So much has changed since the beginning of the Gilded Ones, and the Merciless Ones is no less full of twists and turns. It's dramatic, action packed and unpredictable. The Merciless Ones is full of world building as we slowly learn the backstory of the Gods of this world. I really enjoyed following along with Deka as the assumptions and beliefs she held true get tested. The nature of the plot means it does jump around a lot, and there are a fair few sudden reveals of immense previously unknown powers, but it kept me immersed. It's definitely worth picking up for fans of the Gilded Ones.

I really wanted to like this, but reading it reminded me that I wasn't a fan of the first book.

The writing style is part of the problem. I feel that when someone writes a duologu or a trilogy, they should assume the reader read book one, and not spend a long time recapping and explaining everything from the first book. But that's exactly what happens here. And because it's done in Dekas voice it makes her sound pretensious. She is constantly harping on about characters and history and what her father did. It was just too much for me.

And then there were the other characters. What was going on with Brittas voice? Ok, I get it, she was a country girl but the dialect comes across as niave. The characters felt flat to me. I just couldn't get behind any of them really. They all seemed childish and yet are meant to be warriors.

Another reason for only 3 stars is the author's obsession with the word of the day genuflect. It was overused in my opinion. And the pace wasn't there, probably because Deka keeps recapping everything and having flashbacks, but the fights were basically the same, Ixa saving the day, Britta blowing stuff up and then Keita suddenly getting powers. It was like every time the characters got stuck or led into a trap, one of them developed a power and they all jumped on the back of Ixa and flew away. Only for Deka to then hand herself in every 5 minutes and wait for another predictable battle.

Sorry. This is a crowded market and whilst the ideas are good, they haven't translated to paper.

In this sequel Deka has become the Nuru, daughter of the Goddesses, key to their freedom. Her world should be getting better, instead their is war and the persecution of girls is still increasing. A new enemy appears who seems to resist Deka's powers. The Goddesses give her a new mission and with the help of her friends can Deka face old enemies and new?

Sequels are always tricky once the character set up and world building is done where does the story head. In this case the story questions everything Deka thought she knew. The constant is Deka's friendships and relationship with Keita and it's a shame that there isn't always much time for that. It will be very interesting to see where the next book goes.

I was concerned that I wouldn’t remember specific details from the first book. This covers anything you need without going over the whole book again. It’s done smoothly and without any distraction from the new plot.

I think our protagonist has developed well and believably into this next book in the series.

Love weaving of all the different issues within modern society but shown in the magical world created.

I loved this one more than the first!

I loved Deka as the main character she is flawed in all the best ways and seeing her relationships in the book was my favourite part, even her relationship with Kieta who I didn't really care all that much about in the first book.
The character development was brilliant to read and I loved reading about Deka evolving from someone who will blindly follow her Gods/Mothers into someone who follows her own mind, I can't wait to read the third book in this series to see how the end will develop.

A brilliant sequel to The Gilded Ones, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading last year. The world-building and extension in this novel is consistent and believable, and I love the parallels to the world we live in, no matter how eerie. As always I cannot wait for the next instalment of this series and am forever rooting for Deka and the team!

Deka has freed the Mothers from their prison and now leads the Alaki warriors Deathshrieks in trying to liberate Otera from the lies of Oyomo and his patriarchal followers. But the perfect world she’d hoped to create feels as far from her reach as ever. Their sworn enemy, the Jatu, have found power in a strange symbol that seems to affect her powers. Backed by her friends, every step she takes brings her further into her power, and closer to a truth she doesn’t want to hear…

I had a great time with this book. Book one was focused on how the patriarchy oppresses and affects women and the need to overcome this. This book explores how single-gender supremacy affects people of every gender and every sexuality. There’s a lot of representation in this book, and with its focus on found family, friendship and support, there’s a very wholesome feel to it. Despite, you know, all the death and drama.

I saw all the twists and plot developments coming long before they reared their heads, but it’s the mark of a good story – and good character development – that it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story at all.

Mostly, I felt an overwhelming glee reading this story. When I was younger, I didn’t really know about reading diversely. It wasn’t something I tried to do, or actively sought out. I just bought books that were in my local Waterstones from our tiny little sci-fi and fantasy section. I would never have found anything like this in there. The fact that this book exists now, with its wide range of representation and its examination of feminism, fills me with joy.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
Genre: Fantasy, YA
LGBTQ+ Representation: Sapphic, Achillean, trans woman, NB, polyamory, queerplatonic relationship, intersex character
Trigger Warnings: Mentioned homophobia, mentioned racism, mentioned child abuse, mentioned transphobia, implied sexual violence
Would I recommend this? Yes
Would I read a sequel? Yes

I was excited to follow Deka and her friends on Themis new adventure but I got very frustrated with Deka's character. I know it's normal in fantasy for the main lead to be unworthy of the powers bestowed upon them but this has to be the most unworthy. Also, I don't see the point of any of the killings or wars. I had nothing and no one to root for and I think that's where my problem lies

As promised, here I'm talking about the second volume of Namina Forna's Deathless series.
I previously told you about the first novel, The Gilded Ones, its pros and cons. Although I wasn't very excited about it, I think the author still laid the groundwork for a crackling sequel. And it did.

Since Deka released the goddesses and discovered her true nature, three months have now passed.
With wars going on in all parts of the world, Deka is not looked upon favorably. In fact, she is seen as a monster.
Deka, however, does not give up and embarks on her crusade to free the rest of the goddesses.
During her quest, however, she notices that once the goddesses are freed, strange symbols begin to appear in the places of worship and just looking at them, Deka faints (what a novelty, eh?).
These symbols, however, also block her powers and in that moment she is weak and defenseless.
Deka, however, is stubborn and wants to free all the goddesses, even if she is aware that on the other side there is someone who opposes her advance.

The Merciless Ones, compared to The Gilded Ones, is much more adventurous and involves the reader more. Something that didn't happen to me with the first novel.
In this one there is an extra gear, I followed with great interest the adventures of Deka and the connections between her and the symbols that appear in the places of worship.
The figure of the woman is prominent and imposing, I like how the author has made them strong and independent.
This time the worldbuilding was more researched, in the first it was almost non-existent.
The cons of this novel? Deka passing out every two for three, just as she did in the first one. Come on!

I can't wait to read the third and final chapter in the series, after this chapter, my expectations in this regard are high.

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.