I was really excited for this one, especially after seeing Namina speak on a panel. This one had all the makings of a great fantasy novel, and I really enjoyed it! The world building was great and so unique. Deka was such a strong main character, although I loved seeing her flaws like her blinding trust. Sometimes the writing fell flat, but otherwise it was an enjoyable reading experience!

This is everything I need in a young adult fantasy book. I couldn't put this book down. I was just invested in the characters and with the story. Now I'm dying for the sequel!!

I was surprised by a LOT of things in this book. I like the monster/demon idea, I want a pet shapeshifter - I mean he was a kitty most of the time, and then he was a dragon! I like the relationships and comraderie. I'm not sure where this is going to go but, somewhere. I hope the manipulation stops, but I'm afraid it won't - basically politics, grrr. Obviously they have developed their own myths, and "gods" or goddesses, there is a slight resemblance to Christ in the need to rest and be "resurrected" or healed. Strong writing, very feministic

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna have been in the news ever since its publication was announced and obviously for all the good reasons.

Deka is a sixteen-year-old girl from a small village who is different from the others because of her skin color and appearance. Her mother also had the same appearance as she belonged to the South, which Northerners never approved of. Now, at the age of sixteen every girl in the village, Otera has to undergo a ritual to prove that, this is the only place where they belong for once and all, in which, if they bleed red – means they are pure and if not, they are deemed as impure. Talking about a deeply patriarchal society where women are hurled abuses and not seen on par with men.

When Deka’s blood runs gold, she is deemed as impure and is subdued to various punishments and is forced to die over and over again, but none proved to be successful and every time Deka comes out alive. Until one night a very strange and mysterious woman arrives in the villages and finally Deka is offered a choice, if she is ready to fight “deathshrieks”, the demons for the kingdom, she’ll be granted her life, her freedom.

The Gilded Ones is the first book in Deathless, a high fantasy series that was pretty fast-paced. It was exciting and it was unputdownable. Firstly, let us talk about the various characters and the protagonist Deka. All the characters are nice and all the girls are very supportive. We are introduced to Keita, Deka’s partner, who is very cute, humble, with warrior-like qualities, and of course charming.

Britta and Belcais, both were thoroughly supportive of Deka. Their characters were interesting to read and I hope they will be further developed in the upcoming next installment in the series. The final few chapters felt like they were rushed, rest assured it would be an enthralling and exciting read. The intricate world-building is worth appreciating and the transformation from the Otera to the Kingdom was delicate.

This book contains everything you want, LGBTQ+ representation, women fighting against oppression, found family, and also romance which wasn’t overpowering other themes, so yeah! That was nice. Also, the book explores various themes that were important to talk about like – anti-racism, anti-colorism, diversity, and women’s empowerment. Final verdict – highly recommended to the fans of fantasy, ya with some feminist and no-nonsense taker characters, and if you are looking for the latest favorite fantasy series, this could be the one.

I really love the book and I really loved the characters. And after that ending I can't wait to see what happens next.

Phenomenal book. An emotional roller coaster! Very descriptive fantasy world she's created. I'd recommend to any young lady. Themes of sisterhood and platonic love are throughout.

Thank you NetGalley. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of the book is absolutely stunning.
The writing is BEAUTIFUL. The author has a true talent with words. I truly could not stop reading once I got into it.
I was honestly impressed with this book and would gladly read others by this author.

This is my honest review of The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna a book that came out Feburary 9th, 2021! After a few months of this finally being out I finally got around to reading this book! I really enjoyed this wonderful debut and can't wait for the sequel to come out sometimes soon! Maybe next year?
Before I recieved an arc of this from the publishers and Netgalley I also manged to get my hands on the audio and a physcial copy from my book subscritpiton box so to say I was excited for this book is an understatement. I was even excited for this once we had the cover reveal for it and everyone was hyping it up and I can see why!
It was such a great debut novel from a person of color author and I gave this book a 4/5 stars and here's a few reasons why I enjoyed it! First off: THE MAGIC SYSTEM!! It was truly amazing to learn a whole new world and see how this magic system is different from everyone else's. It was a little confusing for me in the beginning but I got the hang of it when all the battles were happening!
Deka our main character was a very intresting character to read from as she has just lost her mother in the very beginning of the book and so she is living with her father on this island with ppl that are like them. So, the premise of this story is that there is this big ceremony that happens every year and Deka our main character is old enough to part take in it. Then things take for a turn and so stuff has start to happen.... That's all I can say without spoiling the whole book for my review.
Overall I really enjoyed this book but there are a few scene that I didn't like and they were mostly towards the end of the novel so again I can't really say unless u want me to spoil the book! I will totally be recomending this to my friends and family though, because I may have found a new favorite book!!!!(:

Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children’s for the eARC in exchange for an honest review of <i>The Gilded Ones</i> by Namina Forna. I notice that a lot of my friends enjoyed this book and that I am in the minority of people who did not have that same experience. This book is not horrible by any means, I found it enjoyable in some parts but there are some fundamental issues that I had with this that took away a lot of the fun for me. I appreciate what Namina Forna was doing with the characters and the storytelling about a patriarchal system that throws girls to the side.

I’ll get into what I enjoyed about this book first. Deka is a likable character. It was easy to root for her, especially at the beginning and as she was starting to become acquainted with what it means to be impure. In this world, the girls are to be part of a blood ritual that will somehow determine whether they’re pure or impure. Deka is determined as impure and subjected to several violent deaths that she survives. She dies nine times and suddenly all of the people that she grew up with turned against her. On top of that, Deka is mixed race. Her mother is from the south, a place of brown skinned people while most of her friends are northerners with pink skin and blond hair. I’m going to get back to this point in a bit.

Another thing I enjoyed was the sisterhood between Deka and the girls at the training facility. They are female warriors and deathless. I felt empowered by that. I remember reading somewhere that the author went to Spelman and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I could see a bit of that sorority spirit when it came to the bond between Deka, the other novices, the big sisters, and the teachers who were also women. I love the lack of girl hate in this book, I think that it’s important and empowering for girl readers. Too much YA seeks to tear women apart.

Beyond that, I found a lot of the book unenjoyable. The most glaring issue was how repetitive it was for me. I understand that Deka grew up thinking that she was ugly and a perpetual foreigner type, especially after her mother died. However, reading about Deka downing herself so much did nothing for me as a reader. I would be fine if there was more of a breakthrough but she goes from extreme self-hate to just kind of accepting herself. I would have liked to see here have her shining moment of just loving herself. Again, it might be cliche but that’s what I wanted in this book.

Another thing I didn’t care for was the graphic depictions of violence and oppression without much else. There were times when I felt like this book was a bit unrelenting when it came to how bleak things felt. I didn’t understand the divide between the matrons and the girls. I didn’t really <i>get</i> some of the issues between the older women and the recruits. I suppose that brings me to worldbuilding, which I found a bit on the weaker side.

I’m realizing that not all fantasy is made the same which is understandable. I had a different idea of this book based on the cover which seemed colorful, wonderful, and a bit more on the fantastical side. This book is much darker than what the cover depicts. It’s not a fantasy world that you would probably want to visit. It comes off like there is absolutely nothing for women in this world and I would have liked to explore more of this world aside from the extremely devout places these girls come from. Or are all places in this country like this? I don’t buy it.

This brings me to another glaring issue that is <b>personal</b> and not to be taken seriously. I just don’t care for books with training without free travel. I know that pretty much all fantasy books have training elements in them but this book is centered on one character. I think back to <i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> and how Jon Snow had to train but the series was expansive so it’s not like we were just at the sad and militaristic Night's Watch, we got to have a break. That doesn’t really exist here. She goes on missions but there isn’t much free travel and she’s quite literally bound to this place and the same group. It’s just not content I care for.

