A phenomenal follow up to The Gilded Ones. I was transfixed by the story and loved the flow of the writing. Kept me compelled and on the edge of my seat

Six months after Deka discovered her identity as an immortal and powerful warrior and she and her army freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom of Otera she now has to lead an army against new enemies that threaten their kingdom.

This second volume suffers a little with 'sequel syndrome' as it's not got the immediacy and punch of the first book but the pace never lets up and the strong characters and powerful world building do sustain interest.

I really enjoyed the first book of this series The Gilded Ones so was excited to get a chance to read an advanced copy of the second book to follow on. The book begins some time from where The Gilded Ones left off and we are straight back into the action. Deka is getting ready to travel the lands and save the four mothers.
I loved that we meet new characters and find out new secrets and surprises along the way as well as catching up with some familiar faces such as Keita, Ixa and Britta who I also loved as characters and relationships they have with Deka. They overcome obstacles and once the story begins it is one battle after another, it really is fantasy heaven with lots of twists and turns.
The ending also suggests a third book to follow and who knows what will happen judging by the amount of action packed into this one. I will be recommending this book to others especially YA readers and Fantasy lovers

I had a few download issues with the book and by the time it was sorted, the file had unfortunately been achieved. Happy to re-review if it becomes available again. Thank you :)

Despite improving on some aspects that let The Gilded Ones down, other disappointments of The Merciless Ones were harder to ignore.

The six month jump between the end of The Gilded Ones and the beginning of The Merciless Ones felt very sudden, mainly for the fact this novel begins right in the middle of the action. It took a little time for me to readjust to Deka’s world and I did feel a little lost at the beginning.

However, I enjoyed the direction this novel went in. At first, I thought the plot was going to be fairly predictable but I am happy to say it took some directions I did not see coming which definitely helped keep my interest. Unfortunately, the writing really let The Merciless Ones down and I struggled to push through to the end.

Primarily, there is an awful lot of repetition of ideas very close together. In one paragraph, Deka will tell us why she is undertaking mission x, and then a paragraph or two later say the same thing again in slightly different wording. I ended up exasperated, and just wanting the story to move on.

Similarly, there is far too much telling in this novel. We are told what to think and how to interpret certain words or phrases instead of being allowed to figure it out for ourselves. What could have been amusing quips end up another source of annoyance as the jokes end up being explained, rather than trust being placed in the reader.

Overall, the premise remains fun and interesting, yet the delivery of The Merciless Ones really let it down. I can see it being a fun sequel for those who were heavily invested in the first novel, but for myself it needed to do a lot more to further my devotion.

The first book in this series was a smash hit with my students and this sequel looks like it will have the same impact. The world Namina Forna has created here is as joyoys and celebratory as it is dark and horrofying - and itis sensationa!

I am so happy this is a trilogy. This is the first series I have been really excited for in a while and the sequel reminded me why! The Merciless Ones is another fast-paced, thrilling, emotional, brutal and traumatising story. Deka is coming to terms with the discoveries and decisions she made whilst continuing on her mission for the Mothers but when their enemy learns how to deflect Deka’s power, declare allegiance to a new god and Deka senses a presence she has to question whether the truths she thought she knew are the whole truth. Everything got a whole lot bigger, even more dangerous (which I didn’t think was possible after book 1) and a whole lot more complicated in the best way. Namina Forna is simply a powerhouse of a writer. The characters have real emotional depth especially Deka as she deals with the complexity of trauma and learns how to support and be supported by others. There are some really tender, thoughtful and poignant conversations. The relationships are simultaneously tested and strengthened in unexpected ways and I cannot wait to see how the consequences of events from this book push these relationships even further in the next. Loved the twists, loved the big finale and cannot wait for book three. I just know it is going to be explosive, mind-blowing, probably heartbreaking and brilliant.

Thank you Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for the opportunity to go back to this amazing characters' story.

I loved the plot of this book as much as I loved the one of the first even though it took a 180 turn, I just love how the author is capable of putting me on the edge of my seat every time a plot twist happens.
The only thing I didn't quite enjoy was the dynamic between the main couple, in the first book I was all for it for them but on this one it just felt really boring.
And finally with that last plot twist that literally blowed my mind I can't wait to see what Deka and everyone else will deal with that revelation (that literally everyone knew it was coming but me) in the final installment of this mind blowing feminist fantasy.

Great read. I just love this world and the characters.
Deka and her group of friends have such an amazing relationship and their strength as a group is so important and fundamental in the story.
Lots of twists and mind blowing revelations, it kept me guessing until the end who could be trusted.
I can’t wait to see how Deka and her friends story ends.

