No matter my origins, there is worth in what I am.
The Gilded ones, namina forna
Author: Namina Forna
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 9 Feb 2021
Page Count: 432
Reading Method: Physical Book [Owlcrate Backlog]
Dates Read: July 1 – 3
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
Review:
Plot:
Woo! What a heck of an idea for a story. When I read books like this I’m just blown away that people are able to come up with this stuff. Deka is impure. A monster. A demon. But there’s so much that remains a mystery about how she, and the other girls like her, came to be this way. I loved the fierce friendships that are formed. We also see them go through rigorous training, accompany the Alaki on raids, face countless Deathshrieks, and slowly come to understand how they came to be and what that means for the future of their world.
There is so much to love about this story. I did find it a little frustrating just how slowly everything is revealed to the reader. Every time Deka asks questions or seeks out answers about her past, it’s all so shrouded in mystery that it becomes mildly irritating. I would have enjoyed it more if little bits were unraveled as we progressed through the story, rather than having a huge info dump at the end of the book.
I did enjoy the reveal at the end and the explanation gave me a big “ah-ha” moment. It all ties up so nicely and leaves us with the perfect set up for another installment – which I JUST SAW posted on Forna’s Instagram – the cover is STUNNING!
Characters:
Deka is a badass. There’s really not much more to say. She has some majorly impressive powers, but stays humble and loyal to her sisters. She goes through a lot of changes and growth throughout the course of the story. I loved getting so see her discover herself and what makes her unique. There’s a whole cast of Alaki warriors that surround Deka and their bond is unbreakable. They each bring something interesting to the group.
We also have Deka’s love interest, but to be honest, he wasn’t my favorite. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his character. He is kind and supportive and always has Deka’s best interest at heart. But there was a weird shift in their relationship from coy glances and occasional handholding to an intense affection. I wish we could have seen more of the progression of their relationship rather than it just suddenly being something serious.
Overall:
I really enjoyed The Gilded Ones. The story was captivating and the characters were easy to love. The idea behind The Gilded Ones was so fresh and unlike anything I have read. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! I need to know what they’re going to do next.
