Merciless

The Merciless Realms #2

by Cortney L. Winn

In Cortney L. Winn’s highly anticipated sequel to Vesselless, the depths of betrayal know no bounds, and the cost of salvation proves steeper than death itself.

After sacrificing her soul to save Dagen’s, another stinging betrayal from someone she trusted lands Nizzara at the feet of her father’s mortal enemy, Queen Nexia. Held hostage in a land where Dagen will never think to look, drained of all her power, and with no possibility of escaping on her own, Nizzara only has one option of survival left to she must make a magical bargain with the person who betrayed her to Nexia. Forced to obey this person’s every command, Nizzara’s mind, body, and freedom are at the mercy of a traitor, whose motives and loyalties are unclear. While the traitor labors to free her from the evil queen, Nizzara makes discoveries about Dagen that leave her hesitant to return to Zarr.

Back in Zarr, Lo is drowning in guilt. Weeks have passed since Nizzara’s sacrifice, and while Lo hunts for ancient vessel rings to shield her brother from rising threats, a stranger’s shadow falls over Dagen’s heart, turning his affection for Nizzara into sudden, inexplicable ice. Just as Lo begins to unravel this chilling mystery, the ghosts of her past begin to materialize at the castle gates. A powerful potion-maker has come to collect a life debt Lo has owed for years—and the price is Dagen’s hand in marriage to another. Lo faces an impossible honor her debt and shatter her brother’s heart, or refuse and damn herself to ruin.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fiction

Unknown Binding

About the author

Hi I'm Cortney!
I'm a mom to two wild boys, wife to my best friend, and writer of my favorite genres: romance and fantasy.
Most days you'll find me in jeans and a hoodie (even if it's warm outside) with a Diet Coke nearby.
Twilight sparked my journey into books and writing, and I'll read anything except horror. But, not to exclude Stephen King, I read (and loved) his book, On Writing.
My work has been influenced by Rebecca Yarros, Brigid Kemmerer, Brandon Sanderson, Carissa Broadbent, Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and so many others. I write early in the mornings, starting my day at 4:30 and end it with reading, which consists of a lot of textbooks right now as I near the completion of my bachelor's degree in marketing.
My two favorite quotes are:
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"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." -James Clear
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"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are built for."
-William G. T. Shedd

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

Vesselless was such a great book! From one betrayal to the next, would Nizzara sacrifice her soul to save Dagens life?

This series has very interesting shadow magic & will be features on Allurial in February when it comes out.



Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author Cortney L. Winn for an early copy!

Publication date: February 2, 2027

[BookishKB]

⚔️🖤 Merciless 🖤⚔️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

❤️‍🔥 What to Expect
• Epic Romantasy
• Soul Bond
• Betrayal
• Magical Bargains
• Political Intrigue
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: February 2, 2027
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Stephanie Chiocchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cortney, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC! *warning: do NOT look at the table of contents/chapter titles before starting, skip over those real fast*

OKAY let’s start off with the fact that Vesselless was a six star read for me last year and I have been basically foaming at the mouth waiting for this book.

This. Book. This damn book. I read it within seven hours. It was seven hours of straight pain and suffering. Books have made me cry and have hurt me before but this was like constant physical pain in my soul (lol)

We pick up right where we left off with Vesselless, which, thank god because WHAT HAPPENED?! We get to finally really meet Lo and Coco (our comedic relief of the book bc we all really need it) Nizzara’s dead but not. Dae is sad and stabby. Everything’s just upside down. I literally can’t say anything else without ruining the book.

I love the world Cortney continues to create and the complex magic that goes along with it. I love that we’re seeing new realms and meeting new characters. I honestly don’t know how it’s going to all play out in book 3 for everyone to get their HEA. I see the lower star reviews already posted for this and, I get to. I do, this wasn’t what you were expecting. I’m pretty sure 99% of us weren’t expecting this. And while I am absolutely GUTTED over it all, I trust Cortney, and can’t wait to see an angry Izzy in book 3.

[Qilanna Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this book was amazing still doesn't give it enough credit. This second installment of Winn's Merciless Realms series made me laugh, cry, sit on the edge of my seat, and absolutely broke my heart in the best of ways. The characters were so vivid, I found myself loving characters I never thought I would, and boy were the twists *twisting*. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a dark romantasy that will tear out your soul in such a way that you beg your best friends to read it. Absolutely an easy 5-star read for me.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is one long love letter. Through pain, grief, heartache and longing/yearning and it will make you feel all of those.

There is so much I need to say about this story. I don’t usually write long reviews but this was such a masterpiece in storytelling I’m truly left in awe.

Our fmc, Nizzara- I loved her in the first book and even more this book. I love her strength and the fact shes been through everything imaginable but still has empathy and loyalty. She is strong, even if she doesn’t see it or feel it. She is kind and caring even through darkness.

Pacing was so good. It never lagged. Intentional and every page felt purposeful. Everything felt meaningful and informational in the best way.

The way Cortney brings you down and makes you feel hurt, betrayal, loss but at the same time brings peace or answers when Nizzara needs it (I need it) is something special. I felt every emotion through this story and the characters.

I cried so many times from sadness, but mostly from how beautiful the yearning was.

Then spice was also perfect. 😩 I mean 10/10

There’s a few characters that I want to talk about but truly feel it’s best you go in blind. But know that Cortney has written things in such a way that you’ll get crumbs on one page only for it to be woven and tied in SO PERFECTLY throughout the story.

Lo and Coco are hilarious. Los character is immaculate. She strong, smart and so capable and so fucking cool! She is such a refreshing character and I want to be friends with her. She’s also one step ahead of things and weaving things together!

I also loved the letters at the top of each chapter.

**SPOILERS BELOW**








I do feel like things with Dae could be more fleshed out. It felt anticlimactic after everything in book one. I loved him in book 1 and feel like we need more closer (but I also have faith Cortney will give us that in book 3) I know some people might have a hard time with the change in MMCs but I do find it believable. Dae has always had his kingdom first even in book 1 and although that’s not a bad thing, Sorren puts Nizzara first and I just feel like that’s what she deserves. Their relationship just felt real and raw in the best way to me personally, so it worked for me. I also like that the choices Dae made did not change Nizzara. She stayed true to herself and her morals.


This truly was an ♾️⭐️ read. I am so honored to have received an arc for this. I honestly went into this thinking it was going to go a certain way only for that to be immediately turned upside down (in the best way).

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this arc. This is 100% my personal and honest opinion.

[Victoria Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give ten stars I would. I can't describe this book in any other way other than a masterpiece. The emotions Cortney evokes from her writing is such a superpower that is so rare so be able to elicit. There were so many emotions, darkness, crying (if you the reader doesn't cry or tear up I will be shocked - that is the level of emotion that will overcome you) beautiful moments despite the circumstances, YEARNING (I mean this to the maximum, whatever you think is soul deep yearning turn it up a few notches). I don't want to give too much away but this is a perfect and flawless second installment, I cannot wait to see where we go from here. I'm so thankful for Cortney and her beautiful author mind. It's an honor to get to read this book.

[Amy Bolick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m very conflicted on my feelings for this book. As dark as the story was, I really loved that Nizzara was able to keep her empathy through it all. I really liked the other characters that were highlighted in this book, but it just feels very disconnected from the first book. It feels like this book is telling an entirely different story and with the way this book left off, I’m nervous to see how they are going to resolve things. I think the biggest problem I had was things with Dagen felt very anticlimactic, especially for how the first book left off. I will be reading the next book in hopes that the story comes together.

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
Loved this book even more than the first! I just love Nizzara’s strength so much. Without giving too much away I will say the romance took an unexpected turn for me, but I loved it! This book was definitely darker but it was written so beautifully- Courtney really takes you on an emotional journey and I felt everything as if it was happening to me. I enjoyed meeting new characters and learning more about Lo. The ending absolutely RUINED me. I literally screamed out loud when I read the last sentence. I was worried this series was gonna have a great first book and then drop off, but this wasn’t that at all. 5 ⭐️ read for me and I need book 3 yesterday 😅

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

The opening note from Cortney was fantastic 😜

- ✌️dual POV: MFC and Dae’s sister
- ☝️one additional POV at the end
- ⭐️loyalty
- ❤️epic devastating love story
- 🔪torture
- 😘 THE BEST flirty banter
- 👄 💍 sexy lip ring
- 🌶️ “good girl”
- 🩹 he heals her
- 🏃‍♀️ he chases her
- 🖤one sided enemies to lovers

‼️‼️This is super dark, much darker than book one. Read the trigger warnings!‼️‼️

I could NOT write this review without spoilers. PLEASE PLEASE don’t read if you don’t want this book to be spoiled. You have been warned!!

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At the end of this book, I had two thoughts about what this book reminded me of. First, it has ACOTAR book 1 coding with an Amarantha like antagonist, an MFC caged in the mountain theme (this book the caves), and a switch in MMC. Second, the MMC of this book was heavily Kingfisher coded, with the “poison” (like quicksilver) taking over and the desperate need to protect the mate from them, including self sacrifice and a letter.

Overall, this book was about an epic, devastating love story filled with intense loyalty and self-sacrifice. The pacing ebbed and flowed, really moderate the whole time. This book contained ACOTAR and Quicksilver themes, all while being incredibly unique. The world/universe and magic was very cool and nothing like I have read before. It is detailed, but not too complex to not understand the story. The dual POV allowed for more context to be shown and a side connection between two characters to start. There was so much depth to the characters, romance and connection, world, magic, and overall story. The trauma and growth in this book was HUGE. This book ended on a major cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book three!

Let’s jump right into the controversy this book has already created within readers. I already see several reviews calling out how angry they are because the MMC changed in this book. I will say that, around 36% I clocked the twist that was coming regarding the MMC change. To say I was initially heartbroken is an understatement. I am obsessed with loyalty in love between strong couples and that was EXACTLY what book one was all about, for both MC’s. My review for book one called that out. I loved the first book so much because of the loyalty between the MC’s, they were such a great fit. Then, this book picked up with that loyalty and I LOVED IT. Therefore, to change the MMC after ALL of book one and that being the whole rationale for book two… I will say I was devastated and frustrated. I can validate why people at times feel manipulated, as the love story for a whole book is what draws people into the initial book and series, to have it change without any perceived indication/hint in book one is really hard on readers.

HOWEVER, I took time to process my initial reaction and emotions, as well as kept reading and I fully came around. Why would I fully come around? Well, I thought about book one and how Dae loved the MFC for her pure soul, and she loved him for who he was, including his darkness, which was exactly what they needed at that time. The MFC’s father killed Dae (you find out why in this book), Dae specifically needed someone like the MFC to start growing from his trauma (seeing there was good in people, even when challenged), and the MFC sacrificed herself (kind of like paying Dae back for the crimes of her father) to give Dae the chance he needed to save the people, always something she wanted. This all made sense. Then, when I looked back at book one, I remember thinking how Dae and the MFC’s relationship, although full of loyalty (again, which I loved), their love was as full of depth as I like. I remember thinking, “they love each other already?” This was no means a bad thing, just something that occurred without a lot of deep time together to build love.

Also, Dae never knew all of the MFC, but Sorren did. You go back to book one and Sorren was ALWAYS training her to lean into her darkness and related power. He wanted her to accept it, use it, and train it. He knew her darkness and wasn’t afraid, rather he asked her to embrace it. This was all in book one. It WAS RIGHT THERE. We missed it because Cortney wrote a love story elsewhere and distracted us with good intentions and a flirty, sexy voice. Then, the MFC died and that darkness came out. Dae learned of this and was in denial, shock, and anger. All while, Sorren was still challenging her to accept herself. This book then went into incredible depth about Sorren and the MFC as individuals and together. There was all the depth to them that was missing between Dae and the MFC. Therefore, I mourned and moved on to the delicious tension between the MFC and Sorren.

I want to talk through Dae. Overall, I think Cortney did well with this, and I have one critique.

- What I thought was done well: Lo’s POV in combination of the MFC seeing Dae through the waterfall was very creative to keep Dae active in the story, even though we did not get his POV. Further, we really got to see Dae struggle, giving justice that he was not just giving up on her. I really felt his pain at learning the MFC was “not his.” His wife cheated on him and then he found someone that unconditionally loved him and she had an soulmate that was not him… gosh that must have been hard for him. I could fully see that he struggled with finding anll of this out and having to make the decision to marry someone else. Cortney really gave him justice in all of this. Additionally, the MFC standing by Dae, even when ending things with him, was beautiful. The MFC kept to her core values of protecting others, having empathy, and being loyal. She could understand the complexities of Dae and his decisions; it wasn’t simply he betrayed her and now she was just mad. She had much more nuanced thought and emotional reaction. Typically, in books like this, the MFC becomes outraged, losing any logic. I really loved the balance of thought and emotion that the MFC had in this book. She could completely understand that her death and sacrifice was her choice and, even though she felt really intense emotions regarding Dae and him making choices about another woman, she understood his decisions and the path he was taking, particularly prioritizing the lives of many. Again, going back to the MFC staying core to her identity, even while growing substantially.

