The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Book Review

The Gilded Ones is the first book in the Deathless Series by Namina Forna. Released in February 2021 by Delacorte Press, The Gilded Ones is a YA fantasy that introduces us to Deka, a sixteen-year-old with extraordinary power. The day her blood runs gold, the day she commands a group of invaders to stop what they are doing, is the day her life ends.

CW/TW: violence, death, sexism, misogyny, sexual assault (off-page)

Synopsis From Goodreads

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.

Positives

Deka is a character who has been looked down upon most of her life because she didn’t fit in with those in her village. On the day of the Blood Ceremony, she learns that she is truly is different from them. She doesn’t understand what is happening, only that she wants to change. As the reader learns more about Deka, she learns more about herself as well. She isn’t the only character to grow throughout the book.

As I listened to the audiobook, I have to say I found it easy to get caught up in the flow of the story and to keep up with the action.

Negatives

The biggest negative I have is a significant part of the plot, and that is the treatment of the alaki from the villagers to the royals.

My Opinions

The Gilded Ones is a book that had me intrigued from the time I first learned of it. A teenager is different from those around her, and they shun her. Or do they ignore her due to fear and ignorance? Either way, they are afraid of her. And she struggles to understand why until the day of the ceremony.

I know the story is a fantasy, but so much of it rings true in reality. The men several generations prior were afraid of the women around them. So instead of working through that fear reasonably, they claimed the women were evil–witches and demons. As time moved forward in their society, the women were not allowed to be out alone and with their faces uncovered after they reached a certain age. The women could only be in the company of men if their father or some other chaperone were present. If there was something wrong or different about the women, they were tortured and killed. Pick a time in history and any location in the world; I’m sure you will hear a similar story.

In this story, Deka finds power in believing in herself and learning to trust those around her. In doing so, she can help those around her to find their strength.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Merciless Ones. As I, for one, would be willing to fight alongside Deka and the other alaki!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.