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A review by literaryintersections
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
challenging
dark
slow-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? Yes
4.25
I just finished this yesterday and y'all what can I say. Namina Forna knows how to write an ending. WHEW that climax got me hype and now I'm like "damn I have to wait for book 3".
What I loved: The alaki, jatu, and Deka's friends. The relationship between Deka and Britta is *chef's kiss*. I love seeing how they rep for each other, how they support each other, are always there to fight for each other. It's chosen family AT IT'S BEST. It was nice to see the small moments between the friend group but I wanted more - these kids are experiencing so much pain and death and I wanted more happy moments.
I am not sure how I feel about the direction the book took but, and it was extremely slow in the beginning. But once the threads started to pull together, and Deka started to figure out the mysteries of The Gilded Ones and Idugu, I was invested.
Overall, a book about children having to fight for their rights, fight for the rights to live and have autonomy over their bodies, feels extremely relevant to what we are dealing with in our society now. And as much as it's hard to read at times, it reminded me that no one makes change alone. The friendships and love we build, the community, is what will make that change happen.
What I loved: The alaki, jatu, and Deka's friends. The relationship between Deka and Britta is *chef's kiss*. I love seeing how they rep for each other, how they support each other, are always there to fight for each other. It's chosen family AT IT'S BEST. It was nice to see the small moments between the friend group but I wanted more - these kids are experiencing so much pain and death and I wanted more happy moments.
I am not sure how I feel about the direction the book took but, and it was extremely slow in the beginning. But once the threads started to pull together, and Deka started to figure out the mysteries of The Gilded Ones and Idugu, I was invested.
Overall, a book about children having to fight for their rights, fight for the rights to live and have autonomy over their bodies, feels extremely relevant to what we are dealing with in our society now. And as much as it's hard to read at times, it reminded me that no one makes change alone. The friendships and love we build, the community, is what will make that change happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child death