A review by 1_more_chapter
The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I really wanted to like this book but I wish I dnf'ed it.
The plot felt like the author had come up with it as she was writing the book. It felt fast-paced but also, NOTHING happened.
We ended where we started, with Deka fighting God's except now she is fighting her own gods?. I thought I was supposed to be reading a feminist, female power book but now suddenly the men are oppressed and the women are evil? Plot? what happened? Why can men now become death shrieks and be immortal AND get powers? If a character dies LEAVE THEM DEAD 
there was a LOT of telling. something was shown to us but then we were told about them multiple times later on in the book which was annoying and made me feel like a 5-year-old.
For some reason, Deka is now really powerful. and she and her friends would conveniently develop new/stronger powers when the plot needed them to. Don't get me wrong, I love reading about powerful women, but the way Deka and co got their powers made me roll my eyes. Another one?
I didn't like the way Deka's trauma was dealt with. it felt like she only had 'flashbacks' when the plot felt like it and then she walks through fire once and all her trauma is *poof* gone. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS
finally, WHY was EVERYONE in a romantic relationship? uuuggghhhh
This book was supposed to be girl power, standing up against oppression from men and now the plot has completely reversed.