The Mercy Makers

The Mercy Makers — Architecture Magic, Cults & Chaos Goblins, Oh My

Or: How a Book Yeeted Me Into Lore and I Said “Thank You, Mistress”

Some stories ease you into their world.

They hold your hand, whisper sweet exposition, offer you a warm cup of worldbuilding.

This was not that book.

This book kicked the damn door down, yeeted me into a pit of lore, queer politics, outlawed architecture magic, and cults with Opinions™, and then vanished into the night whispering “Good luck, sweetie” like some kind of seductive moon priest.

And you know what?

I didn’t hate it.

Actually? I vibed.

 Magic Built Like a Cathedral (Literally)

The magic system in The Mercy Makers is everything.

It’s not your standard “sparkle-hands-go-woosh” fantasy.

No, no.

It’s architecture. But not just building cathedrals and bridges.

Building people. Souls. Identities. Bodies.

Think cursed blueprints + divine symmetry + spiritual trauma = YES PLEASE.

I was eating it up like a heretic at bottomless brunch.

Enter: Iriset / Silk

Our morally grey chaos queen

Let’s talk about our heroine — or villainess — or goddess of morally compromised bisexuals:

Iriset, also known by her very extra but also very earned alter ego: Silk.

She’s a little detached, a lot brilliant, and has the architectural command of a god but the emotional availability of a haunted victorian chair.

She’s messy. She’s sensual.

She probably has six ongoing enemies-to-lovers arcs and at least three escape plans.

And honestly? I wanted to slap her lovingly and adopt her in the same breath.

Format Tips: Save Your Braincells

Was it dense?

Yes.

Did I pause approximately 74 times to whisper “what the hell is going on?” to my dog?

Also yes.

But let me say this: the audiobook + ebook combo was a lifesaver.

Emily Lawrence devoured the narration. The voicework during betrayal-heavy scenes, political tension, and unspoken sexual chaos? Chef’s kiss. She served, stayed, and haunted me.

 Cults, Cracks, and Court Drama

This book is lush.

Dark. Twisted. Sexually tense in a way that made me feel like I was eavesdropping on something sacred and slightly profane.

Cults? ✅

Religious trauma? ✅

Queer yearning with existential undertones? ✅

Empire crumbling under the weight of secrets? DOUBLE ✅

It’s not cozy.

It’s not simple.

It’s gothic meets sacrilegious erotica meets academic fever dream.

And somehow it works. Because the characters are sharp, the worldbuilding unapologetic, and the tension?

So thick you could etch a cathedral into it.

 

At last..

The first act had me internally buffering like dial-up internet.

But once the gears clicked and the lore locked in?

Oh, I was hooked.

So yeah.

Iriset? Step on me.

Book Two? I’m ready.

Build me something unholy.

 P.S.

As always, this post contains affiliate links — no extra cost to you, but a huge help to me.

You support my book obsession and help me keep doing dramatic, unhinged reviews like this.

Bless you.

Now go read something blasphemous. 🖤📚

Amazon:The Mercy Makers