3.5/5 Rounded up to 4.
TLDR: The Sword of Mercy and Wrath is a quick, exciting read and promising debut from a talented author. While its fast pacing doesn't allow much room for a deep dive into most of the characters/situations, it does add to the thrilling action sequences and frenetic conflicts.
Let's start with the plot:
Our story centers around a squire, Tristain and an orphan, Selene. As the novel opens, we find Tristain in service to a knight as both of them have been mobilized to conflict against a rival kingdom. We quickly learn Tristain harbors a damning secret and his arc kicks off from there as he tries to keep his secret while weathering the storm of war around him.
Selene, by contrast, begins the story in her home, being a ward of Tristain's family. Tragedy ensues, and Selene loses an arm. Having nowhere else to go, she joins a religious order dedicated to hunting werewolves and her arc kicks off from there.
Koussis covers a wide range of topics in this tale, ranging from realizing one's own identity, to the dangers of institutionalized religious zealotry and all the political ramifications of that. He also does a good job of showcasing the nuances of morality, showing us plenty of shades of gray instead of a typical "good vs. evil" dichotomy. The themes present here are a HUGE highlight and do a great job keeping the reader engaged.
I enjoyed the broader strokes of the plot as well as the more intricate details Koussis weaves in. Of particular note are the delicious melancholy twists along the way. Some of these twists, along with other revelations would've probably felt more impactful if the pacing slowed a bit in order to provide more buildup.
On that note, let's talk about my one criticism with the novel: its pacing.
This novel moved at breakneck speed, which bolstered the wonderfully-written action sequences, of which there were many. That being said, I think the speed at which we move through scenes doesn't allow us to spend enough time with the characters to get a sense for the nuances of their characterizations and attach ourselves to them. This becomes more apparent when those bonds are put to the test in the aforementioned beautifully designed twists and turns, which Koussis executes well. If we had more breathing room to get to know the cast, these unexpected outcomes and moments of strife would hit like an absolute freight train, which shows Koussis possesses obvious talent as a story crafter. All in all, if not for this Achilles heel, I could easily see this novel as a 4.5-5 star read.
On a more positive note, let's briefly talk about the action sequences. This novel is FULL of action, be it sweeping battles of warring knights or hand-to-hand training sequences between religious zealots. Koussis definitely keeps things exciting with these stimulating scenes.
Lastly, I've got to talk about my favorite aspect of the novel, the WEREWOLVES!!! Everytime one of these creatures shows up, they steal the show. Koussis does a good job at providing weight to the deadly capabilities and imposing presence these monsters possess. I loved it. Rest assured, any of you who are yearning to read about some classically terrifying, yet strangely majestic, wolf monsters will have a good time here.
All in all, I think this is a promising debut and a good start to a series that shows promise. With a few tweaks and refining of obvious talent, I could easily see this series becoming something truly special. Well done, NC Koussis!
***Disclaimer***
I've found out the author is rereleasing this first installment, so my critiques may have already been addressed by the time you've read this. Either way, if you're a fan of monster fantasy, especially werewolves, you should pick this one up.
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A beautiful and twisted combination of fun and horrific
The Sword of Mercy and Wrath by NC Koussis is the first book in The Swords of Dominion series and was an impulse read for me. When I saw that the story consisted of werewolves and assassins, I knew I had to push it up the TBR. Overall, I am very happy I took a chance on this book. It is a solid start to what I feel could be a really fantastic series. I truly think that NC Koussis has something special here. The world he has crafted is a beautiful and twisted combination of fun and horrific, even despite its issues.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023
- Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2022
The Sword of Mercy and Wrath by NC Koussis is the first book in The Swords of Dominion series and was an impulse read for me. When I saw that the story consisted of werewolves and assassins, I knew I had to push it up the TBR. Overall, I am very happy I took a chance on this book. It is a solid start to what I feel could be a really fantastic series. I truly think that NC Koussis has something special here. The world he has crafted is a beautiful and twisted combination of fun and horrific, even despite its issues.
A beautiful and twisted combination of fun and horrific
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2022
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2022
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
- E. BurgerReviewed in the Netherlands on October 10, 2022
Fantastic novel! Totally entertaining, fast paced and original.
