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The Superheroine Collection #5
A Lover’s Mercy
Mai Redstone prowls Atlanta as its hero, Mercy, trying to save people from themselves and each other. With her newly discovered, stronger powers, she acts as if she’s invincible. To those who know her though, she’s as delicate as a cobra lily.
Xóchitl is the complete opposite. Violence comes naturally to her. Hard-hearted and thick-skinned, the softest thing about her is her love for Mai. As part of an elite law-enforcement team in the secret Meta community, Xóchitl hunts and punishes anyone who dares to break their rules.
But when Mai is in danger from her own powerful family, Xóchitl’s soft underbelly is exposed. How can she protect Mai when she can’t even tell allies from enemies? For the first time in her life, Xóchitl feels as threatened as the vulnerable humans Mai protects.
Xóchitl is used to being the strongest one in the room, but when she suddenly isn’t, will she allow herself to surrender to her lover’s mercy?
A gripping, sexy, lesbian superhero novel that will leave your heart pounding at its powerful conclusion. This sequel to "The Power of Mercy" can also be read as a standalone story.
58,000 words
Themes: elite law-enforcement team · lesbian superhero · superheroines
Xóchitl is the complete opposite. Violence comes naturally to her. Hard-hearted and thick-skinned, the softest thing about her is her love for Mai. As part of an elite law-enforcement team in the secret Meta community, Xóchitl hunts and punishes anyone who dares to break their rules.
But when Mai is in danger from her own powerful family, Xóchitl’s soft underbelly is exposed. How can she protect Mai when she can’t even tell allies from enemies? For the first time in her life, Xóchitl feels as threatened as the vulnerable humans Mai protects.
Xóchitl is used to being the strongest one in the room, but when she suddenly isn’t, will she allow herself to surrender to her lover’s mercy?
A gripping, sexy, lesbian superhero novel that will leave your heart pounding at its powerful conclusion. This sequel to "The Power of Mercy" can also be read as a standalone story.
58,000 words
Themes: elite law-enforcement team · lesbian superhero · superheroines
183 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2019
6 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Zedde
59 books415 followersJamaican-born Fiona Zedde is the author of several novellas and novels of lesBiQueer love and desire, including the Lambda Literary Award finalists, Bliss and Every Dark Desire. She loves French pastries, English cars, Jamaican food, and currently lives in Spain.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
Her novel, Dangerous Pleasures, received a Publishers Weekly starred review and won an About.com Readers' Choice Award for Best Lesbian Novel/Memoir. Her latest book, Just Like Her, is out now. Find out more about her catalog of 30+ books at www.FionaZedde.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 31, 2019
I was really looking forward to this book and I’m glad to say it met my expectations. This was really entertaining and I could not put the book down. While this is technically book 5 in The Superheroine Collection, you do not need to read four books before this. However, this is a sequel to Book 2 The Power of Mercy. I highly recommend reading that book first before you read this one. This book picks up where The Power of Mercy left off and you would be missing out on a good amount of story including some important twists if you do not read The Power of Mercy first.
This is a quick read and it’s so hard to tell on my Kindle but I think technically this is a novella, but the story is full and vibrant so it feels like a novel. These two books by Zedde are more hardcore superhero books. In fact The Power of Mercy was a little dark at times. This book was a little lighter and focused more on the relationship of the two mains, but there is still violence and plenty of superhero action. Don’t read these books looking for a fluffy story.
After reading The Power of Mercy I was really hoping for a sequel. Mercy or ‘Mai’ was still really growing as a person and I wanted to see more of her. I must admit I was a little disappointed this whole book was in the POV of X. I like first person so that’s not my issue, but I was disappointed not to get more from Mai’s headspace. I must admit while X is a bit of a hard character, after getting to know and connect to her more she definitely grew on me.
I don’t want to say too much more because of spoilers for people who have not read the first book. I will say if you are enjoying the Superheroine collection, absolutely grab this. If you liked the Power of Mercy, chances are you might even like this one better. Having more romance/relationship between the mains was a real treat. I don’t know if Zedde plans to write more in this series. A lot of loose ends are tied up so it could end here. But if she does write more I will absolutely read them.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This is a quick read and it’s so hard to tell on my Kindle but I think technically this is a novella, but the story is full and vibrant so it feels like a novel. These two books by Zedde are more hardcore superhero books. In fact The Power of Mercy was a little dark at times. This book was a little lighter and focused more on the relationship of the two mains, but there is still violence and plenty of superhero action. Don’t read these books looking for a fluffy story.
After reading The Power of Mercy I was really hoping for a sequel. Mercy or ‘Mai’ was still really growing as a person and I wanted to see more of her. I must admit I was a little disappointed this whole book was in the POV of X. I like first person so that’s not my issue, but I was disappointed not to get more from Mai’s headspace. I must admit while X is a bit of a hard character, after getting to know and connect to her more she definitely grew on me.
I don’t want to say too much more because of spoilers for people who have not read the first book. I will say if you are enjoying the Superheroine collection, absolutely grab this. If you liked the Power of Mercy, chances are you might even like this one better. Having more romance/relationship between the mains was a real treat. I don’t know if Zedde plans to write more in this series. A lot of loose ends are tied up so it could end here. But if she does write more I will absolutely read them.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
April 9, 2019
The Superheroine Collection is a series that I’m really enjoying and even when I haven’t particularly enjoyed the execution of one I’ve still liked the concept. A Lover’s Mercy is a follow-on from The Power of Mercy and while all the other books in the series are standalone novels, I wouldn’t recommend reading this without reading The Power of Mercy first. Xóchitl Bentley and Mai Redstone have been lovers for a few months. Mai knows exactly who Xóchitl is but very few others know she is not just a teaching colleague of Mai’s but also a Meta (supernatural) and a leader of a team of enforcers. Xóchitl makes no effort to hide her dislike of Mai’s family but finally agrees to go to dinner with her to their house. Conversation is a little stiff at first until Ethan Redstone, Mai’s cousin who tried to kill her, is mentioned and things go south quickly.
