No Mercy

Drama High #16

by L. Divine

Misty and the rest of Esmeralda's evil brood are busy concocting a sinister plan to not only destroy Jayd and the rest of her powerful lineage, but Esmeralda and Rousseau are also using their powers to take over G's drug business. Mama's in and out of a dangerous dream state due to Esmeralda's wicked manipulation and unable to properly shut her evil neighbor down. Jayd's left to deal with her own clients, Mama's spirit business, and her drama-filled friends' lives. Somehow Jayd still finds time to manage her busy school schedule, getting to know her new beau, Keenan better, and spending more time with her best friend, Chase. Will Jayd crash and burn under the pressure, or will she grow into the young and powerful priestess she's destined to become?

Genres: Young Adult, African American, Fiction, Drama, Teen, Romance, Contemporary

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

L. Divine is a young female author of the young adult fiction series Drama High. L. Divine is also a priestess who is originally from California, has lived in Jamaica and currently resides with her children in Atlanta. She also holds advanced degrees in African American studies from UCLA.

Reviews

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this book, and I can say that ending had me grinning like a school girl lmao.

I'm a write a couple of spoilers so!


When I got the section of the book I think chapter seventeen or eighteen when Chase picked Jade up I'm like Chase and Jade needs to date then they started kissing after she picked up the rocks lol. I'm like yes! and they did the DO I'm like yes, I have to read part 17 to see what will happen between Jade and Chase I don't care about nothing else. I just hope they get rid of Esmeralda though.

Between that the book was a bit boring because of the DREAMS Jade was having I kept getting distracted and had a long tome to finish and I believe I had started this book in June and not July I just added it in July. But glad I finished it.

[Tanisha ☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yup, this is my favorite book. I loved every minute of it. I KNEW there was a reason I always loved Jayd and Chase's friendship.

That ending. I can't wait for the next book. Omg omg omg.

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book gets a big fat NO !!!! at this point it seems like L.divine & Keisha ervin are only writing to pay the bills the drive , dedication, and good stories are long gone. This book is sh*t.
Jayde and her lineage are powerless >_< how the hell and why the hell do they keep letting Esmeralda and her crew get the best of them.

We 17 books deep and jayde isn't powerful , still getting mistrested by school teachers & peers , and she still hasn't graduated.

Mama sick and her daughter laid up with her man instead of bring THERE for moms how self centered.

Micky and nellie are no real friends jayde should've been found new friends.

Her sleeping with Chase made no sense what so ever >_<

As bad as this book was i dont plan on READING the next installment i should've knew the book was going to be trash when the real jayde on the cover mysteriously disappeared

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still shocked by that ending. I did not see it coming but I'm not even mad at it. I love me some Chase and I hope there will be more of him in the story. All these other drama addicted hos can fall back from the story, they are too much for me sometimes.

[Skai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some Chase lol. I don't know why he reminds me of my Boyfriend Landon. lol but anywho this book was good.

[Landon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book were like the others I've read I think it was 1-14. Maybe 1-13, when all this dreaming bull wasn't happening. I get bored and the only way I'll finish if I keep the parts where she is dreaming and the other dry parts.

Other than certain parts where Jade is dreaming or helping her Grams in dreams the book was actually good.

[Dalesha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me no time to fly through this book… I thought it was a lot shorter than the other ones before it but I liked it. I've been waiting on this book for a while… Can't wait to read Book 17. I really like the main character

[Tiffany Spencer]

No Mercy
Jayd has a dream that she meets The River Goddess in the disguise of a crocodile and she gives her with her jade teeth that help her rise back to the surface. Her grandmother is not quite recovered and has suffered rabies from the crow's attack. At Netta’s shop, Jayd thinks of how it’ll be the last time Esmerelda goes after her Mama but her grandma catches the thought and tells her she won’t go after Esmeralda on her own. They’ll do it by the spirit book. Jayd hears her but doesn’t hear her. She vows that she’ll do what she has to do in secret. She’ll just have to keep her mouth and mind shut.

