Mercy review

Title: Mercy (Mercy #1)

Author: Rebecca Lim

Published: November 1st 2010

My rating: 

What it’s about:

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s ‘woken up’ in a new body, assumed a new life, only to move on to another body, again and again.

In Paradise, Mercy meets Ryan who’s still reeling from his sister going missing over two years ago, now presumed dead. Everyone gave up hope looking for her long ago, but Ryan still believes he can find her. And Mercy, using powers she didn’t even know she had, finds out he’s right—Ryan’s sister is still alive. And then, when another girl goes missing, Mercy and Ryan know they must act before their time runs out.

But why is the strange man who haunts Mercy’s dreams cautioning her not to interfere? And why is it that with every step closer to discovering the truth about the missing girls, a host of angels who are out for Mercy’s blood because of a crime she committed, loom closer? A crime Mercy can’t even remember.

My thoughts:

Mercy had me from the first page. Rebecca Lim’s way of getting across Mercy’s frustration and confusion is really well done.

Those who feel like they don’t know themselves or they’re unsure of what their ‘purpose’ is in life can probably relate to Mercy, who feels the same way. The plot really thickens just in the first few chapters, so it’s straight into the story.

It’s a great angels/murder mystery combination. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with those two things incorporated, so it was really interesting. Although, I did figure out the mystery about three quarters of the way in, and the whole time I was thinking, ‘How can you not know?’ about Mercy, who seemed oblivious and didn’t work it out.

A lot of people like the fact that Carmen—the girl Mercy inhabits in Ohio—isn’t very good looking, but still a good looking guy falls for her. I think it’s different, because usually the main character is absolutely gorgeous, which is pretty unrealistic considering they’re supposed to be average people. It’s great to see Mercy change as a person. Before, she was cold hearted and actually quite a ruthless person because the changing bodies made her a little more detached.  But through the book she turns into a warm-hearted passionate person who is very likeable. She in fact believes that she is supposed to help each person she inhabits live a better life after she’s gone. Before Carmen, she’s been a drug addict with a baby, an ignored rich brat, and several other women at many different ages, so she hasn’t always been a teenager in every lifetime, which I think is good.

The story features a lot of music, because it is set in a singing camp, and it’s rather mystical and enchanting. I like the idea that Mercy can’t remember what she did wrong to be exiled.

Mercy is different from anything I’ve ever read. Rebecca Lim is an Australian author with an amazing imagination, and I’ll be reading the others in the series, because this book is so intriguing.