makeup, and perfection. Wounded by the guilt of causing Lela’s death, Mercy desperately tries to balance her desperate search for herself while saving Irina from herself. Mercy begins to doubt Luc’s motives and clings to Ryan, knowing that he is the key to finding the truth. Something big is coming and Mercy is at the heart of it all.
Another Mercy book, love it! Mercy’s strength and knowledge are growing as well as her power and how to control it. This is definitely the most exciting of the Mercy books thus far. Her life is spinning out of control and with more supernatural beings coming onto the scene, only chaos and destruction can ensue as the two worlds collide.
Lim does an amazing job spicing thing up both with action and love.
www.joviinunderland.wordpress.com
Irina is a super model with a busy life full of drugs, fittings, makeup, and perfection. Wounded by the guilt of causing Lela’s death, Mercy desperately tries to balance her desperate search for herself while saving Irina from herself. Mercy begins to doubt Luc’s motives and clings to Ryan, knowing that he is the key to finding the truth. Something big is coming and Mercy is at the heart of it all.
Another Mercy book, love it! Mercy’s strength and knowledge are growing as well as her power and how to control it. This is definitely the most exciting of the Mercy books thus far. Her life is spinning out of control and with more supernatural beings coming onto the scene, only chaos and destruction can ensue as the two worlds collide.
Lim does an amazing job spicing thing up both with action and love.
www.joviinunderland.wordpress.com
January 22, 2012
I have to admit this before I begin my review, Rebecca Lim has every emotion possible in her books and MUSE left my with an emotional tornado. I loved it! My favourite so far in the MERCY series. Having said that, I think I need to go into more detail as to why the book is one of my favourites, it has a lot more of the paranormal element, the angels seemed to share the spotlight with Mercy and finally Mercy was finding out who she was before she become a "body snatcher". Answers are ripe for the taking but some may still leave you wanting a more in depth answer, I found that I still have questions but I know without a doubt Rebecca will have everything tied up with FURY.
I think the life that Mercy is inhabiting in MUSE, Irina fits her perfectly this particular point in her life. Irina is a supermodel who just so happens to be in a pretty bad spot in her life too, everyone wants to know what she's up to and whether or not she will stuff up again and in doing so end her career with a massive bang. If you think about it, up until now that describes Mercy to a T, what she goes through on a daily basis trying to figure out what happened to her and who she is relates a lot to what Irina seems to be going through in terms of her struggles.
Mercy is finding it easier to remember and in doing so piecing her life together a lot quicker, this adds to the pace of the storyline and with it comes a few momentous revelations. One thing though is still consent, her love for Ryan. Will this go anywhere now that Mercy knows what she is and she came to be a "body snatcher"?
MERCY and EXILE had some action written into them but MUSE is full of it and sometimes I wonder if its bursting at the seams. With the action is compelled me to keep turning the pages. If I could sneak a few pages at work to help with the need to know what Mercy was going through I would.
On a very teary note I have to say that it ends with an explosion. I had to re-read the ending to make sure that it didn't end the way I thought. I remember inboxing Rebecca when I had finished my book and told her how I sobbed at the ending even trying to find out if there was a positive outcome early into FURY but all she would reveal was how FURY was her favourite book in the series and that it ends with a bang. Everything will come together.
I cannot wait until FURY is available.
Happy Reading :)
Gillian
xxx
April 15, 2012
What bugs me about these books is the sheer unbelievability. It was bad in the first two books, then it just got terrible in the third and now that I'm done with it I wonder if I should even read the fourth. This time around Mercy wakes up in the body of a supermodel who is both a drug addict and an utter bitch. Irina is a nasty piece of work and everyone around Mercy reminds her of that constantly. Mercy, of course, is torn between missing Ryan like she misses a lost limb and wanting Luc, even when all signs point to the fact that he's, you know, utterly evil.
Mercy's personality just seems to be getting worse instead of better. I liked her in the first book and tolerated her in the second. In the third book she's angsty and helpless and so utterly confused--which isn't her fault, but heck, that annoyed me too. Everyone (well, all the archangels, anyway) keeps her in her own tiny prison and let slip little bits of information because they're worried about her and The Fate Of The World (I felt like I needed to put that in capitals, jeez).
I didn't like any of the side characters save the old fashion designer guy, and it especially irked me when It just really bugs me when Mercy explains what she is to people (or rather, people stumble upon it and go "Oh") and they just accept it. Like it doesn't turn their world view upside down or anything.
