The Merciless Ones

May 1, 2022
In this follow-up to The Gilded Ones (2021), a 17-year-old young woman must defeat divine beings to save the lives of her bloodsisters. This second entry in a West African-inspired fantasy series continues the journey of Deka, who is now known as the Nuru, or the only divine, full-blooded daughter of the mother goddesses she awakened six months earlier. Now these goddesses, the Gilded Ones, rest and gain strength from the devotion and worship of those who believe in them. Meanwhile, Deka travels with alaki and deathshrieks to fight the jatu, male worshippers and warrior descendants of the god Oyomo. Gifted with the ability to control those with divine blood, Deka is rattled when a rescue mission turns into a trap and she is unable to use her powers to subdue the jatu as she usually can. Eventually she is led down a path that makes her question everything she knows about the goddesses--including how and why she even came into being. In this outing, Otera is just as beguiling a setting as before, and it's easy to dive deep in the richly developed characters and culture Forna has created. The book moves quickly, with surprising plot twists that showcase the complex and exciting structuring of the story. However, a couple of passages--one where a character's trans identity is revealed by the protagonist, who has the ability to view the essence of all beings ("I saw you. All of you,"), and another where a trans woman is described as being "much stronger than the usual human woman"--feel at odds with the book's message of gender inclusivity. A well-developed and fast-paced sequel. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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Starred review from May 1, 2022

Gr 8 Up-This book picks up six months after Deka has learned that she is Nuru, a powerful daughter of the goddesses she has just freed. As the land of Otera is being ravaged by war, a tyrannical "cleansing" is planned by the enemy to annihilate her blood sisters, the alaki, perceived as monsters and murdered for their valuable golden blood. Deka pieces together information about the possible existence of Idugu, another god the mothers deny exists. Treachery and lies spread among the different sides, and the Nuru must persevere to find the angoro, the most powerful of Oteran artifacts. Only then can she uncover the truth to solve the enigma of her people's history. Clear metaphors abound as Forna tackles meaningful topics, including misogyny, patriarchal oppression, racism, colorism, prejudice, homophobia, and the gender binary. Brutality awaits for anyone who dares to cross the line of what is deemed ordinary in Otera. Punishment and suffering are rampant via violence and torture. The author skillfully and seamlessly pegs the civic landscape into the rich fantastical world she has built. The fast-paced plot is jam-packed with action that will propel readers to learn the fate of Deka and her friends. Violence and gore are present throughout. VERDICT This book shimmers like gold. Add it to your library shelves to dazzle voracious readers.-Lisa Krok

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