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. Otereans 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.
Multicultural Interest | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Publication Date: 31 May 2022
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Advance Praise for The Merciless Ones
“Fans of Children of Blood and Bone, Mulan, and the Dora Milaje from Black Panther are going to adore this one.” —BuzzFeed
-
“Namina Forna introduces readers to an intricate, West African-inspired fantasy world.”—POPSUGAR
-
"A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold, The Gilded Ones lifts the veil of violent patriarchy and burns the idea of purity to the ground. Must read!" —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times Bestselling author of The Belles
My Review:
4 Stars: Forceful. Feminism. Magic. Queer + Trans Rep. Mental Health. Disability Rep. Side Romance. What more could you ask for?
How about:
Gods who might be shady 🔱
Gold Blood 🌟
First loves 💕
Laugh out loud at almost dad jokes 😂
Creatures 🪄
This book shook me. Not often do I think the second book is better than the first, but maybe here it might be. Personally, the slower pace of The Merciless ones was more my speed (your gal likes a slow burn), and I enjoyed how more of the queer characters had more of a voice in this story. Namina Forna has a way of writing violence that makes it beautiful and a pleasure to read. The story made me want to headbang, and I hope that the playlist I created will allow people to feel the intensity of this story and its power. This story is bloodier and more brutal than the first, and I WANTED MORE. If you have not read the Gilded ones, please check that out before picking this one up; both are fantastic and should be on your must-read lists.
Thank you to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, Namina Forna, and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
PRINT LENGTH PAGES
AVERAGE REVIEW RATING
HARDCOVER COST
E-BOOK COST
AUTHOR
Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the New York Times bestselling 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 loves telling stories with fierce female leads and works as a screenwriter in LA.

PUBLISHER
Penguin Random House is the international home to more than 300 editorially and creatively independent publishing imprints. Our mission is to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. We believe that books, and the stories and ideas they hold, have the unique capacity to connect us, change us, and carry us toward a better future for generations to come.
Let's Get Started!
Subscribed to my notebook!
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. Otereans 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.
Multicultural Interest | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA
Publication Date: 31 May 2022
-
Advance Praise for The Merciless Ones
“Fans of Children of Blood and Bone, Mulan, and the Dora Milaje from Black Panther are going to adore this one.” —BuzzFeed
-
“Namina Forna introduces readers to an intricate, West African-inspired fantasy world.”—POPSUGAR
-
"A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold, The Gilded Ones lifts the veil of violent patriarchy and burns the idea of purity to the ground. Must read!" —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times Bestselling author of The Belles
My Review:
4 Stars: Forceful. Feminism. Magic. Queer + Trans Rep. Mental Health. Disability Rep. Side Romance. What more could you ask for?
How about:
Gods who might be shady 🔱
Gold Blood 🌟
First loves 💕
Laugh out loud at almost dad jokes 😂
Creatures 🪄
This book shook me. Not often do I think the second book is better than the first, but maybe here it might be. Personally, the slower pace of The Merciless ones was more my speed (your gal likes a slow burn), and I enjoyed how more of the queer characters had more of a voice in this story. Namina Forna has a way of writing violence that makes it beautiful and a pleasure to read. The story made me want to headbang, and I hope that the playlist I created will allow people to feel the intensity of this story and its power. This story is bloodier and more brutal than the first, and I WANTED MORE. If you have not read the Gilded ones, please check that out before picking this one up; both are fantastic and should be on your must-read lists.
Thank you to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, Namina Forna, and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
PRINT LENGTH PAGES
AVERAGE REVIEW RATING
HARDCOVER COST
E-BOOK COST
AUTHOR
Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the New York Times bestselling 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 loves telling stories with fierce female leads and works as a screenwriter in LA.
PUBLISHER
Penguin Random House is the international home to more than 300 editorially and creatively independent publishing imprints. Our mission is to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. We believe that books, and the stories and ideas they hold, have the unique capacity to connect us, change us, and carry us toward a better future for generations to come.
Let's Get Started!
Subscribed to my notebook!