Reviews

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

eilidh_read's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

criticalmiss's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.5

The pace was super slow for me at the beginning of this book and I was worried as I loved the first one so much, then at about the halfway point the pace picked right up and the story took off. Lots of twists and turns and reveals kept me on my toes, and I am very keen to read the conclusion. 

indias_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

osbormad's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

bethanyvenooker's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring

4.75

ashndean88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

Not as good as the first, but still an admirable followup.

Deka as a character learns more about herself and her purpose while her friends loyally follow her through everything. I liked how true they were to one another, and how the characters did not act stupidly based on emotions. There were times when Deka wanted to, but she took a moment to breathe. That combined with the fact that emotions were not simply ignored and instead still played an integral part of the story really made this believable.

What took it down some points was the continuous action sequence of the plot. I feel like we were never given a chance to settle down before something new came crashing in! I also got really tired of the secrets by the end. Is that a part of the story? Yes! But it was just too much for one book, in my opinion. As for the jatus... Everything was complex and I thought that THEY acted foolishly about 80% of the way through the book. Right before everything started to turn on itself.

An entertaining read, and one that makes me still want to continue forward. Plus it looks like Shayna Small will be the narrator again and I'm PUMPED! Imani Jade Powers did her best... But it just wasn't the same.

bookswithbailee9's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful tense 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? Yes

4.75

xanthecoote's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

proseamongstthorns's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this, but found myself a little confused for most of it. I think this was really setting up the third book and developing relationships, so there were moments where it just felt a little slow.

beereads_24's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

When the second book is dare I say, better than the first. OOF