The Gilded Ones absolutely blew me away from the first page, one of those special kinds of books I knew would be a 5 star read within the first chapter. In a world where the color of one's blood determines survival, Deka fervently prays and hopes that her blood will run red and she will be found pure. But on the day of her ceremony, Deka is shocked when her blood runs gold, signaling her to be impure and reviled by everyone she loves. Tortured by the elders of her village and her own father, Deka is offered a chance to escape her fate by a mysterious woman who invites her to join an elite squadron of girls just like her known as alaki, who dedicate themselves to eradicating the dreaded Deathshrieks that plague their empire. Eager to redeem herself, Deka eagerly accepts and goes through grueling training, but in doing so finds sisterhood, love and acceptance she's always craved, but she also discovers a secret power that sets her apart from her fellow alaki. Deka soon finds that everything she knows about herself and her world is a lie, and herself the bearer of a destiny that will change her empire and her life forever.
The Gilded Ones is the perfect book. A perfect mix of fantasy, action, adventure, intrigue, romance, power and feminism that I couldn't put down. At all. Deka as a main character has a quality about her you can't help but love and root for, and a vulnerability and realness about her that is so relatable. I cheered her on every second as she claimed her power and kicked butt, and watching her come into her destiny was really rewarding to me as a reader. The Gilded Ones does an incredibly good job in the way that it handles relationships between women and girls, as well as between girls and boys. Watching Deka find a community along her fellow alaki was absolutely wonderful, and her relationships with Britta, Belcaris and all the other young women was one of support, understanding and fierce devotion that I just love to see. I thought that Deka and Keita's romance was sweet and well-done, one of mutual respect, equality and consent that was a stark contrast to the patriarchal world that Deka inhabits. I also love how the romance is not the central component of the novel, but an added perk that deepens the plot themes. I can't say enough about the world-building in this novel. Deka's culture, her religion, and the lore behind it all is really well-developed and magnificent. I just wanted to know more and more the more I learned about it. The Gilded Ones is a powerfully feminist book filled with equal parts fury and love, one about a girl claiming her power in a world where men revile her for who she is, and how she changes her world. This will certainly be one of my favorite reads of February, if not the year.

First of all, this cover is unreal. Will be 100% my favorite cover of the year. Seeing a beautiful, young Black woman on a fantasy cover with those colors! My heart!!!!

The Gilded Ones is a horrific read - seriously, make sure to read the trigger warnings because there are many. BUT, in my opinion it is worth it because this book dives into themes that feel unusual to YA. And it's heroine is a young Black woman who is a literal badass. It's definitely a tough read, so get ready and check out other reviews that specify specific pages to skip.

CW for: previous rape and sexual assault, child trafficking, significant amounts of violence against girls and women, graphic violence, racism, violent language against women.

Deka is 16 years old and awaiting her Purity Ritual - all young girls must complete their Purity Ritual to ensure that they are pure of heart, body and blood. If a young girl doesn't bleed red, she is impure and gets punished by the Elders and priests. After an incident at her Purity Ritual, Deka's blood is revealed to be gold, identifying her as a demon and unclean. Deka, who always tried to be a perfect and submissive woman, is devastated. And then she is subject to obscene amounts of torture before being saved by an unknown benefactor who brings her to be trained as an alaki - a demon warrior. But things aren't as they seem in Otera and the more Deka trains, the more she changes, while learning about Otera's horrific past.

<"Our whole lives, we've been taught to make ourselves smaller, weaker than men. The way I see it, we all have a choice right now. Are we girls, or are we demons? Are we going to die, or are we going to survive?"

So you should read this book for the amazing woman badassery - you've got young girls who are strong and fast being trained by Karmoko's who are literally the best. I especially loved Thandiwe (and their requirement that folx get the pronunciation of their name correct!) and Karmoko Huon. I want to see this turned into a movie so I can fan cast it. There are significant themes of the impacts of patriarchy and extreme misogyny which can be hard to read but feel extremely realistic. I also loved that Forna created a world that is complete fantasy - sure there are similarities to some countries and cultures but her worldbuilding is fabulous. There are a few twists and surprises, most of which I guessed, but that didn't change my love of this story. I can't wait for the sequel (and the cover!) and congratulate Forna on a wonderful debut.

