Dryad Book Box — One-Off Box: April
Meticulously curated boxes for fantasy fiction fans, delivered straight to your door. 
 
Our March Theme is:
Sun-Cursed Beasts
 
Our book of the month is the heart-racing fantasy debut by Roanne Lau, The Serpent Called Mercy.
 
This Malaysian Chinese-inspired epic is Squid Game meets The Witcher, in which best friends and debt-ridden slumdogs, Lythlet and Desil, join an illegal monster-fighting arena for some fast coin. But they quickly learn that the most dangerous beasts are outside the ring…
 
This box includes:
The Serpent Called Mercy with a signed bookplate.
A letter from the author.
Two stunning and exclusive page overlays by Amita Sevellaraja, featuring scenes from the novel.
Delicious tea (so you too can get a little taste of Setgad’s tea houses!)
 
Our boxes are packed with care in-house. Books are gift-wrapped, and our packaging is sustainably sourced and plastic-free. Boxes are £22 + P&P, and are sent via Royal Mail Tracked 48 or via International Tracked.
 
Please note that this is a single box, not a monthly subscription.
 
Boxes ship on the final week of every month. Our March box is due to begin shipping on March 21st.
 
Due to the recent changes in EU shipping regulations, we are sadly unable to ship to the EU, including NI. 
 
More about The Serpent Called Mercy…
 
Lythlet and her only friend Desil are shackled to a life of debt and poverty that she fears they will never escape. Desperate for money, they sign up as conquessors: arena combatants who fight sun-cursed beasts in the seedy underworld of the city.

Match-master Dothilos is initially enamored of Desil’s brawling reputation, but after seeing Lythlet lead the pair to triumph with her quick cunning, he takes her under his wing, scorning Desil. Ambition takes root in Lythlet’s heart as a life of fame and wealth unfolds in her imagination.

But Lythlet isn’t the only one out for coin and glory, and she soon finds herself playing an entirely different game—a game of politics and deception. As the cost of her ambition grows, she will have to decide if sacrificing her honor, and only friendship, is worth the chance to shape her own fortune.
 
“A show-stopping debut that dazzles even as it pulls at your heartstrings. Featuring breathtaking battles, intricate lore, and a remarkable friendship as its beating heart, The Serpent Called Mercy is a thrilling spectacle from beginning to end. I loved this book.” —Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief

“The Serpent Called Mercy is a dazzling fantasy debut that is equal parts thrilling and moving. Roanne Lau has crafted a wonderfully complex world filled with political intrigue and gladiator-style adventure that will leave you at the edge of your seat.” —Amber Chen, author of Of Jade and Dragons

“Roanne Lau immerses you into a remarkably vivid world with a gritty underworld that raises the stakes—and your blood pressure. Full of monsters and mayhem, but most importantly, a cast of characters that you can’t help but love. An astounding debut.” —Saara El-Arifi, number one Sunday Times bestselling author of Faebound