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sarah_thebooknerd's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Deka is one of my favorite YA characters. I love them and feel like the next book is just going to be even better.
This book deals with themes of patriarchy, feminist movement and how that movement even ended up squashing people of color and trans community/ non binary community. It’s so interesting to me that Namina was able to create that in this fantasy book and make us have to examine what we think and feel we know.
This book deals with themes of patriarchy, feminist movement and how that movement even ended up squashing people of color and trans community/ non binary community. It’s so interesting to me that Namina was able to create that in this fantasy book and make us have to examine what we think and feel we know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, Sexism, and Death
Moderate: Transphobia
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I read The Gilded Ones last year and absolutely loved it, which marked The Merciless Ones as one of my most anticipated 2022 releases. While I did enjoy it, for the most part, I can’t say that I loved it to the same extent I did its predecessor. Because as much as I adored Deka and the other alaki and all of their uruni, as intriguing and fast-paced as the very beginning and very end of the novel were, regrettably, I found the middle portion of the book kind of boring and hard to push through. I’m not actually sure if that’s because of the book itself or my on-again-off-again reading slump, but either way, it hindered my reading experience.
That being said, I still think Namina Forna is an incredible writer—she’s created a brilliant protagonist and supporting cast, an absolutely adorable romance, and a fascinatingly intricate world. Her plot twists are mind-blowing; I swear, I spent the last 25% of this book in shock, and at one point I nearly threw my phone across the room. (I read an ebook.)
Also, I just want to take a second to shriek—DEKA AND KEITA ARE ADORABLEEEE. 🥹🥹💗💗
Okay, got that out of my system. 😮💨😮💨
Anyway. Despite not being completely sold on this sequel, I’m excited (slash scared) to see how she’ll end this trilogy, and certain that the finale will be spectacular. If you haven’t read this series yet, do it ASAP!!! (But check the content warnings first, bc damn, these books get brutal.)
Representation
That being said, I still think Namina Forna is an incredible writer—she’s created a brilliant protagonist and supporting cast, an absolutely adorable romance, and a fascinatingly intricate world. Her plot twists are mind-blowing; I swear, I spent the last 25% of this book in shock, and at one point I nearly threw my phone across the room. (I read an ebook.)
Also, I just want to take a second to shriek—DEKA AND KEITA ARE ADORABLEEEE. 🥹🥹💗💗
Okay, got that out of my system. 😮💨😮💨
Anyway. Despite not being completely sold on this sequel, I’m excited (slash scared) to see how she’ll end this trilogy, and certain that the finale will be spectacular. If you haven’t read this series yet, do it ASAP!!! (But check the content warnings first, bc damn, these books get brutal.)
Representation
- full cast of brown/Black characters
- multiple queer main + side characters (includes sapphic, achillean, + trans rep, as well as a nonbinary character that uses they/them pronouns)
- two sapphic side couples
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Torture, Blood, Gore, Body horror, and Misogyny
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia
Most of the main cast are dealing with PTSD in some form; Deka's is especially bad and occasionally leads to panic attacks. There’s multiple on-page scenes including and/or references to decapitation, various forms of mutilation, and being burned alive, as well as one on-page parent death and references to past deaths of side characters’ parents/families. Lastly, while the main cast is wholly accepting of one another, there are discussions of the homophobic society some characters used to live in.taroroot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i love this series! the twists were so interesting and i love how minor details became important later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Misogyny
Moderate: War
books4bee's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Rape
kshertz's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is just as good as Gilded Ones. The twists and turns were fantastic. Everything I thought I knew from the first book gets turned on it’s head. There are some moments I actually gasped out loud. Other moments I had tears in my eyes. The writing is just fantastic and the underlining themes are subtle but there if you look. I just love everything about it and now I can’t wait for book 3. I have sooo many questions and theories. I love it. Officially invested highly in all these characters though so I’m hoping they all make it through book 3.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Abandonment, Blood, and Emotional abuse
deedireads's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Merciless Ones was a pretty good sequel to a pretty good first book. It’s not the best-written series so far, but it has enough to keep me reading and wait for the third.