Jayd continuous to date Keenan and he’s introduced to one of his friends (Savannah). Nigel calls while they’re on a date. He promises to pay her triple. He has a meeting with someone from UCLA. His allowance is back on because he’s now back at home. Keenan gives Nigel a message to stop blocking him or he’ll forget to block him on the field next year. Jayd’s mom messages her telepathically and warns her she’s playing with fire and gives her a lecture about sexually transmitted diseases. Jayd asks Nigel once there if he and Mickey have gotten back together. Nigel says hell no and he suing Mickey for custody of *his* child. Jayd knows Mrs. Esop is behind his. It’s the perfect way to get back to her for ruining her son’s life. Jayd tells him he’s going about this the wrong way but he’s serious. Jayd even makes a good point. He knew what he was getting into when he started fooling with her. He doesn’t have a response for this. Jayd gets a call from Nellie pleading with her to come pick her up. She says she’s in the parking lot of a nearby church. When they pick her up she’s disoriented and quiet. She says they had a fight over her taking to long to freshen up after revival. Nigel notices a bruise on Nellie’s shoulder and claims it was an accident when Nigel threatens to beat his ass. Nellie tells them to stay out of it. She doesn’t need saving.

Jayd has a vision of her grandmother in an assistant’s chair that she calls Desiree. She traps her in the seat and her hair turns into snakes. Her eyes start to swirl. She sends an attack and Mama and she draws blood. After this they fight. In the end, Desiree’s head is knocked to the floor from Mama and Mama’s crown falls to the floor. Jayd sees Esmeralda and Rosseau that morning. The usual threats are exchanged (Jayd says if she doesn’t leave her grandmother alone she’ll kill her). Esmeralda toys with Lexi. Everyone notices Nellie looks off at lunch and Chase goes over to check on her. Alia accuses her of playing the victim but Jayd knows the truth about her being in over her head with David from an emotional conversation she had with her that night. Alia gets jealous and Chance is clueless as to why. After a debate. Mr. A says he wants Jayd to consider entering the first debate competition of the year. Emilio and Reid say they’ll enter. Mr. A also reminds her of doing her personal essay and reference letters.

Jayd has a vision of her grandmother broken into pieces (yet pieced together) and riding an alligator. Jayd asks if she’s scared and she tells sometimes you have to face your fears. The alligator starts to spin and then leaps into the water. Jayd jumps in and sees her grandmother's body in a cacoon but then she starts to piece herself together. The lesson is sometimes you have to be broken to be put back together.

Jayd mom gets fed up with her leaving her apartment a mess from all her clients so she takes her to Shakir and he proposes she does hair out of the back of Simply Wholesome. She’ll be working as Summer’s apprentice who's going for a business management degree. He says he’ll pay for her cosmetology license. Jayd can’t deny it would be good not to have to do hair at her mother's and run up the electricity and water bills. It might also increase her clientele.

Jayd surpsingly finds Mama sleepwalking at Netta’s shop. Netta and Dr. Whitmore are there and they tell her they’ll have to get inside Mama’s dream. Before she can do this, Mama grabs her face and her sight stings her. Jayd finds herself in a ring with Mama and Esmerelda fighting over her blood. Mama gives Jayd a warning that Esmerelda will be coming after her next trying to control her with a voodoo doll. When they come out of it Jayd finds out that Esmerelda is putting victims into a walking sleep and then switching their souls with her animals. Mama tells Dr. Whitmore she also had the dream with the alligator. The Doctor does pins on her and then speaks to Jayd in private. He tells her that Lyn Mae is under Esmeralda’s spell and they need to keep her in a deep sleep (only walking her once a day). The Doctor says Jayd will have to hop in Lynn Mae’s dream and defeat Esmerelda for good. If not she’ll lose her mind and lose all means of space and time. Jayd suggests they make a doll for Esmerelda. The Doctor says they’ll work on that. He makes a doll of Mama using her hair and gives it to Jayd. He says she’s on the other side in New Orleans and will help Jayd. He says

Jayd finds out othat Esmerelda can change the present using a charm. Mama’s actions in the past can change it. Dr. Whitmore’s doll can reach Mama's spirit while Esmerelda has one to control her physically. They need the other doll to balance Lyn Mae’s whole being and bring her back. Jayd promises to get the other doll. Rosseau comes sniffing around for Mama and Jayd wonders why he’s come without Esmerelda’s knowledge.

So, Rah shows up wanting Jayd to be a character witness in his case but Jayd isn’t moved and tells him he’s on his own. YESSSSS! Her grandfather wants her to stop by the church later. (He thinks Mama is still in Lousianna). Jayd gives Rah his necklace back and leaves him there looking like the ass he is. GO HEAD JEAYD! Jayd learns from “G” (Gary’s) mind that Esmerelda also has a voodoo doll of him by getting his blood from her crow. Esmerelda has been pimping G out. He’s selling for her while she takes the money and gives him some pills in return (unknown to him).

