There is something about harsh fantasy worlds that I love. And how horribly women are treated in this world is very harsh. Deka bleeds golden blood which makes her as being almost immortal and a great fighter. The way her people treat her after this discovery is gut-wrenching. Yet Deka overcomes her obstacles and builds powerful friendships. A very gripping story. The only weak point is the romance. It's not as developed as Deka's friendships.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

The cover art on this book was what caught my eye. It was just so pretty!
Sometimes when I read YA novels I feel like it’s a novel meant for anyone that just happens to have younger protagonists and teen appropriate content. This one felt like it was written very much for teens and that’s ok. It’s a great book for the girl of the right age to be hitting the realization that the world is vastly unfair and she’s not going to be getting a fair share in life. I read more than a few of those myself as a teen when female power fantasies were still really new. The oppression is unfair and the chosen girl is going to fix it!
A bit older and you realize the world isn’t a monolith of evil handily awaiting smashing. So, for a teen girl I recommend this pretty unconditionally! For the aging and cynical it’s a fine book. It just reads very young.

In this world, most women are normal but some, when puberty hits, bleed gold and are then under the Death Mandate. Deka is one of those unlucky ones, but after months under the Mandate she's freed by a woman she names "White Hands" and taken to the capitol to serve in the Emperor's army. As she undergoes training, Deka learns to fit in with her group of alaki (other girls who bleed gold and are now being trained to fight). There are political and cultural machinations at play, and Deka slowly becomes a major part of the Big Plan.

The blending of races was well done, with the only example of racism coming in Deka's town (she's the only one with dark skin and that helps make her an outcast). Misogyny, on the other hand. runs rampant in this world. There's also a definite caste system in play, with women like Deka at the bottom. I really enjoyed Ike, Deka's... pet? It's a serpent or a cat or a flying animal, shapeshifting as needed and able to communicate with Deka telepathically. The deathshriekers needed more description for me to fully understand what they looked like. Their evolution was an interesting part of the book, but that part went very quickly -- as did the "ending" (there will be a sequel!).

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Talk about a book for all my "The Old Guard" fans here! The Gilded Ones is a powerful story about embracing our power. Steeped in an incredibly patriarchal and sexist world, Deka's journey is immersed in a world that fears women. One that does what it can to instill a culture of fear, reporting, and punishment. I could write pages on how The Gilded Ones dismantles the sexism and patriarchal conditioning within the world. It's one that is so well done, but also instills a sense of fear, terror, and rage.

At the same time, The Gilded Ones is a story about survival and strength. About what happens when we are treated like monsters, expected to live with fangs. What will we become? And what will we do to people, our neighbors, and our loved ones, when we deem them as demons. When we de-humanize them into Others. Will we speak up? Continue to wield the blade, or watch on in silence? The Gilded Ones is a multi-faceted debut that delivers a variety of emotions - simmering range and unabashed joy - as well as thoughtful introspection.

I loved this book. The worldbuilding and plot specifically were outstanding and I will remember it for a long time. However, I think it should have been written as a genre sci/fi rather than a YA novel. I think the story could have been so much deeper rather than depending on a love between two of the characters. At times I felt there wasn't something the main character was working towards and the plot was kind of just floating along.

That being said, the story was so unique and so so so well written. I look forward to more books by Namina Forna.

THIS WAS AAAMAZING! Exactly what I hoped for from a book with a cover that gorgeous.

Namina Forna's world building was wonderful and different. She created a society that I unfortunately have no trouble imagining - highly patriarchal, and dealing with many hard social issues. But diamonds are made under pressure, and the women, or "demons," who have been subjugated for generations are finally fighting back. I can't wait to see them kick butt in book two.

"The Gilded Ones" features a diverse cast, and I would bill this as feminist tale about love and friendship and finding your place in the world There is a slight bit of romance that wasn't really built up, but I'm definitely looking forward to more character building in the next book.

Now I just need to get my hands on a physical copy, because I NEED to own this.

