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natimat's review against another edition
4.0
It was a nice read, however it seemed rather basic most of the time. At first I kind of made myself read it but then I got into it, and genuinely loved the ending and the plot twist.
I read this book to get my reading habit back, and I think it’s perfect if you just want to read something easy but fun.
I read this book to get my reading habit back, and I think it’s perfect if you just want to read something easy but fun.
moretisha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
om_sammy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
A deathshrieker may as well have come and just ripped out my heart, because this is GUT WRENCHING. What Deka witnesses and experiences resonated with me so deeply, both as a woman of colour and just as a woman living in a male-dominated world. This had me yelling out and clutching my heart/chest; Namina Forna really takes you through it. The world-building is so unique, and I'm so pleasantly surprised that I wasn't able to see many of the plot-twists she had planned.
The ONLY reason this didn't receive 5 stars is because the writing is a little clunky in parts; this is Forna's debut novel, and parts of read as a debut. There were times I wish she had added more detail to a person/place/location, and at times between chapters it felt inconsistent bc time had passed and it felt like I wasn't able to see the natural progression/growth the characters experienced (which made for some passages to come across as a little jarring), but overall really enjoyed it. It lays down a wonderful foundation for the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest!
The ONLY reason this didn't receive 5 stars is because the writing is a little clunky in parts; this is Forna's debut novel, and parts of read as a debut. There were times I wish she had added more detail to a person/place/location, and at times between chapters it felt inconsistent bc time had passed and it felt like I wasn't able to see the natural progression/growth the characters experienced (which made for some passages to come across as a little jarring), but overall really enjoyed it. It lays down a wonderful foundation for the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest!
ashndean88's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.0
This was so entertaining! Especially the audiobook. I loved how this fantasy seemed to portray a different type of culture, and how seamlessly new ideas were introduced into the narrative. The characters were easy to distinguish despite the huge cast, and I could sympathize with Deka throughout her journey. So it hit all the marks with what I look for in characterization.
Epic, adventurous, and enthralling, this was a beautiful young adult book. I also can't say enough good things about Shayna Small as the narrator. She was perfection!
Epic, adventurous, and enthralling, this was a beautiful young adult book. I also can't say enough good things about Shayna Small as the narrator. She was perfection!
punkystarshine's review against another edition
3.0
Here's the thing: I hate giving books less than 4 stars. I don't do it often or easily. Especially post-pandemic, after I had a long stretch of time where my brain wouldn't let me read books at all, I'm just happy to be back at it. So I want you to know I don't come by this lightly and I do feel bad about it. My only solace is that this book has a lot of high reviews so I don't think my one little 3-star is going to hurt it. Because while the writing style wasn't for me, who am I? I haven't written a book! But also if I don't give it three stars, I'll forget that this series isn't my jam and read the second one, so I'm saving myself from myself.
Anyway here are some things I liked and didn't like:
I loved the worldbuilding. The overall lore was really interesting to me, which is what got me through to the end even when I was struggling with the writing style. I think it was a really creative and unique story and different than anything I've read before, even though I read a lot of YA fantasy.
I found the characterization of Deka to be inconsistent. One minute she's "the quiet one" the next she's giving a rousing speech, then she's back to being shy again. She spends a lot of time being surprised by her own actions. She falls into the YA trap of noticing enough so that the reader can pick up on the clues without picking up on the clues themselves, which makes her seem less intelligent than she is portrayed most of the time. And why, oh why, was Britta's accent written out phonetically? Everyone in the group was from different far-flung parts of the fictional world, accents were briefly mentioned here and there, but Britta's was written out in a way that drives me bananas. You can have her say "ye" instead of "you" and get the point across without going full throttle on the brogue; it slowed down my reading and took me out of it every time.
Some spoilery specifics:
I know Deka has a childlike innocence throughout the book, despite literally dying a bunch, but naming the mysterious woman "White Hands" was embarrassing. And "White Hands" liking the nickname was doubly embarrassing. Finding out that "White Hands" was an ancient being and still insisted she felt blessed to be called "White Hands" almost made me die of embarrassment. Why not make up a word and say it means "white" in a made-up language? Or call her The Courier or something? Genuinely anything but White Hands.
And related to her childlike innocence, if I took a shot every time Deka repeated the exact words that were just said to her but as a question I would have been blackout before I hit the halfway point. You GOTTA mix it up.
Related, "deathshrieks" was a bit on the nose, but fine, it's a YA book...but the fact that the deathshrieks also called themselves deathshrieks?? Surely no???
Anyway this writing style was not for me but the worldbuilding got me through to the end. I will not be reading the next one.
Anyway here are some things I liked and didn't like:
I loved the worldbuilding. The overall lore was really interesting to me, which is what got me through to the end even when I was struggling with the writing style. I think it was a really creative and unique story and different than anything I've read before, even though I read a lot of YA fantasy.
I found the characterization of Deka to be inconsistent. One minute she's "the quiet one" the next she's giving a rousing speech, then she's back to being shy again. She spends a lot of time being surprised by her own actions. She falls into the YA trap of noticing enough so that the reader can pick up on the clues without picking up on the clues themselves, which makes her seem less intelligent than she is portrayed most of the time. And why, oh why, was Britta's accent written out phonetically? Everyone in the group was from different far-flung parts of the fictional world, accents were briefly mentioned here and there, but Britta's was written out in a way that drives me bananas. You can have her say "ye" instead of "you" and get the point across without going full throttle on the brogue; it slowed down my reading and took me out of it every time.
Some spoilery specifics:
And related to her childlike innocence, if I took a shot every time Deka repeated the exact words that were just said to her but as a question I would have been blackout before I hit the halfway point. You GOTTA mix it up.
Related, "deathshrieks" was a bit on the nose, but fine, it's a YA book...but the fact that the deathshrieks also called themselves deathshrieks?? Surely no???
Anyway this writing style was not for me but the worldbuilding got me through to the end. I will not be reading the next one.
devikapha's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chantelspeaks's review against another edition
5.0
For more reviews, head to my blog Chantel Speaks
“We all have a choice right now. Are we girls or are we demons? Are we going to die or are we going to survive?”
Deka anxiously awaits the Ritual of Purity that will see her welcomed finally as a member of her village, or cast out forever. But, on the day of the ritual, her worst fears are realised when her blood runs gold. The discovery means she's treated brutally and made an outcast. However in this dark and violent moment, Deka receives an unexpected offer to fight for the Emperor. From there, she journeys to the capital where more secrets lay in wait about who and what she is on the army training grounds.
The Gilded Ones is a YA Fantasy that hits in the right spots. Namina Forna brilliantly weaves a Fantasy world with strong themes of feminism, misogyny and fighting against the patriarchy. The world-building around these themes makes it a solid fantasy. Explained in an interview with Forna, The Gilded Ones draws inspiration from West African culture, even going so far as some of the terms in the novel being derived from the Temne language of Sierra Leone. This realistic world-building gives The Gilded Ones an enticing edge to those who love reading Fantasy with detailed worlds.
“No matter my origins, there is worth in what I am”
The women in this book are powerful, not just for their heightened abilities and battle prowess. There is sisterhood in the community of women Deka finds on the training grounds. Britta, Katya, Belcalis - I loved their individual stories, which were as diverse and powerful as the soldiers they became while learning to fight the Deathshrieks that plague Otera. The young women in this story are searching for their place in the world and their personal worth within it. You could take these women and place them in our present world and you’ll find some of their same struggles; the battle for identity, belonging and living without fear of violence.
My only irk with The Gilded Ones was that the plot was very fast-paced, almost like a screenplay. This would be fine for some readers, but I found it harder to be genuinely immersed in the world building with such brusque changes in the timeline and scenes. When I read Fantasy, I love getting completely involved in what I’m reading and at times, the pacing made that harder for me. This is not a critique, merely my observation as a reader.
“We who are dead salute you”
This book is probably up there as one of my favourite reads of 2021. I highly recommend this to young adult readers (bearing in mind the themes) and general fans of YA/Fantasy.
Content warning: this book does contain backstories featuring characters who have experienced significant violence, have been sexually abused and are processing trauma. It may be triggering for some readers.
“We all have a choice right now. Are we girls or are we demons? Are we going to die or are we going to survive?”
Deka anxiously awaits the Ritual of Purity that will see her welcomed finally as a member of her village, or cast out forever. But, on the day of the ritual, her worst fears are realised when her blood runs gold. The discovery means she's treated brutally and made an outcast. However in this dark and violent moment, Deka receives an unexpected offer to fight for the Emperor. From there, she journeys to the capital where more secrets lay in wait about who and what she is on the army training grounds.