- What I thought could have been improved was the meeting between Dae and the MFC at the end. It was so short and really did not give them the closure I was hoping for. I am sure more will be addressed in the next book, but I wanted just a bit more between them. Dae’s POV was half of book one, and much of the MFC’s POV in book one was about or included Dae. Therefore, to just have their conversation be so short and not filled with much, I was bummed. I wanted just a little bit more. Dae was a favorite of us readers and I wanted a tiny more justice for him. I get it, page/word limits… I hope for more between them in the next book, maybe a friendship, as the MFC can now understand she has a mate and that was what broke Dae.

Ok, with all of that, I can validate that switching the MMC in the second book is becoming more common and can be frustrating. Really, not my preference either. Yet, if you give this book a chance, you will love it, as the romance in this book is epic and beautiful, and worth it!!!

Now, Sorren. The MFC HATED him, as he appeared to be a traitor. As the book progressed, Cortney dropped little hints that there was so much more to him. Then, as the book progressed, he turned into a full fledged MC with a lot of depth. More details were revealed about him, quite slowly and we REALLY got to know him. We learned about his childhood, who he was, how and why he changed, the rationales for his decisions, why he treated the MFC the way he did, and everything else. Cortney really did and excellent job make a complex, messy, flawed, beautiful MMC. Also, I loved that he NEVER, NOT ONCE, turned into a doormat because of the MFC. He continued to be his ruthless self. YESSSSSSSS I loved the tension that built between Sorren and the MFC over the book and I loved their soulmate bond!

Moving on! There were multiple components of the plot, including the MFC‘s journey, Dae‘s journey, Sorren’s journey, Lo’s journey, which included finding the two First-Made vessels so that the MMC could become the King of Kings, the mystery of where the MFC’s father went, and so much more. This story was complex, traumatizing, and very interesting!

In this book, I felt all the emotions, including love, happiness, excitement, devastation, heartbreak, sadness, anger, rage, empowerment, silliness, and shock.

I really loved the letters at the beginning of each chapter by Lo in Vesselless. I wanted to know more about Lo. She was super fun, but we did not get to know her in great detail. Therefore, I was excited that this book was dual POV, one including Lo’s POV. This book jumped right in by starting with Lo’s POV flashing back ten years to show us what happened to her.

Immediately, within 2% of this book, I was shocked and my jaw literally dropped. My jaw dropping was so big that someone near me while camping me commented on it. There was so information revealed that made me understand book one so much more, and this information was shocking. Then, at 26% we learned why the MFC’s father shot and killed Dae prior to book one. I loved getting these contextual details! We also learned why the MFC’s father hated the rebels so much. Really made me rethink her father. He was still terrible, he could have done things very differently, yet I understood him more.

Quickly after that, I was laughing at something Lo’s ghost, Coco, said to her. I absolutely loved that Coco had such a different and unique personality, quite different than any other ghost noted in book one. Added more character to the story!

Even though the book started with giving us some information and answers to the questions we had in book one, new questions arose quite quickly. It’s amazing how much Cortney fed us information to then just leave us more confused due to knew information. Well done!

There has been a lot of nuanced discussion in reading groups regarding fated mates, with a pretty big 50-50 split, with half of people loving it and the other half not. Particularly, people don’t like fated mates because the mates always end up together, removing autonomy and choice. In this book, Cortney did a lovely job calling out the difference between fated mates and soulmates. She called out that fated mates always end up together, even if they are toxic and a bad fit, where as soulmates do not always end up together. Rather, if they find each other, they are perfect complement to each other and they have a choice at being with each other. They have the option of rejecting the match. This is really cool and unique that Cortney called this out.

As I mentioned, but wanted to mention again, I really loved that, no matter what, the MFC stayed rooted in her values. No matter the trauma, feelings of betrayal, and experiences, she is stuck to who she was, all while growing and developing at the exact same time.