Jayd goes to visit Mama and she’s sleeping walking again and speaking in tongues. When Jayd finds herself in the vision she and Mama are on the alligator again. The alligator turns out to be Rosseau. He transforms back and forth from an alligator to a crocodile trying to throw Jayd off, but she’s determined to stay on. Jayd tries to get her Mama to wake up but she’s so taken by her reflection in the water she won’t meet Jayds eyes. Jayd finally is able to snap her Mama out of it but getting her to look into her eyes and saying a certain chant. Mama says Esmerleada is using Oshune’s vanity against her vistimes. Jayd tells them what she learned about G and setting him up for Pam’s murder. She’s also using “G”’s street creed to get her products out. As Jayd points out the challenges her friends are facing when asked by Dr. Whitmore if there have been challenges, he tells her they’ve been cursed. Esmerelda is taking them all down one by one to get to Jayd.

At school, Nellie and Jayd get into it because Jayd is supporting Maggie for senior homecoming princess. Then she and Laura turn their attention to the new girl Marsha and start harassing her (until Jayd takes up for her). Netta, Mama, and Mr. A give Jayd a lesson on using brooms to sweep away their enemies and sweep up good energy in return. Jayd has a vision of her great-grandfather using all her life force to kill her husband and save her daughter. After the vision, Jayd’s eyes have turned green like all the women in her lineage. Mama is mad and goes to Dr. Whitmore. She doesn’t think Jayd’s ready to have all that power. Jeremy calls one night wanting Jayd to hang but she sees one of Esmerelda’s crows and through her great-grandmother’s powers sends the bird to get some of Esmerelda’s and Rousseau’s hair. Jayd and Cameron come to blows at school when Cameron sees Jeremy about to leave campus when he and Chase want to take Jayd out for lunch. Jeremy doesn’t come to her defense. Jayd has to have a meeting with Cameron’s and Laura’s mother. Jayd calls Camerson out on blackmailing Jeremy. It won’t go on Jayd’s record. Plus there’s a video that shows Cameron slapped Jayd down first.

There’s a party and all Jayd’s friends will be there. Jayd sees it as a good chance to put a protection spell on her friends. Before the party, here comes Rah again popping up with his nonsense. WILL HE JUST DIE ALREADY? He wants Jayd to go to the party with him. It ends with him throwing the necklace at her and telling her that’s why he choose Trish because she accepts him like he is and that’s what he needs in his life. THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?! GO BE WITH TRISH? So, when they get there it’s Mrs. Esops sorrprroty throwing the party. Rah shows up with Trish and Tasha. Jayd does the spell. Mrs. Esop notices but Jayd plays it off and says it’s a spell. Mrs. Esop doesn’t let Mickey into the party and she takes Nellie with her (who doesn’t want to leave). Mrs. Esop goes on to front to some of her sorors like she has Jayd in mind to join the sorority. Keenan is there but he’s there with some other chick. She’s the president of the sorority. (Mickey’s still there and getting her drink on). So KJ and Misty are there. But since KJ is on the list of potentials and Misty isn’t a guet of KJ’s (and he makes sure Sandy knows this) she’s kicked out by Keenan.

Jayd has an alarm and realizes her mom’s car has been broken into and destroyed. Jayd already knows who it is and breaks down in Keenan’s arms. That night, Jayd spends the night with Keenan. Nothing happens but they talk over some of her issues. The next morning, Jayd gets offended when Keenan tells the truth about her friends, but he invites her to invite some of his friends. Mickey begs Jayd to go with her to Nigel’s to talk some sense into him for wanting to take a paternity test. Only when they get there it turns into a fight. (I think Mickey knew something about Trey’s shooting beforehand). Anyway, it turns into a fight with cussing slung left and right (and a potential fight about to pop off). When they see her, Netta and Mama grill Jayd about Keenana (her mother has been talking). They don’t particularly care for him either. They tell her to take her time and she’ll know when it’s the right person. Jayd immediately thinks of Jeremy and getting things back right with him. At a study session at Cameron’s Jeremy attempts to make up with Jayd. Only he wants to keep things *hidden*. Jayd definitely isn’t feeling this. They go to Cameron’s room “to talk” and Jayd finds voodoo dolls of her and Mama. This leads to a fight with Cameron tabbing a pin in the doll's eye and causing the real Jayd to momentarily lose her sight. But with California's gift of seeing the unseen, she finds Cameron through her aura and proceeds to beat the ish out of her. Everyone at the party is now in the room looking at Jayd. Jeremy is again defending Cameron. Jayd gathers up the dolls and the rest of what she finds and leaves. Chase picks Jayd up and he takes her to a place where there are some jade stones (for her ritual). While there he tells her Alia and he are no longer (because of jealousy). Chase then goes in for a kiss and Jayd allows it. They make out and Jayd wonders if they’re doing the right thing. He hands her a condom. They end up at his house with his mom making them breakfast the next morning.

