Mayhem & the Mortal: Characters, spice, review, triggers, tropes

Written By Esta Pinto

Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams is an adventure quest romantasy with a ray of sunshine FMC and a grumpy MMC shadow daddy.

Oooh a shadow daddy, I hear you ask? Yes, that’s right. And he’s pretty hot, but unfortunately he’s also a bit of a jerk. Not irredeemable though ;)

Anyway, Mayhem and the Mortal was so much fun! I’ve written a Mayhem & the Mortal book review to explain in detail why and also included a Mayhem & the Mortal character guide. Not to mention trigger warnings, tropes and a few other bits and pieces.

I know that a lot of y’all are seeking info on the spice levels and spicy chapters. So scroll down to the FAQs and spoilers section of this post if that’s what you’re after.

Otherwise, put on your sorcerer hat and get ready to meet Zaira Quinlocke, Thane Valkor and a cast of delightful found family, including a fluffy pink bunny sized dragon named Zephra. She’s 100% as adorable as she sounds.

Happy reading!

 

Mayhem and the Mortal synopsis.

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.

To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.

Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.

He promises to help. He might even mean it.

But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.

She just doesn’t have a choice.

Get Mayhem & the Mortal.
 

Mayhem and the Mortal characters.

Mayhem & the Mortal is narrated from a first person point of view, from the perspective of Zaira Quinlocke, who has just discovered her sister has been afflicted with a soul-devouring curse and has been imprisoned in an evil sorcerer's lair.

Here is a list of all Mayhem & the Mortal characters we meet from main to supporting.

Art shared by author @reallyshanora and @redtowerbooks via Instagram.

Main characters.

Zaira Quinlocke and Thane Valkor, are our two main characters in Mayhem & the Mortal.

Zaira Quinlocke.

Sweet, bespectacled baker, Zaira Quinlocke is our FMC. She’s a ray of sunshine, optimistic, may come off as too trusting, yet kindness and helping others is what motivates her.

Thane Valkor.

He’s a walking red flag of a shadow daddy sorcerer assassin, and frankly quite a bit of an A-hole, but he’s also pretty hot, and are we thinking there’s more layers to him fam?

I was lucky enough to get to interview Shanora Williams and here’s what she had to say about Thane:

“I personally love a morally gray MMC who teeters on the edge of morally black. But with Thane, he was already such a mystery, and he wasn’t always the nicest guy (LOL), so I wanted to make sure that whenever he was on the page, it made sense and contributed to his character. He’s been through a lot in his life, but I don’t think his heart ever became hard to the point he was irredeemable.”

You can read the full interview with Shanora Williams here.

Supporting characters.

Here’s a list of all the characters named in Mayhem & the Mortal apart from our main ones.

  • Analla Quinlocke (Zaira’s sister)

  • Zephra

  • Algar

  • Rhynthea Kamtaur

  • Torjack Kamtaur

  • Penju

  • Dulan

  • Seferin

  • King Draedor

  • Prince Kelrean Shattore of Bernwood

  • Queen Jenia

  • Sheera

  • Frevella

  • Xiaodora, Tribe Queen of Immalon

  • Jehon, Tribe King of Immalon

  • Enver

  • Captain Solyen Varrick

  • Irina

  • Conred Joshell

  • Beka

  • Bolivar

  • Ellanoch

  • Chaun

  • Garyn

  • Maliek

  • Yelahn

Animal characters.

  • Pearl (horse)

  • Crumb (dog)

  • Zephra (maobi)

Gods and goddesses mentioned in Mayhem and the Mortal.

  • Orvena the goddess who created all living things in Thelanor

  • Xaimur, the god of corruption’

Other names mentioned in Mayhem and the Mortal.

  • Elphar

  • Azidel

  • Koa (Thane’s brother)

  • Helena (Koa’s mother)

 

Review: Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams.

View my Mayhem & the Mortal review and follow me on GoodReads here.

My rating: ★★★★★

Spice level: 🌶🌶
2.5/5, steamy and detailed open door spice that doesn’t overshadow (pun intended) the plot

I guess fun may not be the first word that comes to mind to describe a treacherous journey where everyone and everything wants you dead while you grapple to find the cure for a soul-devouring curse for your dying, imprisoned sister on a ticking clock mission.