I love the connection between Mai and Xóchitl and especially that this is from Xóchitl’s point of view. They have diametrically opposed ideologies but their love and chemistry overrides that even when they can’t agree. There is very little explicit content but it takes nothing away from the powerful expression of their feelings for each other.
Xóchitl is an interesting and unusual character. Mai is really easy to like because she’s compassionate and sees humans as worth putting her life on the line for – even before she had the full realisation of her powers. Her family, barring her sister, are all crappy people who really don’t deserve her which makes her even more sympathetic. Because the story is from Xóchitl’s point of view there is some great insight into her. She’s not an overtly likeable character but the way she is written had me completely rooting for her.
She doesn’t think humans are deserving of her mercy (the person or the emotion). Her past and her job have made her hard and cold but what makes her different from a stereotypical ice-queen is her recognition and absolute love for Mai along with her willingness to express it.
This is my favourite book in the Superheroine Collection so far as well as out of the two Zedde instalments. It’s fast-paced, traumatic and emotional as well as a fantastic creation of supernaturals with diverse powers.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
I love the connection between Mai and Xóchitl and especially that this is from Xóchitl’s point of view. They have diametrically opposed ideologies but their love and chemistry overrides that even when they can’t agree. There is very little explicit content but it takes nothing away from the powerful expression of their feelings for each other.
Xóchitl is an interesting and unusual character. Mai is really easy to like because she’s compassionate and sees humans as worth putting her life on the line for – even before she had the full realisation of her powers. Her family, barring her sister, are all crappy people who really don’t deserve her which makes her even more sympathetic. Because the story is from Xóchitl’s point of view there is some great insight into her. She’s not an overtly likeable character but the way she is written had me completely rooting for her.
She doesn’t think humans are deserving of her mercy (the person or the emotion). Her past and her job have made her hard and cold but what makes her different from a stereotypical ice-queen is her recognition and absolute love for Mai along with her willingness to express it.
This is my favourite book in the Superheroine Collection so far as well as out of the two Zedde instalments. It’s fast-paced, traumatic and emotional as well as a fantastic creation of supernaturals with diverse powers.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
April 3, 2019
I really enjoyed A Lover’s Mercy by Fiona Zedde. This novella is the sequel to The Power of Mercy and continues the story of Mai Redstone and Xóchitl Bentley, both of them metas who live in Atlanta. Both are college professors to the regular humans who live and work around them. Mai is also secretly the super-heroine Mercy who helps those in crisis. Xóchitl is a meta enforcer, sort of a police force for metas (humans with super powers). No regular police force could handle corrupt or criminal metas so the enforcers are used to police their own.
In this sequel, we see the story through Xóchitl’s eyes in first person narrative. This is a bit limiting because we can’t see Mai’s viewpoint as we did in the first novella, but this book really is more about Xóchitl and what she has to go through to help Mai with her powerful family. There are some dark parts to this story, as well as some violence, but I think one of the main themes is really the love interest between Mai and Xóchitl. This romance began in the first book and becomes a major part of this one. Xóchitl must learn to balance her feelings for Mai against what she must do as a meta enforcer. It isn’t easy and causes some angst.
The blurb says that you can read A Lover’s Mercy without reading the first novella, and technically that is true. It’s my opinion that you should read both stories in order. Reading both books will give you a better insight into the characters and the events in the second story. You will have a better depth of knowledge for the characters’ actions. I enjoyed both novellas and can recommend them to anyone who loves a good adventure story.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
In this sequel, we see the story through Xóchitl’s eyes in first person narrative. This is a bit limiting because we can’t see Mai’s viewpoint as we did in the first novella, but this book really is more about Xóchitl and what she has to go through to help Mai with her powerful family. There are some dark parts to this story, as well as some violence, but I think one of the main themes is really the love interest between Mai and Xóchitl. This romance began in the first book and becomes a major part of this one. Xóchitl must learn to balance her feelings for Mai against what she must do as a meta enforcer. It isn’t easy and causes some angst.
The blurb says that you can read A Lover’s Mercy without reading the first novella, and technically that is true. It’s my opinion that you should read both stories in order. Reading both books will give you a better insight into the characters and the events in the second story. You will have a better depth of knowledge for the characters’ actions. I enjoyed both novellas and can recommend them to anyone who loves a good adventure story.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
April 8, 2019
This is a follow up to a previous superhero story. I had not read it before this one. I think that it is fine stand-a-lone but it would probably have made a lot more sense early on if I had.
Xochitl is an enforcer. Mai has a superhero identity as 'Mercy.' They apparently got together in the previous book. Here, they start off in an existing relationship, and Xochitl is in Mai's apartment more often than not. Mai wants to move things forward between them and convinces Xochitl to go visit her family. We are supposed to know that Xochitl has bad blood with the Redstones. But since we don't know, the author tells us why. A lot of crazy things happen and Xochitl and Mai's partnership hangs in the balance.
This was just OK for me. I didn't particularly like Xochitl's voice. The story is first person and we are in her head. She came off to me as a snotty, egotistical, and aloof. She tells us that she adores Mai so much and doesn't want to live without her but it is not shown. We mostly just get a horny narrative from her. It felt like her thoughts were so clouded by sex and physical attraction that she was confusing lust for love.
The story was interesting. I wanted to know what would happen next. And I did like the Mai character. But I feel like she deserves better than what Xochitl has to offer. No compromise with them. It won't last :)
Recommend to those who like superheros, powers, romance, family drama, action, fight scenes, and tamales.
