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hue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I ADORE Deka and Britta's friendship. They're truly platonic soulmates, and it's so so so lovely that their relationship keeps going strong no matter what. I love that though Deka is strong and divine by her own, she doesn't fear depending on people. Her blood sisters, Britta, Keita, Ixa (who isn't a person but I guess it counts), White Hands. She has a web of people that she can trust, that trust her and comfort her, stand by her side despite all the blood they have to go through. It's beautiful!
I wish I would've had this story to read when I was a teen. I would've been so empowered and thrilled to follow Deka along as she fights for what is right and what is wrong. If you can stomach blood and gore, this is a gold mine. What YA should be!
THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE QUEER CHARACTERS AS SIDE CHARACTERS! AS NORMAL, REGULAR PEOPLE JUST LIVING THEIR LIVES! PRAISE NAMINA FORNA, YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL!
I'm sure Namina Forna is going to write some incredible stuff along her career. I'm excited for the next installment (that I'm late getting to), and whatever Namina might write in the future, I'm definitely going to follow her work, whatever it may be!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
jagodasbooks's review against another edition
3.0
"The Merciless Ones includes scenes of violence, including some graphic violence and description of sexual violence, which some readers may find distressing."
Where was this warning in the first book, huh? I'm still traumatised after it. This book is less descriptive than the first one, but still it's one of the most terrifying, violent and brutal books I've ever read and I would add more content warnings to that.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Vomit, and War
inez_hunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
marena02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
booksaremythirdplace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
librarybookscene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Blood and Abandonment
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, and Death of parent
dannilmp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I loved how the story took things you thought you knew from the events of The Gilded Ones and turned them on their head once more. Truly I have no idea what to expect the final book will tell but I am certainly looking forward to it! I loved watching these girls and some of the lads grow into their own and becoming these fully fleshed characters while exploring some back stories and flaws.
The only downside is, like the first book, I felt the pacing was medium except when I hit the last quarter or so of the book. The pace seemed to quite rapidly pick up here, it was still written very well, I just would have prefered more time spent with their characters and the stories they have to tell.
Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
fungivibes's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
canascorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Dysphoria