7.14k reviews for:

The Gilded Ones

Namina Forna

3.99 AVERAGE

adventurous dark reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous dark emotional 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: Complicated

I like the world this story takes place in. It was a wonderful read on its own. Perfectly serviceable for a fun read. It’s part of a series but it reads like a standalone so I’m a little wary of the other books jumping the shark. The morals are a little hamfisted, but it’s forgivable. 
adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Yes
adventurous fast-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

"Never forget: the same gift they praise you for now, they will kill you for later."
adventurous inspiring tense fast-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: Yes

This was really good. The magic system was super cool, and I appreciated how it intertwined with its themes of misogyny and how it talked about systemic forces that keep perpetuating it, specifically religion. Really cool, but surprisingly gory
adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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: Yes

This is a good start to a series however I do feel like this book ends in a way where it could just be a standalone like you wouldn't have to continue it / get you hooked for a next one. I am intrigued what is going to happen in the next books for this series and do find it cool that its not like any others that I have read before. 

finally some YA fantasy realness!