Just. Argh. The writing is fine, as always, pretty and vibrant, but the plot and the characters just kind of stumbled against each other. Ryan doesn't seem to have any purpose but to keep stumbling after Mercy all over the world (and you wonder what the hell his family is thinking of this) and it's honestly rather sad that he's gotten caught up in this. I can pretty much tell how the series is going to end from here, and if what I suspect is right, I'm going to hate it. So I might just stop here (or at least until I'm curious enough to finish).
The series started off well, but then it got bogged down in romance (really, Ryan, what are you doing. You're pretty useless) and the characters just grated. 1-2 stars, rounding up to 2 because the writing is pretty and at least we get some pretty concrete answers. Granted, they were rather obvious answers, but at this point I'll take what I can get.
Mercy's personality just seems to be getting worse instead of better. I liked her in the first book and tolerated her in the second. In the third book she's angsty and helpless and so utterly confused--which isn't her fault, but heck, that annoyed me too. Everyone (well, all the archangels, anyway) keeps her in her own tiny prison and let slip little bits of information because they're worried about her and The Fate Of The World (I felt like I needed to put that in capitals, jeez).
I didn't like any of the side characters save the old fashion designer guy, and it especially irked me when It just really bugs me when Mercy explains what she is to people (or rather, people stumble upon it and go "Oh") and they just accept it. Like it doesn't turn their world view upside down or anything.
Just. Argh. The writing is fine, as always, pretty and vibrant, but the plot and the characters just kind of stumbled against each other. Ryan doesn't seem to have any purpose but to keep stumbling after Mercy all over the world (and you wonder what the hell his family is thinking of this) and it's honestly rather sad that he's gotten caught up in this. I can pretty much tell how the series is going to end from here, and if what I suspect is right, I'm going to hate it. So I might just stop here (or at least until I'm curious enough to finish).
The series started off well, but then it got bogged down in romance (really, Ryan, what are you doing. You're pretty useless) and the characters just grated. 1-2 stars, rounding up to 2 because the writing is pretty and at least we get some pretty concrete answers. Granted, they were rather obvious answers, but at this point I'll take what I can get.
April 28, 2012
This is kind of a tough book to review. While I have enjoyed all three of the Mercy novels so far, I think I'm starting to find the way Mercy can pretend to be the person who's body she's stuck with and have no real problems a bit too convenient. I mean, seriously, if you're stuck in the body of a super model famed for being a complete bitch, maybe you should start acting like a bitch. Her personal assistant even says 'you've changed resently' but then drops it because she's acting nice for a change.
Now, considering this model flips out at the smallest thing & is not against slapping people whenever she feels like it, to have her suddenly become kind & interested in the people she's spent her whole career treating like dirt with not one person questioning it is a bit of a stretch. & the scene where Mercy tells her PA what she really is? Again, accepted too easily.
The whole modelling plot was just dull to me. I've never been interested in fashion, & didn't particually like reading about a the pains of walking in heels, or the bitchiness of the other models. Isn't it time we lay this stereotype to rest? I'm sure there are plenty of models who aren't cut throat bitches desperately trying to beat the other women & who aren't above nearly starting cat fights back stage of a live show.
While I enjoyed getting some real answers, I can't say I was shocked by the revelations in this book. I had the identity of Luc figured out from book one. Luc, Lucifer. The name is so painful obvious. & why else would an angel fall from grace unless they were tempted to begin with? I can't see angels being forbidden to be with other angels, & Luc clearly wasn't mortal, so what elses could he have been?
I will be reading the next book (mainly because I brought it for £2 at a second-hand bookstore), & I just hope the final is more original than this one.
Now, considering this model flips out at the smallest thing & is not against slapping people whenever she feels like it, to have her suddenly become kind & interested in the people she's spent her whole career treating like dirt with not one person questioning it is a bit of a stretch. & the scene where Mercy tells her PA what she really is? Again, accepted too easily.
The whole modelling plot was just dull to me. I've never been interested in fashion, & didn't particually like reading about a the pains of walking in heels, or the bitchiness of the other models. Isn't it time we lay this stereotype to rest? I'm sure there are plenty of models who aren't cut throat bitches desperately trying to beat the other women & who aren't above nearly starting cat fights back stage of a live show.