Deka has freed the 'Gilded Ones', the mother goddesses of their world, but the backlash has been fierce and war continues to rage across the continent of Otera. In addition to this Deka encounters a new type of creature, seemingly impervious to her commanding voice, and a new false god rises to challenge the Gilded Ones. But as Deka tries to uncover the truth of this new deity, she begins to realise how little she knows about the history of the Gilded Ones and her own origin. Can Deka work out who the real enemy is, before her entire world is destroyed?

A thrilling, African-inspired feminist fantasy sequel - just as bloodthirsty, violent and gripping as the first book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

The Gilded Ones was a great read, but Forna has knocked it out of the park with the sequel by adding layer upon layer of complexity to the initial concept of a misogynist, patriarchal society. There are so many twists and turns to the plot that even the most seasoned YA fantasy reader will have trouble predicting where it'll go, and the character continue to leap off the page. My one gripe is that I don't really like the dialect Forna uses for Britta's character (especially when other characters from the North don't share it) but I'll overlook that for a fantastic story.

The Gilded Ones was an excellent feminist fantasy, the Merciless Ones is even better.
It's an easy or heartwarming book, sometimes I felt it was a sort of grimdark fantasy due to some very crude or violent scenes.
That said I loved this story and I think that Deka and the other characters are amongst the most interesting in the fantasy world. Like the world building and the plot.
Namina Forna is a talented storyteller and I can't wait to read the last part of this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sophie doesn’t consider herself to be much of a fantasy reader but last year she found herself thoroughly enjoying The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. The sequel – The Merciless Ones – was published yesterday and Sophie was pleased to discover that she enjoyed it just as much.

At the end of The Gilded Ones, Deka freed the goddesses and discovered her own heritage as the Nuru – their daughter. However, at the beginning of The Merciless Ones, she is beginning to have doubts. She has reason to believe that her sacred mothers are lying to her and the other alaki, and is concerned by the way the goddesses and those around them speak about men and boys.

Working to free more of her sisters and increase the power of the goddesses, Deka begins to hear whispers about the god Idugu when the men she fights display powers she cannot explain. At first, Deka believes that someone or something is using an arcane object to mimic the powers of Idugu but soon she starts to suspect that the stories told to her by the mothers may be only a partial truth. As she works with the other alaki, the deathshrieks, and the uruni, Deka must try to unravel the truth behind a game being played by gods and figure out her place – while at the same time discovering just how powerful she can become.

The Merciless Ones is not an easy book to read. At the end of The Gilded Ones, the women of Otera were just beginning to discover their own power and now, several months later, we get to see the patriarchal society they live in clamping down on this potential revolution with all the brutality it can muster. The descriptions of violence against women and girls are relentless and vivid – Sophie had to take a break and read something else at the halfway point to give herself a break from it all. However, despite all that Sophie really enjoyed this book. She loved the twists that came from the revelations about the goddesses, and the insinuation that everything might not be as picture-perfect as implied at the end of book one. Women can deceive too and things are rarely as black and white as they first appear.

The end of The Merciless Ones is clearly set up for the next installment in The Gilded Ones series and Sophie is already looking forward to seeing where this story takes us next, especially given certain things revealed toward the end of this book.

Goddesses will rise
Empires will fall
And one girl holds the power to change it all

The Merciless Ones is the fantastic sequel to the exhilarating The Gilded Ones set in the Oteran Empire. After ending in a cliffhanger in book one, the sequel begins six months later when Deka is working with the goddesses to rid the empire of the corrupt Jatu and their oppressive regime.

Deka is growing as a young woman and warrior, still trying to find her place in the world. A sinister, merciless power is threatening what Deka and her friends have fought and bled for. Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera or if she’s its biggest threat. Not everything is what it seems in the blissful world of The Gilded Ones.

The second book questions everything that Deka finds out about in The Gilded Ones and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that absolutely flips and overturns the protagonist’s position and beliefs so dramatically as in this story. I really enjoyed this aspect as it acts as the main catalyst for change in the protagonists as a whole. Deka is constantly evolving in this book and I love how the author has basically deep-dived into Deka’s mind and immersed us in how she is trying to figure out what’s going on, where she now puts herself within this world and all the pain and heartache that it means for her.Deka is far more intense as a protagonist in this novel- lots of introspection and internal monologues so the reader really feels connected to her throughout.