Thank you to Hear Our Stories and Delacourte for my copy to review!

I've received a copy The Gilded Ones as a part of a blog tour, and will be posting my entire thoughts there! However, you should know that it's a unique, thrilling fantasy, that will pull you right in, and leave you longing for more. This was definitely one of my favourite reads of 2021, and one I would recommend thoroughly!

Namina is a wonderful writer and story teller. That being said this book started off interesting but got to gory for me. I do not have the stomach for torture and gore at all. I do think there should be a warning on how graphic the violence was very early on.

Deka's been killed 9 times for who she is, the gold blood running in her veins, the demon ancestry it indicates. In a world where girls are masked, forbidden from any role outside the home, and tested for purity, Deka's fate is yet worse. She finds herself whisked away to join other demons like her, the alaki. The emperor has decided to train some for battle, what with their increased strength and near inability to die in a permanent fashion. In her new sisterhood, Deka seeks redemption but finds new inner strength and a role outside society's expectations for her. It's a violent path and a precarious one, and there are many secrets in the world, including those around Deka's own existence and special abilities that begin to manifest.

This book has strong world-building and vivid description. I especially enjoyed the details about fantastical creatures and the lore of the alaki as it reveals itself. The strong backbone of the story is the messages both subtle and blatant about the patriarchy and how it belittles and holds down those who threaten man's dominance. It was cathartic seeing the girls live these horrors but then turn that into an a path to victory.

For me, the only detractors were an insta-love plot that fell flat for me and some abrupt changes in worldview for Deka and her compatriots that kept the book snappy but lacked the nuance of grappling with big changes to one's foundational thinking.

This is a gem among young adult fantasy books, especially in terms of being a feminist rallying cry and uplifting story of found sisterhood. Anyone looking for some women warrior energy should pick it up ASAP when it comes out next week, 2/9. Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Deka's life will never be the same, no matter what happens at the blood ceremony. She knows that if she bleeds red, she'll join the rest of the village as a normal woman. If she bleeds golden, she will be slaughtered, maybe more than once, for those who bleed gold are demons with unnatural regeneration and other characteristics. When the ceremony arrives, Deka is sliced open, and to her dismay, her blood drips golden from her betraying wound. The elders imprison her out of sight, subjecting her to pain beyond reason. Just in time, a woman appears, willing to set Deka free if she chooses to dedicate her life to the emperor, to fight in his army as an Alaki with other girls whose blood also resembles molten gold. Deka takes the only good option before her, and arrives at the intimidating walled capital of the empire to train as part of the emperor's Alaki. What she will discover about the empire, and herself, is the beginning of Deka's incredible journey.

Here we have one of 2021's first girl power novels! This one has many themes, particularly about accepting yourself, pushing beyond cultural expectations, and embracing new opportunities. It gets rather dark at times, as Deka and the other girls like her are nearly indestructible, but they bleed, feel pain, and experience trauma just like the rest of us. Even though they heal, that does not make their trauma any less meaningful, though their enemies take their regeneration as license to hurt them. Deka is strong, and ready to train hard to fight the threats to the empire, and is capable of more than even she thinks at first. I liked the camaraderie she develops with the other girls as she trains and goes into battle, and they too experienced trauma that we learn of as they get to know one another. The Gilded Ones is a grim girl power fantasy that fights for hope, and every page bleeds golden with ambition and possibilities. It is my understanding that this is the first story in the Deathless series, and I am excited to read more about Deka and others beyond their first forays for the empire. I recommend this if you want to read about girls finding and seizing power and purpose in a world that otherwise fears and despises them, because they were first believed in, and then believed in themselves.

