My Rating: 2.75/5

This was a long sequel to The Gilded Ones. Things you need to look out for are the twists and the friendship dynamic. Please keep in mind there are too many graphic scenes in the story. Besides that, the ending was terrific, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

(Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the eARC of the book!)

The author took me on a ride! This book is so interesting and well-written. Not often that I’m surprised by a plot! I loved every minute of it. I recommend this book for fans of N.K. Jemison and The Hunger Games. I only wish I had reread the first book of the series so I could seamlessly dive right in - but no matter, I will before I read The Merciless Ones again (it was that good!!) highly recommend!!!!!

I am screaming! In that good frustrated way of course. I was not ready for this book, I thought I was ready, but in fact I really truly wasn’t. We are places back in right where we left off from The Gilded Ones. Chaos, mayhem and all that jazz. Can’t get any worse right? WRONG!! Oh so very wrong. This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The character development between book one and this book is phenomenal, the drama is on point, at times I was sitting there mouth hanging wide open with people looking at me like something was wrong. Can we say book hangover? Absolutely. Now the wait for the next installment (please don’t be too long).

I was really happy to get back into this world. It was so action packed and I got my socks knocked off with all of these revelations that happened. I loved elevated levels of magic that I wasn't expecting! I'm so anxious for book three and find out how the whole series would end. Namina did have me in my feelings and stressed out at times! I hope she doesn't make us wait too long for book 3!

I really love the first book in the series, The Gilded Ones, and this was a great follow up. There is a lot of ground to cover so it did have a bit of a slower pace but still a great sequel.

I was on a blog tour for this and this book is very different from the first book. Fans of the series will absolutely adore it!

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Namina is a genius and no one can convince me otherwise. This series is masterfully written and I can't get over how good it is. The world building, character development, all of it is fantastic. This is another page turner and one I couldn't put down!

Completely separate from the book, but can we just talk about what a disappointment the cover is? The cover for The Gilded Ones was fire, but this? I mean, it’s not bad, but it’s nowhere near as great. This was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year, and it didn’t disappoint. Since this is the second book in a trilogy, this review will contain spoilers for the first book.

Deka has taken her place as the Nuru, the chosen one of the Gilded Ones, the four goddesses who have promised to overthrow the misogynistic priests and bring peace to Otera. But if this is a step toward peace in Otera, then why does everything feel wrong to Deka? Her divine powers set her farther and farther away from her friends, women and girls across Otera are being killed in response to the revolution she started, and the Firstborn seem outright dismissive of anyone who isn’t alaki. Even worse, a dark force is at work to oppose the goddesses, and it seems like only Deka and her friends can stop it. But nothing is as it seems, and Deka will be faced with one impossible decision after another.

“You have to start believing in yourself, Deka, in your own mind. Your own soundness. If not, others will take advantage of you, turn your uncertainty into a weapon. Learn to trust in yourself. That is one of the primary marks of a great leader. A general.”


Despite all her divine gifts, Deka’s really quite young and not very experienced as a leader. From the very first pages of the book, which starts six months after Deka freed the mothers, Deka is constantly reminded of all her failures. Women – even ones who aren’t bloodsisters – are being hurt and killed and an army is being formed by the jatu. Hemaira, the capital, remains firmly under jatu control, despite everything Deka and the alaki throw at it. Even though the battle has hardly begun, Deka is already tired and dreaming of a time when she can just be herself somewhere far away with her friends. Her memories of the torture she suffered still plague her, and her position as Nuru separates her from her friends. The chance to go on a mission with all of them, one that will hopefully reveal how to conquer Hemaira, is almost a relief. But little does Deka realize how this journey will test everything she thinks she knows.

“There is a saying, Deka: when gods dance, humanity trembles. And a lot of dancing is happening these days. Thankfully, as the Nuru, you have a say in the direction of the dance.”


