There's a lot going on in this novel, but some parts were redundant. Deka spent a lot of time analyzing conversations, etc. The repetition slowed the pace of the story, and, sadly, impacted the mystery, as well.

The writing and world building was solid, but there was more violence than I expected based on the blurb. Most books seem to have an angle to it where there is some positive goals the characters are striving toward, but in this one, it just seemed to be trying to avoid abuse. There wasn't much "light" to this story, which made it a struggle to want to continue reading. I do realize that the topics aren't all rosy, as the book addresses racial prejudice and the oppression of women, but I still expected some hopeful angle to it. Overall, the book just wasn't for me.

Here's a book I really wanted to love. It had good bones: A vast kingdom united under a common goal and common religion, an iron-fisted patriarchy that lords over women and brutally kills girls who might be different, an epic war brewing.

But it was clunky. The dialogue was stilted and awkward, there was soooo much telling, the plot was not a smooth incline but rather a series of seemingly disconnected events peppered with explanations and questions (to which the answer was pretty much always "I'll explain later"). By the time we got to the end and all the answers were finally being provided it felt like the world's largest infodump. A lot of things were thrown at us at the very end that we could have seen hints of earlier on, but instead we are overwhelmed.

The things that I really enjoyed were a series of small moments. The torture scene was brilliantly done - and the echoes of it as it becomes relevant to other characters was chilling. Scenes where Deka has to confront her inhumanity head-on, those moments when she's at war with herself inside her own head: these moments were phenomenal.

The whole book felt like we were just scratching the surface of a much deeper and richer story. Perhaps we'll really see it in book two.

I love YA Fantasy and The Gilded Ones will be a novel that I purchase to have in my own library and encourage my students to read. I love the pace and how Forna manages to suck you in with the first appearance of the Deathshrieks. As a child, I read fantasy novels with young male protagonist or young female protagonists who were alone. It makes me absolutely happy to read a fantasy novel where the protagonist is a strong, young female who has a group of other female friends who support her and stand behind her. I can't wait for the sequel because I want to know more about Deka and the lore of the world she exists in.

I had been seeing this one everywhere and was super excited to get an advanced peak at it. The story is very unique and intertwined with beautiful writing. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to read it.

The Gilded Ones was definitely an anticipated release for me. It sounded so original and that cover was beautiful! It ended up being a good book, but not as great I was hoping it would be.

I found myself struggling to keep reading, I was bored and I ended up having more questions than anything else. I also didn’t connect with the main character, Deka which is huge for me while reading.

While I do think this is an original story, it fell flat for me. I have heard other people talk about how good it was, so I am definitely in the minority!

5/5 stars

Holy wow. I mean...wow.

This book is...so good. I don't even know where to start because I'm just a mess. Just a mess. About halfway through I started realizing that every time, I mean EVERY. TIME. I sat down to read this book, something happened that completely shifted my understanding of the world and the direction the story was taking. Like I was NEVER in the know, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, just desperate to know where Deka, Britta, Keita, Adwapa, the rest of the alaki and jatu were going to go.

It was a wild ride and it was MASTERFUL in how Namina Forna took us on it.

The final few chapters, including the final battle, felt more rushed than I would have liked: I could have handled a bit of a slowdown, more fear, more "omg is this going to work out for them???" Although I will say, there were some foreshadows that were planted throughout the book which came to fruition at the end that I absolutely adored.

I'm both excited and scared for future books in this series: excited because, again! So good! And scared because I care so stinking much for almost every one of these characters and I just...I love them and worry for them.

I feel like this is the type of book that can be part of a (hopefully) epic saga, and I just want to see where the rest of the story goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this novel! The cover immediately drew in with the bright colors and I was not disappointed after reading this remarkable tale. This book does a brilliant job of addressing timely issues in a well-developed plot and through fantastic descriptions for world-building. This book did not shy away from the difficult and at times hard to read accounts of women in this society, especially the ones who are deemed impure who have to go through horrific trauma, however, the story strengthens the journey to highlight perseverance and strength. I am very very excited to see where this series goes in the future!

The Gilded Ones was one of my most anticipated releases for 2021. I preordered this a year and a half ago. So my expectations were pretty high and I was worried. I shouldn't have been though. I loved this and read it over two days. That's definitely quick for me with a fantasy.