I really enjoyed this novel and the lush world building and fierce characters are emblematic of classic YA fantasy, which I loved. Forna’s debut is strong and Deka is a character I would root for through anything!

I've been trying to decide whether this is a 4-star book or a 3-star book for me, and I think I've decided it's definitely a high 3. This book starts out at a clip, but after about midway, there's something lagging in the storytelling. There's mostly a focus on the military campaign and raids on the Deathshrieks, which is okay, but took away from some more interesting details, for me. I'm a reader who needs more depth to feel connected to a story, I guess. I found myself skimming most of the latter half of the book, and was really surprised by Deka and Keita's romance - like, why did we need this? I think the book would have actually been better without it, as it felt more shoehorned into the plot than any natural development. I think the messages would have been more powerful without it, as well.

As for what I loved: I LOVED that this story told of a history of oppressing women, of racial prejudice and of colorism, without the author leaping out of the page and spelling it out. This very important discussion is had through plot, background, and fantasy with goddesses and beasts and demons. I'd love to learn more about the history of the Gilded Ones, which I'm sure will come with more sequels. I don't quite see how they could change what ended up happening, but that remains to be seen. I was also much more interested in White Hands and the whole land of the Equus than I got information on, so hopefully that will come with the next books, as well.

On the whole, this is a decent book, with glimmers of Kristin Cashore's "Graceling" series, combined with Nnedi Okorafor's powerful insights into race and gender. I will look forward to more of the series to see what the author does, as I see a whole lot of potential here. And I adore the cover, as well!

I really enjoyed reading The Gilded Ones. There are many things that this book does really well, but one of the ones that stands out the most to me is the worldbuilding. Not only is the world itself well-built in a way that makes it easy to visualize, but it is a unique setting that feels completely original. The world has its own unique history and mythology, thought out traditions, and completely new monsters and creatures that roam around. I find it incredible whenever I'm able to read something that manages to feel different than anything else I've read before, but this story absolutely does that!

I also loved the characters in this story. Deka is a strong protagonist, and there's a very realistic struggle she goes through as she begins to face everything she has grown up believing to be true, and a new drive to accept herself and be proud of who she is. Deka is fierce and caring, and I loved seeing her growth over the course of the story. I also loved the relationships she formed. There's a little bit of romance in the story, which to be honest isn't all that interesting (though it thankfully isn't any unbelievable insta-love) and doesn't take a huge focus in the story. Instead, more important are the friendships Deka forms. I love books that highlight female friendships, and the overall feeling of sisterhood in this book.

To be honest, I found the pacing a little slow at times, and I do think some parts of the book probably could have been condensed. But overall the world was enticing and the plot engaging, And I loved the way the book tackled subjects like colorism, sexism, etc. There also is more violence in the book than I was expecting, which is fine but I wish I had been a little more prepared for it. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, a strong 4/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

EXCUSE ME NAMINA!!! My heart is hammering in my chest, my jaw is slack and I can’t formulate words to make anything coherent.

I have read a lot of YA Fantasy over the years and it’s getting harder and harder to really knock my socks off, but I can say I am SO GLAD I waited until I was in the right headspace to read so that I could give this book the proper attention it deserved. This book is a FORCE to be reckoned with in fantasy. From the world building, the magical system to the relationship dynamics, the flow of words, to the beautifully crafted plot this book was flawless. From the beginning, you’re sucked into Deka’s world. It’s easy to feel her pain as she feels it.

On a journey of discovery, self worth, self love and liberation, The Gilded Ones takes you on the journey with Deka, Britta, Keita, White Hands and the rest of their group as they traipse across the desert to fight the big bad, the deathshrieks. The way Namina paints a picture- it builds the scene in your mind. Every point vivid and beautiful. Her ability to pull you in, keep you sucked in and then rip your heart out to put it back together is incredible.

It was easy to fall in the love with the characters, but even easier to relate to them. This book will take you on a powerful journey. Full of imagery, power, deceit and learning to believe in yourself. It’s fantastically done and I can not recommend this enough.

This book blew my mind. The depth of the main character is one that has been hard to release after finishing reading. I have a feeling Deka will always stay with the readers of this book because we become so immersed in her mind and her story. Beware of the mature content - I would not recommend this to my sixth grade students, but high school students I think would love this story of a girl taking back her power. So heartfelt and inspirational!

I enjoyed the world and magic inside The Gilded Ones. There is good diverse and feministic representation in this patriarchal society. The story can be briefly slow at times and a tad predictable. Sometimes characters are fickle in their decisions. Overall it is an easy read; I feel like anyone could pick up this book. Girls will relate to the friendships and experiences these characters face. Guys will like the blood and violence. I’m looking forward to where this story is going in book 2.

I don't want to give much away, but this book is FANTASTIC. Normally, I tear through books I love, but this one was something I wanted to drink in so I took my time.

In short, it's a world in which everyone is taught that girls are born as far lesser than men. It is written into every rule and social norm, and around puberty the girls are tested to see if they are...even worse than the typical girl.

This book features a girl brought up in this world and doesn't pass that test. She ends up somewhere that will test her in so many other ways, which will change everything. EVERYTHING.

A wonderful story with messaging about patriarchal norms and why they are in place, giving yourself and others the power they deserve, found family, and true friendship.

I did mark this as dark because some pretty awful stuff happens, and there is no shying away from, shall we say "sword violence" both on individuals and during battles.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will also say that I actually own a physical copy for this ARC that I received in a Fairyloot box as well. All I can is that I am so happy that I own this beautiful book because I am excited to dive back into whenever the next book comes out - whether it's available as an ARC or not to me.

In The Gilded Ones, you will meet Deka. She is 16 years old and is slightly excited to go through her villages beloved blood ceremony. Knowing that the color of her skin has always made people see her in a different light.. she had hopes of having pure blood so that she could potential marry and have a family of her own.

Well, those dreams were small compared to the actual journey she went on throughout this book. Without spoiling anything, just know that it was so easy to devour this entire thing. Whether they were training or actually fighting - I ate it al up. There was just something about the characters themselves because I couldn't help by fall in love with them. Plus them creating one giant family made me so happy. It didn't matter if they were bloodsisters or not - I loved this group of friends so freaking much.

I will also state that I have a ship and I want NOTHING to happen to them in the next book. These two had so many close calls that I think they need a break in book two. Other than that, I still have so many questions that were developing in my mind while crushing this book. I'm hoping that the next book might dive into them and give me some amazing answers.. if not, then I will just have an endless pile of questions.

Definitely recommend and I can't wait for the second book!!

The premise of this book is excellent. I'm of the opinion the story didn't live up to the expectations. I had a really hard time getting into the story, and I only kept going on because I was intrigued by the worldbuilding. One thing Namina did incredibly right for this book was the amount of work she put into the worldbuilding. I can honestly say, this book was unlike anything else I've ever read. I was impressed by the care she put into the details of the characters and the world, and for that reason I kept reading.

However, I didn't really start to enjoy the actual plot until the introduction of Ixa. I think if anything, Ixa was the most exciting part of the book for me. By the time I got to the end, I was rolling my eyes at how important plot questions were being answered, and ultimately, I have to say this book was just not for me. While the worldbuilding was fantastic, the rest didn't cut it.

In the world of Otera, every girl is bled at sixteen to see what color their blood is. But when Deka’s blood runs gold, her entire world changes in a heartbeat. Reviled in the village and held captive by the village elders, Deka is trapped. When a stranger comes to the village, she makes an offer: leave and fight for the emperor or stay and die. Choosing life, Deka is taken to the capital and meets girls with the same gold blood. However, nothing is quite as it seems in the capital. When Deka realizes she has unusual powers, she must decide who to trust as she seeks answers.

I absolutely devoured the Gilded Ones!! Deka and her story grabbed hold and didn’t let go until the final pages. With strong themes of sisterhood, Deka’s exploration into her mysterious powers was spell-binding. I loved how while there was romance, there was also such a strong focus on sisterhood and friendship. One of the main battles in this book is against the misogynistic attitudes of the men in the kingdom. Forna handles this so well, critiquing and examining sexism, racism, religion, and more. While Deka shines incredibly bright on her own, I also loved her friends and animal companion. This story was fun, refreshing, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I would highly recommend The Gilded Ones to anyone looking for an exhilarating and inclusive adventure! The Gilded Ones releases on February 9, 2021. Thank you so much to Namina Forna, Delacorte Press and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Holy wow, WHAT a debut novel - The Gilded Ones utterly blew me away!

Are we girls or are we demons?

After the ceremony determining a young woman's purity and therefore her place in her village goes horribly awry for sixteen-year-old Deka, she faces a fate worse then death. However, a mysterious woman comes to her and offers her the chance for a change in her fate - the chance to fight for the emperor, in a troop of women with beyond-normal abilities, just like Deka - and Deka wonders, maybe a chance to belong, even as they face a threat bigger than any of them ever dreamed of?

I completely adored the strong female lead in this novel, and although fantasy, I think Deka's inner struggles with figuring out who she truly is and feeling like she belongs will resonate with readers. The setting was also fantastic; I haven't read many YA books set in Africa and I love the representation here. I can't recommend this book enough!!

P.S. - let's not forget to talk about the cover, isn't it gorgeous??

This was amazing! I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. It has so many great elements; a strong POC lead, a feminist, down with the patriarchy storyline, and women supporting women. I highly recommend this!

Deka is just a girl on a farm, waiting for the purity ceremony so she can officially be recognized as a woman. Her life is upended when it's discovered that she's an alaki, a demon with gold blood and the ability to heal from death. She's sent away to train with other girls like her and fight the evil deathshrieks. These girls have been through some terrible things and I really felt for them. The training ends up being great for the alaki, they bond with their sisters and learn how to use their abilities to be strong and no longer victims. The friendships were the best part for me, instead of being competitive with each other, they worked together and rose up.

There is a mystery here about what Deka actually is, her powers far exceed the other alaki. I enjoyed the reveals as they happened and was pretty surprised at the big one near the end. This played out well, spread evenly throughout the book. I didn't feel like there were any slow parts and the ending blew me away!

There is some romance that I cheered on, but I'm glad it wasn't the main focus of the plot. Keita is a good guy and I was happy when he supported Deka and didn't try to control her as many of the men of this world do. Deka and Keita are cute together and I totally ship them.

I can't wait until this is out in the world! It doesn't feel like a debut and I think there will be many more great books from the author.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

All Dekalb wants is to stop being seen as an outsider and to become a valued part of society as her purity ritual approaches. If she fails, she dies.

On the day of her ritual, the monstrous death shrieks attack. Her blood runs gold, and she is found to be impure. The gold blooded are the demons and she is subjected to horrific circumstances until she is saved by an envoy of the emperor himself and taken to a training camp where she and other "impure" girls will be trained to defeat the deathshrieks once and for all. However, something is different about Deka and she begins to question everything. Are the deathshrieks really the enemy? Is she really an impure demon?

I can't say enough good things about The Gilded Ones. The writing was spectacular, particularly so for a debut novel. Though the story line isn't far different from similar books in the genre I found it original and enthralling. The plot progressed quickly and I was not bored at all reading.

As for the author's goals of using the novel as an examination of patriarchal society and religion, it was absolutely spot on. I love how she delved into how deeply the extreme patriarchy affects girls and women emotionally and psychologically and how hard those beliefs are to break within oneself.

I highly recommend this book. It is a wonderful debut novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. My views are entirely my own.

I was so excited for this book and it didn't disappoint. I can't wait to own a physical copy of this inspiring book. Hopefully one of my book boxes does a special edition