However, fun is exactly the word I’d use to describe Mayhem and the Mortal. My five stars are appropriate for how much this book entertained me. Even the FMC, sunshiney Zaira Quinlocke says at one point: "I shouldn’t be having this much fun during a death journey." And she’s got a point.

Because there is a sentient murder forest with monsters, dangerous seas with creatures who might be so inclined to eat you AND steal your identity, and a few very mean, very powerful people. And that’s just scratching the surface.

And yet, I get what Zaira means. Because yes… this is a high stakes, perilous adventure quest romantasy. It’s a little bit Wizard of Oz, but make it grittier, gorier and more grim.

Nonetheless, there is a permeating sense of joy, whimsy and quirkiness throughout. It’s slightly serious and also slightly unserious.

And while everything is trying to kill Zaira and her ragtag band of beautiful, melanated misfits—(and there are definitely content warnings you should take note of, will add soon)—there is also a cute pink fluffy bunny-sized dragon, a horse named Pearl with an opalescent mane, minotaur-hybrid people with scythe-swords, plus bustling townships with lively cultural festivals and quaint inns [AND THEY HAVE ONLY ONE BED YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING].

Furthermore, I’ll let you take a guess on if this motley crew evolves into a found family of sorts.

Anyway, the thing I really really loved was Zaira’s character. I can understand that some readers might interpret her eternal optimism as maybe gullible and even a bit of a goody two shoes. I was initially a little guilty of judging her to be a wee bit sanctimonious even. However, Zaira well and truly grew on me, as her character in turn grew, plus I ended up appreciating her kind nature and started perceiving her as hopeful rather than naïve.

Finally, I know people probably want the tea on the grouchy shadow daddy sorcerer assassin, Thane. Yep he’s a bit of an ass, but he’s a hot ass and he might possibly be like an onion with layers. Best for me to not elaborate and leave for you to discover.

So there you have it, that’s the vibe. Highly recommend if you like that vibe. Also, if you go for the Los Angeles Lakers, you’re gonna appreciate the colour aesthetic in this world 🟣🌕

Thanks so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.

 

Mayhem and the Mortal book FAQs.

SPOILER ALERT:

Some answers WILL spoil this book if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution.

Will there be a book two of Mayhem & the Mortal by Shanora Williams?

After reading the ending of Mayhem & the Mortal, I’m going to say it is very much open for book two, so watch this space for announcements. 

What are the content and trigger warnings?

  • Blood

  • Death

  • Death of parent

  • Child death

  • Injury and injury details

  • Explicit sexual content

  • Violence

  • Murder

  • Classism

  • Gore

  • Grief

  • Cursing

  • Confinement

  • Fantasy drugs

  • Fantasy animal death

  • War

  • PTSD

  • Abuse

Is Mayhem & the Mortal spicy?

Yes Mayhem & the Mortal is pretty spicy! Yet it never overshadows the plot.

Art shared by author @reallyshanora, @redtowerbooks and artist @yuisart via Instagram.

What is the Mayhem & the Mortal spice level?

Spice level: 🌶🌶

2.5/5, detailed open door spice in a couple of places.

What are the Mayhem & the Mortal spicy chapters?

As always, spice is rated on a highly subjective spice scale, ranging from one chilli for mild and more chillies for the hotter and more explicit. Here’s where all the Mayhem & the Mortal spicy chapters and action lives.

  • Chapter 26: 🌶🌶

  • Chapter 40: 🌶🌶🌶

  • Chapter 47: 🌶🌶🌶

What are the Mayhem & the Mortal tropes?

Art shared by author @reallyshanora and artist @themoonborn.illustrations via Instagram.

  • Black romantasy

  • Shadow daddy

  • Morally grey hero

  • Only one bed

  • Only one carriage

  • Grumpy x sunshine

  • Dislike to lovers

  • Touch her and die

  • Forbidden magic

  • He saves her and she saves him

  • Cute animal companion

 

Enjoyed reading Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams? You may also enjoy reading:

Esta Pinto
Next

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi: Characters, triggers + review