The House of Mercy

by Alicia Roque Ruggieri, Alicia G. Ruggieri

A story of justice, love, and mercy in post-Roman Arthurian Britain.

When a hailstorm ruins her father's crops, Bethan goes as a kitchen servant to Oxfield. There, she intends to work off her family's debt to Lord Drustan before returning to marry the fervent son of a local priest. Yet, in her first days at the old Roman fortress, Bethan meets two men who are very different from the priest's son, friends who have dark histories... and shrouded futures.

In his twenty years, Deoradhan has swallowed much of sorrow’s cup and found it bitter. Haunted by his father’s murder at the hands of one he trusted, distanced from the Roman God who betrayed him, burning to obtain his rightful throne in the rugged north, the young exile returns to Logress, where High King Arthur holds together a frail confederacy.

There at Oxfield, Deoradhan's friend Calum seeks absolution for a deed he committed many years ago... a deed that ended in the death of one dearest to him and drove him from his home.

Will Deoradhan stop at nothing to gain his rightful position? Is atonement possible for Calum after so many years? And what of those - including Bethan - whose lives have become interwoven with theirs?

Christian alternative historical fiction, appropriate for young adult/adult readers.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, Fiction

279 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: 16 and up for mild romance, immoral behavior, violence
Best for Ages: 16 and up

This book was emotion, heartbreaking, breathtaking, and encouraging. It reminded me of Christy or one of Tracy Higly’s books in that it dealt with very tough issues in such a way that didn’t glorify them, sugar-coat them, or feel crass. I was blessed by the powerful faith messages that were woven through the story by a master writer.

Bethan was my favorite character in the story. Her faith is strong yet she has some very real struggles when she is taken from her home. One of the things I loved…I had no idea who she was going to get with. She took interest in one guy, but then found out he already loved and girl and so on. It was so true to life that I loved it.

Deoradhan was a complex character and was well written. I was pulled along by his story and struggle. My heart pounded at times, I wanted to cry out in rage, or sob with sorry. He had so much emotion behind his character it truly pulled me in.

The setting was so amazing. Set in Arthur’s England, I was pulled into the place and didn’t want to leave. It felt so real. Ruggieri did an amazing job for capturing the land, structures, people, and atmosphere of the time.

This book deals with some very hard topics. Several side characters are very immoral people. One scene takes place at a druid festival and the tone is very dark. However, sin is show for what it is; sin. While a couple characters enjoy the momentary pleasures, the consequences for such actions are clearly shown.

I highly recommend this if you like grittier fiction, historical fiction, and vivid characters.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very mixed about this book! Initially, it's beautiful and powerful. I've loved this author's 1930s series, and the way she intertwined each character. I can definitely see how strongly she stand for truth in the way she gives the message of God's Words in her book.

The setting was different than I usually read, and I enjoyed the dialect and aspect of every day life in those long ago years. I can't say exactly how historically correct it was, but it seemed well-researched.

My dislikes:
-Too many characters. By the end of the book there had been at least ten different POVs, and I had a really hard to remembering who was who. There were a few select ones I enjoyed the most-Calmun's, Bethan's, and Deoradhan.
-There was some immoral behavior displayed that I wasn't keen about. Since I tend to read books with guys in mind, I can't say I would hand this to a guy, especially with the couple hints at things that are easy to imagine (even if they were written 'discreetly').
-Deoradhan's background was confusing to me, although I did find it interesting. Once again, I think all the POVs was what confused it for me.
-I found the end somewhat rushed, and would have liked to see a bit more of Bethan's life settled.

