The Cruelty of Mercy

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

What to expect:A polished, ~240k-word long epic fantasy novel. Two main leads, one tragic and one heroic. Wholesome and lighthearted at times, grim and horrific at others. Will be stubbed once completed and turned into a published novel. Don't miss it while it's free!Synopsis:Phoebe is a spell-bound slave at the edges of the Barridian Plutocracy. She toils for a master whose love she hates, in plots of land infected by the Fade, from which strange and precious fruit springs.Then, the binding engram on her cheek begins to fragment. Pieces of her past and power come trickling back. In a flash of silver light, she escapes, pursued by a master who will not be stopped by deserts, borders, or the Fade itself in his pursuit of her.Heemlik is the rebel leader against his own inheritance, a death camp known as the Gaar. For decades, the Fade grew passive and stopped inspiring the terror justifying the sacrifice of thousands. But now that Heemlik's insurrection is in full swing, and the Fade has a new servant, it has re-awoken.Heemlik's father stands at the head of the occupying army. Not his soldiers, his closest advisors, his spies, or even his own husband can convince him to behead the snake and end the war.Every breakthrough Heemlik ever had came from far beyond the Gaar. Perhaps an escaped slave girl from the other side of the world can change his mind before time runs out?

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Elijah Jeffery

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 14
Views: 3,231

Reviews

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Community Reviews(2)

FardaEonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is competent, experienced web-serial writing with a clear understanding of pacing, structure, and Royal Road expectations. The prose is readable and technically sound, scenes are well-shaped, and the author knows how to rotate POVs, sustain momentum, and avoid dead air. Worldbuilding is coherent and systematized, with consistent rules, geography, and stakes, giving the story a solid engineered backbone rather than a loose, vibes-based feel.
Character arcs, especially the Phoebe/Derek thread, are handled with clarity and restraint, communicating power imbalance, trauma, and psychological control without collapsing into melodrama. The setting and concepts (the Fade, engrams, apocalypse pressure) are familiar but well-executed, making the story approachable and algorithm-friendly while maintaining enough darkness and tension to hold a broad progression-fantasy audience.
Weakness:It is polished but lacking moments that feel truly surprising or emotionally unforgettable so far but I'm early.
VuriaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Randomly discovered this from having met Elijah Jeffery 5 years ago, and I'm lucky that I did. The world of Mekkendor is filled with interesting characters, locations, magic and its unique challenges. With every chapter something is turned on its head, and you should particularly prepare yourself for all the emotionally engaging twists and shocks of Chapter 10 closing out Act 1. Loving it so far and can't wait for Act 2!