User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
update: we now have a title, a release date, and a cover. may i just say...talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the sa—
february 20th, 2021the book:
• no title
• no cover
• no release date
me: i need it now.
Rating: really liked it
For me,
The Merciless Ones succeeded more thematically than it did in practice. I’m hesitant to call any book set in such an oppressive society “fun”, but I can’t say this one left me breathless in the same way The Gilded Ones did. It’s been over two years since I’ve read the first book in the series, but it’s been a consistent crowd-pleaser even amongst friends of mine who don’t read a ton in this genre. And unfortunately, I think the scarcity of both figurative and literal human elements in the book held it back from reaching the level of its predecessor.
Deka, by nature of what her character has become, felt very disconnected from her peers the majority of the time. She alone was able to converse with the gods, so all of the important exposition and big reveals happened while she was alone, usually telepathically. A pattern began to emerge for me—(view spoiler)
[from the private god talk to the reviving Jatu to Deka being shocked every time someone lied to her (hide spoiler)]—and blunted the stakes somewhat.
Without getting too deeply into the plot, there’s a pretty significant pivot in how we’re meant to perceive the gods, with Deka slowly peeling back the layers of myth from truth in the stories surrounding the Gilded Ones. Forna’s use of fantasy to confront gendered violence was so well executed in the first novel that it’s really interesting to see how she’s decided to tackle the topic in the second installment. (view spoiler)
[What I became a little hesitant of within this feminist interpretation is how quickly the narrative seemed to flip to something resembling “both sides-ism”. Instead of focusing on the gender of the gods and humans, the power dynamics took on a class structure. The ruling class (the gods) are using humans both as a food source and a weapon, forcing confrontation between the two groups based on irrelevant qualities. (hide spoiler)]I found the rest of the commentary on gender and identity smartly done—gender roles are an invention, its stereotypes are arbitrary, anyone can be an oppressor, one group’s survival should not depend on another’s oppression, etc. Though we don’t end up going very deep with anyone besides Deka, I know even the inclusion of characters from so many marginalized communities will mean a good deal to readers who relate to them.
I did find the pairing off of literally every single named character with one another to be an unnecessary exercise. So much of the character development in
The Gilded Ones occurred through the friendships forged between the alaki, and from the constant forced couplings and the number of scenes where Deka is lost in her own head, there wasn’t much room for those kinds of relationships to flourish. Come to think of it, the only supporting character that had a solid, emotional presence was Britta. Keita could have been replaced by a broom half the time and you’d never know.
I think there’s two kinds of second books in trilogies, either they’re climaxes (The Wicked King, The Kingdom of Copper, Thunderhead) or they’re connectors (Siege and Storm, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, The Obelisk Gate). One is not better than the other, but I feel like I’ve read more connectors than climaxes, and
The Merciless Ones is likely going to end up under the ‘connector’ umbrella. But some of the best series, like
Broken Earth, are able to make the most of that position in the trilogy and set up an incredible finale. I retain my high hopes for the last leg of Deka’s story but hope she and her friends are able to recapture some of the magic from the first book.
Also, they audiobook was very well done for anyone interested.
*Thanks to Delacorte Books for the complimentary copy and PRH Audio for the ALC!**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Rating: really liked it
This was an anticipated release, I read and loved The Gilded Ones so much and I was itching to get back into Deka's world and see what she does next. However. This story... wasn't quite what I expected.
At lot of the humour and wit of The Gilded Ones, and the friendship bonds that Deka and her friends have, seems to be a little missing here. Instead, the focus switches over the (excessive) use of Arcane Objects and Divine Gifts, which never really made an appearance in Gilded.
Another thing that never appeared in Gilded were Queer people, and it was a little jarring to see so many of us basically stuffed into this book. There's not many new Queer characters either, leading me to wonder why they were all revealed to be Queer here, and there was no hint of that in the first book.
I did have to slog through a lot of this story, but I will say that the ending was really, really good, almost making me excited to read the final book, although I am still wary due to how much I had to push myself to get through this book. I'm hoping it's just a case of Second Book Syndrome.
Rating: really liked it
This sequel of The Gilded Ones starts with four female corpses around Deka’s age, and that scene alone, that sentence actually, got my eyes glued to the pages right away.
