Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

19 reviews

hue's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Though it is sometimes overwritten, and has some typical YA-type writing, there's much more flesh to this story than a lot of the "popular" ones. We have a cast of strong female characters with sisterly bonds. The story is raw, yes, but it's written in a tasteful (if you can say that) way. The topic of misogyny and sexism, as well as the opposite, is so well thought out and well written it feeds the story such a realistic feeling I can totally imagine Otera truly existing somewhere.

I ADORE Deka's and Britta's friendship. They're truly platonic soulmates, and it's so so so lovely that their relationship keeps going strong no matter what. I love that though Deka is strong and divine by her own, she doesn't fear depending on people. Her blood sisters, Britta, Keita, Ixa (who isn't a person but I guess it counts), White Hands. She has a web of people that she can trust, that trust her and comfort her, stand by her side despite all blood they have to go through. It's beautiful!

I wish I would've had this story to read when I was a teen. I would've been so empowered and thrilled to follow Deka along as she fights for what is right and what is wrong. If you can stomach blood and gore, this is a gold mine. What YA should be!

THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE QUEER CHARACTERS AS SIDE CHARACTERS! AS NORMAL, REGULAR PEOPLE JUST LIVING THEIR LIVES! PRAISE NAMINA FORNA, YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL!

I'm sure Namina Forna is going to write some incredible stuff along her career. I'm excited for the next installment (that I'm late getting to), and whatever Namina might write in the future, I'm definitely going to follow her work, whatever it may be!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Blood, Gore, Violence, and Vomit

emiliemhr'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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Homophobia

Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia

tourmaline1703's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

It had been a while since I'd read The Gilded Ones but I enjoyed being back in this world with Deka and, of course, Ixa, who I will always love. It took me a while to remember the first novel and to settle back into the world, which is beautifully developed and well thought out. I think even though it had been a while since I'd read the first novel, the worldbuilding is built on and changes a lot in this book that it didn't matter how much you remembered or not.

I really enjoyed the writing and of course, the characterisation of Ixa. He is absolutely adorable and the writing really helps show his connection to Deka. I think the passages in memories were really well done as well and you could distinguish between Deka and the other characters, particularly the gods. Although it didn't bother me too much, at times I felt like the worldbuilding was being re-explained a lot at the start. It might've bothered me more if I'd read this immediately after the first book but because it's been a while, I appreciated the recap.

The plot was well placed and detailed. You can't go wrong with a fantasy novel that's based around a quest, and this is no exception. There were twists and turns that I didn't see coming, characters that reappeared when we thought they'd gone and a plot that kept building wonderfully. The big twist at the end was maybe slightly predictable but I'm still excited to see how it plays out in the final book and how Deka will adjust.

I think Deka's character is well written, particularly how she deals with her emotions. We see her growth from denial to learning how to channel and understand her feelings. I think all of the main characters are brilliant and so emotionally mature that it is refreshing to read. Miscommunication is a huge pet peeve of mine in life and literature but the maturity and understanding of these characters means that, whilst the plot is building, their bonds stay true which I loved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Misogyny

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Torture

jagodasbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

3.0

"The Merciless Ones includes scenes of violence, including some graphic violence and description of sexual violence, which some readers may find distressing."

Where was this warning in the first book, huh? I'm still traumatised after it. This book is less descriptive than the first one, but still it's one of the most terrifying, violent and brutal books I've ever read and I would add more content warnings to that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Animal death, Death of parent, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Torture, War, Violence, and Vomit

graceful_nate's review

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Grief, War, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Religious bigotry

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

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

katsmedialibrary's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Transphobia

emmakchapman's review against another edition

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

rachelroo13's review against another edition

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