Taken from my blog: YumYA Books

What it’s about:

Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s ‘woken up’ in a new body, assumed a new life, only to move on to another body, again and again.
In Paradise, Mercy meets Ryan who’s still reeling from his sister going missing over two years ago, now presumed dead. Everyone gave up hope looking for her long ago, but Ryan still believes he can find her. And Mercy, using powers she didn’t even know she had, finds out he’s right—Ryan’s sister is still alive. And then, when another girl goes missing, Mercy and Ryan know they must act before their time runs out.
But why is the strange man who haunts Mercy’s dreams cautioning her not to interfere? And why is it that with every step closer to discovering the truth about the missing girls, a host of angels who are out for Mercy’s blood because of a crime she committed, loom closer? A crime Mercy can’t even remember.

My thoughts:

Mercy had me from the first page. Rebecca Lim’s way of getting across Mercy’s frustration and confusion is really well done.
Those who feel like they don’t know themselves or they’re unsure of what their ‘purpose’ is in life can probably relate to Mercy, who feels the same way. The plot really thickens just in the first few chapters, so it’s straight into the story.
It’s a great angels/murder mystery combination. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with those two things incorporated, so it was really interesting. Although, I did figure out the mystery about three quarters of the way in, and the whole time I was thinking, ‘How can you not know?’ about Mercy, who seemed oblivious and didn’t work it out.
A lot of people like the fact that Carmen—the girl Mercy inhabits in Ohio—isn’t very good looking, but still a good looking guy falls for her. I think it’s different, because usually the main character is absolutely gorgeous, which is pretty unrealistic considering they’re supposed to be average people. It’s great to see Mercy change as a person. Before, she was cold hearted and actually quite a ruthless person because the changing bodies made her a little more detached. But through the book she turns into a warm-hearted passionate person who is very likeable. She in fact believes that she is supposed to help each person she inhabits live a better life after she’s gone. Before Carmen, she’s been a drug addict with a baby, an ignored rich brat, and several other women at many different ages, so she hasn’t always been a teenager in every lifetime, which I think is good.
The story features a lot of music, because it is set in a singing camp, and it’s rather mystical and enchanting. I like the idea that Mercy can’t remember what she did wrong to be exiled.
Mercy is different from anything I’ve ever read. Rebecca Lim is an Australian author with an amazing imagination, and I’ll be reading the others in the series, because this book is so intriguing. ( )

taken from my blog: http://yumyabooks.wordpress.com/

rating: 3.5 stars

My Summary:
Mercy has lost herself. She can’t count how many times she’s ‘woken up’ in a new body, assumed a new life, only to move on to another body, again and again.

In Paradise, Mercy meets Ryan whose still reeling from his sister went missing over two years ago, and now presumed dead. Everyone had given up hope looking for her long ago, but Ryan still believes that he can find her. And Mercy, using powers she didn’t even know she had, founds out he’s right. Ryan’s sister is still alive. And then, when another girl goes missing, Mercy and Ryan know they must act before their time runs out.

But why is the strange man who haunts Mercy’s dreams cautioning her not to interfere? And why is it that with every step closer to discovering the truth about the missing girls, a host of angels out for Mercy’s blood because of a crime she committed, loom closer? And that crime Mercy supposedly committed, in fact, she can’t even remember doing?

My thoughts:

Mercy had me from the first page. Rebecca Lim’s way of getting across Mercy’s frustration and confusion is really well done.

Those who feel like they don’t know themselves or they’re unsure of what their ‘purpose’ is in life can probably relate to Mercy, who feels the same way. The plot thickens really just in the first few chapters so it’s straight into the story.

It’s a great angels/murder mystery combination. I don’t think I’ve ever read those two things incorporated so it was really interesting. Although, I did figure out the mystery about three quarters of the way in, and the whole time I was thinking ‘how can you not know?’ about Mercy, who seemed oblivious and didn’t work it out.

A lot of people like the fact that Carmen – the girl Mercy inhabits in Ohio – isn’t very good looking and still a good looking guy falls for her. I think it’s different because usually the main character is absolutely gorgeous which is pretty unrealistic considering they’re supposed to be average people. It’s great to see Mercy change as a person. Before she was a cold hearted and actually quite a ruthless person because the changing bodies made her a little more detached But throughout the book she turns into a warm hearted passionate person that is very likable. She in fact believes that she is supposed to help each person she inhabits live a better life once she’s gone. Before Carmen, she’s been a drug addict with a baby, an ignored rich brat, and several other woman at many different ages, so she hasn’t always been a teenager in every lifetime which I think is good.

The story features a lot of music as it is set at a singing camp and it’s rather mystical and enchanting. I like the idea that Mercy can’t remember what she did wrong to be exiled.

Mercy is different to anything I’ve ever read. Rebecca Lim is an Australian author with an amazing imagination and I’ll be reading the others in the series as the book is so intriguing. ( )

Mercy is tough and super cool. I love her. Can't wait for another. ( )

I went into Mercy sight unseen. I'll admit that it was the cover that drew me in, and before I could even read the synopsis I was already opening the book to read. Yes, a classic case of cover lust. I'll be honest.

Anyway I'm fairly certain that this is why I was so confused when I first started reading. Mercy is instantly introduced as a being who is constantly travelling from body to body. As she wakes up at the beginning of the book, we begin to see that she never chooses where she goes, nor does she have any control over when she leaves. It never even occurred to me at this point that there were angels involved in this story. I was thinking more along the lines of a lost soul, or something of that nature. Then, as I continued to read, things began to become a lot clearer to me. Although I was a bit frustrated at the beginning, I was definitely more engaged as the story went on.

As a character, Mercy has a rather powerful voice. I enjoyed coming along on her journey, especially near the end when she really comes into her own. I thought that the concept of her borrowing her host bodies was interesting, especially because of the reason why she does, which is eventually revealed. This story is a lot like a puzzle. Mercy goes about her life, slowly figuring things out. It isn't until the majority of the pieces are in place that the story begins to make sense. Well, unless you read the synopsis. Yes, feel free to laugh at me.

I ramble. Overall this is a solid story, I just don't think that it was one I was ready for at the time. I liked a lot of aspects of Mercy, especially the connection between Mercy and her hosts, but I still wanted more. However, as the beginning to a series, I see this as the start of something great. I'm definitely in for the long haul. I can't wait to see where Rebecca Lim takes this next. ( )

First time I read it: July 10th, 2012
Firstly, BEAUTIFUL Cover. Someone should go on that Beautiful Book Covers list where I found Passion by Lauren Kate and replace it with this one.
Speaking of Lauren Kate's series... Move over, Fallen, this is my new Favorite full-angel series (half-angel series is a completely different category, of course)
I love Mercy. I love Ryan. I love the whole romance they had going and how he was asking her not to go at the end, even though she had no choice.

"How do I find you again?" Ryan says desperately, shaking Carmen, shaking me even further free of my moorings.
I sigh. "You can't. Could be anywhere, anyone. No time."
I touch his face with Carmen's cold fingers. Kiss him once, gently.
"No! Mercy," Ryan cries, crushing her closer, not knowing I am already gone. "Mercy!"

Suffice to say, I can't wait to get ahold of Exile and Muse. Unfortunately, my local library doesn't have them... yet.
muhahahaha.
see ya!

Second read: May 12, 2013
See full series review here: http://awesomemonica.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-mercy-series-by-rebecca-limreview.... ( )