There were so many things that drew me to this book initially, and I’m not just referring to the gorgeous cover art. A West-African inspired feminist high fantasy series about warrior women? It’s no exaggeration to say The Gilded Ones had one of the best premises I’d ever heard of. And was, of course, one of my most anticipated reads for 2021!

And let me start by saying, that this book did not let me down. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. Pushing the boundaries of my assumptions for YA fantasy, The Gilded Ones went far beyond what I ever could have imagined. It’s rare to find a widely anticipated book that not only meets but surpasses your hopes – but on this front, The Gilded Ones most certainly delivers.

Deka is a demon. Branded as impure, because of the gold blood coursing through her veins, she’s exiled and reviled by the members of her village; forced to endure unspeakable pain and suffering in the name of “purification.”

But Deka is not so easily broken. She’s an alaki, which makes her practically immortal.

So when she’s presented with the opportunity to fight as a member of the Emperor’s elite army in exchange for absolution, she doesn’t hesitate to accept. But training to become one of the most powerful female warriors in her empire is no easy feat. And what’s more, Deka seems to have unusual abilities – unique even for an alaki – that grow more powerful the stronger she becomes. Dangerously so.

The Gilded Ones is the epitome of an epic, empowering read. At the beginning of her novel in a letter penned to her readers, Forna discusses how the idea for The Gilded Ones came from a dream she had of a powerful female warrior in gold armour. Just that image alone send shivers down my spine. Ever since reading this book, I’ve found myself often returning to that striking imagery, and the incredible feelings it stirs within me.

The Gilded Ones is a YA high fantasy novel that – in between uncovering its rich lore and describing its inspiring characters – takes the patriarchy and turns it on its head. As Forna herself says, “after all, the world we live in right now is not so different from the world in my book.” The Gilded Ones takes a microscope to all the hairline cracks in our society’s foundation and brings them forward in a creative and fresh, yet timeless way.

It’s hard not to fall in love with this novel. The wonderful cast of characters, epic battle scenes and unexpected plot twists – The Gilded Ones Truly has it all. Every aspect inspired so much ~emotion~ within me! I loved the characters, and adored even more the love, acceptance and support that they found from each other.

The found family vibes were strong in this one – and I LOVED it. I also really enjoyed how there was no unnecessary rivalry between the girls? They were all there to lift each other up, not tear each other down, and I was here for it. Even the romance, which I have to admit was pretty adorable, takes a backseat to the friendships between the girls.

It. Was. Awesome. I wish more books would approach female relationships that way.

And that conclusion… wow! What a revelation! I cannot wait for the sequel and to see what more Deka’s incredible world has to offer.

Thank you to Terminal Tours and the publisher, Delacorte/Penguin Random House, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Sixteen-year-old Deka is waiting for her Ritual of Purity, to finally be embraced and excepted by her community. She knows what happens to those who are not pure. On top of all that, she is different from every other girl in her community and they don't accept her because of that as well.

But when events at the Ritual take a left turn, Deka herself is faced with something that completely changes her life. Turns out, after all, she's not ''pure''. She is alaki, an immortal being with special abilities. But to others around her, humans, she is a demon and she needs to be destroyed.

Deka is taken on a wild journey, to be trained to fight for the emperor to defeat the army of Deathshrieks that threatens the survival of all people in Otera.

What I loved:

- Worldbuilding was amazing. I was totally immersed in all the imagery, descriptions of the temples, the training grounds, the fantastical creatures like zerizards and equus and shapeshifters like Ixa (meow, love Ixa) that we get to know.
- I loved that there was plenty of action, raids, and battles here to keep you engaged and on your toes, but it isn't drawn out too much. I wouldn't have even minded if the battle scenes were longer, to be honest!
- The sisterhood adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The bond between the girls was heart-warming!
- The entire story deals, as the author states herself, with patriarchy - how it's formed, what supports it, how women survive it, and what happens to those that deny it. This is all discussed through this fantasy lens, and I think the author did a great job of answering a lot of these questions.
- This was a SUPER fast read. The pacing was great, tho I do feel we needed a bit more information and time to develop CERTAIN relationships in the book, but that's just my personal preference.