While I enjoyed getting some real answers, I can't say I was shocked by the revelations in this book. I had the identity of Luc figured out from book one. Luc, Lucifer. The name is so painful obvious. & why else would an angel fall from grace unless they were tempted to begin with? I can't see angels being forbidden to be with other angels, & Luc clearly wasn't mortal, so what elses could he have been?
I will be reading the next book (mainly because I brought it for £2 at a second-hand bookstore), & I just hope the final is more original than this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2014
Mercy is still an idiot. I'm not even going to explain.
After being shot by a crazy lunatic, Mercy finds herself in Irina, who is one of the rudest, famous, and notorious supermodel. Especially for her streak of bloody hearts she leaves in her wake. Because Mercy is so sweet and angelic, Irina is thus Mercy and transformed into a much tamer version of a food-depraved, beautiful, mean, and rude supermodel.
Yeah, soul jacking, possession, mind control. Call it whatever.
Muse gets on with the main plot. Or subplot. The Lucifer, the Archangel of Light, plot. Muse is a bit more interesting than its previous books for these reasons: 1) Luci is home, 2) Ryan catches up with Mercy, 3) All of the archangels are together at last. And yes, those are perhaps the three most interesting things out of the entire book. Sadly, it is.
Muse is not for Supernatural fans. There is nothing Supernatural about it. (No Supernatural hunter like Dean or Sam who can kill Mercy and Ryan without a second thought and put Lucifer back into his cage). No sarcastic Gabriel, who is also the trickster. Nope, all those archangels (male archangels) are all annoyed at Mercy for picking Lucifer over all of them. It is like Bella Swan all over again. The difference: they are all archangels with special powers and etc.
Yeah, this is going to be really short.
The plot is somewhat addicting, but it is too dry. There isn't enough fat. The pacing is all wrong. Suddenly, Rebecca Lim (the author) throws a bunch of mud (of information) at her readers and throws most of them all. It is exactly like an avalanche. Of words.
And anything else?
Hmm... I don't see anything else good to talk about. It is all boring. Except for the plot. And the hope that Lucifer would be as awesome as Supernatural's Lucifer. ("I hope you didn't catch anything.")
Rating: One out of Five
After being shot by a crazy lunatic, Mercy finds herself in Irina, who is one of the rudest, famous, and notorious supermodel. Especially for her streak of bloody hearts she leaves in her wake. Because Mercy is so sweet and angelic, Irina is thus Mercy and transformed into a much tamer version of a food-depraved, beautiful, mean, and rude supermodel.
Yeah, soul jacking, possession, mind control. Call it whatever.
Muse gets on with the main plot. Or subplot. The Lucifer, the Archangel of Light, plot. Muse is a bit more interesting than its previous books for these reasons: 1) Luci is home, 2) Ryan catches up with Mercy, 3) All of the archangels are together at last. And yes, those are perhaps the three most interesting things out of the entire book. Sadly, it is.
Muse is not for Supernatural fans. There is nothing Supernatural about it. (No Supernatural hunter like Dean or Sam who can kill Mercy and Ryan without a second thought and put Lucifer back into his cage). No sarcastic Gabriel, who is also the trickster. Nope, all those archangels (male archangels) are all annoyed at Mercy for picking Lucifer over all of them. It is like Bella Swan all over again. The difference: they are all archangels with special powers and etc.
Yeah, this is going to be really short.
The plot is somewhat addicting, but it is too dry. There isn't enough fat. The pacing is all wrong. Suddenly, Rebecca Lim (the author) throws a bunch of mud (of information) at her readers and throws most of them all. It is exactly like an avalanche. Of words.
And anything else?
Hmm... I don't see anything else good to talk about. It is all boring. Except for the plot. And the hope that Lucifer would be as awesome as Supernatural's Lucifer. ("I hope you didn't catch anything.")
Rating: One out of Five
January 8, 2012
I can't begin to express how awesome this series is. Mercy is a real character, if you know what I mean. She's not perfect, and we see alot of how she used to be in this one (Can you say biatch?). She wasn't a really nice, sweet, caring person like we see in alot of YA novels these days, she was mean and cruel. But she's changing and that's one of my favorite aspects so far, is the gradual changes in her. It took centuries of her seeing how others live to change her ways. Although she doesnt recall herself being that way, we as the readers get to see it when she gets small flashbacks or talks to one of her angel friends.
I had NO idea this wasnt the last book in the series. Here I was humming along thinking it was going to tie everything together neatly, when BAM the book ends with a cliffy... I ran right to my computer and see that Fury is due out on March of this year, and I nearly had a breakdown. I really dont think I can wait that long, this whole series has completely engrossed me. I am going to wait, but I'm not happy about it!
