The Mercy of Gods (The Captive's War #1), by James S. A. Corey
9 Aug 2024The Book
Synopsis:
The Carryx - part empire, part hive - has waged wars of conquest for centuries, destroying or enslaving species across the galaxy in its conflict with an ancient and deathless enemy.
When they descend on the isolated world of Anjiin, the human population is abased, slaughtered and put in chains. The best and brightest are abducted, taken to the Carryx world-palace to join prisoners from a thousand other species.
Dafyd Alkhor, assistant to a prestigious scientist, is captured along with his team. Even he doesn't suspect that his peculiar insight and skills will be the key to seeing past their captors ' terrifying agenda.
Swept up in a conflict beyond his control and vaster than his imagination, Dafyd is poised to become humanity's champion - and its betrayer.
This is where his story begins.
My Review
The Mercy of Gods is the first book in a new and ambitious space opera series, The Captive's War, written by James S. A. Corey, and published by Orbit Books. An incredibly captivating concept, mixing a more personal story with big stakes across the universe, set in the future, with a human civilization that has forgotten their origins, a survival first-contact story that touches horror by moments.
The humans have been thriving in Anjilin for the past few millennia; however, this peace gets to an end when the Carryx land on the planet, decimating the population just to prove their superiority, proving that only the brightest of the society are safe. A group of scientists are taken and swept to Carryx's homeworld, where they will be thrown into a deadly competition against other captive species, in a game where proving their worth is needed to not face extinction.
With this premise, Corey puts in front of us what is an excellent characterization work, showing us the different responses that the members of the group present to the difficult situation they are; not only that, but especially with Dafyd, it's brilliant how they portray somebody that has to fight against his own loyalties looking for what he thinks is needed to survive as a species, even with the implication of becoming a pariah.
Combined with this study about humanity, we have some fragments that bring more light over the Carryx and their civilization; adding more to the intrigue and the mystery that is intrinsical to this first contact situation. Corey has a great imagination, and that's widely shown in the non-human aspects of this novel.
It's not really fast-paced or full of action, putting more the focus on the characters and their development in a totally new situation for them. The scientific process is really well depicted, but it can feel arid at some points; but globally, I found this a book that you end devouring just because you need to know what it is really happening.
The Mercy of Gods kickstarts what aims to be a really ambitious space opera series, and you can be sure it will be, coming from the minds behind The Expanse. If you like first-contact stories, but are looking for something new, I totally recommend you giving this one a try, because it's excellent.
The Author/s
James S. A. Corey
James S. A. Corey is the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. In addition to writing the novels and short stories of The Expanse, they wrote and produced the television series of the same name. Daniel lives with his family in the American southwest. Ty will tell you where he lives when and if he wants you to come over.