The Merciless Ones

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Deka and her friends grow as the story goes on, some mentally and others physically (like in Ixa's case). Ixa is just as adorable as he was, maybe even more so. First, some of the things I liked. I've enjoyed watching Deka grow in her confidence. I really loved the friendships that have evolved and the trust and loyalty that have developed between the characters. I also enjoyed learning more about the relationships between the gods. The Gilded Ones is a fierce, unflinching fantasy that marks Forna as a debut to watch.”—Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken I think that since the first book explained the world and what was going on, we were able to just dive into the story. I really loved Deka's journey here as she stopped blindly following everyone and started really thinking for herself. Not only that, but she surrounded herself with such a great group of people to support and help her - and that just made all of the difference. I also really like how the main focus of the story isn't romance as so many YA's lean to. Yes there is a romance but it doesn't take over this dire world situation and instead, their relationship grows as they both grow. It felt natural and loved seeing the little moments we got of them. In a time of typewriters and steam engines, Iris Winnow awaits word from her older brother, who has enlisted on the side of Enva the Skyward goddess. Alcohol abuse led to her mother’s losing her job, and Iris has dropped out of school and found work utilizing her writing skills at the Oath Gazette. Hiding the stress of her home issues behind a brave face, Iris competes for valuable assignments that may one day earn her the coveted columnist position. Her rival for the job is handsome and wealthy Roman Kitt, whose prose entrances her so much she avoids reading his articles. At home, she writes cathartic letters to her brother, never posting them but instead placing them in her wardrobe, where they vanish overnight. One day Iris receives a reply, which, along with other events, pushes her to make dramatic life decisions. Magic plays a quiet role in this story, and readers may for a time forget there is anything supernatural going on. This is more of a wartime tale of broken families, inspired youths, and higher powers using people as pawns. It flirts with clichéd tropes but also takes some startling turns. Main characters are assumed White; same-sex marriages and gender equality at the warfront appear to be the norm in this world.

A poignant examination of patriarchal oppression that ensnares its reader and doesn’t let go. With a compelling main character and fresh magic system, it takes you on a journey of self-discovery through a fantastically built world with a burning mystery at its heart.”—Kalyn Josephson, author of The Storm Crow And WE HAVE PLOT TWISTS AND BETRAYALS GALORE! Some I saw coming, others I had to follow the clues for. And it's because of those plot twists, that the book ends on a semi cliffhanger, but at the same time has a good amount of stuff wrapped up.This sequel to The Gilded Ones starts off with a bang and the violence, horror, and brutality that our heroine Deka goes through is pretty much nonstop. I also find it strange that agency is essentially removed from humanity, when agency is expressly discussed with Keita and the aleki in terms of accepting Deka’s strength to make them immortal and their actions in battle. The notion that Deka didn’t make Keita a monster with him stating he is what he is because of his own choice, he chose to do battle and kill, he chose to accept Deka’s gift and come into his fire. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that humanity must do the same?

If you enjoy fantasy fiction then this is a great read. The good news is that it has been left open for a third book in the series and I cannot wait for the next instalment. Content of note: violence, sexual assault.You can accomplish this by using a fully upgraded Veredicto in Embers of Faith mode. Just be certain that you're free of guilt and your HP is at its maximum. For your Altarpiece setup, this is the loadout: 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.

Phenomenal and extraordinary! Forna’s breathtaking use of language depicts a thrilling journey through an epic world, rife with danger and deception, as an obedient girl survives the patriarchy and becomes a warrior. Unquestionably, the best fantasy of 2021.”—Kim Johnson, author of This is My America Firstly, the characters. Our MC is Deka and this series has loads of cool side characters, like Britta, Keita, Belcalis, Ixa, and many others. I wasn’t an enormous fan of the characters for a large chunk of The Gilded Ones, but they have definitely grown on me since then and I have come to really love them. Deka is an amazing heroine- she’s been through so much and she’s still scarred from those experiences, but she’s determined to keep going and secure peace and equality for everyone. She’s super strong, but she also has this vulnerable side that she doesn’t want to show anyone, in case they judge her for it. Even tho she’s the ‘Chosen One’ in a sense, it isn’t done obnoxiously, and instead shows all the pressure Deka puts on herself to save everyone. Deka went through so much growth in this book and I was 👏 HERE 👏 FOR 👏 IT 👏 I really liked her!! ❤ After Deka freed the Gilded Ones and took her place by their side, life has continued to be full of battles and blood. She is the Nuru, one true daughter of the goddesses, and she is set to awaken them and bring equality to her kingdom. But things are more complicated than that, and as Deka journeys to fulfill the Gilded Ones' wishes, she will unearth many revelations that lead her to wonder whether her mothers are even who they say they are. You need to stand in one of the rooms in Mother of Mothers where there is a tree with the Sixth Hidden Symbol for about 2 minutes until you hear echoes.Our heroine, Deka, and her friends are finding out that freeing the goddesses was just the first step in a long, long battle to save the kingdom of Otera. (I would hope that that wasn’t the biggest obstacle, seeing as how I thought that it was a relatively easy, but rushed ending for just one book, as some YA books are prone to do. Thankfully book one is just the first in a series!) I do also struggle slightly with the writing style, sometimes I feel it’s overly descriptive in places also has quite a bit of internal monologue that gets repetitive. However, the world Forna created is as magical as it is brutal. The Gilded Ones is not all about social structures, of course, and Forna’s fans will be delighted with how the fantastical world expands and how the narrative is filled with battles and politics, but also love and friendship. There are heart-rending scenes—keep an eye out for the reappearance of Elfriede, Deka’s former best friend—but also episodes that are full of hope. And at the end, Deka moves even further into her power. The characters turned from fully rounded people into paper cutouts, devoid of personalities and very uneven. I jus

The plot veered into strange directions, it was moved along by a series of conveniences and with each chapter I liked less and less where it was going. It's like the series forgot what it wanted to be.Overall, I did like the book. But I would have enjoyed it more if some parts were more detailed and others left out completely. I also would have preferred it if Deka had more of the struggle and humanity I felt from her in the first book. I'll probably read the last book, but my eagerness has wilted a bit.