Despite my complex feelings about switching the MMC, overall, this truly was a beautiful love story. I thought I was getting the strong loyalty between the first book’s MFC and MMC, but this story elevated that and truly had deep rooted loyalty between an MMC and MFC, which is my FAVORITE!!

Looking at some of the side characters:
- Nexia and her daughter were excellent antagonists that I DESPISED! They added so much more emotion to the story.

- Damen was the flirty male we all love added to the story for some really delicious banter. I wanted more of him. I am hoping the publisher will let Cortney write Lo and Damen’s journey. So much mystery about him still at the end.

- Helina: although I had empathy for her, still not a big fan. I get it, she had to do what she had to do to protect her daughter and she was manipulated. But, I did not get to know her enough to like her.

The ending: devastating, Quicksilver like ending with my jaw again dropping!

Critique:

Really, the whole setting of this book occurred in the cave. The pattern that occurred in this setting repeated: MFC alone, something would happen, Sorren would arrive, action scene and talking, Sorren would leave, something would happen, Sorren would come, they would talk, he would leave, something would happen, recycle and repeat. This became a little redundant and I wanted a little more change in setting.

[Katie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally damaged. The last chapter had me reading through tears.

[Lexi Herrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to come back and fully review this after I’ve emotionally recovered. 🩶🫠

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no second book syndrome here, Merciless is even better than Vesselless (gasp!)

This is also, the first book to make me cry this year!

More to come!

[Gwen Brophy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC.

I'm at a loss on how to rate this, though. If this was book 1 in this series, it would be 4.5 stars, because it has a complex magic system, a very enthralling plot and great characters. The concept of vessels and soul magic in this world is very unique and makes every new bit of information or new realm fascinating. It has strong 5 star potential! I'd love to give it the full "this is great!" rating because the foundation of that is here.

But even if this were book 1, I'd dock it half a star for the villain being so cartoonishly evil that I can't take her seriously. I get it, she's literally carrying the god of Evil, but...I mean, her actions are SO evil that it's almost comical. I definitely can do with less nihilistic violence against our FMC (and innocent bystanders.)

But I could roll with that, because everything else is about the plot is great, so I could really just skim past the villain while the other characters work to take her down. So, why am I docking it a full star just because it's book 2 and not book 1?

The biggest problem that I have with this is that I cannot stand the recent trend towards the "real" MMC not showing up until book 2, with a "fake out" MMC in book 1. I was utterly shocked to realize that Dagen doesn't have a single POV in this book, after being half of book 1, and we're just supposed to be like, "Oh yeah, they were never a real thing" when it FELT like a real thing after finishing book 1.

I loved book 1! I thought Nizzara and Dagen were absolutely fantastic together, and I loved their relationship and was all in.

But even after Nizzara loved him enough to sacrifice herself for him and even though he loved her enough to refuse to give her soul to Nil damning himself forever, we're supposed to believe that they both would just essentially shrug and part ways, no longer in love?

And making that worse, Dagen is BARELY in this.

It feels like the author got bored with him, pushed him into a closet and said, "Well, moving on!"

So, I want to rate this as 3 stars for that complete disregard for the relationship that she'd previously spent an entire book nurturing and developing (and doing that VERY well!) Going from the complex character she drew in book 1, the disinterest in Dagen in book 2 is palpable and hard to adjust to after making us fall in love with him in book 1.

Therefore, my rating for this is 3 stars for some things, 4-4.5 stars for others, averaging out to a 3.5. I'm closing this book feeling mostly disappointment. Book 1 was great. The choices in book 2 were not to my taste.

[Anna Grace Debiec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cortney L. Winn has done it again.

Merciless begins immediately after the events of Vesselless. The reader is thrust back into a world of depraved souls, forbidden romance, and destruction.

Nizzaria has slowly become one of my favorite characters in a book recently. She has so much hate for herself and her abilities because of her connection to the god of death. The amount of self-loathing but also selflessness from her character is astonishing. There is always a purpose to her actions, and it is protecting those she loves. Her development in this book was magnificent. She learned more about the magic she has/had and her heritage while also navigating a perilous situation with a queen who despises her existence.

Speaking of Nexia, she is the epitome of evil. The level of damage she reaps on her kingdom is terrifying, and the hold she has on the main characters is reminiscent of ACOTAR. She is truly a despicable character with no chance of redemption. The control she has over Sorren and Nizzaria is horrendous, and the nature of the position she utilizes to control those within her court is extremely interesting.

Many readers may feel slightly upset due to the change in romantic interests, but I do not have the same feelings whatsoever. I did not feel like Dae truly saw all of Nizzaria. He viewed her as a pure soul that his darkness was attached to, but in reality, Nizzaria has darkness within her just like everyone else. She craves power, loyalty, and destruction but also holds hope, love, and peace close to her chest. She is all of these things and more, but Dae only saw what he wanted to see. However, Sorren is the complete opposite. He pushes her and continues to show her that darkness is not always evil. He has such a disheartening and saddening backstory that the truly tore me to pieces. His commitment and devotion to Nizzaria was beautiful and his ability to see her for every facet - good and bad - was the true dealbreaker. He would do anything for Nizzaria.

The side characters introduced in this book were also extremely lovable. I enjoyed reading about Scar and her journey as well as Cae. The plot continued to intrigue me and leave me wishing for me. I am truly greatful to have had the opportunity to read this book, and I am excited to see how the final book will end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the ending of Vesselless, I was fully prepared for Cortney to make Dagen and Nizzara suffer.

Dear reader, she certainly exceeded my expectations.

Merciless expands the world in interesting ways, raises the stakes, and throws enough twists, betrayals, and emotional turmoil at the characters to keep things moving. I was invested from the start, even if I did clock the big twist fairly early on. Honestly? It didn't really impact my enjoyment. Sometimes the fun isn't in what happens but in watching the characters slowly realise what's happening while you're sitting there like, "oh no."

Now for the thing that's inevitably going to divide readers: the romance.

*** Spoilers ahead ***

There's a major MMC shift in this book, and I know some readers are going to be devastated by that. Personally? I was surprisingly on board. Once the story started laying the groundwork, the direction made sense to me, and I appreciated that the characters handled the situation with a level of maturity that I can only describe as deeply unrealistic. Could never be me.

Did I find the resolution a little underwhelming? Yes.

Did I still enjoy it? Also yes.

What worked best for me was seeing the characters grapple with the consequences of their choices rather than relying on easy answers. The emotional conflict felt genuine, even when I wanted things to be messier.

And then there's that ending. Respectfully, Cortney, that was rude.

The book wraps up just enough to make you think you might get some closure before immediately reminding you that absolutely not, there is another book coming and you will be waiting for it.

Overall, I ended up enjoying Merciless just as much, if not more than Vesselless. The world got bigger, the stakes got higher, and while not every twist landed with maximum impact, I was thoroughly entertained throughout.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cortney L. Winn, Avon Books, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC of Merciless! I read Vesselless a couple months ago and had been desperately longing for the next chapter in Nizzara’s story. If Vesselless was a five star read for me, then Merciless is without a shadow of a doubt a six star read! Let it be noted that this book is not for the faint of heart, but it is perfect for the lovers of dark and tragic romances.

Something that I absolutely appreciate is how in Vesselless and Merciless, Nizzarra’s character feels the same yet different, and I personally interpret it by viewing each book thus far as one of Nizzara’s lives. She undergoes many transformations in her second incarnation, yet one thing that has not changed is her boundless empathy for others. Despite everything she has endured, she does not want to give into her dark side, which could be done in the blink of an eye.

Nizzara’s relationship arc in this book has truly left my soul in shambles. I felt like I knew which romantic direction the plot was going in, which made it even more heartbreaking that Nizzara did not. Sorren’s story broke me in ways I never thought possible; the amount of horrors and trauma he endured to protect his soulmate was unimaginable. I do not think I have ever grieved this deeply for a fictional man I will never meet.

Needless to say, I wholeheartedly loved Merciless, even despite the sheer amount of emotional damage it caused me. I will now spend my days re-reading the series and longing for the continuation of Nizzara’s journey. Thank you again to Cortney, Avon Books, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC of Merciless!

