Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

39 reviews

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Self harm, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Vomit, War, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Murder, Pedophilia, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Torture, Classism, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Genocide

ladynaenia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

lpdx's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury

sewer_rat's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It was very predictable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Violence, Slavery, Sexism, and Blood

Moderate: Vomit and Sexual violence

booksaremythirdplace's review

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Torture, and Violence

emmakchapman's review

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

marigold82's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

Nice follow-up book. The ending left you wanting more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gore, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cannibalism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Pregnancy

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

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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.

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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. 

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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