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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Looking back, I probably should've tapped out after the main character walks around, has to listen to the agonizing screams of other people literally being flayed alive, and goes "ugH, how could MY day get any worse?!"
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”The way I see it, 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?”
The Gilded Ones is an impressive debut of a YA fantasy book that sends an empowering message not only to girls and women but basically to everyone who loves to experience empowerment.
I delved into this with the expectation that it will likely follow the typical YA pattern that most debuts follow these days; but it was a pleasant surprise to find that this book was entertaining and inspiring since the author was keen on showcasing the resilience in these girls whom are forced to live through a cruel world.
This stems from the author’s personal life and upbringing as a young girl growing up in Sierra Leone where the Patriarchal system thrives. Even after moving to the States, the author found that Patriarchy continues to be this domineering force. That’s the reason why I felt connected not only to the heroine but also to the author.
Now, let’s talk about the book in detail
We are introduced to Deka, a sixteen year old village girl about to go through Ritual of Purity. This purpose of this ritual is to deem whether the girl’s blood is impure or not; if her blood runs red, she is pure and fit for marriage. If her blood is found it be impure, she then faces execution or as it called the Death Mandate. Deka learned to live with the villagers’ scrutiny for not only the fact that her mother is an outsider, Deka’s dark skin marks her inferiority. Despite their cruelty, Deka hopes to pass the ritual so she gains their acceptance. However, things do not go as expected.
”Blessed are the meek and subservient, the humble and true daughters of man, for they are unsullied in the face of the Infinite Father.”
This sentence alone is very degrading as it hints at only those women whom are obedient and humble are found to be worthy of the god’s blessings. Deka’s blood spills, and it radiates in gold. She is deemed as impure and is subjected to all kinds of executions, and this is where the book gets a bit violent and graphic.
She then is offered a choice by a mysterious woman: submit to her fate or join a new regiment of the Emperor’s army of Alakis; impure girls and descendants of the Gilded Ones. The Gilded Ones, a name that gives the impression of a group of unique individuals adorned in gold and held in high esteem. But in reality, the girls are descendants of demons with abilities that makes them a lethal weapon against the Deathshrieks. What earns them this name is the demonic blood flowing through them, Golden blood.
Deka is then thrust into a world unknown to her, wrenched from everything she ever knew. Though her loneliness does not linger, she soon meet a group of girls like her, outcasts with powers who become her sisters in arms and blood. The girls as part of the Emperor’s army begin to navigate through this blood-drenched world of monsters and magic.
The diverse cast in this book were wonderful, starting with the main heroine Deka. I experienced Deka’s growth throughout the entirety of the book, going from a timid village girl to a confident and strong heroine. It was very inspiring to see Deka’s resilience against all that would’ve broken her. Also, her friendship with the other characters was so sweet especially her interactions with Britta and Keita. White Hands is probably the most intriguing character, I always felt torn between liking her and despising her but the mystery around her is what makes her such a compelling character. I liked that most of the characters came from different background it’s evident from their appearances and accents. There is a little spark of romance, but I’m very pleased to see that it did not overtake the most important theme this book has: friendship.
The world-building was well-done, the descriptions the author offers helps in creating the imagery for each scene. The world also has a unique lore that is truly captivating.
The plot and the pacing were in sync and the author’s writing is easy to follow.
I only have two issues with this book:
1. The magic system is intriguing but I feel like it wasn’t fleshed out well? I still don’t have a solid understanding of how magic works in this world. The main focus was on Deka’s power but I wanted to see more of the other Alakis’ powers.
2. The Time-skips watered down my excitement to see the girls in action. Months pass during the girls’ training and I was robbed of the excitement to see the girls’ progress towards becoming warriors.
This is a book I would definitely recommend, it offers an exciting reading experience with a wonderful Black heroine.
”The way I see it, 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?”
The Gilded Ones is an impressive debut of a YA fantasy book that sends an empowering message not only to girls and women but basically to everyone who loves to experience empowerment.
I delved into this with the expectation that it will likely follow the typical YA pattern that most debuts follow these days; but it was a pleasant surprise to find that this book was entertaining and inspiring since the author was keen on showcasing the resilience in these girls whom are forced to live through a cruel world.
This stems from the author’s personal life and upbringing as a young girl growing up in Sierra Leone where the Patriarchal system thrives. Even after moving to the States, the author found that Patriarchy continues to be this domineering force. That’s the reason why I felt connected not only to the heroine but also to the author.
Now, let’s talk about the book in detail
We are introduced to Deka, a sixteen year old village girl about to go through Ritual of Purity. This purpose of this ritual is to deem whether the girl’s blood is impure or not; if her blood runs red, she is pure and fit for marriage. If her blood is found it be impure, she then faces execution or as it called the Death Mandate. Deka learned to live with the villagers’ scrutiny for not only the fact that her mother is an outsider, Deka’s dark skin marks her inferiority. Despite their cruelty, Deka hopes to pass the ritual so she gains their acceptance. However, things do not go as expected.