For you if: You like West African-inspired fantasy.
FULL REVIEW:
The Merciless Ones is the sequel to The Gilded Ones, and the second of what will be three books in the series. Like TGO, I liked this fine — well enough that I’m curious about what will happen in book three and do plan to read it, but I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite.
The trilogy, for context, is about a girl named Deka who lives in a world where girls are tested at puberty for gold “demon blood.” Those who have it are usually killed (over and over again, as they’re near mortal) or else taken to the capital to train as warriors on the promise that years of servitude will grant them “clean blood.” That’s the basis for the first book. Book two picks up a few months after that one ends, and it explores Deka coming into her own as a leader (or perhaps more) and realizing that she hasn’t been asking the right questions after all — with, as it goes in fantasy novels, huge potential world-ending stakes.
This trilogy is imaginative and has lots of great ingredients, and like I said, I do want to know how it will end. It’s also trying to do good things around trauma and mental health, which I appreciate. I just think the writing is a bit clunky and at times surface-level, although perhaps what I’m picking up on is it skewing on the younger side of YA (but then again, there are middle-grade books that don’t feel like that, so).
I think if you really like YA fantasy, especially West African-inspired fantasy, you should totally pick this up. It's a good quick, palette-cleansing read. But if you’re trying to be more choosy with your fantasy, I don’t think you’d be missing anything mindblowing by skipping it.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Merciless Ones was a pretty good sequel to a pretty good first book. It’s not the best-written series so far, but it has enough to keep me reading and wait for the third.
For you if: You like West African-inspired fantasy.
FULL REVIEW:
The Merciless Ones is the sequel to The Gilded Ones, and the second of what will be three books in the series. Like TGO, I liked this fine — well enough that I’m curious about what will happen in book three and do plan to read it, but I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite.
The trilogy, for context, is about a girl named Deka who lives in a world where girls are tested at puberty for gold “demon blood.” Those who have it are usually killed (over and over again, as they’re near mortal) or else taken to the capital to train as warriors on the promise that years of servitude will grant them “clean blood.” That’s the basis for the first book. Book two picks up a few months after that one ends, and it explores Deka coming into her own as a leader (or perhaps more) and realizing that she hasn’t been asking the right questions after all — with, as it goes in fantasy novels, huge potential world-ending stakes.
This trilogy is imaginative and has lots of great ingredients, and like I said, I do want to know how it will end. It’s also trying to do good things around trauma and mental health, which I appreciate. I just think the writing is a bit clunky and at times surface-level, although perhaps what I’m picking up on is it skewing on the younger side of YA (but then again, there are middle-grade books that don’t feel like that, so).
I think if you really like YA fantasy, especially West African-inspired fantasy, you should totally pick this up. It's a good quick, palette-cleansing read. But if you’re trying to be more choosy with your fantasy, I don’t think you’d be missing anything mindblowing by skipping it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Transphobia
annikareads_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I absolutely loved the first book in this series, the second I found out this was becoming a series, I instantly pre-ordered this book. It has been a long wait and oh boy it was worth the wait.
This book follows sixteen-year-old Deka who lives in Otera. Which is an ancient kingdom who believe that a women’s worth is tied to the purity of her blood. On the day of the purity ceremony, Deka bleeds gold which is the colour of impurity and she is a demon. She is thrown into a new world where she has been banished from her home, her village and is left for dead. Until a mysterious woman saves her and tells her the truth: she is an Alaki which is a near-immortal with amazing gifts. It has been six months since she found out she was an Alaki and she has freed the goddesses. There is now a war raging across the kingdom. Otereans now think jatu are traitors to the nation and Deka is getting called a monster. Deka is now tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses, but when she begins to free them, she starts to see a strange symbol everything in places of worship and worn on armour. There is something evil about that symbol – when Deka looks at it, it makes her lose her senses and repels her power. She can’t seem to command the new deathshrieks and she can’t understand them when they speak. Deka knows that freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. Deka’s powers are getting stronger and she could be the key to saving the whole kingdom.