I received an ARC from YLVA publishing for an honest review
Xochitl is an enforcer. Mai has a superhero identity as 'Mercy.' They apparently got together in the previous book. Here, they start off in an existing relationship, and Xochitl is in Mai's apartment more often than not. Mai wants to move things forward between them and convinces Xochitl to go visit her family. We are supposed to know that Xochitl has bad blood with the Redstones. But since we don't know, the author tells us why. A lot of crazy things happen and Xochitl and Mai's partnership hangs in the balance.
This was just OK for me. I didn't particularly like Xochitl's voice. The story is first person and we are in her head. She came off to me as a snotty, egotistical, and aloof. She tells us that she adores Mai so much and doesn't want to live without her but it is not shown. We mostly just get a horny narrative from her. It felt like her thoughts were so clouded by sex and physical attraction that she was confusing lust for love.
The story was interesting. I wanted to know what would happen next. And I did like the Mai character. But I feel like she deserves better than what Xochitl has to offer. No compromise with them. It won't last :)
Recommend to those who like superheros, powers, romance, family drama, action, fight scenes, and tamales.
I received an ARC from YLVA publishing for an honest review
September 14, 2024
3.5 star rating
I think it is best to have read the first book of this duo to have context of the characters. This story was more family palava than anything super-hero thrilling. Entertaining especially in the romance angle
I think it is best to have read the first book of this duo to have context of the characters. This story was more family palava than anything super-hero thrilling. Entertaining especially in the romance angle
July 27, 2019
This book has more threat to it than I normally like, so I had to put it down a few times to take a break. That said, it’s excellent, and even when I was pausing to give myself space, I was still thinking about A Lover’s Mercy. The pacing is quick, the story is interesting, there are some seriously great sex scenes, and there’s a twist that I didn’t see coming.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/love...
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/love...
April 17, 2019
This was a fantastic addition to the Superheroine collection by Ylva Publishing.
I haven’t read the second book in the collection which is the prequel to A Lover’s Mercy, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this story.
Mai and Xóchitl are lovers, and opposites but that is what made their relationship so intense, and exciting in this sequel. Mai with her powers spends her days saving the people of Atlanta, and she doesn’t always take as much care as she should, which has her lover Xóchitl following her to make sure she is safe.
Xóchitl also has her own responsibilities, making sure those in the Meta Community who break the rules are punished. Unfortunately, this now involves Mai’s family, and her love for Mai exposes her weaknesses.
This story was gripping and emotional, as both characters had to learn to adapt to survive in a difficult situation, especially if their love was to prevail, and make them stronger.
A very enjoyable read, and I definitely look forward to checking out the first book with these characters to learn more about them.
I haven’t read the second book in the collection which is the prequel to A Lover’s Mercy, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this story.
Mai and Xóchitl are lovers, and opposites but that is what made their relationship so intense, and exciting in this sequel. Mai with her powers spends her days saving the people of Atlanta, and she doesn’t always take as much care as she should, which has her lover Xóchitl following her to make sure she is safe.
Xóchitl also has her own responsibilities, making sure those in the Meta Community who break the rules are punished. Unfortunately, this now involves Mai’s family, and her love for Mai exposes her weaknesses.
This story was gripping and emotional, as both characters had to learn to adapt to survive in a difficult situation, especially if their love was to prevail, and make them stronger.
A very enjoyable read, and I definitely look forward to checking out the first book with these characters to learn more about them.
April 22, 2019
I really enjoyed Fiona Zedde’s first book about Mercy/Mai. The Power of Mercy. In my review of that book I wrote that I wished it had been longer so we could know more. Well, my wish was granted with this second offering from Zedde, A Lover’s Mercy which follows on from the action in the first book.
To my surprise, this book is even better than the first. This time it’s from Xóchitl’s perspective, although we still get to find out more about Mai and her family. We also get an insight into how Metas view humans as Xóchitl tries to understand why Mai cares about them enough to put her own life at risk to protect them.
At its heart, this is a book about learning to navigate the complexities of being in a relationship for the first time. The compromises and changes required to accommodate your partner’s perspectives and values. The fear of losing your newfound love. Having to re-evaluate your own prejudices and assumptions. All good science fiction and fantasy stories actually reflect and reveal our own society, allowing us to reconsider the assumptions we may take for granted. Zedde’s work is very good and so she does exactly that, while wrapping it up in another thrilling and sexy instalment in the lives of Xóchitl and Mai.
Xóchitl is a flawed but compelling character finding her way to becoming a superhero through the power of Mercy’s love. I loved every minute of this book and was sad to reach the end, so I reread The Power of Mercy. Doing so just reinforced for me that A Lover’s Mercy is the better of the two books. It takes more time to paint a richer portrait of the Meta world and allows the reader to immerse herself in it. I hope Zedde continues to explore this fascinating place.
Note: I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
To my surprise, this book is even better than the first. This time it’s from Xóchitl’s perspective, although we still get to find out more about Mai and her family. We also get an insight into how Metas view humans as Xóchitl tries to understand why Mai cares about them enough to put her own life at risk to protect them.
At its heart, this is a book about learning to navigate the complexities of being in a relationship for the first time. The compromises and changes required to accommodate your partner’s perspectives and values. The fear of losing your newfound love. Having to re-evaluate your own prejudices and assumptions. All good science fiction and fantasy stories actually reflect and reveal our own society, allowing us to reconsider the assumptions we may take for granted. Zedde’s work is very good and so she does exactly that, while wrapping it up in another thrilling and sexy instalment in the lives of Xóchitl and Mai.
Xóchitl is a flawed but compelling character finding her way to becoming a superhero through the power of Mercy’s love. I loved every minute of this book and was sad to reach the end, so I reread The Power of Mercy. Doing so just reinforced for me that A Lover’s Mercy is the better of the two books. It takes more time to paint a richer portrait of the Meta world and allows the reader to immerse herself in it. I hope Zedde continues to explore this fascinating place.