I'd have to say that Muse is my favorite one so far, you learn alot more (not everything though =/) about Mercy and all the archangels in general. Theres so big reveals if your a little dense like me and missed when Luc stood for, and it's overall more action packed. I cannot wait for the next one, I wonder if it's the last? Anyawys, as you can tell my all my other reviews, I loooove this series and I recommend it to everyone! So go read it... NOW. =]
I had NO idea this wasnt the last book in the series. Here I was humming along thinking it was going to tie everything together neatly, when BAM the book ends with a cliffy... I ran right to my computer and see that Fury is due out on March of this year, and I nearly had a breakdown. I really dont think I can wait that long, this whole series has completely engrossed me. I am going to wait, but I'm not happy about it!
I'd have to say that Muse is my favorite one so far, you learn alot more (not everything though =/) about Mercy and all the archangels in general. Theres so big reveals if your a little dense like me and missed when Luc stood for, and it's overall more action packed. I cannot wait for the next one, I wonder if it's the last? Anyawys, as you can tell my all my other reviews, I loooove this series and I recommend it to everyone! So go read it... NOW. =]
March 2, 2013
I've enjoyed the Mercy series best out of most of the other angel books I've read. This third installment, however, was nowhere near the caliber of the first two books.
It did have a thing or two going for it. I love how the books are biblical without being religious. The angels are badass, as angels should be, not the whiny little wimps that populate many angel books. These angels are made for battle. Another good thing about this book is that Lim can write. Although the constant phrasing of sentences as incomplete questions? Annoying. The flaws in the writing of this book were mostly in the dialogue, which was largely unbelievable and info-dumpy.
While I did like finding out more of Mercy's backstory, the explanations were just too long-winded and oddly interspersed with the present scenes, which were rather short and just . . . boring. There was SO MUCH description that at page 230 the first day in Irina's body was still coming to a close, and then the next couple of days just flew by in the following pages. Do I give a f*ck about the minute details of some inconsequential character's outfit? Heck no. Who cares about some coked-out, overprivileged junkie anyway? The juxtaposition of this terrible biblical battle with a freaking fashion show was just wrong. Next to that, fashion just seemed so inconsequential. Is she going to walk? Oh my god, what will happen if she doesn't walk in this fashion show?!?!? Oh, but the shallow models are donating their appearance fees? That makes it all better.
I'm hoping the fourth book picks this series back up. It's so good, but I really wish Muse had been better.
It did have a thing or two going for it. I love how the books are biblical without being religious. The angels are badass, as angels should be, not the whiny little wimps that populate many angel books. These angels are made for battle. Another good thing about this book is that Lim can write. Although the constant phrasing of sentences as incomplete questions? Annoying. The flaws in the writing of this book were mostly in the dialogue, which was largely unbelievable and info-dumpy.
While I did like finding out more of Mercy's backstory, the explanations were just too long-winded and oddly interspersed with the present scenes, which were rather short and just . . . boring. There was SO MUCH description that at page 230 the first day in Irina's body was still coming to a close, and then the next couple of days just flew by in the following pages. Do I give a f*ck about the minute details of some inconsequential character's outfit? Heck no. Who cares about some coked-out, overprivileged junkie anyway? The juxtaposition of this terrible biblical battle with a freaking fashion show was just wrong. Next to that, fashion just seemed so inconsequential. Is she going to walk? Oh my god, what will happen if she doesn't walk in this fashion show?!?!? Oh, but the shallow models are donating their appearance fees? That makes it all better.
I'm hoping the fourth book picks this series back up. It's so good, but I really wish Muse had been better.
March 17, 2012
Muse is a haphazard book - more so than those preceding it. I feel the characters are inaccessible and the plot, while engaging, is convoluted. Mercy becomes stronger, asking questions about her past and unearthing dark secrets that have been kept from her for centuries. It’s nice to finally get some details about what she did to deserve her bizarre punishment. However, Mercy’s constant fainting because everything overcame her grew tiresome, especially when she has been strong in the previous books.
Irina is annoying and hard to sympathise with, so I was surprised at how much sympathy Mercy garnered for her. Mercy is anticipating a forced removal from Irina’s life throughout the story, so she purposely distances herself from her host. This hampered the extent to which I could connect with the characters in the book.
