Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

10 reviews

hue's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Though it is sometimes overwritten, and has some typical YA-type writing, there's much more flesh to this story than a lot of the "popular" ones. We have a cast of strong female characters with sisterly bonds. The story is raw, yes, but it's written in a tasteful (if you can say that) way. The topic of misogyny and sexism, as well as the opposite, is so well thought out and well written it feeds the story such a realistic feeling I can totally imagine Otera truly existing somewhere.

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!

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Content Warnings

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

inez_hunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

graceful_nate's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

marena02's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

lpdx's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia

lucy_shanners's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Transphobia and Pregnancy

kilic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting