I love the theme of The Gilded One, which is female empowerment. We follow our MC, Deka as she struggles to embrace what she is.

Deka was born into a world where women are subservient to men. A women’s place is in the home, they are not educated, do not work, are to have a male escort outside of their homes, must wear masks to cover the top part of their faces, and must undergo a purity ceremony to ensure their blood is pure.

Of course, Deka’s Ritual of Purity does not go as planned, and our story begins.

There are great friendships, a cute romance, adorable creatures, and a worthy cause in this novel.

While I definitely enjoyed this book, I did find myself longing for more world-building. At the end of the book, I found myself unable to visualize the deathshrieks (a major creature in the story), the lord Equus, and many of the other magical creatures. When these creatures we're first seen, only a sentence or two was provided concerning their appearance, and since these are original creatures, I would have liked more descriptions. I don't think everyone would be bothered by the above, I just really like descriptions.

I am super excited for the sequel I need to know how our female utopia comes about.

"Deka’s blood runs gold. In a country where women have no rights, the only thing worse than being born female is to have blood that is not red. Faced with an immortal life spent hunted and tortured by both monster and man, Hemaira is her only hope. In Hemaira, the lush, green capital of the kingdom, Deka can join an elite guard made up entirely of girls like her. Can her future truly be as bright as the waters of Emeka’s Tears, the great waterfall? Or is she rushing towards an even worse fate than she left behind?"

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I was really looking forward to this one, the cover is awesome--and I really enjoyed it. Loved our main character, and her friends, really connected with the worldbuilding here, was really furious with men for a while irl, lol. There is a lot good here. The ending was very overwhelming and sudden for me, I had a little bit harder time connecting with it. But a really good effort here, very enjoyable book.

Original concept with a cast of strong, diverse female characters. The mythology got a bit confusing at the end, but now I just need the next one to immerse myself more in the world and figure every thing out.

This book is incredible. I loved it and have already started recommended it to so many.

This book follows Deka, a young girl who lives in a heavily patriarchal society in which women are considered lowly and severely oppressed. She discovers at the beginning of the story that she is different from the women around her, and the book follows how she finds her strength and moves forward with that knowledge (don't want to give away too much for fear of spoiling!).

This book completely sucked me in. Namina Forna is a master world builder - at random points in the book, she would provide details that came back to become significant later in an impressive way. It is so masterfully crafted, I had to check back to make sure it was her first book! The book is heavy, both in events and in the issues that it tackles - feminism, oppression, racism, rape and abuse, among others. At some points it is harsh and honest, but in a way that is much needed in today's literature. Despite the depth and weight of the plot, it is fast paced and engrossing enough that it does not feel long.

The voice of this book is one that I strongly feel the fantasy fiction world needs. The world in this book is similar to earth in some ways, and so different in others. It represents a different voice, with a protagonist that is woman and a person of color. I think this is an incredibly important book, and I'm so grateful I had the chance to read and review it!

Thank you to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press, Namina Forna, and Netgalley for the ARC!

“The Infinite Wisdoms forbid running, as they do most things that don’t prepare girls for marriage and serving their families. According to them, girls can’t shout, drink, ride horses, go to school, learn a trade, learn to fight, move about without a male guardian. We can’t do anything that doesn’t somehow relate to having a husband and family and serving them. Elder Durkas always told us that’s because they’re trying to show us how to live happy, righteous lives.

“What if it’s meant to cage us instead?”


In Otera, if you are a girl who bleeds gold, it is a mark that you are a demon and the law requires you to be put to death. Instead, Deka is whisked away to the capital city, where she becomes a soldier in an elite force of “demon” girls, the alaki, but soon comes to find out that she is different from them, too.

I really expected to be disappointed by this book. Even when I was reading it, I was so nervous about the ending—I thought for sure something was going to go sideways and I was going to come away disappointed. And then I wasn’t! The ending was so satisfying and wonderful and I absolutely devoured this book.

To start with, I really liked the book’s themes. In an author’s note at the beginning, Forna explains that her upbringing in the highly patriarchal society of Sierra Leone, her experience in the United States, and her education about feminism all had to do with the story she wanted to write and how The Gilded Ones came to be:

“At its heart, the book is an examination of patriarchy. How does it form? What supports it? How do women survive under it? And what about people who don’t fall into the binary? Who thrives and who doesn’t?”


In The Gilded Ones, it is a male dominated world and women are required to stay home and be docile and subservient. To add to a very real-world problem is the presence of the alaki, girls descended from the Gilded Ones, demons who wreaked havoc on Otera centuries before. These women have gold blood, and superhuman abilites, but the religion of the land dictates that these women are impure and must be killed. The idea of impurity, and what women must do or not do to remain pure, is also a strong theme throughout the book. Forna also explores different issues that arise with the patriarchy—abuse, revisionist history, and corruption. At times these themes can be heavy-handed, but for a fantasy novel that explicitly wants to explore gender issues, I think it did a wonderful job.

The themes obviously had a strong impact on the characters and their character growth, from being women with a patriarchal mindset to being freed from that mindset in many ways. At the beginning of the book, our main character, Deka, feels very alone and is often hindered because of her faith and her loyalty to the system in which she has been raised. We see her learn and grow from that, but character growth and development isn’t limited to Deka. Even though this book is told in first person (personally, I usually prefer third person), we really get to know the characters that become Deka’s friends. I really loved the friendships in The Gilded Ones—you end up with a very tight-knit group that sticks together no matter what.

I do think the world building could have been improved upon. The religion and the history of Otera was done well, and I also really liked the development of the mythical creatures, like the Deathshrieks, the Equus, zerizards…They were all different from what we usually see in fantsy and contributed to the magic of the world. However, there were some things I had issues with. Firstly, the country had four distinct ethnicities in the north (white people), south (black people), east (asian people), and west (indigenous people), which on the one hand creates some interesting interactions, but I found it very unrealistic. Even our largest nations don’t have so many distinct ethnicities! The sheer size that the country would have to be to support so many different people is humongous. Even though the four different ethnicities ended up being significant at the end of the book, I had trouble with it in general. Another aspect that I was reserved about was the fact that the southern tribes had invaded and colonized the north, in a flip of what is true about our world. While I do think that this presents an interesting twist, it seemed to me like the white people of the north were still racist towards black southerners, in a way that is not very different from our world, where colonialism was both a result of and a cause of racist attitudes. This didn’t end up being explored further, and I’m curious as to whether it will come up more in the rest of the trilogy.

Jumping off that, The Gilded Ones absolutely could be a stand alone, which I guess should be expected from a debut novel, since publishers don’t know if it will sell or not. I am happy about this, because it means that even if the rest of the trilogy goes downhill, we still get an amazing first novel. It does, however, leave me curious about what will happen in the future books—there was so much growth in this book and it was so self-sufficient, I’m concerned that the future books won’t be as hard-hitting or as impactful. I’m very hopeful about future books because I ended up loving the characters and loving the world, but I’m sure that in the sequel I’ll be on edge the whole time expecting to be disappointed again!

To conclude, I loved this book. Even though it had its flaws, I had a good time froms tart to finish. There’s so much more that I could say about this book, but I’ll stop here because this review is already really long! I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to get an advanced reader’s copy, and I am super excited to read more books in this series. This was definitely a win!

This is a fantastic debut novel that fans of books like Children of Blood and Bone will definitely enjoy! It is a unique fantasy story with dynamic characters. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the pacing of the book. Dull moments were few and far between, but the characters and their relationships were still well-developed and fleshed out. A few chapters felt cut short or oddly paced, but overall the story was well-done and very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to those who are fans of African-inspired fantasy and for those who are looking to diversify their reading!

Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! This book absolutely blew me away! It far exceeded all of my expectations. It's beautiful female warriors destroying the patriarchy, what more do you need?!?! The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is everything I needed and even more! Let's start with the cover...GORGEOUS! This has to be one of the single most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. The imagery immediately pulls you in and lets you know that you are going to get something special. The colors are bright and appealing and I love all of the jewelry and hair adornments. In short, solid gold magic!

The Gilded Ones is the first book in the Deathless series. We follow a group a girls who are considered outcasts in a patriarchal society because of their golden blood. This society is extremely cruel and abusive to women so trigger warning for future readers. Namina Forna takes on hard core issues like inequality, rape, violence, sexism, racism, past trauma, and xenophobia all in an epic fantasy setting. Although some of the scenarios can be hard to take at times, make no mistake this is a super empowering feminist novel.

