YA hasn't been a genre I've enjoyed much lately but The Gilded Ones was such an engaging surprise. I loved the rich world building and the heavy topics being explored (such as racism, sexism and inequality), it made for such a complex story that felt very relevant to today's political climate.

The story follows Deka, a young woman born in a small village in the empire of Otera, a deeply patriarchal society. She grew up being discriminated for being dark skinned and the daughter of a woman who had not been through the "purity test". Soon after turning 16, Deka is submitted to the test that will determine whether she is pure and allowed to continue living a normal life in the village or if she will be arrested and suffer through the death trials. Deka fails the test due to bleeding gold and being able to communicate with the monsters deathshrikes that have been terrorising the empire for a long time. She is given two options, continue to be torture and brutalised by the holy men of the village, or join a specialised army made up of other girls like her, the alaki.

The alaki girls have enhanced abilities (run faster, endure more pain, survive deathly wounds, etc) and are trained to fight the deathshrikes with an army of young men alongside them. Deka is the only one who is able to communicate with these monsters and the emperor uses her unique abilities to annihilate the deathshrikes.

Deka was my favourite character but the entire cast is really diverse in their experiences and pasts, some of the girls were shunned by their families, like Deka, but others had loving families waiting for them to come back "pure". White Hands stood out as well, she was an intriguing character in Deka's life, and her role in the rebellion was crucial. There is also racial diversity, some of the girls are black, asian, brown and white, and queer relationships (f/f). The men in the story are mostly indoctrinated to be misogynistic but I did like the love interest, although I felt that the romance was a bit rushed.

There is a lot of violence (torture and rape) and dehumanisation of women in this book, not all explicit, but still evident by dialogues between characters. Despite the darkness around the story, we do get a lot of very wholesome moments between the alikas, their friendships and continue support of one another was super heart-warming.

Overall, it was an incredible and thought-provoking feminist story with a lot of potential for a great sequel. Beautiful world-building, great characters and development and an intriguing plot.

I realized that I’m very over YA books. This was hard to finish because it’s obviously very meant for teenagers and not me.

This book was not for me. It delineate and I just didn’t enjoy it. That does not mean that someone else wouldn’t love this book. It just didn’t keep my attention like I would have wanted it too.

The Gilded Ones is a powerful and evocative debut that reimagines the fantasy genre through a fresh, feminist lens. Namina Forna crafts a world where purity is weaponized, and young women like Deka are forced to confront the brutal realities of a patriarchal society. 

From the outset, the novel immerses readers in the oppressive rituals of Otera, where girls undergo a blood ceremony to determine their worth. Deka’s discovery of her gold blood sets her on a transformative journey, challenging societal norms and uncovering hidden truths about her identity. 

Forna’s prose is both lyrical and unflinching, capturing the resilience of women who refuse to be silenced. The narrative delves deep into themes of autonomy, sisterhood, and resistance, offering a poignant commentary on the structures that seek to suppress individuality.

While the pacing occasionally falters, and some plot developments feel rushed, the novel’s strengths lie in its rich world-building and compelling characters. The alaki, with their near-immortality and unique abilities, serve as a testament to the power of embracing one’s true self. 

In The Gilded Ones, Forna delivers a story that is both timely and timeless, urging readers to question the narratives imposed upon them and to find strength in their own voices. A must-read for fans of feminist fantasy and tales of empowerment.

This was an incredible YA fantasy. Loved everything about it and can't wait for the next in the series! Powerful young women fighting back!

It’s time for me to admit myself that fantasy is not my genre, no matter how many times I try. I didn’t mind The Gilded Ones at all, there were actually a lot of things I liked about it! I think this idea of blood running gold & everything that comes with that is really interesting, but I couldn’t find myself invested in the story or characters at all. If you like fantasy, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!

Sometimes an epic trip requires an epic book. I read The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna on a road trip from New York to Orlando, Florida. And let me tell you, this book kept my attention! The Gilded Ones is the first of a trilogy about a girl named Deka. At first, you think Deka is a normal girl. However, as part of a ceremony, we find out her blood isn’t red, but gold. But, just as she’s about to be whisked off to death I think it was, her village comes under attack. She saves the village but people are still mean to her. So, then she ends up drafted into the army. While she is training, she meets other girls who are just like her.They can’t be killed and their blood also is golden. There’s also a subtle little romance storyline brewing.

I truly enjoyed my time with The Gilded Ones. Also, just typing this review out is making me jones for the next two books in the trilogy. Luckily I already have book two on myself as I got it for Christmas. Deka is a really wonderful character and I felt like it was so easy to empathize with her. She hasn’t had the easiest life – in particular when her dad just turns his back on her. And she also had her mom pass away. I liked seeing her train and seeing her grow in confidence. I also enjoyed learning the lore of this book and the backstory to why her village was attacked and why Deka is the way that she is. Also — Deka is Black. Many of the other characters are People of Color. We also see LGBTQ representation. I thought that made this story so rich. I like that this book wasn’t a copy paste, but was unique and well paced and such an interesting world that was built. If you are looking to pick up a fantasy series that is complete and you can rip right through — get your hands on a copy of The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna.

The cover is gorgeous and the friendships in this were truly heartfelt. I’m sad it took me so long to read this book. Thank you, NetGalley for the arc.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is a perfect fit for readers who crave a thrilling and emotional journey of self-discovery, exploring themes of found family, feminism, and coming of age, as they follow Deka's transformative path from a village outcast to a powerful warrior, set against a richly imagined fantasy world.

i was so excited for this and i think it had a really interesting concept but ultimately it fell flat for me with poor execution.

the writing style didn’t really work for me, it felt very generic YA and was pretty cheesy at times. it was full of telling not showing, especially with the main “romance” - a lot of it developed off page and then suddenly they realize they’re in love

the pacing is also weird and full of timeskips that don’t get pieced together well. i appreciate that there wasn’t a lot of unnecessary filler scenes but i feel the time skips were too much and the book lacked fluidity in that sense

Female empowerment in this tale of magic.

16yo Deka is worried that her blood is impure in a society that shuns those that are different. The village holds a ritual to know if a person is impure or not and it’s time for Deka’s participation. She lives alone with her weakened father who had an illness a few months ago; the illness that killed her mother at the same time. When her true nature shows itself while she’s protecting her village, everyone turns on her thinking she’s a demon. An emperor’s helper saves her and takes her to the capital to receive training to fight off death shrieks who wreak havoc on villages. Deka will discover more than her fate and the truth of who she is.

Likes/dislikes: I love the cover of this book. Deka's strength is inspiring. Deka and Keita have a cute romance.
Mature Content: PG-13 for implied sexual assault.
Language: PG-13 for 23 swears, no f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Deka has dark skin and her father is pale with blonde hair. The Emperor has bluish black skin. People with dark brown skin, golden skin, pink skin, and every shade from deep brown to eggshell are mentioned.

The idea of this book is different from anything I've ever read. The writing was often overdone, and lacked some development, but I could see some great promise here. I imagine this writer will only grow stronger with time, and I look forward to see what else she produces.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and Namina Forna for the opportunity to read The Gilded Ones in exchange for an honest review.

Split into four quadrants--Northern, Southern, Easters, and Western--Otera is a kingdom ruled by an Emperor whose priests find the purity of girls through their coming-of-age blood-letting ceremony. Red=pure. Gold=demon. Deka, dark-skinned like her southern mother, lives in a Northern village with her father, where she already stands out. She prays for the ceremony to finally show she is just like everyone else.

When her blood runs gold, she is sent to her death, but she is alaki: an immortal abomination. Though immortal, the alaki have some weakness to them where they might find their true death., But the priests and her father cannot seem to find Deka's, not even with beheading. At a loss, a woman from the capital comes to take her away.

Being (mostly) unkillable, Deka and other girls like her are trained to be a part of the Emperor's army. They are tasked with killing deathshrieks, creatures that wreak havoc on the people of the country's villages and cities. When Deka finds she has an incredible power, she becomes a valuable piece in the game of war. But with her power brings secret after secret after secret. What might she uncover and how will the new knowledge affect the war on the deathshrieks? At least it's a life to live and not the foretold death of a gold-blooded girl.

Overall a very enthralling novel with twists and turns on every page. It was a rather quick read as it was hard to put down. My few qualms are the repetition of "And then the world went black" or some such semblance to that phrase. While it has its use, it does get old. Forna does a lot of telling vs showing, though if the author showed absolutely everything, this volume would need to be split into two parts (and it already has a second and third book to complete the trilogy, both of which are lengthier than this one).

While the pacing felt a little off at times (from training to battle in the manner of frequent page breaks), I really appreciated where the story was going, and where it went. The twists were unexpected, and made this story even darker than it already appears. The religious lore is quite fascinating, and the following books in the trilogy certainly have promise.

An intriguing novel for a young adult audience, feminists, and lovers of diverse fantasy.

Namina Forna's The Gilded Ones is a powerful and thought-provoking debut novel that explores themes of identity, oppression, and resistance. It is a story about young women who are forced to choose between conforming to society's expectations or fighting for their freedom.

The book is set in a patriarchal world where women are either considered pure or impure. Those who are deemed impure are labeled as alaki and are sent to training camps to become warriors. The alaki are tasked with protecting the kingdom from deathshrieks, monstrous creatures that are said to be the descendants of the Gilded Ones, four demons who once terrorized the land.

The story follows Deka, a young woman who discovers that she is an alaki on the day of her purity ritual. Deka is initially reluctant to join the alaki, but she eventually comes to realize that it is her only chance to survive and to fight for a better future.

Forna does a masterful job of building a world that is both rich and complex. She also creates a cast of characters who are relatable and believable. Deka is a particularly well-developed protagonist. She is strong, courageous, and flawed, and her journey is one that readers will root for.

The book is also notable for its exploration of gender roles. Forna challenges traditional notions of femininity and masculinity, and she shows how women can be both warriors and victims. She also explores the ways in which women are often pitted against each other in patriarchal societies.

Overall, The Gilded Ones is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that is sure to stay with readers long after they finish reading it. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy, feminism, and coming-of-age stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this DRC.
A dark fantasy of the subjugation of women and the triumph and women. Lots of fighting and golden blood. Leaves you feeling very unsettled.

#TheGildedOnes #NetGalley

First this cover is absolutely amazing. I am such a cover buyer and I definitely picked up a copy of this one! The story was also very good!

I believe this book was well-written, important, and great for its target audience. However, it was not quite the book for me, so it was an unfortunate DNF.

This is easily one of my favorite books I've read. I will say though while the beginning draws you in quickly the first half is a bit slow, but the second half more than makes up for it. Once the story really found its pacing it was fantastic. I loved the story, the characters and the surprises throughout. I ended up choosing The Gilded Ones for my book club and every single person enjoyed it, which doesn't happen often. I will definitely be finishing the series and I can't wait to see what else Namina writes.

Ok so I actually read this book almost a year ago and am just now writing a review. I definitely liked this book. The world building and the big twist were interesting and unique. I was surprised but also felt like everything made sense after the reveal.

This one tackles so dark themes so I found some of the romance element to be a bit out of place at times and also lacking in others? This book is definitely fantasy first, romance very second (by comparison).

I would continue the series and would read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"No matter my origins, there is worth in what I am."


The Gilded Ones is a story I requested before it came out and then life inevitably caught up with me and I forgot it on my shelf for a while. Truly, what a disservice I did myself as a reader, reviewer and a teacher! Namina Forna created a beautiful world to immerse her readers into. The story is different from your typical teenager discovers she had hidden godlike powers because in this story Deka's identity outside of her powers really adds weight to the plot. Her personal struggles with power and worth are universal concepts that people of all ages can read and relate to. Overall this was a beautifully crafted book and I look forward to following the series to its conclusion.