Note: I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2019
Mai Redstone is many things. She is a University professor who is also a shape shifting Super Hero called Mercy. Mai is also part of the very powerful Redstone family with extraordinary Meta powers. She is romantically involved with Xóchitl Bentley who is an Enforcer. (Enforcers take care of rogue Metas who use their powers for nefarious deeds). Mai and Xóchitl represent the Yin and the Yang of the Meta world.
Fiona Zedde’s A Lover’s Mercy is the fifth book in the Superheroine series as well as a stand alone sequel to The Power of Mercy. The novel deals with the rogue elements of the Redstone family.
Ms Zedde writes this story in the first person narrative as seen through the eyes of Xóchitl. I personally love this style of narrative as the story unfolds only by what Xóchitl sees.
A Lover’s Mercy is a well rounded story full of romance, angst and action. The characters are fully formed and interesting and you care what happens to them. This is always a sign of a well written novel.
4 Stars
Fiona Zedde’s A Lover’s Mercy is the fifth book in the Superheroine series as well as a stand alone sequel to The Power of Mercy. The novel deals with the rogue elements of the Redstone family.
Ms Zedde writes this story in the first person narrative as seen through the eyes of Xóchitl. I personally love this style of narrative as the story unfolds only by what Xóchitl sees.
A Lover’s Mercy is a well rounded story full of romance, angst and action. The characters are fully formed and interesting and you care what happens to them. This is always a sign of a well written novel.
4 Stars
May 3, 2019
I thought from the cover of this book that it was a graphic novel which was the initial reason that I requested to read and review this, but I was wrong about that. I am so glad that I accidentally picked this book because it was fantastic! I didn't know that it was the fifth and final book in a series when I picked it up and honestly for the most part I couldn't tell. I will one hundred percent be going back to read the other four books in this series though and I can't wait to do that. I started reading this around 10 at night after work one day fully intending only to read a few chapters just to get started and read until 2:30am. I didn't want to stop reading but I needed to get *some* sleep.
I really liked this book for multiple reasons. The story was fantastic. I felt like I was reading an amazing movie with badass female characters and a fast paced plot. The characters felt like they were fleshed out really good and they all were fully formed people with plenty of flaws. There was no part of this book that I skimmed or skipped over because I really wanted to read every little bit of it. I may have gotten a tad teary eyed when it ended. I fully wish that Mai and Xochitl were real people so that I could hang out with them (although I'm pretty sure Xochitl would terrify me at first). I would highly, highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of X-Men or superhero type books then I think this would be right up your alley. If I could give it higher than five stars I 100% would.
I really liked this book for multiple reasons. The story was fantastic. I felt like I was reading an amazing movie with badass female characters and a fast paced plot. The characters felt like they were fleshed out really good and they all were fully formed people with plenty of flaws. There was no part of this book that I skimmed or skipped over because I really wanted to read every little bit of it. I may have gotten a tad teary eyed when it ended. I fully wish that Mai and Xochitl were real people so that I could hang out with them (although I'm pretty sure Xochitl would terrify me at first). I would highly, highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of X-Men or superhero type books then I think this would be right up your alley. If I could give it higher than five stars I 100% would.
May 4, 2019
I was given this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an Honest Review.
This was intense. It was a sequel to "The Power of Mercy" with many of the same characters, but, this time it focused on Xóchitl instead of Mai and from Xóchitl's point of view as well.
A lot of it has to do with Ethan and his upcoming hearing where big things could happen that aren't exactly being welcomed by Mai or Xóchitl. There were also some definite growing pains in the relationship between Mai and Xóchitl.
I"m not usually super on board with grey characters and 'heroes' in relationships, but, these two and their story is just super interesting and everything about it kept me guessing.
Really cool.
This was intense. It was a sequel to "The Power of Mercy" with many of the same characters, but, this time it focused on Xóchitl instead of Mai and from Xóchitl's point of view as well.
A lot of it has to do with Ethan and his upcoming hearing where big things could happen that aren't exactly being welcomed by Mai or Xóchitl. There were also some definite growing pains in the relationship between Mai and Xóchitl.
I"m not usually super on board with grey characters and 'heroes' in relationships, but, these two and their story is just super interesting and everything about it kept me guessing.
Really cool.
April 18, 2024
I received a review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
A Lover's Mercy is a sequel for The Power of Mercy, and it takes the story up where the last book left, but changes the point of view. While I didn't enjoy the first book, I liked the second one better. The narrative is more fluid in this book. There are a lot of action scenes in this one and Zedde does a great job writing them. However, I wasn't able to connect with the characters. Some dialogues didn't truly convince me of what was happening in the scene, and there are a few plot holes. A Lover's Mercy was better than The Power of Mercy, but still not enough for me to want to read it again.
A Lover's Mercy is a sequel for The Power of Mercy, and it takes the story up where the last book left, but changes the point of view. While I didn't enjoy the first book, I liked the second one better. The narrative is more fluid in this book. There are a lot of action scenes in this one and Zedde does a great job writing them. However, I wasn't able to connect with the characters. Some dialogues didn't truly convince me of what was happening in the scene, and there are a few plot holes. A Lover's Mercy was better than The Power of Mercy, but still not enough for me to want to read it again.
October 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! Right from the start a little bit of spice between Mai and Xóchitl sets the tone- I love that for them. I love that for US.
Most importantly family is a major recurring theme in this book. A lot is revealed. I loved how things were wrapped up/addressed.
The protectiveness Xochitl feels is incredible especially during the scenes she has to interact with Mai's family.
I highly recommend this book.
Most importantly family is a major recurring theme in this book. A lot is revealed. I loved how things were wrapped up/addressed.
The protectiveness Xochitl feels is incredible especially during the scenes she has to interact with Mai's family.
I highly recommend this book.
July 18, 2019
Enjoyed the follow up to Mercy story. I would recommend reading that first to get the back ground story and this follows on.