What I loved most about the first book was the writing, lush and even lyrical at times. The moment I started reading, I immediately recognized the same writing, and I was so happy about that. Whereas The Gilded Ones was focused on racism and sexism in a world where men dominate, The Merciless Ones concentrates far more on gender identity and sexuality. I was really pleased to see so much more queer representation. Therefore, I highly recommend this story to people who mainly read queer stories. Because it’s a trilogy, I’d suggest reading The Gilded Ones first.
Some things I liked a little less. I found the pacing off at times, and I could see the plot twists coming from a million miles. Because of that, I felt that this book was a bit less exciting than the first one.
My actual rating is somewhere between 3.5 and four stars (where are those half stars when you need them!), and I round it up because overall, I really enjoyed the story.
I received an ARC from Usborne Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Rating: really liked it
I loved The Gilded Ones and was so excited to jump right into the second book. While I did enjoy some aspects of this, I was overall a little disappointed.
First, some of the things I liked. I've enjoyed watching Deka grow in her confidence. I really loved the friendships that have evolved and the trust and loyalty that have developed between the characters. I also enjoyed learning more about the relationships between the gods.
There were several things that bothered me. First was the pacing. I felt this book was so fast-paced that I didn't really get to sink my teeth in and enjoy each moment. One scene flitted so quickly to the next that it seemed quite jerky and rushed. I would have really enjoyed more details about the history of the gods. I also loved the idea of doors leading to other realms and would have liked to learn more about them.
Second, while I loved Deka's development in the first book, I felt like she became too powerful here, to the point that her arc started to feel unbelievable. Throughout the book she discovers one power after another and learns one earth-shattering revelation about herself after another, that the intended shock began to wear off and I was left with an overwhelming urge to roll my eyes. I didn't like that the author gave her so many gifts. I no longer felt any sympathy for her plight or wondered how she would get out of the next scrape. Never fear, here is another astoundingly powerful gift to fix everything!!
And lastly, I didn't like how almost every character paired up romantically with someone else. While I'm a sucker for a good lovestory, the quick and off-handed pairing up felt unnecessary and again, rushed.
Overall, I did like the book. But I would have enjoyed it more if some parts were more detailed and others left out completely. I also would have preferred it if Deka had more of the struggle and humanity I felt from her in the first book. I'll probably read the last book, but my eagerness has wilted a bit.
The Merciless Ones will be released in May 31, 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 StarsThis sequel to The Gilded Ones starts off with a bang and the violence, horror, and brutality that our heroine Deka goes through is pretty much nonstop.
Make no bones about it, this world is not nice and it certainly isn’t pretty. Having fought valiantly to sever the bonds that held her prisoner, Deka and her friends have escaped their cruel patriarchal society and are set to rebuild their lives with the newly freed goddesses who promote equality and peace.
Well, the dream had to die at some point right? Secrets abound, sinister plots have been in the making for thousands of years, and what Deka and her friends find out is that they’re far from winning the war because of course, their and everyone else’s existence is in danger of extinction.
Never shirking on tough topics of religion, oppression, and slavery, this world holds nothing back on callous self-serving power plays nor the gory cruel bloodshed. This might be YA, but it surely is rated R. However, because of the depressing heavy themes dealt with, no one will be surprised that there’s very little enjoyment here, hence the lower rating. Regardless, I look forward to Deka coming into her full glory and saving herself, her found family and ultimately, the entire world of Otera in the last installment to come!
Rating: really liked it
See, I was planning on reading this in two or three goes to stretch it out, but once
The Merciless Ones sunk its claws into me, it didn't let go and I had to read the whole book at once, naturally.
Similarly to the first one, this one is also fast paced and doesn't feel long. I think it's a bit longer page wise, but yeah, I was too immersed to notice.
It was at the 5% mark that I cried the
first time. And rest assured that I cried many times after that too. So expect the same amount of emotion, as book one had.
What I love is how easy it was to jump back into the world, even though it's been a year and 4 months since I last saw these characters. To be honest, they've been living in my head rent free so it's not all that surprising.
Deka and her friends grow as the story goes on, some mentally and others physically (like in Ixa's case). Ixa is just as adorable as he was, maybe even more so.
As for the romance part, I can't tell if there's less of it or around the same amount as before? Everyone is so busy fighting that there's hardly time for anything else, which is accurate, and it makes those few stolen moments much sweeter.
The lgbt characters are featured a lot more too. As well as slightly different but no less important themes.
And WE HAVE PLOT TWISTS AND BETRAYALS GALORE! Some I saw coming, others I had to follow the clues for. And it's because of those plot twists, that the book ends on a semi cliffhanger, but at the same time has a good amount of stuff wrapped up.
