We Unleash the Merciless Storm audiobook

5 starsThe thing about We Unleash the Merciless Storm is that it has so many layers intricately woven together that I don’t think I could ever find the right words to do it justice. I’m still reeling from just how much it managed to take me by surprise, pulling me in from the very first sentence and only spitting me back up again after its final pages, feeling as if I’d just been punched in the gut.This book picks up right after the events of We Set the Dark On Fire. Carmen has been discovered to be a spy and her cover is blown, forcing her to go into hiding. She returns to La Voz, the cause she has devoted her entire life to, leaving Dani behind, heartbroken. However she comes to realize that in her absence, her home has not quite remained as she left it all those years ago. The leader she had once looked up to as a father has turned his back on the values the group had cherished, and Carmen is faced with a difficult choice; stick to the cause she has grown up with, knowing that anything less than her utter devotion to it could result in her death, or defy the La Voz, going after the girl she loves.While I loved Dani’s POV in We Set the Dark On Fire, it’s clear that Carmen’s voice is by far the strongest out of the two and is certainly one of the main reasons that the sequel is so compelling. Carmen’s character is absolutely fascinating. Her inner conflict is so well written, and it’s riveting to watch her as she wrestles with her own heart, choosing what she is prepared to fight for and how she’s willing to do it. As Carmen realises that her values no longer align with the resistance, she begins to question the methods of the rebellion and decides that she is tired of being told what to do and what to believe. She comes to understand that while the rebellion is so much bigger than one person, she can make a difference though her own personal acts of defiance. I can’t tell you just how empowering it was to follow her as she grew more sure of herself and confident in her abilities, finally breaking free of her past and standing up for what what she believes in.Another one of the driving factors of the story is Dani and Carmen’s relationship, and although it was already fantastically written in the first book, their bond gets so much deeper and more complex in this one. Because their trust has been broken, they’re tentative to build it back up again and it’s not an easy journey. They’re both afraid of being vulnerable, scared of hurting one another and being hurt in return. Their relationship is imperfect and messy and they aren’t always the best at communicating their wants or needs, but they manage to find ways to work out their issues, helping them grow stronger not only as a couple but also as individuals. Carmen and Dani’s romance is genuinely one of my absolute favourites out there. Their love is so big and brave and beautiful, and with each other’s support, they can change the world.However despite the fact that this book still takes place on the same island as its prequel, it was definitely a stark comparison to We Set the Dark On Fire, showing us the unpolished, gritty perspective of those living on the other side of Medio’s border wall. The world building grew much richer and more vibrant, exploring so many important themes through its painful depiction of those oppressed by the rich and powerful. Mejia delves into systematic oppression, classism, and misogyny in this story, and I especially appreciated her exploration of the harsh yet realistic realities of immigrants in a world that sees them as something to be trodden on. I admire the author’s ability to intertwine these issues with her story, tying them to Carmen’s growth and her role in the rebellion. It’s all so masterfully connected that I’m left in awe of Mejia’s talent, desperate to see what she’ll come up with next. The plot was also flawlessly executed. The stakes were so much higher in this one and left me on the edge of my seat throughout the novel, terrified of what was going to happen, yet unable to put it down. The buildup was steady and intense, giving the plot time to unfold in tandem with Carmen and Dani’s character arcs, finally culminating perfectly in the last few chapters. Although I know that some might be dissatisfied by the fact that the ending was so open, I personally found that it exceeded all my expectations. I think that while there’s definitely more of the world and characters for Mejia to explore if she chose to, the way the conclusion was written was exactly what the story needed and I was entirely satisfied by how it was all wrapped up. We Unleash the Merciless Storm is a gripping story that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, showing us a brutal world where survival isn’t easy. It sends a powerful message about love and justice and equality, about fighting for what you believe in no matter the cost. But most importantly, it reminds us that there’s always hope. It’s a story that left its mark on my heart, and one I don’t see myself forgetting anytime soon. . . . . . .we did it, the sapphics won. everyone can go home now.