Told in first person from X point of view, took a while at first to adjust to it but once I did I found it very engaging and I wanted to read on. A good sign of a decent read.
Its a gritty story with plenty of action.
Arc from Ylva for honest review.
Told in first person from X point of view, took a while at first to adjust to it but once I did I found it very engaging and I wanted to read on. A good sign of a decent read.
Its a gritty story with plenty of action.
Arc from Ylva for honest review.
May 24, 2019
this was a bad ass sequel. definitely have to read the first in the series to get a lot of the references but it was awesome too. great follow up from this author. hope there are more.
April 16, 2019
Zedde knows how to tell a story. This sequel to Power of Mercy is intense and often dark. The ending put a smile on my face. This was one engrossing book, so much so that it was hard to go to work.
This starts where her previous novel left off, but from Xochitl’s perspective and in present tense. Normally, I don’t like present tense, but by the end I had forgotten all about it. Mai and Xochitl are living together and developing their relationship. Things happen. There’s danger in many forms as well as the back and forth of the romance. Lots of adventure and excitement and more of Mai’s powerful family. Put together, it’s a fast-paced adventure thriller. You know who the bad guys are but not exactly who’s helping or why. And there are so many villains, so which is doing what? How involved are Mai’s family members? It’s a puzzle Mai and Xochitl have to figure out.
I received an ARC for review.
This starts where her previous novel left off, but from Xochitl’s perspective and in present tense. Normally, I don’t like present tense, but by the end I had forgotten all about it. Mai and Xochitl are living together and developing their relationship. Things happen. There’s danger in many forms as well as the back and forth of the romance. Lots of adventure and excitement and more of Mai’s powerful family. Put together, it’s a fast-paced adventure thriller. You know who the bad guys are but not exactly who’s helping or why. And there are so many villains, so which is doing what? How involved are Mai’s family members? It’s a puzzle Mai and Xochitl have to figure out.
I received an ARC for review.
May 13, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
This is an interesting story, but I didn't realize when I requested it that it was actually a direct sequel to another book in this series so I did feel like I was missing things a lot of the time. You can definitely piece together the big picture details of book from context clues, but I feel like I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous one. Still, the world building seems interesting from what I could make out here, and I liked the general plot. Also who doesn't love lesbian superheroes? I would recommend this book but don't be like me, make sure you read the story in order!
This is an interesting story, but I didn't realize when I requested it that it was actually a direct sequel to another book in this series so I did feel like I was missing things a lot of the time. You can definitely piece together the big picture details of book from context clues, but I feel like I would have probably enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous one. Still, the world building seems interesting from what I could make out here, and I liked the general plot. Also who doesn't love lesbian superheroes? I would recommend this book but don't be like me, make sure you read the story in order!
April 24, 2019
You want to know what the best thing about reviewing books is? I get introduced to all these amazing books, by all these amazing authors, and I get to go on these magical journeys of discovery to just fill my device with more by these authors who I would never have heard of if it weren’t for NetGalley or Xpresso Book Tours or QueerRomance Ink.
That was one hell of a run-on sentence, and my editor is going to come smack my knuckles with a ruler, but you get my point.
A Lover’s Mercy is a great case in point. While I’m generally happy to read f/f content that isn’t intended for the male gaze, I don’t know that I’d go out hunting for lesbian superhero romance. I found lesbian superhero romance on NetGalley, though, and you’d better believe I’m going to go right out and buy everything else Fiona Zedde produces.
Because A Lover’s Mercy? This book wrapped me up tight, held me close, and it never let me go.
The book is a sequel to another book by Zedde, which I haven’t read (yet). It stands alone just fine. If you’re into intrigue and political drama, this book is for you. If you’re interested in watching two women navigate the intricacies of a new relationship, and finding where the lines are, this book is for you. If superheroes are your jam, this is for you.
And honestly, I’ll take Zedde’s superheroes over the ones I grew up with any day. I liked reading superhero comics when I was a kid, sure, but the characters who got the main story lines seemed to all be a little… er, how should I put this? Monochrome. They were all straight (I think that was a law or something), all white, mostly male… they were Dean Winchester in spandex. Plenty of people like that, and there’s nothing wrong with Dean Winchester in spandex.
But the world is bigger than that. If superpowers are going to exist, I want to see them in the hands of more than one kind of person. Zedde’s characters look and feel more like a good representation of the population. They look normal, and real. (Okay, as real as a shapeshifting superhero and an assassin with phenomenal cosmic power can look. But hey.)
And I love it.
They have day jobs, too. They don’t just run around the streets in capes. They’re college professors.
Their relationship doesn’t take a back seat to all the mayhem and superpowered shenanigans. On the contrary, the romance is directly caught up in the superpower plot, and the superpower plot is tied to their romance. This is the perfect way to write a blended-genre novel. If we took one element away, the novel would fall apart. I need to sit down and re-read this, taking copious notes, before I try to write again. It was that good, that masterful.
And finally, the two main characters themselves were perfectly likeable and perfectly relatable. No, I can’t relate to having telekinesis, although it would be pretty useful the next time I’m too lazy to get my own beer. I can absolutely relate to having a partner whose priorities don’t necessarily align with mine. I can relate to not knowing who I can trust. I can relate to grief, and to anger, and to fear.
This book is amazing. I’m grateful to NetGalley for putting it into my path. I know it is one of those books I will return to again and again.
That was one hell of a run-on sentence, and my editor is going to come smack my knuckles with a ruler, but you get my point.
A Lover’s Mercy is a great case in point. While I’m generally happy to read f/f content that isn’t intended for the male gaze, I don’t know that I’d go out hunting for lesbian superhero romance. I found lesbian superhero romance on NetGalley, though, and you’d better believe I’m going to go right out and buy everything else Fiona Zedde produces.
Because A Lover’s Mercy? This book wrapped me up tight, held me close, and it never let me go.
