Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Merciless Ones

Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

40 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!

Content Warnings

goodthingsread's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

4.5 rounded down to 4 because there were a lot of things unravelling towards the end.

I was very excited to read this book after having finished The Gilded Ones and I, for one, was not disappointed. Perhaps it helped that I read each in quick succession and didn't have a year to dwell on the first book and anticipate the second. Given the ending of the first book, without any real cliffhangers, I assumed the second would be different in form and function. And it was. The story takes quite a turn, quickly establishing the setting now as a war, potentially long and protracted, between the awakened goddesses and basically the entire male population of Otera. Deka has been skyrocketed to a place of honor, duty, and responsibility beyond all others, creating a natural divide between her and her friends.

That said, one of the things I loved about this book (and series, so far) is that those friendships are not diminished by this distance. While her compatriots do note that Deka has been separated from them, that she's growing in ways they are not, that she has a different role and perspective, they don't hold that against her. She has a romance with Keita and a strong friendship with Brita, and never once do those two feel jealous of the other or begrudge Deka for focusing on her purpose or the other relationships. Some might feel this too easy, but frankly I find it refreshing. I'm too used to the artificially strained relationships in most YA novels, so to not have to deal with that but focus on everything else in the world was a relief.

Eventually, Deka learns that she -- and everyone -- have been lied to and the war that was essentially female vs. male transforms into a situation of Everyone Sucks Here.

I found the division of the original entities into male and female and that being their downfall, the beginning of their descent into humanity and madness, to be interesting. It reminded me of "The Origin of Love" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch though... far less bittersweet. Just nasty instead. I saw someone criticize this choice as "both sides"-ing the conflict, but as far as I'm concerned, feminism has always been about equality for all. The Goddesses being just as foul, if not more in some respects, as The Merciless Ones, does not take away from the suffering that Deka, the alaki, and other women experienced during the reign of the emperors and Oyomo. The narrative never suggests this, only that the Goddesses are shittier for pretending to be better. Given how betrayed Deka must feel, twice over now because of a fabricated religion and its shitty followers, I think that's a fair perspective for her to have.

I didn't find the sudden influx of queer identities to be all that strange either. As with all first person narratives, we're limited by the knowledge and understanding of the main character. Deka has a lot to focus on in the first novel, a lot to learn because in many respects she's been held back, so it doesn't surprise me that she doesn't notice the relationships of those around her or cares to mention/focus on the various gender identities hiding in a restrictive society. Now, in this second book, where she is ripping off the rose colored glasses of herself and everyone, of course it comes up. Now, when certain other people matter more and are being viewed by her outside of that restrictive society, of course how they express gender and love comes to the forefront. I don't think it's shoe-horned in at all and makes incredible sense in a lot of cases, especially that of White Hands.

My main critique, honestly, is that we could have used some more editing here. At a certain point, Asha leaves the main group to help another, then is directly mentioned as being present with the main group, and then in the next chapter comes back to join the main group after helping the other. Etzli rises from her chair and walks down the dais, then two paragraphs later she floats down from her throne. Ixa is so often central to the action and then just as often disappears completely that it feels like he's lost and Forna forgot he should be there. I noticed this too with the first book, how the equus are described as human from head to stomach and then horse below, as a traditional centaur; but then Maisama nuzzles Deka's hair with his snout at one point and I was completely thrown. These mistakes felt like Forna was on a role with her writing, creating at a fast and furious pace, and whoever was double checking her work didn't slow her down enough.

On the whole, though, I loved this and I am excited to pick up the final installment. This reading journey has been truly refreshing and such a rewarding change from typical YA fantasy that I'll accept a few soft spots here and there to enjoy the fruits of Forna's labors.

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emiliemhr's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

tourmaline1703's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings