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About The Cruelest Mercy
Product Description In this sequel to The Kinder Poison—which People magazine proclaimed a "delicious high-stakes adventure"—the magical kingdom of Orkena is on the brink of war, and the only person who can save it is Zahru, the girl they once doomed to death. After surviving the Crossing, Zahru has sworn off adventures. While Crown Prince Jet navigates the looming threat of war, she's content to simply figure out what the future holds for them. But they're dealt a devastating blow when prince Kasta returns with a shocking claim: he's the true winner of the Crossing and the rightful heir, and he bears the gods' mark as proof. Even more surprising—he's not the only one. Somehow, Zahru possesses the very same mark, giving her equal right to the throne. The last thing she wants is to rule beside her would-be executioner, but she can't let Orkena fall into his merciless hands. So Zahru, Jet, and their allies must race against the clock to find a way to stop Kasta, because once he's crowned, there's no telling what horrors he'll unleash to win the war. Zahru will do whatever it takes to keep Kasta from taking the throne...but to stop a villain, is she willing to become one herself? From School Library Journal Gr 7 Up—In The Kinder Poison, Zahru was unwillingly thrust into the spotlight in Orkena when Prince Kasta marked her as the human sacrifice to be killed at the end of the Crossing, the race across the desert to determine the next heir to the throne. Using her wit and determination, Zahru managed to survive. In this sequel, Prince Jet, the winner of the Crossing, is poised to become the next Mestrah of Orkena. That is, until Kasta, whom they had left for dead, returns bearing the mark of the gods, which identifies him as the true ruler. Zahru reveals that she has the same mark and thus will have to learn to rule beside the man who wanted her dead. As Zahru learns to rule, she loses some of what made her a compelling protagonist in the first book. Gone are her talents at understanding what makes people tick, and in their place she is filled with a myopic desire to prove that Kasta is the evil person she believes him to be. Mae continues to build on the enthralling world she developed in the first installment, but Zahru's turn to revenge and paranoia, as well as a slower paced story and smaller roles for secondary characters, makes this tale unfortunately less enjoyable than the first entry. Characters have various skin tones. VERDICT While this fantasy offers an engrossing world full of intrigue and deception, this sequel lacks some of the magic of its predecessor. Offer to fans of The Kinder Poison.—Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen P.L., NJ Review PRAISE FOR THE CRUELEST MERCY: ★ "In this charming, well-rounded follow-up to The Kinder Poison, Zahru’s entertaining, funny narrative voice continues to engage and balance out the otherwise heavier tone of a story that deals with power dynamics, dark magic, horrific betrayals, and social injustice and that offers a thoughtful examination of just what a ruler should be willing to sacrifice for the greater good. A fantastically rewarding sequel." —Kirkus, starred review PRAISE FOR THE KINDER POISON:★ "Mae has crafted a fascinating world with a unique magic structure that is wholly believable because of the vibrant characters within it. With characters to love, to hate, and to love to hate, plus a plot full of adventure skillfully woven with suspense, this is a must-purchase." —SLJ, starred review ★ "Zahru’s unexpectedly humorous inner voice, the rich worldbuilding full of political intrigue, a slow-burning romance, and a fantastic set of well-developed characters (both friends and foes) mark this exciting and refreshing tale of power and accountability. A funny, rewarding story for fans of optimistic tales with a bite." —Kirkus, starred review “ The Kinder Poison delivers a deadly dose of danger and ancient magic in a cleverly penned fantasy, perfect for fans of An Ember