The book is a sequel to another book by Zedde, which I haven’t read (yet). It stands alone just fine. If you’re into intrigue and political drama, this book is for you. If you’re interested in watching two women navigate the intricacies of a new relationship, and finding where the lines are, this book is for you. If superheroes are your jam, this is for you.
And honestly, I’ll take Zedde’s superheroes over the ones I grew up with any day. I liked reading superhero comics when I was a kid, sure, but the characters who got the main story lines seemed to all be a little… er, how should I put this? Monochrome. They were all straight (I think that was a law or something), all white, mostly male… they were Dean Winchester in spandex. Plenty of people like that, and there’s nothing wrong with Dean Winchester in spandex.
But the world is bigger than that. If superpowers are going to exist, I want to see them in the hands of more than one kind of person. Zedde’s characters look and feel more like a good representation of the population. They look normal, and real. (Okay, as real as a shapeshifting superhero and an assassin with phenomenal cosmic power can look. But hey.)
And I love it.
They have day jobs, too. They don’t just run around the streets in capes. They’re college professors.
Their relationship doesn’t take a back seat to all the mayhem and superpowered shenanigans. On the contrary, the romance is directly caught up in the superpower plot, and the superpower plot is tied to their romance. This is the perfect way to write a blended-genre novel. If we took one element away, the novel would fall apart. I need to sit down and re-read this, taking copious notes, before I try to write again. It was that good, that masterful.
And finally, the two main characters themselves were perfectly likeable and perfectly relatable. No, I can’t relate to having telekinesis, although it would be pretty useful the next time I’m too lazy to get my own beer. I can absolutely relate to having a partner whose priorities don’t necessarily align with mine. I can relate to not knowing who I can trust. I can relate to grief, and to anger, and to fear.
This book is amazing. I’m grateful to NetGalley for putting it into my path. I know it is one of those books I will return to again and again.
April 13, 2019
Juicy romance and edge of your seat drama (4.5 stars)
A Lover's Mercy is the intense sequel to The Power of Mercy and part of the publisher's Superheroine collection of books. There are reminders and recaps of some events from The Power of Mercy here, but it's best to read both books in sequence (and close in succession) in order to have all the details fresh in mind but also to relish in the relationship dynamics for that much longer. Each book could be read as a standalone but reading both extends the sensual pleasure, the sass and the intense action and drama for that much longer.
Mai and Xóchitl are in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, Xóchitl is a woman in love and lust so there is plenty of hot sex and sensuality to offset the heavy drama that stems mostly from Mai's relationship with her family, who are conniving and duplicitous to say the least. The tension in the story ratchets up same as in the first book and the plot is frequently dark; it makes for juicy, edge of your seat reading. I credit Fiona Zedde's skill as a writer to be able to pen a story where the reader cannot anticipate what will happen next the majority of the time while being eager to know even if the answer is dark or unnerving. The characters are complicated, multifaceted and unapologetically themselves even when it pleases no one around them to be this way. The conflict between loyalty to family versus a lover is very well done here and pervades a large portion of the book; based on events in The Power of Mercy, Xóchitl is concerned for Mai every time Mai interacts with her family, and rightly so.
There is violence, peril and danger in the storyline so if that's not your thing or if you're more into fluffy beach reading you may want to choose another book to read. The ending surprised me and left me feeling that a third installment in the story may be possible; I hope there is more to come with these characters in the future.
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A Lover's Mercy is the intense sequel to The Power of Mercy and part of the publisher's Superheroine collection of books. There are reminders and recaps of some events from The Power of Mercy here, but it's best to read both books in sequence (and close in succession) in order to have all the details fresh in mind but also to relish in the relationship dynamics for that much longer. Each book could be read as a standalone but reading both extends the sensual pleasure, the sass and the intense action and drama for that much longer.
Mai and Xóchitl are in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, Xóchitl is a woman in love and lust so there is plenty of hot sex and sensuality to offset the heavy drama that stems mostly from Mai's relationship with her family, who are conniving and duplicitous to say the least. The tension in the story ratchets up same as in the first book and the plot is frequently dark; it makes for juicy, edge of your seat reading. I credit Fiona Zedde's skill as a writer to be able to pen a story where the reader cannot anticipate what will happen next the majority of the time while being eager to know even if the answer is dark or unnerving. The characters are complicated, multifaceted and unapologetically themselves even when it pleases no one around them to be this way. The conflict between loyalty to family versus a lover is very well done here and pervades a large portion of the book; based on events in The Power of Mercy, Xóchitl is concerned for Mai every time Mai interacts with her family, and rightly so.
There is violence, peril and danger in the storyline so if that's not your thing or if you're more into fluffy beach reading you may want to choose another book to read. The ending surprised me and left me feeling that a third installment in the story may be possible; I hope there is more to come with these characters in the future.
I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2019
I got this from netgalley which in no way influenced my review. I didn't know (I really wish this stuff would be better marked) that this is a sequel. Technically it's book five in a series (though I can't tell if it's just an umbrella 'anthology' style based on lesbian superheroes or if it's a shared world).
Either way this is a direct sequel of book two and as such I felt a little lost but not so much so that I couldn't follow along and enjoy it for the most part. Mai Redstone is a superhero that can affect her body hardening it etc, saving humans as Mercy. Her lover, Xochitl, is an enforcer which seems to be a superhuman who works with a group (the enforcers) that seem to deal with malicious superhumans but is also a revenge killer who pretty much hates Mai's family (who are extremely powerful, cold and in her mind abusive not to mention one of Mai's relatives murdered Xochitl's sister) All of that was in the first book I assume and at the end of that they're lovers.
It opens with them in a relationship awaiting for Mai's relative to be charge and convicted. Things however go sideways. In one incidence trying to protect Mai Xochitl steps over a line and the strain is almost too much and things go down hill from there.
