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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
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.
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!
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!
This book was amazing!!!!
I don’t know what took me so long to pick this book up and read it but whatever it was, shame on me haha.
You are following Deka who has to go through a purity ritual which she will get her mask and be considered a virtuous woman ready to marry.
What does this ritual entail ? Cutting the girl and seeing if she bleeds red… if not she is marked a demon and subjected to the death mandate.
However, the deathstreaks have infiltrated the ritual right before she can go through and this… well this starts the adventure that unfolds.
Betrayal, loss, found family, war, coming into yourself, and so much more.
Trust me if you haven’t read this…. Definitely pick it up!
I don’t know what took me so long to pick this book up and read it but whatever it was, shame on me haha.
You are following Deka who has to go through a purity ritual which she will get her mask and be considered a virtuous woman ready to marry.
What does this ritual entail ? Cutting the girl and seeing if she bleeds red… if not she is marked a demon and subjected to the death mandate.
However, the deathstreaks have infiltrated the ritual right before she can go through and this… well this starts the adventure that unfolds.
Betrayal, loss, found family, war, coming into yourself, and so much more.
Trust me if you haven’t read this…. Definitely pick it up!
adventurous
fast-paced
I reread this book recently and loved it just as much the second time! I loved how this story centers women and features wonderful friendships between them. Deka lives in a patriarchal society with strict gender roles bolstered by religious beliefs and when she discovers that she is an alaki, she is forced to address her own internalized misogyny and question everything. Her character arc is empowering and satisfying. Great world building and character development.
Disappointed by this story. The pacing was all off and the world-building a bit confusing. All the relationships were told, not shown. And the action was either off page or ended nearly as soon as it started. There was no emotional weight or connection to any of the characters and their actions. The romance was not romantic. I really liked the idea of this story, but the reality of it was sub-par.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this. The book takes you through a journey that starts off slow, and I had mild indifference to the protagonist and her devotion to faith (but also that's the whole point, I got played) and then it's filled with twists and turns and Deka learning her worth and becoming an amazing warrior worthy of her destiny.
The world building was magnificent and I became more and more fascinated with each detail. The world is unique and full of depth.
I'm excited to see what happens in the next book.
The world building was magnificent and I became more and more fascinated with each detail. The world is unique and full of depth.
I'm excited to see what happens in the next book.