I enjoyed this book. I still think the first book is better and such a good debut. But Namina Forna managed to carry on the storyline that it kept you intrigued. I love the found family trope in this book and how they all look after each other. I love Deka and I think her growth in this book is beautiful. The way that she thinks that no one is going to love her to being the hero and having a well-protected family who love her to bits was so heart-warming. I loved the plot and the action in this book and the fact that there was still a hint of romance. It took me a while to get into this book but I think that’s because of the new terminology that you learn within this book
I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with Deka and the gang in the next book and hopefully don’t have to wait too long for the third book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War
kilic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, and Grief
vmknmy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
3/5
I read The Gilded Ones about a year ago and could not remember anything from it, so I went into this one with only remembering like 3 things lmao, didn't even remember Deka's name until it was mentioned a few pages in or something like that, and I also didn't remember who anyone was at first.
one of the things I liked about the book was the characters- they were all so distinct and ngl after reading a few chapters I remembered who most of them were because the way they were written made them memorable in a way, especially Britta and the way her dialogue is written that shows how she has a different accent than the rest of them, which is just really cool to see :)))
I also really liked the representation in this book, with how the author introduced trans and non-binary characters into the story and how they had people who were "more of a they than a she" and also how the Singular was introduced as an "our" and "they" and how they were all genders I think that's what the book said? cant remember lmao and how they introduced a few characters as being trans (at least that's what I read some of the parts, idk I'm stupid :') ) I also liked the wlw and mlm characters, as they felt like they had more of a purpose in this book rather than just being thrown in for diversity like i felt the first book did, but this one had so much diversity in terms of sexuality and gender which was just really cool to see :)))
The plot in this was also good i think, i liked how there were twists and how things didn't go as they planned. I also liked the fact that Deka had to uncover the truth about the godesses, and how she had to come to terms with it and how it unsettled her that she had been lied to and decieved, which really helped with her character development. It also had a lot of death, with some quite important deaths happening, and one almost made me cry which is rare so i guess that makes it good ? idk
The world is so well developed and so many details are explained and it really develops the culture of Otera and how they explained customs, social norms and social ettiquete is so detailed and aaa the world is really well made
i enjoyed the book and ill probably read the next one but i didn't love it as much as other books ive read so like 4 stars
there's also some mentions of how some characters were transphobic towards another (if i read it correctly, that is) as well as some
I read The Gilded Ones about a year ago and could not remember anything from it, so I went into this one with only remembering like 3 things lmao, didn't even remember Deka's name until it was mentioned a few pages in or something like that, and I also didn't remember who anyone was at first.
one of the things I liked about the book was the characters- they were all so distinct and ngl after reading a few chapters I remembered who most of them were because the way they were written made them memorable in a way, especially Britta and the way her dialogue is written that shows how she has a different accent than the rest of them, which is just really cool to see :)))
I also really liked the representation in this book, with how the author introduced trans and non-binary characters into the story and how they had people who were "more of a they than a she" and also
The plot in this was also good i think, i liked how there were twists and how things didn't go as they planned. I also liked the fact that Deka had to uncover the truth about the godesses, and how she had to come to terms with it and how it unsettled her that she had been lied to and decieved, which really helped with her character development. It also had a lot of death, with some quite important deaths happening, and one almost made me cry which is rare so i guess that makes it good ? idk
The world is so well developed and so many details are explained and it really develops the culture of Otera and how they explained customs, social norms and social ettiquete is so detailed and aaa the world is really well made
i enjoyed the book and ill probably read the next one but i didn't love it as much as other books ive read so like 4 stars
there's also some mentions of how some characters were transphobic towards another (if i read it correctly, that is) as well as some
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual violence
Minor: Transphobia