The action is good in this (though the world building assumes you've read the other book. Took to mid book for me to learn the Enforcers can teleport (though I assumed it) and I can't figure out how their super powers work and the divide between human and superhuman. That's the problem with sequels, it's hard to read as a stand alone which is why I wished Netgalley marked them better).
It's really Xochitl's book, told from her point of view so it was hard as I didn't quite warm up to her. I couldn't figure out why she's so convinced Mai needs constant protecting (and the cover art of both books isn't helping since Mai has superhero muscle). I also thought they were back together a bit easily after the things said when it was on the rocks.
It was entertaining.
Either way this is a direct sequel of book two and as such I felt a little lost but not so much so that I couldn't follow along and enjoy it for the most part. Mai Redstone is a superhero that can affect her body hardening it etc, saving humans as Mercy. Her lover, Xochitl, is an enforcer which seems to be a superhuman who works with a group (the enforcers) that seem to deal with malicious superhumans but is also a revenge killer who pretty much hates Mai's family (who are extremely powerful, cold and in her mind abusive not to mention one of Mai's relatives murdered Xochitl's sister) All of that was in the first book I assume and at the end of that they're lovers.
It opens with them in a relationship awaiting for Mai's relative to be charge and convicted. Things however go sideways. In one incidence trying to protect Mai Xochitl steps over a line and the strain is almost too much and things go down hill from there.
The action is good in this (though the world building assumes you've read the other book. Took to mid book for me to learn the Enforcers can teleport (though I assumed it) and I can't figure out how their super powers work and the divide between human and superhuman. That's the problem with sequels, it's hard to read as a stand alone which is why I wished Netgalley marked them better).
It's really Xochitl's book, told from her point of view so it was hard as I didn't quite warm up to her. I couldn't figure out why she's so convinced Mai needs constant protecting (and the cover art of both books isn't helping since Mai has superhero muscle). I also thought they were back together a bit easily after the things said when it was on the rocks.
It was entertaining.
April 17, 2019
I finished "A Lover's Mercy" over a fortnight ago but I knew I had to give myself some time to think about it and really let it sink in before I wrote a review. There's so much going on; an awesome overall plot, a really sweet love story (I adore how off-kilter Xóchitl is after a few days of not seeing Mai), and some serious depth and layers of meaning.
It was the layers that made me pause and reflect. As a white, European, employed, middle-class citizen of a neutral (and now peaceful) country, I am pretty much a walking definition of privilege. Sure, I'm not a heterosexual or male but I've had pretty much everything else going for me! As well as being brilliantly written and and a kick-ass thriller, A Lover’s Mercy and the previous book in the series The Power of Mercy shook me out of my comfortable state of mind and helped me to be a bit more aware. Crucially, Fiona Zedde managed this without being preachy or polemical. I get very grumpy if my fiction tries to be preachy!
In this wonderful book, however, I found myself enraged along with Mai at the treatment meted out to the humans and lesser Metas by her powerful family and their allies. Mai's debates with Xóchitl about the Enforcer's feelings towards humans vs Metas are so well thought out and written.
It's not all serious and political, some of it is hilarious, in places it's heart-rending but it's always brilliant.
I would highly recommend you buy this book.
It was the layers that made me pause and reflect. As a white, European, employed, middle-class citizen of a neutral (and now peaceful) country, I am pretty much a walking definition of privilege. Sure, I'm not a heterosexual or male but I've had pretty much everything else going for me! As well as being brilliantly written and and a kick-ass thriller, A Lover’s Mercy and the previous book in the series The Power of Mercy shook me out of my comfortable state of mind and helped me to be a bit more aware. Crucially, Fiona Zedde managed this without being preachy or polemical. I get very grumpy if my fiction tries to be preachy!
In this wonderful book, however, I found myself enraged along with Mai at the treatment meted out to the humans and lesser Metas by her powerful family and their allies. Mai's debates with Xóchitl about the Enforcer's feelings towards humans vs Metas are so well thought out and written.
It's not all serious and political, some of it is hilarious, in places it's heart-rending but it's always brilliant.
I would highly recommend you buy this book.
April 22, 2019
I loved every second and wanted MORE!!!
This is Fiona Zedde's second book within YLVA's superheroine collection and by some miracle of short-sightedness, the first in the series (A Lover's Mercy) completely passed me by. Needless to say, as soon as I read this offering I went straight back to the website and bought the previous book.
As a comic book nerd, I deeply enjoyed the book. Based around the same two main characters; Mai Redstone and Xochitl Bennet, it takes the story further into the unfinished business of the first novel but from Xotchil's perspective this time. The latter is absolutely the antithesis of her partner, dark, direct and brooding with very few illusions as to how the world works and utter distain for the people in power. And yet, at the same time, her capacity for love and forgiveness within the ones she holds dear in this world is at the very core of every action that she takes.
The pace was fantastic and the complexity of the universe created is just crying out for further exploration. I hear tell of a future potential graphic novel version of the story which is extremely exciting to consider. The one thing I felt was missing was the classic visual aids of illustration to help further commit this world to the mind's eye. Having not read many of this author's work before, I'm completely converted to following every story she may come out with surrounding this universe in the future.
This is Fiona Zedde's second book within YLVA's superheroine collection and by some miracle of short-sightedness, the first in the series (A Lover's Mercy) completely passed me by. Needless to say, as soon as I read this offering I went straight back to the website and bought the previous book.
As a comic book nerd, I deeply enjoyed the book. Based around the same two main characters; Mai Redstone and Xochitl Bennet, it takes the story further into the unfinished business of the first novel but from Xotchil's perspective this time. The latter is absolutely the antithesis of her partner, dark, direct and brooding with very few illusions as to how the world works and utter distain for the people in power. And yet, at the same time, her capacity for love and forgiveness within the ones she holds dear in this world is at the very core of every action that she takes.