Just know that when you pick this up, you'll HAVE TO read book three, it's a must. And obviously if you haven't read
The Gilded Ones yet (what are you doing with your life?), you should read that first to get the full story.
I know that I'll be (not so) patiently counting down the days until one of my ultimate favourite series reaches its conclusion. Come, join me.
*Huge thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: really liked it
“There’s nothing worse than ordinary men.”Sadly, this really didn’t live up to its predecessor and falls into several of the traps and issues that second books in a trilogy suffer from: super powered MC, contrived plotting meant to force a turning point in the series, large info dumps for a super expanded world, slow pacing.
Deka’s power is seemingly limitless and always convenient at every turn or battle which got old very quickly. While I loved that in book 1 Deka had to fight and struggle to come into her own, here she feels like a power vessel, getting all these divine gifts one after another and not always with purpose or to help her grow. We also see her get increasingly isolated from the rest of the alaki which was an interesting choice since that bonding and friendship was so central in the first book.
“There is nothing in my life so painful that I would destroy all of who I am to erase it.”There is also so much talk of memories and how pain and trauma molds and shapes us, so again, it’s an interesting and almost strange choice the way the alaki and other supporting characters are seemingly forced aside like Deka no longer needs them or is too important for them, even though that shared trauma and healing was pivotal for all of them in the previous book.
This lacks the finesse and clever plotting, endearing characters, and cutting commentary that made book 1 such a success. Despite blaring examples, it’s as if Deka wills herself to be ignorant and fooled of the truth, which is frustrating time and again.
There’s also just so much included in this book that never featured or was mentioned in book 1. So much happens off page or with brief references to taking place during the gap time between books that it feels disorienting and doesn’t improve as we move forward. It definitely feels like the author changed course on the trilogy and added in a lot of other elements and perspectives that didn’t seem at all central before. For example, arcane objects didn’t feature in book 1, but now they’re everywhere, can do anything, and are always tipping the scales.
This felt too convenient to spread the wealth of power and could have been better incorporated instead of just being wielded as magical bazukas. There’s several other terms and powers introduced with little time spent letting them land with the audience so this quickly felt confusing, convoluted, and overwhelming. It was disconnected and felt like the start of an entirely different series.
Next, the twists didn’t land as surprising or shocking because early on you could feel that not everything is at it seems and Deka is all too eager to trust in any new power system that instead places women at the helm. We also get a lot of heavy handed hints throughout that it felt like the author didn’t trust the audience to be able to put it together or grasp the grander viewpoint. And that might be true because we’re too busy being bogged down with the introduction of so many divine entities and ghouly things.
Where the disconnect between books really comes through though, is in how this evolves from a “take down of the patriarchy, feminist rage arc” to a generalized fight against all inequality. We see it first with several characters decrying the position of women at the top of the power chain, while men are viewed as less than by the Mothers, and then it evolves to include other marginalized communities and groups of people. I feel like I can understand where the author was trying to lead us with this, but I also can’t say it felt as well executed in the way feminist rage against the patriarchal power structure was presented and discussed in book 1.
“But humans always hurt the ones they cannot easily measure.”I’ll put this next piece in spoiler tags to be safe and not ruin anyones reading journey.
(view spoiler)
[Ultimately, while I admire the author taking on the very societal concept of genders, I will say this didn’t carry that same level of execution in the way book 1 tackles the patriarchy and misogyny, the strong feminist voice and fury that seemed emblematic of this series. By turning this into a humans vs Gods conflict, I feel that a lot of the inroads made were wiped away or lessened, as the focus is now not on how women have been subjugated, and not even on how humans have created these political power systems placing men at the apex, but instead, that the divine have.
Which just rubs me the wrong way because I think the reckoning and accountability should have stayed with the humans. In this sense, it becomes easy to blame the humans for just doing what the Gods pushed them into, therefore removing humanity’s agency and to a large extent, their culpability for the brutalities of the society Deka grew up in and was fighting against.
I also find it strange that agency is essentially removed from humanity, when agency is expressly discussed with Keita and the aleki in terms of accepting Deka’s strength to make them immortal and their actions in battle. The notion that Deka didn’t make Keita a monster with him stating he is what he is because of his own choice, he chose to do battle and kill, he chose to accept Deka’s gift and come into his fire. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that humanity must do the same?