The sequel continues the themes of corruption/betrayal, secrets and lies, power, female friendship and kinship- again these are brought to a whole other level by Forna. Deka’s companions stick with her no matter what they face and the bonds and connections that they share are beautiful to read. They share not only love but also pain and heartache and I shed a few tears reading certain passages of the book. I found that this book evokes an even stronger emotional response- it’s truly an emotional rollercoaster not only for the characters but also the reader.

Loved the introduction of the Merciless Ones (no spoilers as to what they are!) and be prepared for savage and brutal battle scenes! There are plenty of truly terrifying and disturbing scenes, plot twists and betrayals within this story that will leave you with goosebumps.

The strength and resilience of the characters is emphasised to a greater extent in this book and I can’t wait to see how Deka’s journey ends in the third novel. It ends in a cliffhanger of sorts and sets the scene for what must be the final instalment of this epic story. One of the most original and compelling stories I’ve ever read.

The Merciless Ones will be a hit for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and the Black Panther.

Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne publishing for the arc. The Merciless Ones is out now!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for this book. I was really hyped to know how the story would continue. And I wasn't let down. A fantastic read with a stunning cover. I want more.

Warning – This review will contain spoilers for the previous book The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna its was one of my favourite reads of last year so you should read that too!

Occasionally you may hear reviewers sigh about fantasy series – too predictable tends to be an accusation. As there is an act like structure to the books we know we have the path from exploring the plot; giving us a bridge up to a grand finale. After a while you can see these things repeat but why I still like to read a series is because those cunning authors know these dangers too. Sometimes a series will take a turn you’ll not see coming and just by doing that subvert what you’ve already seen. In Namina Forna’s The Merciless Ones we get just that type of game-changing event that definitely means I’ll be ready for the ending when it arrives!

In the previous (and excellent) novel The Gilded Ones we saw the rise of Deka a young woman in the Oteran Empire. A society that very much saw women as subservient to men. Deka though has a certain ability that both made her reviled – her father and community tried to kill her but also prized by the Emperor. As an Alaki she has amazing regenerative abilities and can survive even beheading and burning. Each time her skin goes gold and allows her to repair itself. She was chosen to work for the Emperor’s own army of women fighters. But eventually Deka learns the truth the Emperor is actually supressing the Gods that made the women powerful and even Deka’s notorious foes the Deathshriekers are revealed just to be Gilded Ones. Deka leads a fightback; fights the Emperor and restored her Gods and is ready for the next big fight. But her opponents have been enhancing their own armies and Deka is about to find out what her name truly means.

Initially this second volume felt exactly what I was expecting. We find Deka now a leader of fighters working to free her trapped Gilded Ones from Oteran forces. It is so satisfying to see Deka now as a mature, confident and level-headed warrior compared to the frightened restrained woman we met a book ago. I also loved the imagination shown in the hideout of the Gilded Ones with magic rivers, many fantastic creatures and also the women fighters all learning their own powers. The reveal that the Oterans too have apparently learnt regenerative magic is quite a shock and provides a very suitable set of skilled opponents for Deka to overcome. All of which appears at first pretty much par for the course in a trilogy’s second act and yet very skilfully Forna then upturns the entire plot we have followed to date.

It's not often you get to see a book decide to question what seemed to be the first message. The Gilded ones had a great discussion of societies where women’s rights were contained and extruded. Seeing these cruel and often vile men finally humbled was indeed gratifying but Forna actually has much more to say about society’s views on gender. The matriarchal society that Deka fights for now itselgf has issues and Forna makes quite a few points about both worldviews having a very binary view on gender. The Oteran worldview is homophobic; the Gilded Ones though have very a very narrow view of what a woman is and is not; here we get to question any religious society that requires obedience. Deka has to navigate her reaction and as the apparent Chosen One for the Gilded Ones we get a much more interesting internal challenge for Deka than just another big bad to fight.

It is not though just a fascinating exploration of how narrow-minded assumptions on gender are we do get a number of well written set pieces. Deka and her team (including the irrepressibly cheeky Britta) all return to aid Deka in the fightback. Forna is not afraid to put their characters through the wringer and there are several heart in mouth scenes that spell danger for everyone. At the same time, we get some lovely quieter moments in between battles for characters to discuss things and their own feelings. Deka’s own trauma battling so much starts to drain her and watching her friends support her and take her side really helps build up a team to face the battles to come.