In this world, women have pretty much no rights. Girls go through a ritual where they are cut to see if they are pure or not. If the blood is red, they are safe to stay at home. Deka lives in Irfut, but she's never fit in. Her skin is darker and it made her stand out. She lived with her father. Her mother had passed away before the testing. If a girl is impure, they are taken away by priests. Deka was nervous, but she assumed her blood would run red. She did everything right growing up. But when she was cut, her blood ran gold. There are monsters called deathshrieks that invade and kill. Deathshrieks showed up during the testing and killed a lot of people in Irfut. Deka was taken away and tortured for being impure. Before that happened, she yelled at the deathshrieks and they listened to her. They seemed to obey her. She had no idea what that meant. Deka realizes she's a demon once she wakes up. She's been tortured and killed over and over. But she always woke up all healed.

After awhile, a woman shows up and tells Deka what she is and what she could be. They call her kind Alaki and they are stronger and faster than humans. The emperor is planning an army to kill all the deathshrieks and Deka can be a part of it. She's taken with other impure girls to train. What Deka finds there changes everything. She makes friends. Real friends. She trains to kill and gets more skilled. She also finds out secrets about her parents and The Gilded Ones. Alaki are descendants of the Gilded Ones. They were told that the Gilded Ones were four ancient demons that preyed on humans for years. Before the emperor destroyed them, they had bred and had babies with humans.

This was a dark and gory book. I adored all the Alaki Deka became friends with. The sisterhood part of the story really stood out to me. I enjoyed the writing and the pacing. It's a great start to a new series, but it also read well as if it was a standalone.

I gave this book 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

Warnings for racism, sexism, cutting, blood, captivity, torture, death.

This is fantastic and I think our teens will love it. It blends fantasy and dystopian with monsters and war, and there's lots to keep you turning pages. Also there's an amazing shapeshifting creature character that is SO CUTE.

I think it could be a good fit for fans of An Ember in the Ashes because of the layers of loyalty, rebellion, and mystery that surround the central adventure. And much like that series, this book depicts torture and other frightening and dark themes beside the beautiful friendships, exciting adventure, and gentle romance bits. The torture is heart-wrenching and awful, as it's meant to be, so do be aware of that content when you pick this up.

This book was amazing. I loved the magic, the mystery and the world that the author created. There was such great social commentary and I loved seeing these girls find their strength and purpose. A great read!

Definitely a 4.5.

CW: body mutilation, torture, talk of past rape

I have been waiting to read this book since the first time I saw that gorgeous cover. The color scheme and the stunning young Black girl on the cover impressed me immediately and I was so happy when I got the advance copy. But when the release date got pushed to this year, I decided to pick it up closer to when it comes out. And this was wonderful.

I started reading this the day after I sprained my ankle and was confined to the bed, so I really needed a good distraction. And this one turned out to be so good. The story starts off with a bang and it never slows down, keeping us engrossed in it throughout. The mythology and culture of this world is both fascinating and brutal, but just as we think we know something, we are bombarded with more twists and revelations and I couldn’t even imagine taking a break from the book. The writing also felt very personal and full of feeling, making us deeply invested in the proceedings and get emotional whenever something happened. The author also never shies away showing the cruelty of the people in this world, especially towards women whom they consider impure and it’s horrifying to read, but it’s also a tale of strength and survival.

Deka is such an amazingly written character. She is a young woman who has kind of been an outcast all her life and just wants to below. But then her life is upended and she is put through such ordeals that it is very despairing, but it also drives her to become a survivor. And after losing the only people she knows in such a brutal manner, the bonds she makes with her fellow survivors was a joy to watch. Her absolute trust of her fellow alaki women, who have equally suffered, and the way they all derive strength from each other was immensely satisfying to read. I am especially in love with her beautiful friendship with Britta who is a ray of sunshine among all the darkness. The bonds these women slowly form with male recruits who initially hate them is also very organically developed in the story, and it never felt contrived. And Keita and all his friends made great additions to a story which was otherwise full of misogynistic men, wanting to completely control women.

The author mentions in her note that this was her story about patriarchy and it’s vivid in every single page. This is the story of what happens when men decide they can’t have women be in any powerful positions, and what kind of lengths they will go to convince the whole population that women are meant to be subservient only. But this is also about women who can change their understanding about themselves if given the opportunity, and take their destiny into their own hands when they stand together, along with some men who are not scared to be supportive of them.

In conclusion, this is a stunning portrayal of what a brutal patriarchal fantasy world can look like, and what women can achieve when they decide they’ve had enough. It’s a story of resilience, survival and strong friendships which will definitely leave a mark on you. I feel lucky to have read such a marvelous debut and I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC of this book!