The way that this book ended has left me hanging for the next instalment in Mercy’s adventures. It’s one hell of a cliff-hanger. The series has picked up with Muse, and I hope it continues on its upward trajectory!
You can read all my reviews here.
Irina is annoying and hard to sympathise with, so I was surprised at how much sympathy Mercy garnered for her. Mercy is anticipating a forced removal from Irina’s life throughout the story, so she purposely distances herself from her host. This hampered the extent to which I could connect with the characters in the book.
The way that this book ended has left me hanging for the next instalment in Mercy’s adventures. It’s one hell of a cliff-hanger. The series has picked up with Muse, and I hope it continues on its upward trajectory!
You can read all my reviews here.
May 11, 2012
Im dritten Teil der Reihe findet sich Mercy im Körper von Irina, einem Top-Models wieder, das durch Drogen und Starallüren beinahe seine Karriere ruiniert hat und jetzt im Blickpunkt der Öffentlichkeit steht, als sie in Mailand der Star einer Fashion Show sein soll. Mercy versucht, Kontakt mit Ryan aufzunehmen und stellt sich den Herausforderungen des Model-Daseins. Endlich erfahren wir mehr über Mercys Vergangenheit und die Gründe für ihre Strafe, sich wieder und wieder in den Körpern von Menschen wiederzufinden, die sie retten muss.
Der erste Teil der Reihe hat mir richtig gut gefallen, die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ryan und Mercy fand ich sehr ansprechend, leider tauchte er in Teil 2 kaum auf und auch im dritten Teil ist er über weite Strecken auf einem anderen Kontinent als Mercy. Ich fand auch, dass der gewisse leichte Charme aus Teil 1 auf der Strecke geblieben ist.
Einige Szenen sind furchtbar lang in Teil 3 und trotz des eigentlich hohen Tempos hat man immer wieder das Gefühl, dass es nicht wirklich voran geht. Das Ende ist etwas zu gewaltig und actiongeladen für meinen Geschmack, alles irgendwie eine Nummer zu groß.
Ich mag es, dass Mercy in so unterschiedliche Rollen schlüpft und so die Bücher einen unterschiedlichen Charakter haben, irgendwie fehlt mir aber ein durchgehendes Element.
Teil 3 endet außerdem mit einem üblen Cliffhanger, deshalb empfehle ich, Band 4 griffbereit zu haben, wenn es dem Ende von Teil 3 entgegengeht.
Der erste Teil der Reihe hat mir richtig gut gefallen, die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ryan und Mercy fand ich sehr ansprechend, leider tauchte er in Teil 2 kaum auf und auch im dritten Teil ist er über weite Strecken auf einem anderen Kontinent als Mercy. Ich fand auch, dass der gewisse leichte Charme aus Teil 1 auf der Strecke geblieben ist.
Einige Szenen sind furchtbar lang in Teil 3 und trotz des eigentlich hohen Tempos hat man immer wieder das Gefühl, dass es nicht wirklich voran geht. Das Ende ist etwas zu gewaltig und actiongeladen für meinen Geschmack, alles irgendwie eine Nummer zu groß.
Ich mag es, dass Mercy in so unterschiedliche Rollen schlüpft und so die Bücher einen unterschiedlichen Charakter haben, irgendwie fehlt mir aber ein durchgehendes Element.
Teil 3 endet außerdem mit einem üblen Cliffhanger, deshalb empfehle ich, Band 4 griffbereit zu haben, wenn es dem Ende von Teil 3 entgegengeht.
August 15, 2013
Yes I actually finished this book!
I've been loving the Mercy series and this is book is the 3rd sequel to the original series. The main angel (Mercy) is again trapped inside another young girl's body and its a famous supermodel in Milan this time. I really liked it this time because the whole situation and everything was more different than the past ones, and it was more serious and many things happened at the end which definitely makes you wait for the next and last book of the series which is called "Fury".
I know for a fact, the main game and wars and the conclusion is obviously going to happen in the last book and I am really curious and excited for the very last ending and the fate for Mercy's final decision and result. She suffered so much and she deserves peace now after the big betrayal she had to go through by the person she loved so much.
I don't mean to spoil anything but I really liked it considering it is actually a sequel to the 2nd book "Exile" and I think it is much better than the 2nd book and I hope the 4th and last book is more exciting and better than any of the books of these series. I am right on the last one right now! Let's see how "Fury" goes, cuz things are gettin real for the innocent, weak angel, Mercy has more power now! I recommend you to start reading from the first book to understand the 3rd book of course but it's a good read anyhow. I just love angels and demons war kind of books so, anyways hope you like the series.