”Blessed are the meek and subservient, the humble and true daughters of man, for they are unsullied in the face of the Infinite Father.”
This sentence alone is very degrading as it hints at only those women whom are obedient and humble are found to be worthy of the god’s blessings. Deka’s blood spills, and it radiates in gold. She is deemed as impure and is subjected to all kinds of executions, and this is where the book gets a bit violent and graphic.
She then is offered a choice by a mysterious woman: submit to her fate or join a new regiment of the Emperor’s army of Alakis; impure girls and descendants of the Gilded Ones. The Gilded Ones, a name that gives the impression of a group of unique individuals adorned in gold and held in high esteem. But in reality, the girls are descendants of demons with abilities that makes them a lethal weapon against the Deathshrieks. What earns them this name is the demonic blood flowing through them, Golden blood.
Deka is then thrust into a world unknown to her, wrenched from everything she ever knew. Though her loneliness does not linger, she soon meet a group of girls like her, outcasts with powers who become her sisters in arms and blood. The girls as part of the Emperor’s army begin to navigate through this blood-drenched world of monsters and magic.
The diverse cast in this book were wonderful, starting with the main heroine Deka. I experienced Deka’s growth throughout the entirety of the book, going from a timid village girl to a confident and strong heroine. It was very inspiring to see Deka’s resilience against all that would’ve broken her. Also, her friendship with the other characters was so sweet especially her interactions with Britta and Keita. White Hands is probably the most intriguing character, I always felt torn between liking her and despising her but the mystery around her is what makes her such a compelling character. I liked that most of the characters came from different background it’s evident from their appearances and accents. There is a little spark of romance, but I’m very pleased to see that it did not overtake the most important theme this book has: friendship.
The world-building was well-done, the descriptions the author offers helps in creating the imagery for each scene. The world also has a unique lore that is truly captivating.
The plot and the pacing were in sync and the author’s writing is easy to follow.
I only have two issues with this book:
1. The magic system is intriguing but I feel like it wasn’t fleshed out well? I still don’t have a solid understanding of how magic works in this world. The main focus was on Deka’s power but I wanted to see more of the other Alakis’ powers.
2. The Time-skips watered down my excitement to see the girls in action. Months pass during the girls’ training and I was robbed of the excitement to see the girls’ progress towards becoming warriors.
This is a book I would definitely recommend, it offers an exciting reading experience with a wonderful Black heroine.
UN-PUT-DOWNABLE!
Wooow! So, the only thing I knew about this book was that it seemed to be well liked, and I read the description. I'm not one to read reviews to be spoiled.
Anyway, I was NOT expecting this! Most of the stories I've read recently were slow starts, but not this one! It amazed me how quick this story was, yet it was still rich. I have never finished a book faster than this one!
And don't get me started on the narration! I didn't take to her voice immediately, but that's just me when I start 99% of audiobooks. It grew on me right away, but her genius was her ability to give EVERY character and creature their own distinctive voice. There were at least 20 beings who spoke in here for context. This is the first time I've come across this in an audio book (so far). I was truly amazed and impressed. I need her to narrate my book, lol.
I actually have nothing adverse to say overall. I love that you can even read it as a standalone book because everything was wrapped up. I can't seem to access book 2 in audio, but you bet yahself I'm reading it on my e-notebook.
Wooow! So, the only thing I knew about this book was that it seemed to be well liked, and I read the description. I'm not one to read reviews to be spoiled.
Anyway, I was NOT expecting this! Most of the stories I've read recently were slow starts, but not this one! It amazed me how quick this story was, yet it was still rich. I have never finished a book faster than this one!
And don't get me started on the narration! I didn't take to her voice immediately, but that's just me when I start 99% of audiobooks. It grew on me right away, but her genius was her ability to give EVERY character and creature their own distinctive voice. There were at least 20 beings who spoke in here for context. This is the first time I've come across this in an audio book (so far). I was truly amazed and impressed. I need her to narrate my book, lol.
I actually have nothing adverse to say overall. I love that you can even read it as a standalone book because everything was wrapped up. I can't seem to access book 2 in audio, but you bet yahself I'm reading it on my e-notebook.
adventurous
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
first reread, february 2024:
i still agree with past lorin’s judgement, super excited to continue, and finish, the series!
first read, november 2020:
This was absolutely incredible. One of my favourite YA fantasy books ever.
i still agree with past lorin’s judgement, super excited to continue, and finish, the series!
first read, november 2020:
This was absolutely incredible. One of my favourite YA fantasy books ever.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This is a bit of a slow starter but for good reason. In order to remain as vague as possible, I’ll say that there are aspects of this book I disliked and was annoyed about… only to find that it was the author’s intention all along.
Grabbing the sequel asap
Grabbing the sequel asap