What I didn't like:
- Once again, I like a little bit more characterisation in my fantasy, but it's just a personal preference.
- I felt like the love interest of our main character just popped in to give us some important information, and then he was gone. That changed in the second half of the book, but his first appearances were too brief for me to feel the love between them form. It felt a little bit out of the blue.


Honestly, I will be picking up the second book for this one. I really had a lot of fun reading this, and by the end of it, I got attached to the characters completely. It doesn't end with a gasping cliffhanger, and I am honestly glad that the author didn't resort to that! This left me feeling hopeful, expectant, and excited to read more.

Who would like it: Fans of YA fantasy, those who loved the Legacy of Orisha, fans of dark fantasy.

This. Book. Is. Perfect. Honestly, I've been procrastinating on writing this review, trying to find flaws in what I just read, and I can't come up with anything. Namina Forna had a story to tell, and she delivered!

I loved the messages laced in the story. It was in your face and had deeper meaning once you got to the end of the story. Everything had a purpose for why it happened, and by the end of the story, there was a goal to change it.

I also liked the writing because I felt like everything Forna mentioned, she made sure it had a purpose. There were no fillers or vanishing characters or side stories. You don't know how many times I've read a novel and wondered why something was mentioned, and we never see it again.

Overall you need The Gilded Ones in your life. I rated it a 5-star read. Not bad for a debut novel! Forna put her foot in this book and wrapped it up beautifully. I believed it lives up to its hype and deserves to be on people's shelves to stay.

First of all, this book had a fascinating concept and a tangled web of a plot. Both good things, but I think the only real problem I had stems from the latter. There's A LOT that happens, with a significant amount of information withheld until very late in the book. While it works from a series perspective, it did make the book feel unbalanced - like the end is a completely different story from the beginning. Regardless, I was sucked in and enjoyed the journey. There's a not-so-subtle indictment of patriarchy running throughout, which I'm totally here for. The book deals with the horrors visited on girls and women, at the same time giving them a certain amount of power and agency. Deka and the other characters develop deep relationships that I found touching. I'm intrigued to see where the story goes since this is book one in a series - I'll be picking up the next book as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book to review.

The Gilded Ones started off slow and I wasn’t sure I was even going to finish it. But after I got through the slow build of the first 5 chapters, I really got into it the story. There were parts that could have been developed deeper, but at the same time, I appreciated a book that doesn’t try to pack so much in, leave you on a cliffhanger, or waiting or the sequel.

I got an digital ARC from NetGalley. This book was amazing! I loved the main character and her journey to become strong and who she was meant to be. Very different from other books. An very original story that was beautifully written. This book will make you think.

I was honestly expecting something very different from the description and blurb. What we get is... basically the Handmaid's Tale and Skyhunter smooshed together. While I thought both of those were very good, this one just seems lacking.

I don't like the main character. She lives in an extremely patriarchal world and buys into it completely, even when she turns out to not be 'pure.' Even once removed from it she doesn't really change and I don't care at all what happens to her.

The worldbuilding is sparse and confusing. Why do women have to wear masks? What is up with the map and the layout of the world? Just why all of it basically?

I pushed myself to read a quarter of the book and I just can't anymore. I don't like it, I don't care about the characters, plot, setting, anything. I've seen a couple reviewers call it grimdark, and that could be why I'm not enjoying it. There's just so much pain and torture and rape and suffering and it all seems rather pointless - and I don't feel like putting myself through any more right now. Especially since several reviewers say it gets worse in the second half.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an e-arc to review

I was only 2 chapters into The Gilded Ones when I knew it was going to be a 5 star read. It’s actually one of those books that you’re so amazed by that you don’t really know exactly how to convey that in words. Through Deka’s journey, we got to see her battle shame, self-hatred, abandonment, and what seems like PTSD or at least resurfacing of traumatic memories, but we also got to see the way she comes to love herself and her talents.