Lastly, with the introduction of the non-binary God, of which we now know Deka is descended from, or their “first born”, and discussion that Deka’s human body is decaying and breaking down, her vessel not yet divine, it makes me wonder if we’re going in the direction of having Deka ultimately identify as non-binary. If that happens, what happens to the very specific, very detailed gendered violence and oppression that defined book 1? How would making Deka a female first be explained? Does that finish dismantling the arc and story the first book set up in the way all these new elements have already started to? It’s an interesting potential change and I feel like the author has left enough big hints that the door seems wide open.
(hide spoiler)]I’m hopeful book 3 somehow gets us back on track or at least shares the burden for creating a better world with the men in power and humans, not just remaking the divine status quo.
Rating: really liked it
HOW THE HECK CAN I WAIT UNTIL APRIL 5th FOR THIS?? The cover, the ending of its prequel, it has me PUMPED.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 StarsDon’t let my rating fool you. This YA fantasy series is a wild-ride, full of cross-country adventure, heart-stopping fight scenes, moral questing, and so much loyalty, love and friendship among the core characters that makes the stakes particularly high.
This isn’t a standalone. The story is complex and very much carries on from the events that took place in The Gilded Ones. Deka and her friends face newer, more ruthless challenges, questioning their missions and the truth of what they’ve been told, when one reveal after another puts everything they think they know into question.
The story is unending in its brutally, which always takes me by surprise (but shouldn’t), considering its target audience. The world Deka and her friends inhabit is cruel and unforgiving and it often takes me a hot minute to reconcile with the things these characters have to do to survive.
For the most part, this was a strong sequel, both action-packed and emotionally wrought, building nicely on the foundations laid in book one. Unfortunately, though, my attention waned a time or ten, making this a more prolonged reading experience than is typical for me. I think my problems here came twofold…
Firstly, I struggled with Deka’s behaviour and decision making, over and over again. For an immortally super-powered warrior woman, she certainly became inept or unconscious a hell of a lot. There was also one or more emotionally charged breakdowns in there too, which, sure, made sense considering the devastation she faced and the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, but it still felt a tad out of place at times. Had it not been for the calming, logical, rational minds of her closest friends—I’m looking at you Keita, Britta and Belcalis—I fear Deka’s choices/behaviour may have ended the story in a whole different way.
Secondly, the plot took a side turn I wasn’t expecting, which muddled the core themes and ideas in my mind regarding what this series was even about, thematically speaking. Many readers will love the twists and turns and the layer upon layer of reveals made throughout the telling of this sequel, but my mind was overloaded; it felt like too much too fast. But at the same time, some things that were written as shocking reveals, seemed obvious to me, particularly to do with The Gilded Ones.
What I continue to love about this series is the female empowerment and the diversity represented in these strong, intelligent and imperturbable core characters. And it’s in this cast of support characters—among the dearest and closest to Deka—that the story is its most engaging. Thankfully, these characters spend the entirety of the story at Deka’s side, travelling across Otera on one mission or another, so the presence of my favourites is always there, which I have no doubt helped hold my attention at times that my focus may have been further waylaid.
By the end, so much has been revealed and so much still needs to be done for these characters to find peace of mind and happiness in their lives, and because of this, reading book three will be an absolute no-brainer for me.
Rating: really liked it
SUCH A STUNNING COVER
I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS
Rating: really liked it
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#1 The Gilded Ones - ★★★★★
#2 The Merciless Ones - TBR
#3 Untitled - TBR
IT'S TIME! I FINALLY HAVE THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS. I'M NOT SCREAMING, YOU'RE SCREAMING!!!
Starting to read it now, so excited!
FINISHED - Review coming soon, that ending was everything, can't wait for book 3!
Rating: really liked it
I didn't love it as much as I loved
The Gilded Ones (this is a theme for my sequels this year), but it was still fantastic!!
I really, really liked the direction Forna takes this one—I ended
The Gilded Ones on an iffy note, and my suspicions were confirmed.
Full RTC, and it's going to be spoilery because...if you haven't read the first one there will be spoilers.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rating: really liked it
#1) The Gilded Ones ★★★★☆
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
Rating: really liked it
The Merciless Ones continues where the Gilded Ones left off. A dark, epic fantasy, I have to admit while I did enjoy reading this, it did feel somewhat dense at time. I do kind of feel like there there are too many characters and it got hard to keep track of them, but the world building and the mythological system was brilliant.
