A Sellsword's Mercy

The Seven Virtues, Book 6

By: Jacob Peppers

Narrated by: Steven Brand

When darkness comes, there is no knowing who will carry the light and stand against it.

Aaron and his companions have been saved from Kevlane's creatures only to find themselves in the power of the Akalians, a shadowy group of warriors many believe aren't men at all, but creatures of nightmare bent on blood and death.

But not all the shadows' secrets are evil ones, and allies are often found in the unlikeliest of places.

In Baresh, the tournament has begun, and the ancient mage, Kevlane, adds more twisted creatures to his army, fashioning a force the likes of which the world has never seen.

Meanwhile, Grinners sows seeds of distrust in Perennia, turning the city against its would-be saviors, against itself. As suspicion spreads, neighbor turns against neighbor, friend against friend. Blades are drawn in dark alleyways and well-lit taverns alike, and the world's last bastion of hope totters on the brink of destruction, a knife held at its own throat.

If Perennia is to be saved from the approaching threat, then its salvation will come not from great kings or queens, but at the hands of ordinary men and women, many whose hands are long-stained with the blood of innocents.

©2019 Jacob Peppers (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Good intro to the ending

This had kind of a plot twist. I like the new characters. I lite too predictable and way did everyone suddenly fall in love? But sill Aaron keep fighting both mentally and physically and that's what I'm here for.

Too slow

After the other books , this was like moving through a very dry desert. All of it could have been covered in a few chapters.

Felt like Austin Powers and the steamroller

This book was half spirit journey and half jailbreak while the alliance crumbled from within.

Spirit Journey
The spirit journey that Aaron underwent was a meaningless slog. Really, the whole detour in the past few books about the lethal, silent Akalians withers and dies into pointlessness here. The concept of the virtues goes down a rabbit hole of new mythology and frankly I think this half of the book could be skipped.

Jailbreak
Grinner’s betrayal and coup was more interesting, and I very much enjoyed the storyline with wrongfully jailed May and crime boss Hale, even if the rescue just before the executions were eye-rollingly like the Kevin Costner Robin Hood B-movie scene… only with more talking (seriously, Adina stops to give a speech?). My favorite part was the last fight scene with Hale and May (what, Adina stops to give an even longer speech? Gah! Too. Much. Talking!).

My enjoyment of this series was almost entirely based on the supporting characters. Wendell continues to give great comedic relief. May and Tom, and the various colorful bands of pirates and criminals have so much more personality than Adina, the Mary Sue leader, and Aaron, the Gary Stu swordsman. Hale’s storyline, as a nefarious yet ultimately honorable ally, was the best written plot here, perhaps because it was tightly written in the span of half of this book instead of drawn out over the last six. I’d give the Hale, May storyline a solid four stars, even with the wordiness. Maybe if I listen to the series again, I’ll just FF in every scene about Aaron’s spirit quest.

Bottom line: This book was an unnecessary diversion that could have been absorbed into the prior and subsequent books. If I hadn’t have bought books 2-7 together at a sale, I’d have quit listening before this. But, I will say that book 7 got back to what captivated me in book 1.

can't finish this book or series....

it's like he took 7 short stories and padded it out with bad long conversation and boring details to make 7 books. the story is not bad. but stretched out to without adding story just words..