There’s a lot I loved about this story like the platonic friendships, Keita, sisterhood, and the fact that titles and names meant things, and people wouldn’t let themselves be called anything besides what they should be. A lesson we could all learn from. Make them learn how to pronounce it right.

Also, I enjoyed the boys in this story, and one in particular 😉, because even though they know the girls could handle themselves, they still had their backs. Ride or dies one could say. Literally. “Conquer or die.” The relationships between the alaki were even better to read, and I really would love to have a discussion with other people about the layers of this book. The characters were so fully fleshed out that no one seemed unimportant to the story.

Overall, this book was excellence, and I cannot wait to read more from Forna, and see how Deka blossoms more in the next book. If you love stories about found family, the book Raybearer, and trying to put puzzle pieces together, I would highly recommend The Gilded Ones.

*Thanks to Delacorte Press and Hear Our Voices Book Tours for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes included may change in final publication.*

"Are we girls, or are we demons? Are we going to die, or are we going to survive?"

The Gilded Ones caught my attention immediately from both the beautiful cover and the pitch of Black Panther meets The Handmaid's Tale. I've always been drawn to fantasy and was excited to add this to the growing list of stories in the genre that revolved around people who looked like me. I admittedly had some tiny reservations at first, given certain aspects of the content, but I was completely absorbed in the story from the first few pages and couldn't wait to see what happened next.

The world of Otera is such a beautifully interesting place to get sucked into. Everything from the way people in the community were dressed to the details of the various creatures walking among them were painted so vividly that I could picture them in my head off of the page. I loved being plopped into the middle of a big event like the Ritual of Purity and getting a feel for the different rules and traditions that governed how these people lived and how it would all piece Deka’s story together.

One of my favorite aspects of any story is character development and this one didn’t let me down one bit. Forna created such beautiful characters here with Deka and the rest of the alaki and I found myself invested in them immediately. I have a soft spot for stories of found families and the bond between the girls was beautifully done - especially when it came to Deka's relationships with Britta and Belcalis. Though what they'd gone through in their own individual journeys to becoming members of the emperor's army was painfully exposed, it was great to follow them in smaller moments of joy, whether it be just a joke between blood sisters or exploring their abilities to their fullest potential. I also appreciated the development of the camaraderie between the alaki and the boys chosen to be their uruni. Given the fear and hatred thrown in the girls' directions from the beginning, it was great to see them being seen as human from once and have someone to place their trust in, even in the slightest bit.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and my time spent in Otera. There were so many interesting topics woven in that hopefully lead to needed conversations on patriarchal systems and trauma, especially when it comes to young girls. Although a little triggering and tough to read at points given the content, I'm looking forward to the next installment and more adventures with Deka and the other alaki.

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, body horror, gore & torture and sexual assault towards children ⚠️

When Deka’s blood runs gold at the Ritual of Purity, she knows she is in trouble. What she could not have guessed though was that she would be taken to the capitol to train with girls like her to fight in an otherworldly war.
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I really enjoyed this book! The pacing was nice and Deka certainly had character development throughout the course of this book. The side characters were all lovable and well developed, which does not alway happen in fiction.
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This story is unlike most YA books I have read because it was darker and more bloody. The author didn’t shy away from descriptors, and that helped draw me into this war-torn setting.
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My only complaint was that I didn’t really care for the romance. It seemed unnecessary and there was very little chemistry.
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4.5 stars rounded down
TW-body horror, gore, blood, misogyny, sexual assault, torture
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Sigh* I wanted to like this.

The premise and the intent behind this book are well thought out - Deka lives in fear that her blood will run gold during a ceremony that will make her an official member of her village. Gold is the color of impurity and women with gold blood are seen as part demon. This wouldn't be a YA fantasy if we didn't find out that *shocker* Deka's blood runs gold during the ceremony. But surprise! - after multiple temporary deaths, Deka realizes that she can't really die, and in a chance at a second life, a mysterious woman comes and offers her the opportunity to join the emperor's army of women warriors. If she doesn't, she's destined to be tortured to death for the rest of her life (which is forever, she's essentially immortal). Deka joins the army and we follow her journey as she makes friends and discovers herself.

On the one hand, I will say, I liked the concept here. The book focuses a lot of Deka's self growth and insecurities and I thought it did a good job of understanding for one, the rationale of a teen, and also the imprint that years of being told something leaves on your mind. It takes Deka a while to strip away her preconceived notions of the world because they had been drilled into her head for so long.

However, I felt like when it came to the plot, development was lacking. Major plotpoints lacked the buildup or set-up worldbuilding-wise that they needed to be fully impactful. Relationship development was also rather flat. Though Deka has many friendships and a romantic relationship, all of the characters she engaged with either felt like tropes or plot devices. Even Britta, the most developed secondary character, lacked depth beyond her being Deka's friend. There were moments where I probably should have cared about these relationships, but frankly it was a bit hard to. Deka was the only shining light here, but she wasn't enough to hold up the other characters completely. The result of both of these problems lead the book to feel monotonous in many parts.

This is less a criticism and more an observation - while the content of this book gets quite dark with torture and death scenes, the writing style is younger-YA (age 14/15 would be my main recommendation). I don't take issue with that per say, though I did think the contrast between the content being older YA (ages 16/17/18) and the writing being younger YA was evident.

I still think the concept is really cool, and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading this - I would just go in with healthy expectations and take note of the writing style if you do want to consider reading this.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC of The Gilded Ones.

The story of Deka, her blood, and her history hooked me from the start. This fantasy novel where gold-blooded women fight Deathshrieks is the kind of fantasy my students devour. This will be our next Red Queen.

3.75 stars.

It is such a shame this book was pushed back to this year because you all had to wait even longer to read it's greatness. I've forgotten a bit since it's been a while from when I read it so I can't be as detailed as I would like to be.

The first few chapters of this are BANGERS. One of the best hooks I've read in a story to date. It gets straight into the action with surprising impact. It makes it clear this is not one of those fluffy fantasies but something that gets bloody (literally).

Although the middle of the book was a lot more slower paced and is more slice of life focusing on their day to day life, I quite enjoyed it. I loved how Deka forms and develops bonds with the other characters and then builds on it. Found family love!

To be honest, I wasn't fully sold on the romance pairing in this story. I thought Deka had much better chemistry with her friend, Britta. Sure he's very sweet, loyal, supportive, and is a lovely guy but... Britta!

If you wanted a book with powerful demon girls then this is definitely the story for you. It'll definitely satisfy that craving. Be warned of the many hard subjects it covers, including abuse, misogyny, racism, etc.

eArc provided by NetGalley.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gilded Ones is a YA fantasy that is very much deserving of all the early buzz and hype it’s been receiving. From the rich West African-inspired world building to the clever twists on familiar YA SFF tropes to the commentary on hot-button issues like racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and the impacts of trauma, this book has it all.

Deka goes through a lot at the mercy of the patriarchal systems in place. However, she, along with other women she bonds with, come together in a beautiful way, proving that their strength can win against oppression.

I liked the world building, and how it established these patriarchal systems of power in a unique way. I’ve often heard critiques of patriarchy being included in fantasy for the sake of “historical accuracy,” and I like that Forna strays away from that here by being openly critical of the established pecking order.

I did find that the narrative structure was the weak link (and other reviews suggest I’m not alone), with it being a bit oddly paced and the plot being a bit all over the place, but I enjoyed so many other aspects, it didn’t bother me that much. However, I can understand why others might have more issues with it.

I enjoyed this book a lot and think this will resonate with a lot of people. If it appeals to you at all, I would strongly recommend giving it a try.