Book Review: The Gilded Ones
- Author: Namina Forna
- Series: Deathless
- 432 pages, Kindle Edition
- First published: February 9, 2021
Storyline
The Gilded Ones is the first book in Namina Forna’s Deathless series. I freely admit that I had no idea what it was about or even what genre it fell into (I only had my suspicions based on the cover). But after finishing it in just 2-3 days, I can say I was definitely not disappointed.
The story follows Deka, a teenage girl living in a world where girls and women are nearly voiceless. Upon reaching a certain age, they must undergo a ceremony to prove their purity—specifically, that their blood is red and they are not demons. Deka has always felt out of place in her village because her mother is a foreigner, and Deka has inherited her mother’s dark skin, which sets her apart from the other villagers. She’s been an outsider her whole life, and when she bleeds gold, she’s seen as a monster by everyone around her. Deka is saved from severe punishment when a mysterious woman rescues her and takes her to the capital, where she becomes part of a special army of alaki—women with golden blood.
The world is intriguingly constructed, and the magic system is clearly explained, with revelations unfolding gradually for both the protagonist and the reader. There’s plenty of mystery that keeps you in suspense throughout the narrative, and the plot is dynamic enough to hold your attention. I particularly enjoyed watching Deka’s transformation from a submissive girl to a strong warrior.
My Review for The Gilded Ones
I gave the book 4/5 stars and hope that the next two books in the series build on this and earn 5-star ratings.
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.