I plan to reread this, hopefully when I’m not recovering from a reading slump in the middle of a global pandemic. Maybe I’ll feel differently.

<b><i>Trigger warnings:</i></b> <spoiler>rape (off page), graphic violence, self-harm, bloodletting, murder, and vomiting.</spoiler>

Scheduled to post 4/3/21.

Where did I stop? 59% in

Why? I was having a really hard time getting into reading in general and it took me a minute to realize it was just this book: I wasn't into it. Obviously I got pretty far in before I realized it was the book, so I experienced a fair amount of it. So much of what happened was told at a distance, in fade-to-blacks, and in a removed voice that I just had a hard time connecting with the story. I wanted to like it. I thought the concept was super interesting, like a more diverse/different perspective Handmaid's Tale, but a lot of that world was just told to me, not shown. Ultimately I got bored with it. I think there's a lot of good in this book, from the world to Deka's situation and her becoming a warrior, but the voice was not working for me.

One of my favorite fantasy books of the year so far! I was so impressed by the world building and character building. Highly recommend!

I really liked the original world building, but at the same time, I felt like I was missing key elements of the mythology/ religious structure. A lot of stuff is left in limbo till almost the end, and not everything is explained, so I was confused over several things. My favorite thing about this book was the true friendships developed- not just Deka and her BFF, but also Deka and her male partner in the army. It’s nice to see that though there was a lot of prejudice against Deka not only for her mixed ethnicity, but also because she has gold blood and what that entails, but even so, her male army partner overcame his original prejudice and is a genuine friend.
Please be advised that there are some pretty violent/ gory themes (the mc’s are in an army, it’s bound to happen), as well as rape references.
Leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon

“Freedom for every woman.”

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Black Panther. The Glided Ones is an action packed YA Fantasy novel. It's great to see a black, female character as the main character. It starts off a little slow in the beginning but it picks up in the second half. There's twists and turns. Women have the right to fight for what's right and deserve in a leading place in the world.

“Are we girls or are we demons?”

The Gilded Ones was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and I was not disappointed. In this debut novel Namina Forna crafts a world of misogyny, magic, war, and the fight for women’s rights. I loved the diversity of the characters and the focus on the female story.

Deka is such a strong female main character and serves as an example for her bloodsisters of women empowering each other. She brings together an unlikely group of fellow Alaki to form bonds as they fight against all the odds. All of the female characters in this book were so strong and well written and I loved the friendships between Deka and Britta, and Deka and Belcalis.

While there was romance it was not the focal point of the story, and it was a slow and sweet burn. I still loved it though, but I would have enjoyed a little more insight into their story. If only to see another side of Deka.

I loved the world building and there were a few plot twists that I did not see coming! My only complaint is that the end felt a little rushed which I think partially had to do with the rest of the story taking place over months where the ending happened over a few days. I think if it had been a bit more fleshed out it would have been perfect.

I am curious to see what happens next in this world and can’t wait for book two.

CW: racism, blood, death, torture, violence, sexism, misogyny

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review**

Oh my goodness. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a look time and it is a DEBUT!!! This book was amazing. I loved the world, the magic, the kick butt ladies. I can’t wait for the sequel.

While I was unable to read this book before publication it is always great to see BIPOC stories being shared and being received by a wider audience.

While the notion of different colored blood creating a society of haves and have nots might sound like a recipe for classically YA literature, author Namina Forna takes that framework and creates an explosive story unlike any other. The rich story of Deka keeps you rooting for her and her warrior sisters throughout.

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

In the kingdom of Otera, girls who are starting to go through puberty are not allowed to do things that may cause them to become injured, such as hold sharp objects or run--just in case they trip and fall. They can't walk in public without a male to attend them and all sorts of other oppressive ideas. They have to go through a Purity ritual at the age of sixteen to determine if their blood is "pure" and then they have to wear a mask to hide their faces. If their blood runs gold, they are monsters, demons, and must be slaughtered immediately.