I would probably recommend this book to late teen girls and up, although I would still caution about the immorality mentioned above.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading The House of Mercy and really enjoyed it—much better than much of the Christian historical fiction that I’ve read in a long time. I’m somewhat curious as to why someone would write a negative review of a book that they didn’t finish reading (actually, it’s somewhat amusing to me that the two negative reviews came from readers who didn’t finish the book)—and makes me question the veracity of their criticisms—I’m someone who feels that a criticism should only be offered after the entire work is read and considered—For my own part, I thought that the book was entirely well-researched and written. I think that it’s important for the reader to come to this book with the understanding that the setting is not literal post-Roman-British, but also takes into account the Arthurian myths and legends and weaves them into the storyline. The “small Christian gathering” that Zoey mentions (if the reader finishes the novel) is absolutely integral to the storyline—the importance of Bethan’s faith in God and her willingness to be identified with her Lord is illustrated through this scene and then demonstrated in her further actions and decisions. It is surprising to me that someone would miss that connection (but not, I suppose, if they didn’t finish the book!).
Actually, I personally feel like a book isn’t worth reading if one-quarter or one-half of the way in, you already understand the entire plot and have learned everything about the book’s characters; it seems like it would make the second half of the book useless.
On my first reading of David Copperfield, I was bored stiff about a quarter of the way in, but by the end, it had become one of my personal favorites.
The story that I read was exactly what the blurb described—and again, I think that that would be realized if the book was read in full. To me, it was a masterful weaving of plot and storyline that culminated in redemption, grace and mercy—but was so carefully developed, that the entire work had to be considered. All of the “loose ends,” so to speak came to a really brilliant conclusion at the end of the work, in my opinion.
The names didn’t bother me at all—actually, if a person has read much about the time period in which The House of Mercy was written, they would know that the names are very accurate and well-researched. Thumbs up, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants something more than the usual “froth” of Christian fiction.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a compelling, riveting, soul-hushing read that touched my mind and heart in a way that most other Christian fiction has failed to do. It's depth, development of characters, plot-line and plot-twists had me on the edge of my seat and at the completion of the novel, left me deeply satisfied--not with a "candy-coated," fairy-tale ending, rather; with a rich, profound sense of the mercy of the Father and His working in the lives of His children.

I loved the character's names and the intelligent way in which their personalities were developed and their lives so intricately intertwined. It was as if the author held a chisel to a beautiful sculpture and paid attention to every detail and story-line.

I loved it and would highly recommend it and read it again and again.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite the eye (and heart!) opener. The author meticulously wove various themes throughout the chapters, incorporating several characters' relationships to one another, and their collective relationship to God. These themes and messages, however, are behind a grand emotional and adventurous tale braided with the King Arthur classic. I couldn't put the book down! Unlike many modern novels, each chapter is another 'scene' of a character. To be blunt, the book was read like a movie is watched; transitions and vivid 'camera' angles painted a nice picture in my mind.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel. Modern writing is ankle-deep; what a relief to, once again, plunge into a read and be quenched with a work the author obviously poured their heart into. Many modern authors could learn a thing or two from her.

Now I twiddle my thumbs awaiting her sequel.

I challenge you to read this, and NOT finish it in a weekend!

[Kristi Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, thought it was well written.

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books where it leaves you almost speechless, really. I am not quite sure how to review it with adequate words. :)
This book held many plot twists I was so not expecting, but in the end they were all so good! The ending was very good. Ah, all of it was good! Hehe, okay, I will try better to focus on an actual review. :)
The characters were lovely. Truly. Each one was described so well that you were able to see them as real-life people. They had their flaws, but that just made them more realistic. I will say that Calum was my favourite character. He...well, he was just marvelous.
I enjoyed that we got to see from quite a few different character's view-point; that was really interesting and beneficial to the story.
Lady Tarian's character and story was another one of my favourites - I would love to follow hers, as well as Deirdre's story further. :)
I of course liked the main character, Bethann, and I also grew to really love Aine. It was powerful for me to read how she found the True love she was so hungry for!
The back-cover description of the book only mentions Deoradhan, but this story is about so much more - and it all weaves together just beautifully.
I absolutely loved seeing the journey each character had to take toward redemption and mercy! That was done so well. And though I was not expecting a couple of the turn-outs, I realize now how perfectly they fit, and gave just a magnificent show of God's unending mercy and love.

This book was not a tedious read in the least. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was such an enjoyable, light read yet filled with many deep truths. We are never far from God's love, and always in His forgiving, redeeming mercy that is always unending.

The only thing that slightly - and only slightly - tripped me up a bit, was that the author used a lot of longer, descriptive words in places. It wasn't terrible, just maybe not necessarily needed.

But truly, that aside, I found this a marvelous book, one I would be sure to re-read! And I am very interested in reading more from this author when/if she publishes more! :)

Thank you so tremendously much, Alicia, for this fantastic opportunity!

(There will be a give-away held on my blog for this book so keep checking back for it: Godspeculiarturerae.wordpress.com )

[Jennifer Osufsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.4 stars, but they won't let me do that! I really liked it, once I got to about chapter 10. Ruggieri crafts vivid imagery with her sentences. What I liked most was the interwoven stories all connected by God's infinite mercy. Her characters are sincere and well-developed. Most of all, the message of God's mercy screams throughout the novel. Bravo!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!
I didn't know what to expect when I began reading this. I was wonderfully surprised. It held my attending throughout as it gave the story from the perspective of all the main characters - not just a couple of people. It filled out the story so well! It also gets to the nitty gritty of life without being explicit.
I highly recommend it!

