The Merciless Ones

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.