There’s a lot of action in this book, but there’s also a lot of Deka’s internal growth. There’s no question she’s having a rough time with her position, whether that’s within her friend group or with the alaki or the Gilded Ones. This is a story of betrayal and trust, connections to friends and kin, and resilience. The amount of growth that Deka goes through in a relatively short period of time is rough on her (and me, the reader, as well!). There’s something about this author’s writing that just draws me in and fully immerses me in a character’s head, and it makes the joys and the heartbreaks especially poignant.

Of course, plenty of characters from the first book are included. I was absolutely delighted to see Ixa again, and to see how he grows with Deka (sometimes literally!). Britta and Deka’s friendship remains another of my favorite parts of the book, and White Hands is slowly growing on me as a character. And then there’s Keita and Deka. I think the biggest missteps in this book are in the romantic subplots. They’re very minimal and underdeveloped, even Deka’s relationship with Keita. There’s so many other things going on that the characters barely get a chance to breathe, so while there were a few sweet moments, they were few and far between. There was also a tendency to pair off everyone with what seemed like insufficient development to me. Related to all that action, the pacing felt off. I can’t decide if it was too fast or too slow, which I’m guessing is a problem in and of itself. Some plot points are a bit predictable, but as I enjoyed them anyway, I don’t feel like I can complain too much about them.

Overall, this was a very much anticipated book for me, and it definitely lived up to the first! I am beyond impatient for the last book in the trilogy!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC copy in exchange for a review!

I loved this sequel to The Gilded Ones. I really enjoyed it and continuing to see the world of Otera grow. I think I enjoyed this story more, I really enjoyed the role of the gods and their influence on both Otera and Deka and her friends. How the plot was written and unfolded was well done and left me with plenty of jaw drops, gasps, and omg moments. I also loved the characters. I loved seeing Deka’s found family with her friends especially her relationships with Britta and Keita. Their journey through this book was filled with so much emotion and grief, a lot of from the first one, and to see them, especially Deka, deal and grow with them. And I really loved Deka’s growth in this book and can’t wait to see it continue in the next one.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend that you read this series!

Read if you’re looking for…
•Found family
•Women led/feminist story
•Black MC
•Questionable Gods

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⭐️ (4.5 stars)

In The Merciless Ones, Forna takes Otera, a world already filled to the brim with a vast, rich, and diverse culture, and expands it even further! Through the sequel to The Gilded Ones, Deka’s world is further explored, more locations visited, more residents introduced, and even more of its history brought to light.

This book wastes no time, immediately dropping the reader back into the throws of conflict between the alaki and the high priests. The narration does a very skilled job of re-familiarizing the reader with all that has come to pass in the previous novel while also introducing everything new since it’s story left off. I did find the beginning quick exposition-heavy, but not necessarily in a bad way, since the world itself was so intriguing. Forna certainly knows how to describe some of the most imaginative environments I’ve ever read about.

The Merciless Ones is chock-full of action, adventure, and intrigue, and jumps from one intense scene to the next as Deka and her friends make their way across Otera and to the Grand Temple of Hemaira. There were a few moments that did feel a bit abrupt, and well, a little too convenient for the characters. Some literal divine intervention, if you will. But that’s not uncommon in a “chosen one” plotline, and since this novel fully deals with divinity, it’s to be expected.

But, what I liked best about this novel was its depth. Following in its predecessor’s footsteps, The Merciless Ones continues to tackle gender politics and patriarchy while adding gender and sexuality diversity, identity, and religion to the roster. I loved the expanded discussion of how Otera’s patriarchal society affects those not previously mentioned, including queer, trans, and non-binary individuals.

The diversity of the cast was also explored here, and gratefully so. Despite this novel including such a wide variety of characters, Forna does a good job of rounding them, making them feel like real individuals with their own unique backgrounds and experiences. It was nice to be afforded more time to delve into some of these side characters’ storylines more completely in The Merciless Ones.