[Donna Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me say, Alicia Ruggieri’s beautiful writing style is poetic and lyrical. I’ve not ready someone’s prose in a long time that quite matches hers.

As for the rest of the book, well, this one has been a hard one to rate. It doesn't really fit into any niche as far as fiction is concerned. It is historical fiction, and there are “love stories” in the book, even romance of the highest kind as far as sacrificing oneself for love of another. However, it’s not romance as typically defined in our society. It’s inspirational, but there are bad people who do bad things to good people in this book. The Christians certainly talk the Christian talk, but they have very real problems both internally and externally. And there are multiple viewpoints, not the typical “two” – the hero and the heroine - that publishing houses like to see. All in all, this means that the book can’t necessarily be judged by the “typical” standards. It’s just too different.

Dealing strictly with elements of fiction, the plotting didn’t grab my attention at first. It wasn’t boring, but I certainly had no problem putting it down and coming back later. Then, about 60% of the way through, I didn’t want to put it down.

I was also never really clear on the goals of the characters except for Deoradhan. I think the plotting, at points, appeared thin simply because there were so many point of view characters, and I never really fell into deep point of view with any of them. However, the story elements do come together at the end.
Now, I usually like suspense and “bite your nails” kind of plotting, which this book was not, but it is written in such a beautiful way, with such a beautiful message, that I came away thinking and rethinking on it for several days after I had finished it. For me, that’s the greatest impact of any book – that the characters are alive long after I have closed the last page.

Now, I will warn you, this is a very Christian book, so if you don’t like the quoting of scripture, or characters that put God at the center of their lives, then don’t read it. I will say, that the characters’ faith is a natural outflow of their lives and the time they live in. I imagine Christians in the 6th century speaking much like this, and none of it comes across as “preachy” which is often the case in Christian fiction.

All in all, fans of Christian fiction who like books that are not edgy or suspenseful, will enjoy this artful read. Based on the artsy quality, and the beautiful prose and message, I am giving it four stars.

[English · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House of Mercy was a clean Christian story, and a ‘clean read’. Considering some of the recent cinematic offerings, it was something of a welcome change to have a story set in the Arthurian period that more than acknowledges Christianity in that time period. I did feel that there was not always a great ‘sense’ of period, and that much of the story could have happened at any time- although in other places this was stronger, and the reader could really 'get into' the story and the time.

Also I’m fairly sure there were no druids in sixth century Britain (at least the areas that had been ruled by the Romans) for one simple reason- the Romans wiped them all out in the first century, and outlawed human sacrifice.
Perhaps the Arthurian legends, characters, and politics of the age could have been incorporated more into the story, as it provides such fertile ground for storytelling- but enough of the historical criticism.

This was a solid story which explored sympathetically and represented the important themes of redemption, hope, grace and mercy in often almost impossible circumstances. I will say that the characterization of Deoradhan, as the hardened lapsed Christian who lost his faith because of ill-circumstances is something of a cliché in this genre.
This aside, I would say that this is almost a tale of the faith journeys of the characters, whose lives are wound together. In this regard, it works well, and generally flows well, with the characters having to come to terms with the past experiences, flaws and weaknesses, and overcome them. The conclusion of each person’s story was not (usually) predictable too easy or clichéd.

So for the author's debut novel, it was certainly a good effort all around. For readers, those seeking a decent historical ‘adventure’ story that is relatively short and easy to read, but meaningful, this is probably a good choice.

[Zoey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free copy from Goodreads Giveaway

I could not finish this book. Though there's nothing technically wrong with the writing, I was not drawn into it. A quarter of the way into the book, nothing had happened! Very little time is spent with the main character (whose name looks unspeakable - a pronunciation guide would have been nice), and except for the blurb on the back and a couple of vague hints in the prose, I had no clue where the story was going. Even that far in the reader is being introduced to new characters...and getting scenes from their perspectives. Why? Will they be important later on? How is a small Christian gathering focused around two characters not mentioned in the blurb going to affect the plot or the main character? I was left with so many questions but absolutely no motivation to read on for the answers.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

©2013 Recommended.

[Judith Noameshie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book

Nice pace until the end. The end felt a little rushed to me, but otherwisE this book will definitely inspire others in their walk with Christ

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not typically the kind of book I would choose to read, but I actually enjoyed it. If you're looking for an enjoyable book that is well written, I would recommend this one.