There is an interesting set of characters provided in contrast to Deka who have taken sides and exploring their reasons for doing so also helps explore why Deka stands out in her quest to do the right thing and also how easy a society can brainwash people into thinking a certain action or hatred is valid. This makes me ponder how often in fantasy our leads take what they are told at face value – the ability to question things is what brings about real change. The other interesting turn the book takes is the exploration of the gods both sides worship. We get a greater understanding of where they came from and what this conflict is about. It moves the action to the metaphysical and opens up the finale to come but we are moving away from just a revolution story to something really truly mythic.

As you might tell I’m being careful here about the story’s developments but it’s a really intelligent and surprising approach that took me by surprise and suggest you don’t know too much going in. There is plenty of action; character development, word changing events and an intelligent exploration of how the next revolution is not always going to mean the end of the battle for equality or justice. Young Adult books are far too often accused of a lack of complexity and depth. Forna very eloquently shows that such views are daft and again I’m very very impressed about how this series is developing. If you loved the Gilded Ones you’ll love this. If you’ve still not tried The Gilded Ones hurry up and don’t miss out. A series to watch!

The Merciless Ones is an exhilarating, thrill-packed expansion of Forna’s formidable fantasy series. Every element is developed and improved upon, enriching this imaginative and brutal series even more.

The Gilded Ones really caught my eye last year with its empowering, feminist and rich story-telling. This was a YA fantasy unlike any other. Forna kicks it up a gear here, delving even more into the graphic realities of war, oppression and manipulation. This series is not a light read, as Forna is not afraid to really go there in her nuanced and stark depiction of this world. Right from that starling opening scene, your eyes are fixed to the page. Forna does not play around, starting the book by immediately plunging you back into this incredibly violent world. Still, there is this incredibly rich and evocative quality to Forna’s writing that never fails to totally immerse me in her three-dimensional world. Every detail is fleshed out, until all your senses are awoken and plugged into her intricately created landscape.

After that plot twist and cliffhanger at the end of The Gilded Ones, I needed to know more and Forna delivered in every way. The tension only ever ratchets up more, which I’m not sure was possible. Everything you thought you knew, you do not. This is a constantly surprising and engaging book and I am excited to see how the story continues. We are treated to plenty of twists, turns and betrayals, undermining everything that has previously transpired. Woven into this is a multi-faceted exploration of the effects of trauma on individuals, with plenty of character development and some intriguing arcs emerging. They are all so fractured and emotionally vulnerable, creating a tangible connection between character and reader.

The Merciless Ones is a stirring continuation of a continually challenging and unique YA fantasy series that deserves to be read by everyone.

4.5 stars (minor spoilers)

Another amazing story by Namina Forna.

The merciless ones continues with Deka and her friends journeys to uncover the truth about the gods she now serves.

Similarly to the first book, it’s full of plot and action but I also enjoyed the character development in the sequel. It was great to see more of Britta and Keita’s relationships with Deka develop and I enjoyed the moments with each of them respectively. Ixa is my favourite addition to the stories and feel he adds some lightness to the story.

The plot is complex but great, I didn’t guess any of the twists until the author wanted us to and overall really enjoyed it.

Again, like the first book I can’t give it 5 stars because for me it didn’t have the addictive or highly emotional aspect I look for in a 5 star read.

Finished reading 6 April - 27 May 2022

Less than 5-word critique; thought-provoking, gripping, and excellent.

To me, "The Merciless Ones" felt like a MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) film for the following reasons; action sequences, emotional weight, moments that leave you on the edge of your seat, gasping, and full of twists and turns. To be honest, the first couple of pages felt a bit slow but after a while, things get a little more intriguing to the point of you wanting to know what happens next. And it's one of those sequels that I enjoyed more than the first one.

The sequel follows Deka's life-changing adventure after the first book, and this time, she and her friends discover that something feels fishy about their latest mission which causes them to question everything they know and love.

Forna's writing is done beautifully, brilliantly mixing comedy and drama all at once.
The characters are vibrant and well-developed. Without giving too much away, there are those who get awesome moments to shine like the main protagonist.
Like The Gilded Ones, it deals with heavy themes, such as graphic violence.
The settings are excellently described too.

Recommended to those who enjoy;
*"Black Panther" and "Children of Blood and Bone"
*Fantasy
*Fascinating animals, magic and non-magic
*Strong characters
*Feminism
*Strong friendships and relationships
*Awesome action sequences
*African-inspired aspects

Thank you so much NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for this copy. I really appreciate it.

It took me way longer to get into the story in this one than The gilded ones but I still enjoyed it. I can't wait to see what the 3rd book will bring.
I really enjoy Namina Forna's writing style. Her characters and storyline are written great.
I will probably reread this book when I get a physical copy to see if it is easier to get into the storyline then

3.5 stars