This book is perfect. That is all.If you don't feel like reading the whole review then those two sentences are enough to explain how I feel. If you want to know why the book is perfect go on.If you have not read We Set The Dark On Fire do not read this review. I will try to keep it spoiler-free but only for this book.The thing I love the most about this book is Carmen as a character. In We Set The Dark On Fire we barely get to know her as a character if anything at all. I did not like her, did not trust her, and I was right not to. But in this sequel, we follow Carmen's point of view and man did I love her. I don't want to hate on Dani but she was nothing compared to Carmen. Carmen was such a strong character who was set in her beliefs and did not let anything or anyone get in her way. The things she did for her beliefs and for love, I wish I could say I would do the same but I would not.We also got to see Carmen's back story and from what I can remember we did not get flashbacks but got to know about her backstory by her comparing it to the present and how it contrasted with what she grew up with. This showed how much of a badass she is and why she did the things she did.This story was so action-packed and I was living for it. I mean, We Set The Dark On Fire from what I can remember was anything but action-packed but this sequel makes it up. One of my main complaints with We Set The Dark On Fire was how the characters trusted each other way too fast. I'm not just talking about the main relationship but in general. In this sequel, everything was questioned and I loved every second of it. I felt like there was no reason why they suddenly trusted each other and the romance happened in .5 second. It went from I hate you to I love and desire you in one conversation. ONE CONVERSATION and now that they are separated that is questioned. The last thing I loved including something I did not like was the ending. It was the ending we deserved except for two things. This is a spoiler so SPOILER ALERT I disliked that we didn't get to see how Mateo was imprisoned using the excuse that Carmen was poisoned. That's not even talking about how the poison can drive you mad with just one drop yet Dani was able to suck it out and be okay, plot hole anyone? SPOILER ALERT OVER. The last thing I dislike was how nicely everything wrapped up. Yes, it's the ending we deserve but it's also the ending that made no sense but none of that matters because I loved this book and in my eyes it is perfect.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thank you Edelweiss+ and the publisher for the chance to read an e-arc.

I think this may be an unpopular opinion, but I think I liked We Unleash the Merciless Storm more than We Set The Dark on Fire??- Following the events of We Set The Dark on Fire, this book follows Carmen, a girl who returns to the resistance that raised her, only to find that loyalties are now splintered, no one trusts her, and her love may be in grave danger.- I really enjoyed Carmen as a protagonist. While Dani may be more calm and measured of the two, Carmen is a spark away from a roaring bonfire. Carmen is impulsive and foolhardy, but she also has a good heart and does what she thinks is right.- The tension in this was great! The stakes were high, moments so taut they could cut, and there was so much angst and yearning between my two sapphic rebels. The conflicts were believable too.- I also really enjoyed that this book explores the importance of resistance, but also recognises the very human core of resistance - that it's people who fight, people who risk their lives, people who resistances live through.- I can imagine how hard it is to give an ending that readers want - it can disappoint or fall flat, but the end was satisfying, heavy, yet hopeful.Trigger/content warning: (view spoiler)[death of a loved one, murder, blood mentions, physical violence, near-drowning experience, poisoning, threat of sexual assault (doesn't ultimately happen) (hide spoiler)]