And rep was fantastic! Not just one or two queer characters to fill a quota, but many, fully actualized individuals from across the spectrum were presented here. All with their own histories, motivations, and challenges to overcome. I truly feel like I connected with more characters in this novel than almost any other book I’ve ever read with such a large ensemble cast.

Honestly, shout-out to the found family dynamics and friendships throughout this novel too. They were ideal. Deka and Britta’s friendship in particular was just utterly fantastic. Really, I can’t recommend this book enough. If you enjoyed The Gilded Ones, you have definitely got to read this sequel, it does not disappoint!

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours and the publisher, Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

The Merciless Ones is a brilliantly written second act. The lush and lyrical writing keeps you enthralled for the entirety of its 432 pages. The journey that Deka and her friends start in the Gilded Ones increasingly more difficult when they discover that what they thought they knew may not be the truth. Their quest for the truth explores gender identity and sexuality without becoming overbearing and keeping the reader actively involved in the story. It's a great read and I look forward to reading book three.

This one was a great book but not as good as the initial installments. Some of the tropes seemed to take away from the story and the book overall seemed like a filler to get us to the next book. Some of the important reveals were presented well and the pacing was excellent.

It's so incredibly rare that I find the second book in a series to be better than the first, let alone this much better. Both the plot and the narrative style seem much improved and the characters more engaging than The Gilded Ones. I'm eager to continue along Deka's journey with her and see how this unfolds.

The Merciless Ones is the second part in a series by Namina Forna. Previously I’ve read and enjoyed The Gilded Ones and I really was looking forward to this part, but will this one be just as good?

Six months ago, Deka freed the goddesses and has found that she is the Naru. Now there are wars waging across the kingdom, and Deka is considerd a monsters. But when the real battle begins, Deka must lead the charge and is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. During her mission she comes across a strange symbol which seems to block her powers. Deka knows this is just the beginning, but what else will come? What will Deka discover in the battle?

In The Merciless Ones mysteries will be uncovered. Because the truths Deka thought she knew, don’t always seem what they are. Therefore this book is just full of plot twists and mystery.

Namina Forna has a nice writing style, but her books can be a bit femine at some times. This is something you must like, because other wise it can be a deal breaker. For me this wasn’t a problem, however I felt like it could have been a bit less at some parts.

In this book Deka is worked out even further, and as truths are revealed she grows as a person. However the rest of the her fighting group I found a bit naive in this book. When Deka says or discovers something, the rest just believes or follows her. Therefore I think that the relation between characters could have been better worked out.

This book with the lots of plot twist has managed to surprise me again, however some things could have been worked out better. Therefore I give 4 stars to The Merciless Ones, and because of the cliffhanger I can’t wait for the sequel.

I really enjoyed this sequel. Where The Gilded Ones appealed to action-driven readers, The Merciless Ones went deeper into the characters and development of Deka and her friends. Ixa, as always, threatened to just steal the whole show in every scene she popped up in. Overall, between the plotline and the balance of action to character work these two books complement each other beautifully.

Wow! I didn’t see many of the new struggles that Deka faced coming, but neither did she
How intriguing this story was as the characters tried to rebuild Otera. I can’t wait to see what happens as the battle rages on!

Thank you so much TBR and Beyond Tours for allowing me to be part of this book tour and for sending me an eARC through Netgalley!

"'I can feel how much pain yer in, an' ye have to let yerself feel it too. I know ye don't like to feel weak, but grief is like the ocean. It ebbs an' flows, an' it takes ye by surprise. Ye can't control the ocean, my love, no matter how much ye try. Ye just have to follow it where it leads.'"

To convince you to read this series (and this book), all I need to say are five words: oppressed females who rise up.

