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librarybookscene's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, War, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment and Blood
Minor: Body shaming, Gore, Death of parent, and Body horror
rachelroo13's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
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
4.0
"It's never easy, is it, Deka." Britta says it best and this quote can easily encompass this entire sequel. Forna has masterfully woven the continuation of Deka and the alaki's story with twists, turns, and betrayal once again. In a fictional world touted for it's feminism and woman power this book not only empowers its women and girls but also extends the conversation to all genders. I don't think I've ever read a book with as many trans or non-binary characters and the best part is, these things are not a "big deal." They aren't made a large part of the characters' personalities, it isn't talked about exhaustively; it's just a thing that is mentioned, accepted, and then everyone moves on as normal. Where the first book in this series pushed the reader to think about misogyny, the idea of misandry is added here. Deka and her friends want true equality for all, regardless of gender. Of course that's not going to be easy, especially in a culture as twisted around as Otera's. The mythology of Otera and the continued worldbuilding make this a dynamite sequel, and I'm excited to see where Deka goes next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Transphobia, Death, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Rape
amanda_marie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This series is bananas sometimes. It’s trying to do so much, and I’m not always sure it’s working, but I’m so enchanted by the efforts that I just keep reading. Loved the twists and turns in this sequel as the lore developed and will definitely read more books just to see how this turns out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Torture, Self harm, Sexism, and Transphobia
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Body horror, Blood, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
queer_bookwyrm'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? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: violence, death, death of a parent, torture, sexual abuse mention, misogyny, misandry, homophobia/transphobia, gender essentialism, descriptions of blood and gore, anxiety, PTSD (including descriptions of flashbacks)
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna is book two in the Deathless trilogy. This book was just as good, if not better than the first one! The first book gives a lot of world building and a pretty straightforward plot about escaping your oppressors, but this books throws all that out the window and comes back with more twists.
We pick up with Deka after the events of book one, after she has been named Nuru to the gods. Deka and her friends continue to try to defeat the jatu and their false god. But as Deka discovers her growing powers, she realizes she doesn't have the full picture about the Mothers, the Gilded Ones. She realizes not everything is as it seems, and there is something even more sinister afoot.
Deka continues her struggle to overcome her trauma and sort out the truth, so she can trust her own mind again. The others in Deka's group are learning they have been blessed with divine powers as well. Our favorite sentient dragon gets bigger in this book! I love Ixa so much. Britta is a bad bitch in this book, I love her friendship with Deka so much. Their friendship is almost more important than the romantic relationships in the book.
There are major themes in this book about misogyny and oppression of those that don't fit in binary boxes (such as gay men and trans and intersex people), but it also explore the dangers of misandry (the oppression of men and the elevation of [cis] women). Basically, Forna is telling us that gender essentialism will be our downfall. We also get themes on the importance of rear and deal with your trauma. The rep in this series is so good: Black and Asian characters, mental health rep, gay/sapphic rep, nonbinary rep, trans rep, polyamory, intersex, someone with a tic.
I can't wait for the final book of this series! Namina Forna is killing it!
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna is book two in the Deathless trilogy. This book was just as good, if not better than the first one! The first book gives a lot of world building and a pretty straightforward plot about escaping your oppressors, but this books throws all that out the window and comes back with more twists.
We pick up with Deka after the events of book one, after she has been named Nuru to the gods. Deka and her friends continue to try to defeat the jatu and their false god. But as Deka discovers her growing powers, she realizes she doesn't have the full picture about the Mothers, the Gilded Ones. She realizes not everything is as it seems, and there is something even more sinister afoot.
Deka continues her struggle to overcome her trauma and sort out the truth, so she can trust her own mind again. The others in Deka's group are learning they have been blessed with divine powers as well. Our favorite sentient dragon gets bigger in this book! I love Ixa so much. Britta is a bad bitch in this book, I love her friendship with Deka so much. Their friendship is almost more important than the romantic relationships in the book.
There are major themes in this book about misogyny and oppression of those that don't fit in binary boxes (such as gay men and trans and intersex people), but it also explore the dangers of misandry (the oppression of men and the elevation of [cis] women). Basically, Forna is telling us that gender essentialism will be our downfall. We also get themes on the importance of rear and deal with your trauma. The rep in this series is so good: Black and Asian characters, mental health rep, gay/sapphic rep, nonbinary rep, trans rep, polyamory, intersex, someone with a tic.
I can't wait for the final book of this series! Namina Forna is killing it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Violence, Torture, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual violence
booksbyabbi's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
With Otera in turmoil, Deka is forced to determine just who she is and whether she is the key to freeing her people… or if she is their greatest threat. But with a dark, merciless force growing amongst her enemies and secrets being shielded by her allies, the real battle has only just begun.
The Merciless Ones is every bit as action-packed, suspenseful, and breathtaking as The Gilded Ones with a beautifully built world, admirable prose, and a thrilling plot. Forna transports the reader back to Otera and refuses to let them go until the final page is turned. Deka remains a formidable narrator with an undeniable voice and compelling journey. As she navigates both allegiance and betrayal, she carries the reader with her, perfectly showcasing how even your most trusted allies can deceitful. Forna’s use of Deka as an unreliable narrator is everything I love from the trope and keeps you on your toes with plot twists.
Beyond an exciting read, Forna maintains her ability to write relationships of all kinds. Not only is the central romantic relationship swoon-worthy, but she doesn’t let that detract from strong female friendships and a classic case of a found family. Being able to deliver both with equal weight is something I really respect and found one of the best parts of the book. Speaking of diversity, I appreciate Forna writing about LGBTQIA+ characters in a casual, normalised way. The Merciless Ones presents transgender representation and a wlw couple in a way where no one even bats an eye which I think is incredibly important to establish in YA literature.
All in all, The Merciless Ones is certainly a must-read addition to the Deathless series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Sexism
lucy_shanners's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, War, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy and Transphobia
corabookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
it’s hard for me to rate this book, because on one hand, it was interesting and entertaining, and a pretty solid second book. but some of the concepts in it also made me a little uncomfortable. (such as the fact that the only asexual character was asexual because of the trauma and abuse she’d gone through, and the fact that a lot of queer characters seemed to be revealed as queer just to give them a traumatic backstory. also, the reverse-sexism thing at the end was such a different theme and idea from the first book that it gave me whiplash. it just felt like a whole different story ) but it wasn’t that bad of a book?? and i enjoyed reading most of it, especially the beginning. all in all, i’m pretty conflicted :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Misogyny, Homophobia, Violence, War, Sexual violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
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.readingelli's review
challenging
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? It's complicated
5.0
I am speechless.
Forma’s writing is phenomenal, her plot was twisty and took me completely by surprise several times and the characters were well constructed, complicated people (or gods).
Forma’s writing is phenomenal, her plot was twisty and took me completely by surprise several times and the characters were well constructed, complicated people (or gods).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, War, and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Sexual violence