[Amanda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merciless is the perfect title, because that is exactly what this book is. We are faced with the harsh brutality of evil and absolutely no punches are pulled. Despite the impossible circumstances our main characters find themselves in, there are moments of such selflessness, of gentleness and of kindness. Little glimmers find their way in, even in such darkness. Those glimmers light the way for friendship and trust to grow. Merciless shredded my heart multiple times, and I was raging or wrecked for most of the book. But…..beautiful things still persist amongst the horrors and love blooms like a deadly rose even when forbidden. Merciless is a tragically beautiful and emotionally devastating story. It isn’t all doom gloom though, I laughed out loud multiple times while reading and there were also innumerable “awww”s that escaped me. There are threads of a larger arc being woven throughout the series and I love where it is going and what it represents. There are also some big plot twists, I would not have guessed the direction this book would go, so buckle up! This is a darker book than Vesselless so you may want to review the trigger warnings. This isn’t the last book in the series and I have so many theories! Merciless is definitely one of those books that will be popping into my mind all the time. If you love emotional devastation and staring at the wall when you finish a book (and I know you do) you might just love this series. Thank you Cortney Winn, Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Merciless, all opinions are my own.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Cortney, Avon Books, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC! Did I just finish the book or did the book finish me?! My heart is broken and I’m staring at the wall trying to process what just happened. There was so much yearning, pain, love, heartache, and devotion that your emotions were on a constant roller coaster. This book was one of my most anticipated reads for next year, so I am completely blown away that I had the opportunity to read it now. I definitely loved it more than the first installment and I can only imagine where the series goes from here.
Nizzara is such a strong FMC and fights for those she loves with utter loyalty. No matter what she is going through, she is still kind to those around her and tries to think of the best outcome. The letters at the beginning of each chapter were beautiful.
I don’t want to give away anything about my favorite character who is also our MMC, but his commitment made me make changes to my roster of book boyfriends. The side characters were very lovable and helped ease any emotional damage we experienced. Lo is still the puller of strings behind the scenes. Coco was hilarious and I can’t wait to see her progression.
I need book 3 immediately!
“Nature is cruel that way. The brightest colors…softest petals…sweetest aromas…the prettiest things are always the deadliest.”
“But never feel guilty for becoming who you are. For growing, or for changing.”

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

A special thanks to Cortney and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc.

*Contains spoilers*

Merciless brought out all of my emotions and crushed my soul. The chemistry and yearning throughout this story was insane. You cannot help but fall in love with all of these characters, but especially Sorren. Going from book one where he was someone I loathed, I couldn’t believe how quickly Cortney made me fall in love with him. Burn the world down energy? Touch her and die? All done beautifully in this book. Also the soul mates aspect of this book was superb. I feel as though soulmate tropes are so often overdone and that was not the case with this book. It all felt natural and not forced. I really can express the natural chemistry between these characters and I cannot recommend this book enough. Vesselless was one of my favorite reads of the year and now to be able to read book two shortly after was incredible. I don’t know what to do with myself as I wait for book 3 but I cannot wait to see what happens next and for Nizzara to go save her man.

I would have loved to seen a little bit more from Dagen’s pov and a little more insight to his thoughts on everything but it’s also clear this story wasn’t really about him. I appreciate that Nizzara did get some closure but was also able to blossom this relationship with Sorren.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so disappointing. Book one was a 5 star read for me. I loved it so much because I loved Dae’s character and his relationship with Nizzarra. I fell in love with these characters and was anxiously awaiting book two only to find that we no longer get these characters. Nizzarra is completely changed (which I understood and didn’t mind) and Dae is completely absent, their relationship suddenly meaningless.

I think this trend of introducing a new love interest in book 2 can work, but only if the romance in book 1 is subpar. That was definitely not the case here and in fact quite the opposite. The relationship felt more genuine and easy between Nizzarra and Dae, whereas with Soren I felt zero chemistry. It was more convenient than anything.

I gave this 3 stars because I thought the overall story (worldbuilding and magic) was great, albeit a complete disconnect from the first book. This should have been a completely different series.

[Emma S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this and I will not be able to wait for book 3!!!

I loved Vesselless so much so I was really excited to read book 2 and I honestly could not have predicted all the directions the story would take.

First of all, loved the new POV (Lo and Coco are the funniest and their comedic relief was really needed at times). And I also loved the new settings that Nizzara was in. There was just so much going on that I was having to guess on and it was so fun coming up with new theories about what would happen next. And holy cow... Sorren?? I did not see that coming. Like at all. But I'm here for it!! While the book was really dark at times and it was seeming bleak, reading the way out of it was fantastic and hopeful.

I cannot wait for the story to continue!!!

