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hue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
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!
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
tourmaline1703's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Torture
maxine_december's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Body horror, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gore, and Sexism
marena02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Slavery, War, Abandonment, Genocide, Grief, Blood, Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Transphobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Torture
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
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
- 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
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
Graphic: War, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Transphobia
emmakchapman's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Death of parent, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
rachelroo13's review against another edition
- 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
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
queer_bookwyrm's review
- 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
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!
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Violence, Torture, Death, and Misogyny
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual violence