At its heart, The Gilded Ones is a coming of age story. We follow Deka and a diverse group of female characters on their journey to find their voices and power in a world set against them. Once discovered as "unclean" Deka and the others are given the choice to die or become a soldier in the emperors army; trained to fight a monstrous enemy. But all is not as it seems. There is treachery all around and the creatures are not the only danger Deka and the other girls will face.

This world Namina Frona has created is absolutely brilliant. There are unique regions, a complex religious system, mythical creatures, and more! The kingdom of Otera feels real and totally unique. If you are a fan of Children of Blood and Bone, love epic fantasies, root for the underdog, and believe in kick ass heroines, then this book is for you! To put it shortly GO READ THIS BOOK!

Published by Delacorte Press, this gem set to release on May 26th, and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give The Gilded Ones 5 out of 5 gems. I cannot wait to read more stories set in this universe.

3.25/5 stars

So I just wanna start off by saying that this is a good book. It's more so my overall feelings at the end and how much I actually enjoyed reading it. The writing and worldbuilding are definitely well done, but it's not my personal taste. The story is quite fast paced, and it throws you in after just 3 chapters. A lot starts happening at once, and it can be hard to keep up with all of it at times. However, the characters themselves make up for it. I grew to really enjoy Deka, although there were times where I felt some things were so far out of left field for her character. As mentioned before, it's definitely a good start to the series and overall plot. I personally just had different reading preferences than what this gave me.

So initially I was drawn to the book by the cover and then once I dived it, it was a great read. The plot is pretty original in my opinion and keeps a great dystopian feel throughout. Anyone who loves dystopian I would recommend this books to. Great plot, lively characters, very enjoyable read.

The Gilded Ones is an epic adventure story by Namina Forna. In Otera, women and girls are diminished in its society. Deka, a sixteen year old girl, born and raised in the Northern Province hopes for her life to be of value once she has completed the Ritual of Purity. Every sixteen year old girl undergoes the bleeding ritual to determine their purity in society. However, during Deka’s ritual a mishap ensues which sets her on a path of discovery about who she really is and her ultimate purpose in life- including special abilities.

Deka, a strong young woman in many ways, is determined to do whatever is asked of her when she is teamed up with the Lady of the Equus, a powerful society figure motivated to guide Deka through her new circumstances. However, Deka needs more answers to discover her true self. Up against so many odds, she is determined to unearth secrets of her past and create a new life for herself.

Along her journey, she finds others who are just like her, other girls who are discovering more about themselves who possess special powers that link them together through revelations hidden from them throughout history.

This book is a gradual climb with each layer of the story coming together chapter by chapter. Forna gives us a fiercely captivating and unique fantasy world. Moreover, she created one of a kind characters especially, Deka.

This book is about identity, trust, friendship and the power of women supporting one another for survival.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! It was such a great read! The pacing was really well done throughout the book and it easily maintained my attention. I tore through this book in a few sittings. If you enjoyed the hunger games, then you should pick up this book without hesitation! Another solid book in the wonderful genre of dystopian feminist novels! I loved it!

“Here’s to Strong Women, May We Be Them,May We Know Them, May We Raise Them”, and May the word Honor us as Mothers of the Universe!!! Praise to Forna, for igniting this quote throughout this novel!!! She takes us on a metaphorical journey, of women, that gives a glimpse of bonding, loving oneself, and creating a power within, that shines bright for all to see, even when the world deems you powerless because of your gender. It speaks to our divine purpose, portrayed by strong female characters that change the world through their courage, struggle, and a tenacity so fierce, ALL, had to give honor and praise to the Gilded Ones!!! What a remarkable read that should be housed in the hands of readers because it pulls you in, so deep, I liken it to the relationship of tides and the moon!

I've been excited about The Gilded Ones since the moment I heard about it and the moment they revealed the cover and my excitement only increased. Look at that beautiful cover, the colors, the art it all captures the feel of this book beautifully. Forna created a cast of characters you couldn't help but love, a world you can't help but want to know more about and a story that will leave you longing for more.

Deka has been looked down upon all her life because of the color of her skin and she believes that proving she is pure at the blood ceremony she would finally fit into her village. But when Deathshrieks, creatures that are reeking havoc on the kingdom launch an attack, leaving several members of her Deka's village dead. Deka stops these creatures but at the price of unknowingly revealing that she bleeds gold. Bleeding gold means she is impure and will be sentenced to death. When a mysterious woman comes to town, she saves Deka from a series of horrible deaths and gives her a choice: go capital where she will fight for the emperor in the war against the Deathshrieks and learn how to use her abilities an Alaki to defeat them or stay in her village and suffer until the village Elders find what will bring her to her True Death. The choice is an obvious one. But when Deka arrives at the capital the secrets of her life and that of the Alaki begin to unravel before her, no one is safe and nothing is what it seems.