I've been loving the Mercy series and this is book is the 3rd sequel to the original series. The main angel (Mercy) is again trapped inside another young girl's body and its a famous supermodel in Milan this time. I really liked it this time because the whole situation and everything was more different than the past ones, and it was more serious and many things happened at the end which definitely makes you wait for the next and last book of the series which is called "Fury".
I know for a fact, the main game and wars and the conclusion is obviously going to happen in the last book and I am really curious and excited for the very last ending and the fate for Mercy's final decision and result. She suffered so much and she deserves peace now after the big betrayal she had to go through by the person she loved so much.
I don't mean to spoil anything but I really liked it considering it is actually a sequel to the 2nd book "Exile" and I think it is much better than the 2nd book and I hope the 4th and last book is more exciting and better than any of the books of these series. I am right on the last one right now! Let's see how "Fury" goes, cuz things are gettin real for the innocent, weak angel, Mercy has more power now! I recommend you to start reading from the first book to understand the 3rd book of course but it's a good read anyhow. I just love angels and demons war kind of books so, anyways hope you like the series.
December 12, 2011
Mercy has been sent to the body of Irina, due to the many sins Irina has committed. Mercy doesn’t know why she has been exiled from her fellow angels and forced to home from human body to human body, leaving behind friendships and love each time, her memories being forgotten. She battles to find Ryan again, the human she loves, but also torn to find Luc who she also has feelings for. It is not until the Archangel K’el visits Mercy to warn her of Luc’s pending arrival that she is told of the reasoning behind her being cast out;
Eventually Luc’s true nature is revealed to Mercy and it really makes the whole situation very messy. I found this book a pretty average read, however it has some beautifully written imagery and is one of the more unique books I have read. I couldn’t warm up to Mercy as a character; she just came across as selfish to me. Though I think it is important to note that I haven’t read the first two books and that may have gave me more insight into Mercy and why she is the way she is if I had before picking up this one to read. Overall it wasn’t a bad read at all, but I was expecting just a little bit more from this book.
“‘You did nothing but fall in love with the wrong one,’ he says, suddenly refusing to meet my eyes. ‘You picked Luc when you should have picked...Raphael. Well, that’s the accepted wisdom, anyway?’”
Eventually Luc’s true nature is revealed to Mercy and it really makes the whole situation very messy. I found this book a pretty average read, however it has some beautifully written imagery and is one of the more unique books I have read. I couldn’t warm up to Mercy as a character; she just came across as selfish to me. Though I think it is important to note that I haven’t read the first two books and that may have gave me more insight into Mercy and why she is the way she is if I had before picking up this one to read. Overall it wasn’t a bad read at all, but I was expecting just a little bit more from this book.
December 29, 2013
Finally, finally there are some answers. Though it is still not revealed exactly who Mercy is, we now know most of her story and what the deal is with Luc and everything. There are some open questions left that will hopefully be answered by the end of the last book, but at least I didn’t feel as much like an outsider listening in to a conversation like last time.
However, I didn’t care as much for the human story this time as I did in the first two books. I’m just soo not interested in the world of fashion and models and Irina seemed nothing more than the stereotypical uber-bitch supermodel, addicted to drugs and being completely disconnected from the real world.
As to Mercy and Luc’s relationship,
I enjoyed this book just as much as the previous two, if for different reasons this time and am glad that I already ordered the last book which will hopefully arrive tomorrow, because that cliffhanger was a real bitch.
However, I didn’t care as much for the human story this time as I did in the first two books. I’m just soo not interested in the world of fashion and models and Irina seemed nothing more than the stereotypical uber-bitch supermodel, addicted to drugs and being completely disconnected from the real world.
As to Mercy and Luc’s relationship,
I enjoyed this book just as much as the previous two, if for different reasons this time and am glad that I already ordered the last book which will hopefully arrive tomorrow, because that cliffhanger was a real bitch.
December 23, 2011
The reason I liked the Mercy series was because it reminded me of Quantum Leap, and I used to love that programme when I was a kid. Now the plot has turned into something that doesn’t interest me anymore. More angels are introduced, there’s this war, and my attention started to drift. In turn, it took me ages to finish this book. I kept putting it down, and the only reason I finished it was because I have a whole stack of other books I want to read and decided to be disciplined about finishing one book before starting another. This is the reason for the 1 star. Reading should be fun, but by the end of this novel, it was definitely a chore.