In all seriousness though, here's a full review:

The characters in this book are top-notch. Deka was (for the most part) a believable and likable character. Sometimes her naivete or pointing out the obvious was a little annoying (like no crap, Sherlock moments lol), and the amount of power she gained in this book took the Chosen One trope a little too far IMO. However, her development through this book was astounding. But the fact that she (and her friends) frequently commented on her changing made it feel forced at times. Britta has to be my favorite character cause she cares so much for others, despite the brutalities inflicted on her and those she loves. I wish Forna would've included Keita more in the story (I wish Deka wasn't the ONLY one who really had a character arc). I think it would've made the story even more interesting if we had gotten Keita's and/or Britta's POV. Deka and her bloodsisters (and their Uruni) are #squadgoals.

The writing is SO much better than the first. The writing in The Gilded Ones was . . . unrefined. If it weren't for the brutality in it, it could probably have been marketed as middle grade. However, Forna definitely upped it in this one. The language was much more befitting of Deka's age and character arc/progression. However, sometimes there were sentences I had to reread because they were so confusing (hopefully they get fixed in edits).

The plot keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. A lot of the twists were predictable, but the way Forna wrote this book holds your attention. Even the ending! It doesn't QUITE end on a cliffhanger, but it'll definitely make you want to read the next book. I also liked how we got more of the story behind The Gilded Ones (as in the goddesses, not the book lol). It was interesting to see their motives and plans, and how they came to Otera.

HOWEVER. I wished we had gotten to see more of the world. We stuck to the same three places as the first book pretty much: Warthu Bera, N'Oyo Mountains, and the desert. However, the facts of the world in the first book were cemented in this book, and some of the structures were explored even more. While the first book focused on the sexism in Otera, this one definitely focused on gender. Everything aligned and made for a believable story.

Overall, an interesting read, and I highly anticipate the sequel (whenever it comes out)!

Great follow up to the Gilded Ones and I can not wait to read the next book in the trilogy. The story was well told and had some surprises along the way.

Thank you for my advance copy.

A perfect sequel to The Gilded Ones (which I rated 5/5 too), The Merciless Ones is dark, adventurous and thoroughly thrilling. It follows the story of Deka, who has finally freed the goddesses but still has to do much more than that to ensure the safety of people in Otera. Enraged by her actions, the jatu are killing and torturing the women even more so, and Deka has to stop it. She comes across a lot of new things which she was never certain existed, hence, with her bloodsisters and the uruni by her side, she is sent on a mission to find an artifact that the goddesses are certain is the reason behind the peculiarities seen among the jatu and the new deathshrieks.

However, as she goes about this journey, she encounters a lot of people who make her question her loyalty to the mothers. She discovers powers she never thought she possessed, and a lot many truths are revealed to her. On the other hand, there is also the enigma of the symbol that makes her lose her senses and the story behind it. She knows that whatever she is against is no common army she can defeat easily, and her only weapon to get out of this battle alive and save the people of Otera is herself.

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t remember the previous books easily when a sequel is released, and I didn’t have enough time to reread The Gilded Ones. This book, although, summarised the previous points such that I recollected everything perfectly and the elements leading up to the building of the new story weren’t lost. Deka’s character was my favourite, like always. She is written in a way that lays her vulnerable with both her strengths and weaknesses. Her powers don’t mean that she forgets the trauma she has from what happened to her.

The side characters were also all so well-written. I loved getting an insight to their backstories and despite having so many side characters, none of them were useless or just standing by.

I also liked the fact that unlike other liberal feminist stories, this one focused on the problems faced by all the genders and people instead of the usual man-hating feminism that the mainstream is reverting towards. The values set in this book were so good and I liked that part the most. AND WE LOVE TO SEE BADASS WOMEN FIGHTING AJHBHSB ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE SO SO COOL IMAGINE HAVING POWERS AND FIGHTING TOGETHER AS A TEAM TAKE MY HEART ALREADY!!!

There were also so many plot twists and THE ENDING HABJHHJNFJDSB I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL TO BE HERE ALREADY!!!

I totally loved this book and please read it and let me know so we can scream about it together!!!

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.