The pace was fantastic and the complexity of the universe created is just crying out for further exploration. I hear tell of a future potential graphic novel version of the story which is extremely exciting to consider. The one thing I felt was missing was the classic visual aids of illustration to help further commit this world to the mind's eye. Having not read many of this author's work before, I'm completely converted to following every story she may come out with surrounding this universe in the future.
February 26, 2022
4 stars. This was much better than Power of Mercy. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I was shocked to see that it was in Xóchitl’s point of view which I loved. I adored being in her head and seeing everything through her eyes. She’s such a brutally blunt and honest person. She’s unapologetically herself and I loved that. The romance is still very much in the background but that was fine. Her and Mai are great together and I feel like their relationship really grows and develops throughout this book. I love the way that Zedde writes action scenes. They are very entertaining and intense. The ending was great and ends Xóchitl and Mai’s story perfectly. I really enjoyed these books and these characters. I definitely plan on continuing on with the rest of the Superheroine Collection series.
May 1, 2019
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sequel to Power of Mercy and is best read afterwards.
It's also the latest edition in Ylva's enjoyable Superheroine series.
Set in an AU Atlanta where humans live alongside meta-humans. The world building in this series is interesting.
I liked that the POV in this story switched to Xochitl. I also enjoyed the exploration of the differences in outlook and attitudes between the two major characters.
Xochitl being a much more ruthless and darker character than Mai.
Overall this was an interesting read which kept my attention throughout.
I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and superhero stories.
This is a sequel to Power of Mercy and is best read afterwards.
It's also the latest edition in Ylva's enjoyable Superheroine series.
Set in an AU Atlanta where humans live alongside meta-humans. The world building in this series is interesting.
I liked that the POV in this story switched to Xochitl. I also enjoyed the exploration of the differences in outlook and attitudes between the two major characters.
Xochitl being a much more ruthless and darker character than Mai.
Overall this was an interesting read which kept my attention throughout.
I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and superhero stories.
May 10, 2019
This was a really slow read for me, but I did enjoy it. I did read most of the other books in this series so I was aware of the relationship between Mai and Xochitl. Mai introduces Xochitl to her family, the Redstones, and things don’t go so well with them. They are a powerful family in the meta community and Mai’s uncle tried to kill her. This is a stand alone but it really will help if you read Power of Mercy first. The book is well written and does pickup speed and turns into a must read that you won’t want to stop reading till the end. I really liked Xochitl’s aunts and how they help her.
September 23, 2023
I received this as a digital ARC from NetGalley. There's over 100 blank pages at the end. It doesn't affect the story or anything, it's just weird. There's also a few typos, but maybe those will be fixed in a reprint or aren't reflected in any physical copies.
On one hand, I liked this book more than the first. It had a bit more emotion behind the characters and was a little longer so was able to expand on some things. Maybe I also just like the narrative style better. However, it lacked the fun sex scenes that the first book had. This one was a lot more fighting. I'm still not a huge fan, but I have read both now and they're easy reads.
On one hand, I liked this book more than the first. It had a bit more emotion behind the characters and was a little longer so was able to expand on some things. Maybe I also just like the narrative style better. However, it lacked the fun sex scenes that the first book had. This one was a lot more fighting. I'm still not a huge fan, but I have read both now and they're easy reads.
October 1, 2023
Once again, the sapphic superheroes saved the day!
I am just so in love with this series. This novella continues the story of Zedde’s Power of Mercy and I was happy to return to the world and these characters. A prominent theme is the struggle of balancing the mc’s sense of duty as a meta and the new relationship. I loved how they tackled these hurdles together.
Like every book in this series, I read this cover to cover and I don’t regret a thing.
Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book.
I am just so in love with this series. This novella continues the story of Zedde’s Power of Mercy and I was happy to return to the world and these characters. A prominent theme is the struggle of balancing the mc’s sense of duty as a meta and the new relationship. I loved how they tackled these hurdles together.
Like every book in this series, I read this cover to cover and I don’t regret a thing.
Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book.
April 20, 2019
The first page alone, earns this one 5 stars. I love sci fi so this series gets my vote.
Drama, family feuds, special powers, heroic acts, and amongst all of this there’s a fierce, sweet love story too. Good idea to read the first one to have a better idea of what’s going on, but you could probably wing it. Although you’d be wasting an opportunity to read a good book. Read them both, they’re great.
Drama, family feuds, special powers, heroic acts, and amongst all of this there’s a fierce, sweet love story too. Good idea to read the first one to have a better idea of what’s going on, but you could probably wing it. Although you’d be wasting an opportunity to read a good book. Read them both, they’re great.
April 28, 2019
An ARC copy was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
I really was waiting for this one. This book is a sequel to "The power of Mercy". The story is a continuation from the previous book.
The main characters Xochitl (an enforcer) and Mai (hero Mercy) they are building theirs relationship in this book. The story line about trust, family and friends is very good one, but I must confess sometimes it was little bit confussing to me to keep on track.
I really was waiting for this one. This book is a sequel to "The power of Mercy". The story is a continuation from the previous book.
The main characters Xochitl (an enforcer) and Mai (hero Mercy) they are building theirs relationship in this book. The story line about trust, family and friends is very good one, but I must confess sometimes it was little bit confussing to me to keep on track.
October 30, 2019
Dieses Sequel zu "The Power of Mercy" hat mir wahnsinnig gut gefallen, auch wenn ich mich zunächst an Xochtils PoV gewöhnen, aber je mehr ich las, desto gefangener war ich davon. Mercis Familie ist echt nicht so der Hit und so manches Mal hatte ich heftiges Herzrasen, weil sich alles so überschlagen hat.
Superheldinnengeschichten gehören einfach zu einem meiner Lieblingsgenres und das hat dieses Buch mal wieder bewiesen.
Superheldinnengeschichten gehören einfach zu einem meiner Lieblingsgenres und das hat dieses Buch mal wieder bewiesen.
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