The Gilded Ones is a YA Fantasy that hits in the right spots. Namina Forna brilliantly weaves a Fantasy world with strong themes of feminism, misogyny and fighting against the patriarchy. The world-building around these themes makes it a solid fantasy. Explained in an interview with Forna, The Gilded Ones draws inspiration from West African culture, even going so far as some of the terms in the novel being derived from the Temne language of Sierra Leone. This realistic world-building gives The Gilded Ones an enticing edge to those who love reading Fantasy with detailed worlds.
“No matter my origins, there is worth in what I am”
The women in this book are powerful, not just for their heightened abilities and battle prowess. There is sisterhood in the community of women Deka finds on the training grounds. Britta, Katya, Belcalis - I loved their individual stories, which were as diverse and powerful as the soldiers they became while learning to fight the Deathshrieks that plague Otera. The young women in this story are searching for their place in the world and their personal worth within it. You could take these women and place them in our present world and you’ll find some of their same struggles; the battle for identity, belonging and living without fear of violence.
My only irk with The Gilded Ones was that the plot was very fast-paced, almost like a screenplay. This would be fine for some readers, but I found it harder to be genuinely immersed in the world building with such brusque changes in the timeline and scenes. When I read Fantasy, I love getting completely involved in what I’m reading and at times, the pacing made that harder for me. This is not a critique, merely my observation as a reader.
“We who are dead salute you”
This book is probably up there as one of my favourite reads of 2021. I highly recommend this to young adult readers (bearing in mind the themes) and general fans of YA/Fantasy.
Content warning: this book does contain backstories featuring characters who have experienced significant violence, have been sexually abused and are processing trauma. It may be triggering for some readers.
connie_joy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
This was brilliant. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did, but wow. This was feminist high fantasy, intertwined with African mythology. And it was so GOOD. I adored these characters, Deka was wonderful (unlike so many main characters she wasn't 'pick me' at all, in fact she was absolutely girl boss). But, for me, so much of the love I have for this book is found in the side characters. Belcalis, Britta, the fiery twins: Adwapa and Asha, Katya and even White Hands - I genuinely feel this indescribable love for all of them. This book was filled with powerful women, and powerful words. A part of the story which affected me profoundly was when Deka accepted herself, her power and beauty as a woman - and through this she shows her fellow alaki (her blood sisters) how to do the same. It was at this moment, that speech when I think I really started to love this book and the characters (it also made me cry... so there's that).
Another thing I loved was the romance subplot, and I emphasise the fact it was a subplot. Now, this is coming from a person who adores romance, but I actually really appreciated the fact that the book wasn't dominated by romance. It was very refreshing. Also it meant the main focus of the story could come through, and it allowed the feminist aspects of the book remain undiluted.
Highly, highly recommend. I can't wait for the sequel!!
This was brilliant. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did, but wow. This was feminist high fantasy, intertwined with African mythology. And it was so GOOD. I adored these characters, Deka was wonderful (unlike so many main characters she wasn't 'pick me' at all, in fact she was absolutely girl boss). But, for me, so much of the love I have for this book is found in the side characters. Belcalis, Britta, the fiery twins: Adwapa and Asha, Katya and even White Hands - I genuinely feel this indescribable love for all of them. This book was filled with powerful women, and powerful words. A part of the story which affected me profoundly was when Deka accepted herself, her power and beauty as a woman - and through this she shows her fellow alaki (her blood sisters) how to do the same. It was at this moment, that speech when I think I really started to love this book and the characters (it also made me cry... so there's that).
Another thing I loved was the romance subplot, and I emphasise the fact it was a subplot. Now, this is coming from a person who adores romance, but I actually really appreciated the fact that the book wasn't dominated by romance. It was very refreshing. Also it meant the main focus of the story could come through, and it allowed the feminist aspects of the book remain undiluted.
Highly, highly recommend. I can't wait for the sequel!!
katiesbookmarks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Solid 4 stars for me! I loved the world building and this was a great reprieve from the semi-typical Fae/mostly white-based mythology. I loved the characters and while the romance fell flat for me, I thought this was a really solid read. It’s marketed as YA and I definitely felt as a reader in my 30s, some traits of the MC bothered me, likely only due to her age - same for some aspects where I felt it was too much telling rather than showing. But I think this series would be great for anyone wanting to read more fantasy and adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
jesg78's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5