This is one of my most highly anticipated sequels of this year and I’m so so happy that I was able to read it as soon as it released. I absolutely adored We Set the Dark on Fire and had huge expectations from this one as well, and the author doesn’t disappoint. The previous book ends on an intense cliffhanger and the author doesn’t let up by starting off almost at the next moment, but this time the story being told through Carmen’s POV. The story in this book takes place in just a few days, so the pacing, tension and the action is absolutely relentless, not giving us any time to take a breath or relax. There was a sense of danger at every moment that the author managed to create, making me scared for my beloved characters all the time and I think the ability to sustain this sense of dread for a whole book was genius. But even during all these tension filled pages, there is so much emotion and love and vulnerability, and I’m amazed at the author’s ability to balance them all. While the first book was all about building up this unjust world and it’s cruel discrimination towards the poor and underprivileged, this book is all about what it means to be part of a resistance and fighting for a cause. In this day and age where we see many resistance movements across the world trying to stand up to authoritarian forces, the book rightly has some timely commentary on the importance of believing in a cause and fighting for it, but also about never putting one or two leaders above the cause itself. Through the characters’ thoughts and actions, we see how the strength of a resistance is in remaining loyal to all the people, in trying to build a community and figuring out ways to live, not just survive. There is also something we read or see a lot in media, about how love is a weakness that distracts you from your path and the author dismantles this perspective beautifully, showing how love in its different forms - romantic, platonic, sisterhood, found family - is a source of unimaginable strength and it gives us much more reason to survive and fight and succeed. We get the whole story through Carmen’s POV and I loved getting to know her more deeply. She is very conflicted after her experiences from the first book, unsure if she believes in the resistance anymore - particularly its leadership which seems to have changed direction and started using its people as disposable pawns - and is also worried how she can reconcile her faith in the cause with her love for Dani. Even though the story takes place in just a few days, we see Carmen go through a gamut of emotions, think and realize what is important to her, and though she does act impulsively at times which made me want to chide her, she ultimately does what she truly believes in her heart without ever compromising on her principles or giving up her love. I especially admired her belief that the cause and the people for whom they are fighting are the most important thing, not the leaders. It almost felt like Dani was only present for a very short time in the book (it’s probably half) and most of their time together was spent in trying to run and survive and fight. But I’m glad that they got to talk about their feelings, understand what is important to each of them and then support each other unconditionally in their final stand. We get to know a few more resistance members better this time and it was actually nice to see Sota again. He really is a sweet boy and true believer. I also liked how decisive and strong a leader Alex was, with some excellent support from Jasmin. I really liked the author stressing on the importance and power of sisterhood, especially towards the end when they were all tested. The final chapter really was the epitome and realization of what they were fighting for. To conclude, this book is as exciting and intense as I wanted it to be and I rushed through it because I couldn’t put it down. If you like your YA fantasies to be full of a group of women trying to fight and lead a resistance against an oppressive government, along with a beautiful love story, then this duology is perfect for you. It is fast paced, it is eye opening, it will make you question your own beliefs and finally leave you feeling hope. As someone who prefers more clear cut endings, the climax here felt a little dissatisfactory to me because it was too open ended and just leaves us hoping that the characters end up achieving what they set out to do without ever getting to know the results.

Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Bookstagram | Twitter

(Thank you to my Mum for typing this for me).Thank you to Harper360 for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.This review is spoiler free if you have read the first book.This book picks up almost instantly after the end of the first book, We Set The Dark on Fire. Only this time we are following Carmen's perspective instead of Dani's. We follow Carmen as she returns to her home of La Voz to face the consequences of her actions. But what she finds is that the resistance group she has given her life to has changed, and not for the better. So Carmen sets off on a quest in an effort to right the wrongs La Voz has made. What I liked: - The characters. While I enjoyed Dani's perspective I the first book, I was really excited that this book was going to be written from Carmen's POV. She always seemed like a more interesting character and I found her perspective both compelling and intriguing. I loved learning about her history within La Voz and all the relationships she had made there. Due to her past I think she had a more interesting view of the world and how she wanted to change it. I, of course, still enjoyed Dani as a character although she wasn't in the first half of the book. I think it also had a great group of supporting characters, especially Alex, Sota and Jasmin. - The plot. I was a bit concerned for the first 70ish pages as the book got off to a fairly slow, repetitive start. However, after that, the book was paced extremely well and I wasn't bored at any point. I think the risks and choices Carmen made had a clear motive and made for some great action. I'm not sure how she survived most of it but it was certainly exciting. The climax was excellent and I was on the edge of my seat for the last 100 pages and I was left extremely satisfied by the books conclusion. The ending may have been slightly open-ended for some people, but it made sense to me and I think it finished at the right point. - The themes. There are a number of themes explored in this story, all executed extremely well. 1. Resistance. This was my favourite theme in this novel. I really liked the emphasis on a resistance being about a set of beliefs rather than a leader. Carmen really struggled with the resistance being led by someone she didn't believe in and had to learn, throughout the book, that the resistance was bigger than any one person. I think it was a very timely commentary during a period where resistance is becoming a more common issue.2. Love. This includes all different kinds of love: romantic, platonic, familial, belief. This also intertwined with the theme of resistance as Carmen had to learn that love wasn't a weakness that made you a target , but a strength that gave you drive and power. The romantic love Carmen had for Dani pushed her to take matters into her own hands. The platonic love she had for Sota reminded her that there was still good left in the world and her familial love with Alex reminded her that there was something left to save of La Voz. 3. Female empowerment. This truly is a story of women taking on oppression and relying on each other to give them the strength to do so. It truly felt like a love letter to feminism and all that can be accomplished by strong and intelligent women. What I didn't like:- Repetition. I did feel that some of Carmen's thoughts and feelings were mentioned too many times. This weighed down the book at points and irritated me as there was too much emphasis on it.Overall this was a successful exploration of the different ways people can change the world and I loved everything the author had to say in this book. I fell in love with the characters and their cause and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I will definitely be picking up anything Tehlor Kay Mejia writes in the future.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you kindly to Katherine Tegan Books for my review copy.may contain spoilers for We Set the Dark on Firecarmen is one of La Voz’s best soldier’s, entirely devoted to the cause. She was taken in as a child and trained to be a cunning spy, then sent undercover into the Medio School for Girls. After her identity is exposed, she returns to the only home she ever knew – La Voz. But she finds that the home that she once knew, and the leader she once admired, is not exactly as she left it; the cause she loves is taking a turn into dangerous territory, leaving behind values it used to hold dear. When Dani’s life is threatened, Carmen must make a choice between the girl she loves, and the cause she’s devoted her entire life to.After a three-month-long reading slump, I have finished my first 2020 read. And oh my, it was an exceptional one.We Unleash the Merciless Storm is told from Carmens POV’s, and we pick up immediately after that cliffhanger from book one and get to experience things from Carmen’s perspective, which I really loved. She is such an amazingly complex character; split between her devotion to the cause and her love for Dani, and this inner conflict leads to some serious character development.“You’re a fraud, and a traitor, and a thief, said a cruel voice in her head. The only you she could ever love was the lie…”As usual, the romance was e x c e p t i o n a l. As we’ve veered from enemies-to-lovers, as with book one, we’re now firmly in the head-over-heels, utterly in love, and entirely devoted stage. I’m so happy that there was very little conflict in their relationship, that there was mutual respect and trust, and that they generally get a HEA — more conflict free romance PLEASE. Dani and Carmen are probably one of my favourite couples in YA right now.“…as she called out for a weapon, steeling herself, she knew: this was no longer her home. Her home was a thousand miles away, beating in the body of a girl she might never see again.”I also really enjoyed the insight we got into La Voz as an organisation and resistance, and how leaders shape a movement. But also how leaders can forsake us. I loved how it explored that the cause was more than La Voz — it was about a chance to live, not just to survive. And it very much challenged the idea that love makes us weaker — it makes us stronger, and it gives us something to fight for.Though, for now, it seems we’ve come to an end, I would (very much) love to experience even more of Carmen and Dani’s story.WE UNLEASH THE MERCILESS STORM is a powerful story of resilience, revolution, and the strength of love. If you’re looking for sapphic fiction with Latinx leads, this duology is a must.

this one was better in my opinion, higher stakes, gayer, and how it sends the message that love is a revolution on its own in those circumstances too? carmen had her own idea of how revolution is and it was so much more inspiring than the usual one. carmen and dani’s relationship was more intense and powerful both of them stayed independent and learn to accept the “darker” part of the other for carmen and for once they were unapologetic about their love. we stanalso i feel like it talks about immigrants in a way its the same situation? but its not my place to tell dkks and it was cool to see a latino universe it’s not in every book

Real rating: 4,5 stars.This sequel didn't disappoint. If I found it a bit slow to kick off, I loved Carmen's POV so much, fell in love with the writing, the story, the characters, everything about this book all over again. Definitely a series I recommend!!My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'

A book with THIS much wlw yearning? Instant 5 stars ~

Ahskyfoygluditdylu

While I didn't love this as much as the first book in the series, it came through in the end and I ended up enjoying it!The main thing that was off for me in this one was that it had a very slow start, and was also very repetitive at times. However, it got better towards the second half of the story; I really enjoyed the feminist messages and friendships and romance!3.5 stars