However, there is only one more book in this series, so I’m going to read the last instalment out of sheer curiosity. It’s still months away so I will have had a break from the series and I’ll be able to either confirm or refute that horrible suspicion I have that Ryan is actually Raphael (is that his name? I don’t have the book to hand) and that he’s lost his memory or something, hence his disappearance. I hope this isn’t the case, because I would feel cheated, but it would enable Mercy and Ryan to be together in the end. Anyway, I guess I’ll wait and see.
However, there is only one more book in this series, so I’m going to read the last instalment out of sheer curiosity. It’s still months away so I will have had a break from the series and I’ll be able to either confirm or refute that horrible suspicion I have that Ryan is actually Raphael (is that his name? I don’t have the book to hand) and that he’s lost his memory or something, hence his disappearance. I hope this isn’t the case, because I would feel cheated, but it would enable Mercy and Ryan to be together in the end. Anyway, I guess I’ll wait and see.
April 9, 2012
Muse is the third book in the Mercy series by Rebecca Lim, about Mercy the angel who is burdened with returning to Earth over and over again in different bodies. In this novel, she is thrust into the body of supermodel Irina Zhivavevskaya who is on the verge of relapsing.
*SPOILER ALERT*
In this book Ryan makes another appearance although I found it quite a short one. This is where all the angels are going to go to war and fight Luc for Mercy and if she chooses Luc then the world will end ... Etc.. Mercy finds out that Luc has replaced her with a demon and the he was only using her, just like the Eight tried to tell her. Luc is actually the devil, she doesn't know him anymore, and is mad that he replaced her so easily. Then the book ends, Ryan is dying.
Okay so I didn't really care for this book. I am finding that after the first book that the series is dragging on. I found this book to mostly be filler. I could read 50 pages and have learned nothing. I guess the ending was the best part it left us on a cliffhanger whether Ryan will die or not. But other then that I am not very impressed where the series is going. Hopefully Fury can encourage me that the series is worth it.
*SPOILER ALERT*
In this book Ryan makes another appearance although I found it quite a short one. This is where all the angels are going to go to war and fight Luc for Mercy and if she chooses Luc then the world will end ... Etc.. Mercy finds out that Luc has replaced her with a demon and the he was only using her, just like the Eight tried to tell her. Luc is actually the devil, she doesn't know him anymore, and is mad that he replaced her so easily. Then the book ends, Ryan is dying.
Okay so I didn't really care for this book. I am finding that after the first book that the series is dragging on. I found this book to mostly be filler. I could read 50 pages and have learned nothing. I guess the ending was the best part it left us on a cliffhanger whether Ryan will die or not. But other then that I am not very impressed where the series is going. Hopefully Fury can encourage me that the series is worth it.
January 31, 2013
I personally really liked 'Mercy' by Rebecca Lim. It was something different to what I was expecting. Mercy was someone that I really appreciated as a character, that actually seemed like a real person (or there lack of) and didn't crap on like most of them do.
After a super good ending, I had to read the 'Exile'.
It was pretty good as well. But I took awhile to get into it and the ending was the best bit of all.
And again I had to see what was going to happen next so I read 'Muse'.
I thought that it was a little slow at first, and it kind of just revolved around her thoughts for most of the book, repeating things quite a bit. And I felt like she was just really weak in this book and it took awhile for her to stand her ground like she did in the first two books.
Rebecca Lim has a way of leaving you on edge at the end of the book, and going "Well? What happens next?!"
Overall it was a pretty good book, but did go on a bit. With a somewhat satisfying ending, that yet again, makes me want to know what is going to happen next !
I think the next book is going to be a good one.
After a super good ending, I had to read the 'Exile'.
It was pretty good as well. But I took awhile to get into it and the ending was the best bit of all.
And again I had to see what was going to happen next so I read 'Muse'.
I thought that it was a little slow at first, and it kind of just revolved around her thoughts for most of the book, repeating things quite a bit. And I felt like she was just really weak in this book and it took awhile for her to stand her ground like she did in the first two books.
Rebecca Lim has a way of leaving you on edge at the end of the book, and going "Well? What happens next?!"
Overall it was a pretty good book, but did go on a bit. With a somewhat satisfying ending, that yet again, makes me want to know what is going to happen next !
I think the next book is going to be a good one.
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