Reviews

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

onthesamepage's review against another edition

dark 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? No

3.0

This reads on the younger side of YA when it comes to the maturity of the characters, but the world itself is very dark, and the characters really go through it. I found it easy to read and pretty compelling. The part I didn't buy into is the romance. To me, there wasn't enough build-up between Deka and Keita to justify it. The relationship between Deka and the other girls on the other hand was fleshed out, and I loved seeing the found family developing throughout the book. I also really liked the world and the lore, and am curious to see where the story goes from here.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse and Death

Minor: Rape and Animal death

stephalpi24's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

whitneydlsr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

4.75

starryjoy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.75

legallyhot's review against another edition

5.0

A beautiful exploration of feminism within a high fantasy setting. Incredible world building. I loved the reveal that the

the deathshrieks were reincarnated gilded ones and Dekka was the Nuru

🫶 Kieta Supremacy🫶
Ixa is adorable 🩷🩷🩷

silvermoonlitforest's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

mar2111's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

bibliobrandie's review against another edition

2.0

I just couldn't get into this one. While I loved some of the elements and topics, I found it lacking in many aspects. I am also reading it for MSBA and found it too violent and gory (including child abuse and rape). I found the world-building unique but incomplete, so it was hard for me to fully ensconce myself within this world.

zatulasma's review against another edition

4.0

super cute YA fantasy with some badass girl power.
it was fast paced and imo concluded nicely for the first book. can't wait for the rest

sarahgauci's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25