Thanks so much netgalley because if I had to wait any longer to read this I was gonna combust.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ INFINITE STAR RATING ⭐️

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that could prepare you for the events that occur after Vesselless. Merciless is exactly its name. It’s fuckin’ merciless.

I’ve loved Nizzara since the beginning and the way she becomes broken and put back together continued to chip away at me while reading Merciless. Alters your own brain chemistry. The writing that Cortney pours into these characters is beyond the realms they reside in.

The trajectory of the storyline is phenomenal and I’m terrified what will come of the next installment because I dont know how much more emotions I have left to spare.

The world building, magic system, character arc, and tension is soooo well done! Hats off to the author! This will definitely be a heavy hitter when it releases in February 2027. Y’all get your tissues ready and clear your schedule. You’ll need it.

[Cara Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything. Infinity 6 star read.
I read a lot of books and I have not felt this way in a long time that you forget your reading, can’t put the book down, need to know what happens next feeling.
This book gives me total tog vibes “I’ll bleed whatever color you tell me too” vibes. Also reminds me of the wolf king which I loved!
If you didn’t love the first book please give this a try. I loved both but this one is even better than the first.
I’m not sure what she put in this book but I couldn’t put it down.
The banter had me laughing out loud. The characters introduced. The love interest. The magic system. This was literally everything. I will be screaming at everyone I know to read this.

Check trigger warnings as the book does have very hateable villains and has torture similar to tog.

[Laney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book, and was so excited to read Merciless. Before starting this book I wouldn’t have been able to guess the trajectory of the story but once I started reading it I did know where it was heading. Even though I knew what was happening from the beginning I really enjoyed the story. I like Nizzara and enjoyed her dynamic with the other main characters. I also really enjoy Lo and would have liked more of her. The magic system is unique, and the world building was strong. Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down, and I can’t wait for the third book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arc review: I loved the first book. I enjoyed this book at first and was really excited when I recieved the arc, but I HATED the direction this book went in regarding the romance. It would be major spoilers if I revealed why, but let's just say, I personally feel betrayed as a lover of Dagen and Nizzara in book 1. I knew something was off when I noticed Dagen has no POVs, but Sorren eventually did. Anyway, I won't be continuing this series because I just felt misled and betrayed after loving book 1.

[Sabine A McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cortney continues to awe me with her writing style and this world she has built. I thought I knew things and had theories. Nope! Twist after twist. Banter with the darkness. I could not fix my face. Nizarra is not the cruel little beast, Cortney is! 🤣 I shouted at my Kindle, cried on my Kindle, almost threw my Kindle. Nothing like a good book to make you feral while reading it.

I am honored to be an early reader but also sad I will have to wait longer for the next book.

It's ok. I forsee lots of re-reading in my future.

[Brianna Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤⚔️🔥 Merciless ARC Review 🖤⚔️🔥

A huge thank you to Cortney L. Winn and Harper Voyager for the advance copy!

If I just open the book again, it’s almost like the story isn’t over yet.

I loved Vesselless so much that I honestly didn’t think Merciless could top it… and then somehow it did. What an incredible sequel. I’m so grateful I had the chance to read this early, but now the wait for everyone else to experience it is going to feel absolutely torturous. 💔

Beautifully done, Cortney. ❤️

📝 I’ll update this with my full, spoiler-free review closer to the 🗓️ March 2027 release date.

[Lori Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I had a feeling how the book was going to end fairly early, that cliffhanger was still devastating. It completely caught me off guard emotionally and brought tears to my eyes.

This book outdid every other second book in a series I’ve read. It was gripping from beginning to end, with no lull in the pacing. Every chapter left me eager to keep reading, and by the end I was left with so many questions that I desperately need answered in book three.

The wait for book three is going to be painful.

[Kimberly Zeidner · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THIS BOOK! As someone who loved Vesselless, I already knew I was going to love Merciless, but I was NOT ready for this to be a 6-star read! ACOTAR under the mountain/ACOMAF vibes, but DARKER and deliciously good! I could not put this down. Page after page, I just devoured the whole thing (and that's saying something because I've been in a bit of a slump). Cortney really created something incredible here and I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into it because it took off in a totally different direction than what I thought but once I got into it I loved it. It’s really all about Nizzara and who she is becoming. I thought there would be more Lo and Dae but I like the way their storyline is going (one I want to see more of next book and one I’m done with). Then the ending leaves me dying to know what happens in book three.