Mercy by Rebecca Lim
Release Date: May 17, 2011
Publisher: Disney/Hyperion Books
Pages: 288
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository
Mercy is an exile from heaven with shattered memories of who she used to be. She’s doomed to “wake” repeatedly on earth in a new body, each time assuming a new life. During the day she survives in the human world on instinct and at night her dreams are haunted by her lost love, who pleads with her to find him.
But this time is different. When Mercy wakes up she meets Ryan, an eighteen-year-old reeling from the loss of his twin sister, Lauren, who was kidnapped two years ago. Only Mercy and Ryan believe his sister is still alive. For the first time since she can remember, Mercy has a purpose: she can help. So she doesn’t understand why the man in her dreams cautions her not to interfere. But as Ryan and Mercy come closer to solving the mystery of Lauren’s disappearance, danger looms just one step behind.
Will Mercy be able to harness her extraordinary power in time? – Goodreads
Review:
Had I picked up Mercy right before bed, it would have easily turned into a read that kept me up well past my bedtime. My afternoon was taken over instead, though, as I found myself completely consumed by this story and finishing it in one sitting.
When Mercy wakes up she finds herself on a bus in the body of Carmen Zappacosta. Though she only vaguely remembers her previous “hosts”, she knows that she’s not them and that she’s merely inhabiting bodies for a short period of time to help them in some way. As Carmen, she is led to the Daleys, a family that is still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter, Lauren. Ryan, Lauren’s brother, is adamant that his sister is alive and he and Carmen join forces to track her down. The mystery behind the disappearance of Lauren was gripping and Rebecca Lim did a great job at keeping me guessing the ‘whodunit’ until the end. It wasn’t OMGSHOCKING, but I enjoyed the conclusion from that reveal.
It was easy to grow attached to Mercy. She was so straightforward and matter of fact while also evolving throughout the course of the story into someone more understanding and sympathetic. Furthermore, Mercy has spent lifetimes in other bodies before Carmen, so she has a very full history that I hope we continue to get details on.
The romance is a slow one. Some might even say that there was no progress with it at all, but I enjoyed the pace at which Ryan and Mercy’s relationship began to develop. They both had so much going on that anything more than what they had here would have felt rushed. I was clearly attached, though, because the ending left me wanting more of them!
Rebecca Lim recently announced the U.S. release date for the second book, Exile, as being May 15, 2012. I’ve taken quicks peaks at the Australian reviews, since they’ve had the book in their stores for a while, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Mercy’s journey goes next!
About Stephanie
I really liked Mercy as well and as soon as I finished it I wanted more. I need to get Exile as it has been out a whole month and I have yet to read it. Great review!
You know, this one has largely passed under my radar for some reason. I think this is possibly the first review that I’ve read completely instead of just skimmed through. I think I would probably really like it too.