Book Review: The Weight of Mercy

(This book review is being given in exchange for a copy of the book and small monetary stipend. All opinions are my own.)

When life becomes too difficult, I often turn to books to take my mind off my own circumstances. I read lots of non-fiction Christian books, and I have read my fair share of novels written by secular authors. I used to be in a book club with our daughters back in our home schooling days, and we also used numerous literature based curriculums for history, and other subjects like geography. I have read historical fiction, romance, science fiction, and mystery, but my all time favorite has been fantasy. I particularly enjoy faith based books where I don’t have to worry about explicit sex or language. When I read the synopsis for Weight of Mercy (Book 1 of The Chasm Cycle) by Nigel Poh, I was intrigued, so I signed up to do a review. I was not disappointed.

In this alternate historical time period we step into a fantastical world that is somehow both strange and familiar. The year is 1305 AD. The world has changed due to “The Chasms — fissures that birthed a tide of demons…” leaving “…the Holy Roman Empire in ruins and the Kingdom of France a scattered memory. Much of what should be has vanished, replaced by things that shouldn’t exist…” (p. 5, The Weight of Mercy). We see eras trickling together, and timelines upended.

Poh builds a world using a cast of characters; ones we cheer for and ones we want to see vanquished; but all who are part of humanity. In a world that is overrun by demonic entities and powers, humanity is what binds them together. It is in this combined humanity we are immediately introduced to Lord Stephern, a knight of the Church, serious, quiet, but a man with deep principles and faith; his fellow soldier Sir Bessian, a man of humor, and strength; and Captain Dosh, a ranking member of the Crown and commander of Lady Horst’s guards.

Weaving the workings of the Church with the undercurrents of political power mongering, we are drawn into the society of Clairval, home to one of the citadels of the church housing a training ground for new paladins, a great hall able to seat 1,000, an armory stocked with normal and blessed weapons, and several libraries where military strategy and church doctrine are stored. It is in this city where much of Poh’s story unfolds.

As this drama continues a dark weight descends throughout the land. There are skirmishes with otherworldly beasts like ghouls, vampires, massive demonic bears, and revenants, the living armor of knights long dead. The hefty hand of evil shows up all over the city in the form of chanting children drawing strange patterns in the dirt; fists fights between friends, and even a young woman who throws herself off a building. We see our heroes suffering through hunger, wounds, wrongful imprisonment, attempts on their lives, and the pain of seeing their own friends die. However, they know the God of the universe is in it. This faith and the willingness to be humbled in His service is what eventually helps to bring light back into the darkness.

This book was an unexpected treat. It combines fantasy, historically accurate details, exciting battles, close friendships, political intrigue and faith in a tale that moved me from fear, to laughter to tears. If you are a person of faith, and love to read historical fiction, and fantasy combined, The Weight of Mercy is for you. I loved how the author was able to create a feeling of investment in me, the reader from page one. Poh has a talent for description, dialogue, and character building that is so important in any novel, but particularly in the complex layers of the fantasy genre.

I am lookin forward to the next book in The Chasm Cycle.