I love Deka's character and her evolution through out this novel. She goes from being a meek, head down and quiet village girl to their fierce warrior who will do anything to protect the ones she cares about. Through out the novel we see the hard decisions that Deka has to make and the things she has to sacrifice. But we also get to watch as she learns shocking and life changing revelations about herself and who she truly is.

The world building in The Gilded Ones is beautiful and amazingly done. Forna managed to create a complex world with monsters, a corrupt kingdom and a detailed history of the Alaki and the culture of several different regions of the world. Though the world is complex, it isn't hard to understand it and grasp it. Forna doesn't give readers that dreaded info dump but gives information through out the novel on this world. The second half of the book is a wild ride. Secret after secret comes to light, one more shocking then the other. There is a huge plot twist, one that I never saw coming and I am so excited to see more of this in the next book.

Overall I can't give The Gilded One enough praise. Its beautiful, heart breaking and powerful all in one. I can't wait to read more from Forna in the future and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I was excited to read something different and this book did not disappoint me.

The Gilded Ones is one heck of a read. If you are looking for a book that features a group of girls who are trained to respect/fight/take no business from men, then this is the book for you.

The reason I rate this book down a star I found something about the way the book wrapped up in the end too ... clean? Too 'Bilbo Baggins hitting his head on a rock and sleeping through the Battle of the Five armies' clean. Strangely enough, the book would exist well as a stand-alone, but I'm very curious to see where she takes the next book.

I honestly could not tell where this book was headed and I felt as lost and afraid as Deka. Though, I love her spirit, her love for her friend Britta and boyfriend Keta to be absolutely sweet. Again, I found her relationship with all the girls rather sweet.

This book's focus is about never forgetting and learning to replace the hurt with positives and a new acceptance o yourself, if that makes any sense. Very feminist, very inclusive, very female driven.

I'm willing to sit patiently for book two!

Omg. I loved this book. Start to finish; it was absolutely amazing. It felt so new and original. Okay, so maybe it had some of the basic base layers. A girl finds out she’s “special” and ends up fighting for the wrong side, all while finding a boy to love. However, the story was written so magnificently that it felt brand new. It’s been a long time since I read something this good, and I’ll definitely be buying the books once it comes out. The beginning started with a little religious fanatics, but it wasn’t bad or overwhelming. The characters were strong and define. The love was by no means, instant. The fantasy aspect was new and refreshing. The story was dark and action packed. I just loved it. All the stars given.!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I have to tap out on this one. It's a case of getting something I wasn't expecting and not in a mental space to read. I barely got a few pages into this book before a man was being gross to the main character, and not long after that the text was talking about people being dismembered, and talk of demons and the undead. Yikes. I also read that there is a rape scene somewhere in the book. Not to mention in the 20% or so of the book I read, there are so many references to the main character thinking she's ugly or not as beautiful as someone with lighter hair/skin. It probably gets better, but I don't really want to read through more to get to the better things.

It's not like I haven't read gory, violent stuff with rape. It just wasn't what I was thinking I would read, and certainly not what I wanted to read. Maybe someone else can look past all that and enjoy the story, but I can't right now.

A young girl finds out she is unpure due to her blood. She is whisked away to an army to be trained to kill the deathshrieks. She uses her unique ability to stun the deathshrieks allowing them to be slaughtered.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It felt so different from most fantasy books. I loved the main character and the romantic interest as well. The storyline was fantastic, and I hope there will be a continuance of this series.

“We who are dead salute you.”

I haven’t felt this invested in a story since the Harry Potter series.

All Deka ever wanted was to feel accepted in her village. In a world where a ritual decides your fate. Bleed red and you live. However Deka bleeds gold. Labeling her as a demon and is subjected to the Death Mandate. Except, she won’t die.

I think the mechanics of this world are remarkable. Namina Forna does a fantastic job of explaining how everything works. She describes what makes the alakia (or demons) different from the population without overwhelming you. You get a grasp of this empires religion and how that molds the views of each character.

I felt so empowered by this novel and I can’t wait to see more from this debut author.