Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 04/02/2023
Published by: Usborne Publishing Limited
ISBN: B0B3HD1L7S
Cover:
Everything about this design – the colours, illustration, and text font – works perfectly to create a stunning cover. I am even tempted to get a physical copy of this book, so I have both gorgeous books on my shelf!
Writing:
Namina tremendously expands the rich, brutal world of Otera with impressive mythology, creatures and powers. The considerable information needed for this was gradually introduced in bite-sized pieces throughout the story, so it never felt overwhelming. Bringing this world to life is a descriptive writing style that makes it easy to picture every scene. A deliciously tense atmosphere was also quickly established and maintained, making the story hard to put down.
When gods dance, humanity trembles. And a lot of dancing is happening these days.
Storyline:
The story plunges straight into the action, with a brief recap and update on the situation in Otera seamlessly woven in. As the characters go from one violent mission to the next, the continuous action and twists are well-balanced by emotional scenes. This made the story fast-paced but also highly entertaining and engaging. Besides this, I loved the message of equality, which was well-explored and even more satisfying than the previous theme of dismantling the patriarchy. However, so much goes on in this story that I was too overwhelmed to remain deeply invested in the final fights.
Main character:
From the start, it is clear that Deka struggles with the adverse impact of her previous actions and the final revelations in the preceding book. Her complex emotions are regularly detailed, allowing readers to understand her decisions throughout the story. As her powers grow, Deka also experiences some personal growth that makes her character easy to connect with and realistic. It felt great to see her gain even more confidence and seek the truth for herself rather than completely trust what she is told.
Everything we experience matters… Not one thing outweighs the other.
Secondary characters:
Despite the large character cast that was hard to track, a good proportion of these are given some depth and are easy to like. Even the animals (Masaima, Braima and Ixa) are brilliantly infused with cute and funny personalities! The support and loyalty Deka received from key secondary characters were heartwarming, and I enjoyed what little banter they shared. More specifically, Britta and Keita stood out for their love for Deka and concern for her well-being.
Romance:
Deka’s romance takes a backseat in this story, and I loved this since the story has so much going on. We are given a few cute moments between the characters, and these made me root for them even more. However, the sudden pairing of most secondary characters was weird, especially since we are given little or no hints about these before they are revealed.
Narration & Audio:
Imani Jade Powers does a phenomenal job with the narration of this story. The variation in the pace and pitch of her reading effortlessly conveys the intensity and sentiments of the story. On top of this, cute accents and voices are done for the various characters, making the audiobook more entertaining.
The intricate world and endearing characters of ‘The Merciless Ones‘ make it my favourite read of the year so far! Somehow Namina Forna surpassed my expectations, and I am excited to see what direction the story goes in the next book! Those looking for another fast-paced and action-packed read should pick up Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye.
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[…] worldbuilding, and one-dimensional characters made this a painful read. I would recommend The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna to those who love complex worldbuilding but want a fast-paced fantasy […]