Deka had been waiting for the Purity ritual for some time, just waiting for the chance to prove herself to her village. When her time comes, she hears the creatures known as death-shrieks approaching. The whole village reacts; most falling to the ground, bleeding from their ears at the piercing sound from the creatures, except Deka. She speaks and the death-shrieks listen....

Deka passes out and regains consciousness days later to find out that she's one of the impure ones. A mysterious woman appears and tells her that she can stay in her village while they figure out how to kill her or she can go with the woman and become a soldier. Deka obviously chooses the path of a soldier.

The worldbuilding was really interesting. There were mythical creatures, religions, and cultures that seemed to be well established and really thought over. At times, it did seem like a bit of an info dump, but the pacing of the rest of the book evened it out. I was a bit confused on what the equus looked like and I'm still not sure, even at the end of the book.

There was some gruesome violence and gore so if you have an issue with that, you may not want to read this book. But, I'm glad that it didn't shy away from that. Too many times YA books or books that are female-led skip over the violence that would be prevalent in books marketed towards males (like women can't handle it?)

I really enjoyed Deka's interactions with all of her friends. They all had unique personalities and, while they didn't hesitate to express how they may disagree with each other, it wasn't a bitter girl hates other girl because they're both girls sort of hatred. Many of them went through traumatic experiences and it shook their core, but they supported each other and helped each other gain courage.

Overall, this debut novel was a really good read. There were a few things that didn't seem to tie up or were confusing, but I hope those get addressed in the next books. There were twists that I weren't expecting and I'm interested to see what happens next.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is the first book in the Deathless series. It follows Deka, a sixteen-year-old girl who anticipates the ceremony that determines if she is a woman of purity. Feeling like an outcast due to her unusual ability, she prays her blood runs red during the bleeding of the ceremony. When her blood runs gold, Deka is sentenced to a punishment worse than death. When a mystery woman comes to Deka with an offer of choice: the punishment, or join an army of alaki. Alaki are girls just like her, in the way that they are near-immortals and have special gifts. They are the key to stop the empire’s greatest threat. When Deka agrees to join, her main goal is to serve her twenty years in the war and gain absolution. When training begins, Deka learns very much about herself, and the empire. There are many surprises in store for her.

I love this book! The characters are strong and interesting. The world that has been built in this novel is incredibly engrossing and feminist. I can’t wait to see how the story expands in the sequel!

I have had the ARC of this book since last year. I started and stopped the book many times. It was not the fault of the book. I just couldn’t read anything last year, pandemic brain. I finally completed the book in the first week of February and I have never felt so accomplished in reading a book before.

I enjoyed the book immensely. It dealt with very strong themes of misogyny, religious fervor, feminism, and patriarchy. I enjoy reading a black-dominated YA fantasy novel.

Deka is from a small village in the province of Otera that is uber-religious and has strong abusive patriarchy. When girls reach the age of 15 or 16, they must participate in the purity ritual checking to see if the girls’ blood is pure. If the girl’s blood runs red, they are pure. If their blood runs gold, they are “impure” and therefore sentenced to death.

After being tortured and killed over and over again (those with gold blood can heal themselves), she is given the “choice“ to continue this torment or fight for the empire.

With all the heavy subject matter intertwined in the book, Forna does an excellent job telling a magical and uplifting story.

What I enjoyed about the book
The world-building in this book was very detailed. I was able to immerse myself in Otera alongside Deka.
Deka’s pet was amazing with everything it could do. (Trying not to give anything away)
The positive female friendships were incredible! There was no female hate or jealousy. Whatever differences they did have the girls worked through them together.
The story is action-packed with intense training scenes and fighting.
There were some huge revelations in this book, especially towards the end.
What could be better
The pacing of the book. The beginning was a little slow with the whole world-building and towards the end the story sped down hill.
Since it is the first novel in a series it had to set the stage for the rest of the novels
Overall, this was a fantastic debut and story about Black Girl Power!