Hello Coven!! Today we have the review for the newly released sequel The Merciless Ones (The Gilded Ones #2) by Namina Forna. Olga reviews this one!
The Gilded Ones #2: The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna Published on May 31, 2022 by Random House Children's Books
Format: ARC provided by Netgalley, TBR&Beyond
Pages: 464
Purchase Links*:
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Animals / Mythical Creatures, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Epic
Fans of The Gilded Ones and Children of Blood and Bone will love the second book in an epic fantasy series about a girl who is the key to saving the empire--or its greatest threat.
It's been six months since Deka has freed the goddesses and discovered who she really is. There are now wars waging across the kingdom. Oterans now think jatu are traitors to the nation. Deka is called a monster.
But the real battle has only just begun and Deka must lead the charge. Deka is tasked with freeing the rest of the goddesses. Only as she begins to free them, she begins to see a strange symbol everywhere in places of worship and worn on armor. There's something unnatural about that symbol; just looking at it makes Deka lose her senses. Even worse, it seems to repel her powers. She can't command or communicate with the new deathshrieks. In fact, she can't even understand them when they speak.
Deka knows freeing the goddesses is just the beginning. She can tell whatever dark force out is powerful and there is something sinister out there threatening the kingdom connected to that symbol--something merciless--that her army will need to stop before humanity crumbles. But Deka's powers are only getting stronger...and her strongest weapon could be herself.
This book was received for free from Netgalley, TBR&Beyond in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of this review.We'd like to thank the publishers and Netgalley, TBR&Beyond for the review copy.
It’s alright to cry Deka… It doesn’t make you any less warrior to weep…”
The sequel to The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna, was one book I was really looking forward to read, and oh boy, did I enjoy this emotional ride. As I do not want to spill the beans, (I hate spoilers), let’s play it safe and just say that you do meet your favorite characters: Britta, Deka, Keita, Belcalis, Asha, Adwapa, and so many more. Oohh… I forgot Ixa! I do love him.
All the characters are so well written, and they progress, they mature in front of your eyes. They fear, they fall in love, they hurt, they cry, they laugh. I don’t know, I just love this found family trope that it’s all over the place.
I know how difficult is to live in a world that doesn’t accept.”
These two books, are without a doubt the representation of feminism, at least to me. But, as in every movement, things might become…less manageable. In this second installment, we see the other side of the coin. Sometimes, what you don’t see, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. And Deka, gets to realize this the hard way. (Of course, she is!) The acceptance of who you are, comes from within. You have to accept yourself first, in order to find a way to project to the others the true you. And let’s just say that Deka grasps that eventually… (No spoilers, remember?)
When I stumble, they’ll be there to take the next step. And even if they’re not, I have myself.”
This unconditional love Britta and Deka share, is what I envy most. They started as friends, and then became sisters. Deka is ready to sacrifice herself for the people she loves but in order to do so, she has to accept herself. Through love, and loss, and pain, and hurt she finds that, you’re all alone in the journey of self-discovering. You have to rely on yourself, to learn how to live and cherish yourself.
Names are what gives things power-you become what you call yourself.”
The whole book is based on the fact that Deka is THE descendant, the daughter of the Gilded Ones, who aren’t what they seem. Through deception and lies, Deka must face what’s coming after her. But when you can’t even understand your new powers, how will you name them? And what happens when you find out that the meaning of the name you were called was something else entirely? Besides, names are what give things power.
I’m more capable than I ever knew.”
Overall, this was a great book, at least for me, fast paced and lovely. Even though I had read the first one a while ago, and didn’t remember all the characters, the plot was rooted on my mind. The writer is amazing to make you believe that you can do anything you want, to achieve anything you’ve ever dreamed of. And that’s the whole point. Isn’t it?
We learned who are the Gilded Ones. But who are the Merciless Ones? Well, you will have to read it and find out. But let me tell you one thing. You will not be disappointed.
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About Namina Forna
Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the upcoming epic fantasy YA novel The Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina has an MFA in film and TV production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA from Spelman College. She works as a screenwriter in LA and loves telling stories with fierce female leads.