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is a story most women know all too well - oppression at the hands of men. Deka is a 16-year-old getting ready for the blood ceremony - a ritual that will determine if she's pure or not based on the color of her blood. When her blood runs gold, the color of impurity, Deka soon faces the consequences at the hands of the village elders. When a woman comes to Deka, giving her the option to leave the village forever to fight for the Emporer in an army made of impure girls, she does the only thing she can. She agrees, in hopes that she will be made pure. What follows is a journey of harsh realities and harsher lessons, including that nothing is as it seems.

This book tackles so many issues. Mysoginism, racism, xenophobia, We see all of these through Deka's eyes. The world she lives in is a strict one, where women are treated as nothing more than servants to the men and fodder for their pleasures. It's disheartening to read, and even more so when you realize that yes. This is how it is for so many women, especially in cultures where religion is used as an excuse to mistreat people who are deemed 'other'. A thing I really liked about this book was the fact that we saw women of all races here. All of them had a similar story of abuse and mistreatment at the hands of men, and I think that was an important message. We may be of different races and cultures, but we're still connected in this way.

The story is very bloody and violent, with dismemberment and death a common theme. It's hard to read, but I believe it adds to the overall theme of women being disposable commodities. If they're deemed unworthy or impure, who cares if they die? It's a hard lesson, but it's a very real one.

The characters were a little flat for me. I liked Deka, and her friend Britta. I wish I felt more connected to Keita as a love interest. The rest of the supporting cast of characters were all diverse and there was some sapphic rep, which I appreciated. But I didn't feel a real connection to most of them. The story was a good one, with an interesting magic system. Most of the action and resolution took place in the last 10% of the book, which made it drag in some parts.

Overall, a powerful story of women finding their inner goddesses to rise up and be heard above the noise of their oppressors. Can't wait to see where the story goes.

Fairly standard YA fantasy, although it's always great to see broader representation in the genre, I liked the strong themes of female friendship/support, and fighting patriarchal ideas. (Based on the author's note, I was expecting to see something more in regards to nonbinary rep, but maybe that will show up in following books?) I think it fell down a bit on character: many of the secondary characters had little to differentiate them and often felt as if they only existed in the narrative to prop up Deka's journey, and even Deka herself sometimes came off a bit inconsistent, still a devout believer in the ideals of her society in chapter 12 and then coming out with a big speech about how it was all trash two chapters later without some milestone event to change things in between. There also seemed to be some challenges with pacing - the large time jumps often made things feel choppy and episodic rather than allowing them to flow. This seemed to particularly show in the romance, which did not seem to have a real build to the relationship on the page and struck me as somewhat shallowly or inadequately portrayed, as well as in the last several chapters, which felt like falling headlong downhill between big reveals, a quick climactic battle, and the conclusion.

Still, perhaps hand to SFF fans who aren't quite caught by Onyebuchi's War Girls or We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia.

Deka lives in a world where the color of her skin and her lineage makes her a bit of an outcast. Her hope is that the traditional blood ritual will prove her pure and end any questions of where she belongs. But when her blood runs gold, her fate is irrevocably changed and she must make real life decisions about who she will become.

Admittedly, I have had a rollercoaster relationship with young adult fantasy and it seems that this book fell somewhere short of what I find enjoyable about the genre. The cultural structures in place were a great vehicle for the conversations about prejudices within a community of darker skinned individuals as well as the illusion that 'purity' somehow validates young women. The writing style, however, appears geared toward a younger audience (which is fair since this is written for a young adult audience) and I tend to like something a little bit more complex. I often found myself setting the book down and going days between picking it up. In the end, I put it down for good about a quarter of the way through. That being said, I am definitely going to try again when it is released as an audiobook since I enjoy that format more in cases like this.

This is hands down my favorite 2021 read and one that will be in my top 10. I am so glad i read this book and had me hooked from the moment i picked it up. I loved the plot twists and so many of the characters. I will probably come back to wrote a better review but whew i need to sleep on it.

5 stars

Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc

Firstly, thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Are we girls or are we demons?”

The Gilded Ones is a rich, enthralling debut with a stunning cover. I wanted to read it for that cover alone. Throw in a West African inspired fantasy with badass female characters? Hook, line, sinker.

The author says in her author’s note that book was an examination of the patriarchy and she did that exceedingly well. Sixteen year Deka, who’s mom has recently died, is anticipating her 15th year ritual where she will be deemed pure if her blood runs red or cursed/impure if her blood runs gold. Ritual day comes and her blood runs gold. All the while, there is a threat of monsters, called deathshrieks, who threaten the empire’s peace.

What follows next is a harrowing journey of Deka coming to terms with the violence of her society, deeming the status quo unacceptable and learning that the true monsters are not the ones she was taught growing up – but the patriarchy itself.

Part The Handmaiden’s Tale, part Children of Blood and Bone, this is a story that has you glued to the ages to see what comes next. Deka’s character development was the star of the show as she is forced to bear the trauma of not just the patriarchy, but colorism, tribalism, and religious persecution. She goes from a timid girl who craves nothing but acceptance from the men in her life to a strong young woman in her own right.
The shortcomings of this book were twofold. The lack of LGBTQ+ characters was very much absent. I find it difficult to believe that a dormitory of girls wouldn’t have sapphic relationships present. As much as this story is an examination of the patriarchy, we need to remember that feminism means nothing unless it is intersectional and inclusive. Second, I felt that the relationship development with the love interest, Keita, was nonexistent – it felt developed off page and so the eventual utter acceptance and sacrifice that Keita makes for Deka doesn’t feel believable. We are told that in their nascent relationship that they “embrace sometimes.” Because of that, I felt very little to no attachment to that relationship in general, so I’ll be interested to see if this is addressed in the published version or later installments!

Overall, a wildly enjoyable read and I urge everyone to add to their overly-long TBRs!

Sixteen year-old Deka is about to undergo the Ritual of Purity along with other girls from her village in the kingdom of Otera. The ritual involves cutting the girls to see the color of their blood. Red blood means the girls are good and allowed to live normal lives according to their customs. But if their blood bleeds gold, the girls are considered impure, demons that cannot be trusted and given the Death Mandate. All of Deka's hopes depends on her blood. Will she have a normal life with security or is she destined for an insufferable death? The Gilded Ones is a classic tale of self-discovery and self-determination mixed with rich world-building that deals with misogyny and socio-political issues. It's an amazing YA fantasy novel with heroines that epitomize true friendship, courage, and strength. The Gilded Ones is must-have for every public and high school library.

NetGalley ARC | I'm pretty sure that I already uncovered one of my top YA books of 2021.

With a gorgeous cover and equally mesmerizing mythological and fantastical plot, become completely engrossed in a tale about power, feminity, friendship, love, and family.

I had no idea that I'd be reading such a powerful book filled with feminist messaging and a fast-paced story that will keep you reading late into the night.

You'll champion Deka and all of the evil forces she goes up against, including abuse, racism, and xenophobia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You can find the full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/february-2021-book-releases/

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT

The HYPE IS REAL and I am disgusted with myself for stepping into it with such low expectations and so many reservations. I almost didn't pick it up, particularly after the release date was pushed back nearly a year due to the pandemic (for shame, publishers! this could have been in so many girls' hands for almost a fucking year!), but as soon as I read the first sentence, I was entranced, and by the end of the first chapter, I was hooked.

YA fantasy has burned me in the past, but this one has lit my fire, watered my crops and made me dinner.

If you're feeling a little jaded by YA, give this one a try.

You won't be disappointed.

THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna is a YA fantasy novel and the first book in the Deathless series. The story follows sixteen-year-old Deka on the brink of her purity ceremony— one that all young ladies must go through to prove they don’t have demon blood in their veins. Deka, with her brown skin in a Northern province, is used to being different. That’s why she’s hoping to prove once and for all that she fits in— only her blood runs gold instead of red. When the Elders imprison her, she’s rescued by a strange lady who brings her to a warrior training ground with secretive plans of her own. There, Deka begins to learn the truth of who she really is, and more importantly, starts to decide who she wants to be.

Racism, colorism, sexism, and feminism are some of the themes covered in this book. Forna tackles them in such a way to evoke not only empathy but also empowerment. It doesn’t feel political. It feels human. The refrain from the story, “Are we girls or are we demons?” echoed in my ears for days after reading it. Along those lines, I love the female friendships that are formed among the “demon” girls. They are fierce, protective, and compassionate— and so are their male counterparts. While the powers that be are oppressive, the male partners to the female warriors grow to be supportive and kind. It shows what is possible when people work together.

The pacing occasionally took me out of the story as it revved up and slowed down in parts, but beyond that, I’m very excited for the sequels. I want to see how the romance between Deka and her partner continues to develop, and if the “human” girls are liberated in the coming books.

THE GILDED ONES is a mashup of the blood magic from RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard, the patriarchal society in THE GRACE YEAR by Kim Liggett, the threatening monsters in DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine, and the training grounds in DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. It encompasses the fantasy elements that we’ve come to love and expect while infusing the genre with a fresh perspective and tons of diversity. The cover alone is reason enough to read this book. It is absolutely gorgeous. That being said, if you are triggered by abuse, rape, or violence, this may be a book you want to skip.