The Gilded Ones #2: The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna
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Web ID: 15417616Woah
This was so intense. I struggled a little to sink into the story, it wasn't as effortless as the first one, but that's because this one has much more depth to it. The story has more heart and twists and turns and never went where I thought it was going. I cannot WAIT for the third one!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Brilliant
Almost every chapter keeps building with suspense. You start to question what’s real, who’s lying, and who is truly an ally. I can’t wait for book 3!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Must Read!
With Otera in turmoil, Deka is forced to determine just who she is and whether she is the key to freeing her people… or if she is their greatest threat. But with a dark, merciless force growing amongst her enemies and secrets being shielded by her allies, the real battle has only just begun. The Merciless Ones is every bit as action-packed, suspenseful, and breathtaking as The Gilded Ones with a beautifully built world, admirable prose, and a thrilling plot. Forna transports the reader back to Otera and refuses to let them go until the final page is turned. Deka remains a formidable narrator with an undeniable voice and compelling journey. As she navigates both allegiance and betrayal, she carries the reader with her, perfectly showcasing how even your most trusted allies can deceitful. Forna’s use of Deka as an unreliable narrator is everything I love from the trope and keeps you on your toes with plot twists. Beyond an exciting read, Forna maintains her ability to write relationships of all kinds. Not only is the central romantic relationship swoon-worthy, but she doesn’t let that detract from strong female friendships and a classic case of a found family. Being able to deliver both with equal weight is something I really respect and found one of the best parts of the book. Speaking of diversity, I appreciate Forna writing about LGBTQIA+ characters in a casual, normalised way. The Merciless Ones presents transgender representation and a wlw couple in a way where no one even bats an eye which I think is incredibly important to establish in YA literature. All in all, The Merciless Ones is certainly a must-read addition to the Deathless series.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Worth the read but didn’t hold a candle to the 1st
This is the sequel to The Gilded Ones which some of you may recall was one of my top reads from 2021. Might I just add, again, with this awesome cover??? This one was unfortunately less concise, and therefore, a disappointing sequel for me. This read like it was edited and changed many times over, but unfortunately it still showed. As some of you may have picked up on at this point, I truly despise and agonize over dream sequences in fantasy novels. This one didn’t have them per se, but it had these memory sequences that were from the MC touching other people and seeing into them. It boils down to absolutely the same thing. Is what she’s seeing real? Could it be? What does it mean? And therefore, utterly meaningless to the story. I can’t stress that enough, a lot of my dislike came directly from this, and there were quite a few. Otherwise this is still a feminist and representative read that is worth it for anyone, but especially a young audience. Find new characters that you love and admire even though they look nothing like you. I still found the author’s writing to be well done just like the first, they just happened to come across the one thing I really despise. I also took a brief recess to read something else and normally I read multiples at once, not just stop completely, but this time I did. I think that lost the momentum for me for sure. Personally a 3.5/5* for me, I’d still recommend.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Secrets and Betrayals
I read the first book in this series, a remarkable debut by this author, last year and was anxious to see where the story of these female warriors’ led them next. Deka freed many of the goddesses in The Gilded Ones, but her work is far from over. Several more, along with other innocents, are still held captive. When an unusual symbol seems to allow a group of jatu soldiers to resist Deka’s commands and then reanimate after being killed, she’s tasked by the four mothers to track down Elder Kadiri and locate an arcane object. To help her accomplish this mission, she’s joined by her alaki and deathshriek sisters and the Uruni. Before long, Deka is left questioning everything she thought she knew. This story is brimming with secrets and betrayals leading to plot twists that aren’t difficult to figure out, although Deka is a little slow to pick up on them. The first book focuses on themes of racism and sexism in a male dominated world, but this followup shines a light on gender identity and sexuality. Representation is fantastic, and romantic relationships other than Deka’s and Keita’s are revealed – I was on board for all of them, but was glad they’re not a prominent part of the story. World-building and strong friendships continue to be some of my favorite aspects about this series, but pacing is a little uneven in the first several chapters. With one more book left in the series, it will be a long, impatient wait to see what happens to these characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Intense & fast-paced!
This incredible sequel will keep you riveted to your seat! It’s a faced paced read that picks up six months after the end of the first book. We follow our main character, Deka, as she fights to reclaim the land and also figure out who she is at the same time. There are twists and turns that you won’t see coming, so be ready for a fast-paced adventure that you’re bound to love!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Multi-Layered and Lush
Book two brings us more adventure, revelations, and a lot of secrets. Deka’s tribe has grown closer; they work well together, as they’ve been at it for a year now. Lyrically written, we follow the cast as they work to bring the mothers fully back. But along the way, Deka is learning more about herself and what she can do. I have a few criticisms of this one. Deka’s character hasn’t really seen much growth. She’s still impulsive, and that impulsivity is not only selfish at times, but it puts others in danger. Forna is a fan of putting off revealing things by Deka covering things up, or by wanting to discuss things later or revisiting a thought. It was fine in the first book, but it happens a lot in book 2. I feel it isn’t necessary, and it’s another example of Deka not experiencing much growth. However, as we’re nearing the end of the book, we finally see some character growth. Deka starts to rely on her team and trusts them to do the tough stuff. It came in at the last minute, but it’s good to see and gives me hope for the next book. The land is so lushly descriptive that I felt like I saw things alongside Deka. If I had to guess, I would say that Deka has PTSD. She has been through so much, and it’s obvious she’s still playing out a lot of her past today. But that might not be a thing in this world, but it’s something I felt while reading time and again. I was tickled with the character Gazal because not only is Gazal a badass, but I imagine the author knows of Ghazal and has named the character after them. I appreciate nods like that and the lengths the character Gazal has gone. It is strength personified. Forna tackles some important issues in this book that are incredibly relevant. This is a captivating read. There are so many layers to the storyline, and I can’t imagine where we will go from here. Is it too soon to ask when we can get book 3? Thank you, Random House, for sending this along.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Gripping
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This is the sequel to the gripping novel, The Gilded Ones. Six months ago Deka freed the goddesses of and discovered her true identity. War rages on in Otera and a new threat reveals itself, can Deka and her army stop it, and is everything she was told really true? I read this book in nearly one sitting; it's, action packed sequel, full of twists you can't see coming. The strong ties between Deka and her friends bring necessary warmth to an otherwise dark story. Forna smartly uses this fantasy world to challenge to some important issues in the real world too. I can't wait to see how this trilogy concludes.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com