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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
What a book. Really enjoyed this story can't wait for the next in the series.
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
another book club read. I loved this the author really knows how to write relationships and bonds in a way that feels real. the story was interesting and the themes were well done. the author is also incredibly talented at world building and making it feel fleshed out. however I think there could have been some improvements. as much as I love deka she believed every word said to her even when it vastly conflicted with things she knew to be true she literally is the song “Hot N Cold” and it at times could be frustrating. I also felt the author could have done a better job describing things I really struggled to envision a lot of the creatures and such that we saw through out the book. I also think maybe there were too many characters? I had a hard time keeping track of everyone and found myself sometimes having to go back to when they were introduced to remind me who they were (specifically the recruits but some alaki as well)
Afro-fantasy that's heavy on defeating the patriarchy. I loved the setting and the characters (Iksa is the cutest pet ever). The audio production is good too, with a wide range of accents. I can recognize that this is solid writing, but I think I may have outgrown YA fantasy and I'm not sure if I'll read the other two parts of the trilogy when they come out.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh.
Again, I liked the premise, this book seemed so promising, but the execution just wasn't there.
The writing isn't that immersive and the timeline feels clumsy - a lot of times has passed for the characters, yet as a reader you don't feel that way. Plus I think it's just lazy writing to have your MC fall asleep, and when they wake up, a lot of time has passed (in this case it was four weeks).
I think this is supposed to be a trilogy, so why do we have to rush things? In just 400 pages the MC goes from a totally helpless, submissive victim to a badass warrior with super powers. Why did she have to figure the truth about herself in the first book already? And I find it so unbelievable, that after so little training, all these girls have amazing fighting skills and can't be killed.
I want to say the story was at least entertaining, but I can't. It was so predictable, and the dialogue and the MC's inner monologue just made me roll my eyes. I did really like the girl power aspects: the girls looked out for each other, instead of competing against one another. Plus the love interest was a nice breath of fresh air, although the romance was a little rushed.
Again, I liked the premise, this book seemed so promising, but the execution just wasn't there.
The writing isn't that immersive and the timeline feels clumsy - a lot of times has passed for the characters, yet as a reader you don't feel that way. Plus I think it's just lazy writing to have your MC fall asleep, and when they wake up, a lot of time has passed (in this case it was four weeks).
I think this is supposed to be a trilogy, so why do we have to rush things? In just 400 pages the MC goes from a totally helpless, submissive victim to a badass warrior with super powers. Why did she have to figure the truth about herself in the first book already? And I find it so unbelievable, that after so little training, all these girls have amazing fighting skills and can't be killed.
I want to say the story was at least entertaining, but I can't. It was so predictable, and the dialogue and the MC's inner monologue just made me roll my eyes. I did really like the girl power aspects: the girls looked out for each other, instead of competing against one another. Plus the love interest was a nice breath of fresh air, although the romance was a little rushed.
finished this in two days! it was a pretty good book and the plot is
I didn't love The Gilded Ones as much as I was hoping to, but I still really liked it; and I'll definitely be reading the next book in the Deathless series, The Merciless Ones, at some point! :)
My rating/score: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system / 7 out of 10 on my own personal scoring system.
My rating/score: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system / 7 out of 10 on my own personal scoring system.
Some YA fantasy stories explore blood color, but having gold or silver blood makes one regal. In this book, golden blood makes a girl impure and priests will kill her.
And sometimes she comes back.
In other YA novels, authors delve into persecution of women, usually started by the monarchy and backed by the church and society. This book takes it a little further than most, especially by calling killed girls who come back to life, demons (and then more debasing names for women).
Now the emperor has decided to train these girls as weapons in his army.
Like many YA novels, the story is entertaining but not expertly written. My least favorite yet too common YA phrase was used, “My thoughts swirled in confusion.” Blech. Obviously there is the extra super special gifted one trope. There aren’t any subtle or unexpected moments outside of one very odd conversation that occurs. I had to pull the strangest quote I’ve ever read in YA fiction (big spoiler) “Warmth spreads through me. Tears pricking at my eyes. Keita accepts me as I am. Loves me. He doesn’t have to say the words but I feel them. I feel them in the way he cradles my severed head so gently.”
And sometimes she comes back.
In other YA novels, authors delve into persecution of women, usually started by the monarchy and backed by the church and society. This book takes it a little further than most, especially by calling killed girls who come back to life, demons (and then more debasing names for women).
Now the emperor has decided to train these girls as weapons in his army.
Like many YA novels, the story is entertaining but not expertly written. My least favorite yet too common YA phrase was used, “My thoughts swirled in confusion.” Blech. Obviously there is the extra super special gifted one trope. There aren’t any subtle or unexpected moments outside of one very odd conversation that occurs. I had to pull the strangest quote I’ve ever read in YA fiction (big spoiler)
I really appreciated this book. It was a unique, fierce, and fascinating read, with strong characters and themes. I would give it 5 stars, but I feel like it was lacking something, I'm not sure what. Maybe more details and descriptions, because I feel like it was hard for me to imagine some things. I also think that in some parts the story slowed down and dragged a tiny bit, but that's not much of an issue. Another thing that bugged me was when one thing would happen or be discovered in the plot, and wouldn't be addressed until a while later. They almost felt like plot holes that the author suddenly filled in at the end.
Besides those things, I loved the book. It intrigued me throughout, and I loved the perfect touches of romance. I also really liked the world building and the twists at the end.
Yeah it wasn't perfect, but worth the read.
Besides those things, I loved the book. It intrigued me throughout, and I loved the perfect touches of romance. I also really liked the world building and the twists at the end.
Yeah it wasn't perfect, but worth the read.