Mrs. Carmichael invites her to stay until her car gets fixed. It’s tempting! Two guys show up Javier and Maurico to take care of the problem with Esmeralda. Hector was a part of their house. They consider themselves all “family”. Jayd realizes this is her “army” and they’re ready to go to war. Califia gives Jayd the instructions that if she doesn’t want her visions seen to remove her bracelets.

My Thoughts
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I LUVED the way Jayd throw Rah’s necklace back him! To me that was the highlight of this WHOLE book. I had my doubts if Jayd could walk away from Rah. But it looks like SHE IS DONE and I could NOT be happier! Why is he even still IN the story? Now can we PLEEEASE just write him out of the series?!

Nigel is .. going a little too far tho. I appreciate that he wants better for the baby than “G”, Hell I want better for this child than “G” AND Mickey at times BUT at the end of the day Nigel has forgotten that while his name IS on the certificate, this is NOT his biological child. Jayd had to learn the hard way what getting attached to kid that’s not yours lead to in the end. So, as bad as this sounds I think Nigel should just cut his loses. His has a promising career in front of him and this is NOT his kid. He tried. He really did but fooling with Mickey well I hate to agree with Mrs. Esop. Butttt.. Leave her alone and let her have HER child if she thinks she can do better OK. WALK AWAY! I do agree tho that he *could* give her a better life FINANCIALLY! ABSOLUTELY! But babies need more than that. He’s going to be a college athlete. Will he have *time* to give her as well or is he just gonna dump her on his mother? I just don’t think he’ll be a full time dad, student, athlete. So for that reason also, no he shouldn’t persue filing for custody just out of vengeance.

These questions are killing me. Was Mama right to make Dr. Whitmore her medical proxy instead of her husband. HE’S A DOCTOR! Her husband is a PREACHER! DUH! Then not only is a regular doctor he’s a witch doctor and is suited to deal with what she’s going through.

Another is make a pros and cons list of all the reasons Jayd should or shouldn’t allow Rah to stay in her life as a friend. It’s like in ALL These books if you look at the discussion questions one of em is gonna ask (persuade) you to give the reason Jayd SHOULD (hint hint) keep Rah as a friend. So it’s clearly baised. At least someone seems to think Rah is worth holding on too.

It asks to describe a time when I felt trapped between two friends (situations) and I had to make a choice. I won’t lie I made the WORSE choice I could have possibly made because I thought I was “in love” and I hurt the person I should have been trying to fight for. Luckily they forgive me in the end and ever since they act like that never happened. But it’s something I had to learn from and also had to learn to grow up and realize what a real friend was.

The last is have you ever had a lucid dream that came true in reality? I’ve had a lucid dream but it didn’t come true in reality. I think tho I realized in the dream I was dreaming.

I think the end surprised me with Jayd hooking up with Chase. It was just so sudden. I mean I know he was feeling her but she's never seemed to see him as anything but a friend. I'm not quite sure how I feel about them as a couple quite yet.

Rating: 7

[Symone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected

Definitely mind blown! Not sure how the next book can stop this. Hope it is well written. Way to keep me interested.

[Kye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good installment in the series, I look forward to reading the next one.

[Ahliyea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few things about the book No Mercy that I liked were that even though Jade was going through her own struggles in her personal life she still managed to try and help her friends out with their situations and try to give them guidance with their situations but then she started to realize that she could not help anyone who did not want to be help. “I don’t much believe in things I can’t see” the quote to me shows the ending of the book once Jade and Chase were having a discussion and she realized that maybe it was time for a change in her dating life and she realized that Chase was the boy who she should have been with all along.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Aaliyah Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable

Relatable

this was soon good. I feel a lot of good lessons for young ladies like myself are in this book. and it makes it even better that I got some good lessons today at church. the drama and activities in this book are wow. Smh one of the best books I've read in a long time.

[shekitta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!!!

Yes!!!!

I have been waiting for the next Drama High series!! Jayd, her family, and her friends are always into something! Definitely can't wait for the next one! Bravo!!

[Rok!tsuperhero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book and I love Jayd. Reminds me so much of myself. Hate that the books be so short, but nonetheless, I love reading L.Divine's books. I can officially say I finished all of her books and I can't wait until she releases another! <3

[Lupinus Texensis · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHAT. WHAT. WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

LOOK AT YOUR LIFE. LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES.

[Nia Gravely]

I'm honestly in love with these series you should keep going to the top because your books are so inspirational.