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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I found this to be a pretty stock-standard, average YA fantasy, without anything special to make it stand out. It has many of the common tropes, but doesn't really execute them in any particularly amazing way. I was particularly disappointed by the setting, which was a lot more generic than I was expecting.
The diverse cast is nice to see, but that alone isn't enough to carry the book, and the commentary on societal issues was very simplistic and on occasion a bit too on the nose for my liking (though this isn't an uncommon trend in YA books). Overall, this wasn't terrible, but I struggle to think of anything here that I haven't seen done before, and better.
The diverse cast is nice to see, but that alone isn't enough to carry the book, and the commentary on societal issues was very simplistic and on occasion a bit too on the nose for my liking (though this isn't an uncommon trend in YA books). Overall, this wasn't terrible, but I struggle to think of anything here that I haven't seen done before, and better.
I have been eagerly anticipating this book for over a year and I was so excited to pick it up as soon as I could. I have been struggling with fantasy books for a while but this really took me out of that fantasy slump.
The world that Namina Forma created is so magical and you truly get invested in it. I read this book in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. The final 80% of the novel I read all in one chunk which I haven't done in a while. The way the story was written made it easy to understand, even for those who aren't used to reading YA fantasy.
I loved Deka as a character and I think she was really interesting to follow. The side characters were also very well developed though I would have love more focus on some of the guys who were soliders, other than Keita.
I loved the powerful, feminist vibes this book gave me. It truly made me feel incredibly empowered and I can only imagine the impact this would have on a younger teenager. I wish this was one of the YA fantasies I was reading when I was younger, as it is diverse and empowering.
Overall, I loved this book. I was completely satisfied with how it went and I think this is a solid fantasy debut. It almost felt like a standalone fantasy with how everything wrapped up so I am intrigued to see where the rest of the series goes.
The world that Namina Forma created is so magical and you truly get invested in it. I read this book in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. The final 80% of the novel I read all in one chunk which I haven't done in a while. The way the story was written made it easy to understand, even for those who aren't used to reading YA fantasy.
I loved Deka as a character and I think she was really interesting to follow. The side characters were also very well developed though I would have love more focus on some of the guys who were soliders, other than Keita.
I loved the powerful, feminist vibes this book gave me. It truly made me feel incredibly empowered and I can only imagine the impact this would have on a younger teenager. I wish this was one of the YA fantasies I was reading when I was younger, as it is diverse and empowering.
Overall, I loved this book. I was completely satisfied with how it went and I think this is a solid fantasy debut. It almost felt like a standalone fantasy with how everything wrapped up so I am intrigued to see where the rest of the series goes.
On their sixteenth year, every girl must undergo the blood ritual. If she bleeds red, she is deemed pure but if she bleeds gold, she is marked as a demon and killed or tortured. To her horror, Deka’s blood is gold and she is abused and murdered nine times until a mysterious woman frees her to train with an army of girls just like her. Alaki are near-immortals who possess superhuman strength, speed and healing abilities. They are trained to destroy the empire’s greatest threat—Deathshrieks.
This book was so much fun to read! Forna thoughtfully tackles important topics like trauma, racism and misogyny while weaving in feminist themes, shimmering magic and mind-blowing plot twists to create an exhilarating story. I loved the fierceness, support and loyalty between the girl gang. At its heart, this is an empowering story about found family and fighting together to smash the patriarchy. I highly recommend it for any fantasy lover.
(Just a heads up—this one is heavy on the gore and violence.)
Congratulations are in order because The Gilded Ones is being adapted into a movie! So exciting.
This book was so much fun to read! Forna thoughtfully tackles important topics like trauma, racism and misogyny while weaving in feminist themes, shimmering magic and mind-blowing plot twists to create an exhilarating story. I loved the fierceness, support and loyalty between the girl gang. At its heart, this is an empowering story about found family and fighting together to smash the patriarchy. I highly recommend it for any fantasy lover.
(Just a heads up—this one is heavy on the gore and violence.)
Congratulations are in order because The Gilded Ones is being adapted into a movie! So exciting.
TW: Scenes of violence and gore. Discussions of sexual assault/rape.
This was a fun, quick read. I was along for the ride for most of it. I had to put it down for a bit because I had other things I needed to finish reading but it was very easy to pick back up again.
I think the first-person narrative can be hard to pull off and for the most part Namina Forna was successful. There were a few times when the narration would over-explain a situation that was pretty apparent by the action. A case of "Tell-show-tell"?
I liked our main cast of characters. They were mostly well-flushed out (or in the least I knew their character traits and motivations). Deka is our main character and I liked her a lot. I rooted for her throughout. The villain ended up being a bit cartoony for my taste but he was fine.
The world building is pretty good for a novel of this length. I do have some lingering questions but perhaps they'll be addressed in a sequel or prequel?
The theme this book focuses the most on is feminism; it is very obviously woven throughout the novel. Women who are deemed unpure by their first "bleeding" are condemned to death. In a small sense it deals with race: Deka is the only black girl in her village and is treated as an other based on her skin tone. But besides the beginning, it's never brought up again.
Overall, I liked this a lot. I'd recommend it to a teen or young adult who does not mind a bit of violence with their fantasy.
This was a fun, quick read. I was along for the ride for most of it. I had to put it down for a bit because I had other things I needed to finish reading but it was very easy to pick back up again.
I think the first-person narrative can be hard to pull off and for the most part Namina Forna was successful. There were a few times when the narration would over-explain a situation that was pretty apparent by the action. A case of "Tell-show-tell"?
I liked our main cast of characters. They were mostly well-flushed out (or in the least I knew their character traits and motivations). Deka is our main character and I liked her a lot. I rooted for her throughout. The villain ended up being a bit cartoony for my taste but he was fine.
The world building is pretty good for a novel of this length. I do have some lingering questions but perhaps they'll be addressed in a sequel or prequel?
The theme this book focuses the most on is feminism; it is very obviously woven throughout the novel. Women who are deemed unpure by their first "bleeding" are condemned to death.
Spoiler
Literal goddesses are enslaved by men who want to take their power.Overall, I liked this a lot. I'd recommend it to a teen or young adult who does not mind a bit of violence with their fantasy.
I am HOOKED on this world building and the characters. I love Deka and the transformation and character development from the first page to the last is very well done. I could read a whole book about every character introduced and that’s a real rarity. I only give four stars because the ending is just so rushed. It felt like the editors decided it was too long and hacked it to bits. There’s a lot of unresolved internal conflicts, a lot of people going to action and switching sides w almost no explanation needed just a three paragraph speech, and it’s a huge disservice to the book and characters! But the book is well worth the read for the first 7/8 of the book. Excited for the next one too to be sure!
I was really hopeful when I started reading this book, but as it kept going I liked it less and less. There are a lot of weird twists that seem wholly unnecessary and took away from the book as a whole. There was little development to the entire love interest thing (all the sudden she was in love with him and I was like ???? why?? must we all fall in love with men??).
The world building is top tier, though, and I love the mythology built in. The main character is generally likeable and character motivations all line up, which is nice :) This is a book with great characters, and not so great plot. It has a wonderfully diverse cast and deals with a lot of real-world issues.
I think Namina Forna did a great job with it. I'm just slightly mad at whoever edited it.
The world building is top tier, though, and I love the mythology built in. The main character is generally likeable and character motivations all line up, which is nice :) This is a book with great characters, and not so great plot. It has a wonderfully diverse cast and deals with a lot of real-world issues.
I think Namina Forna did a great job with it. I'm just slightly mad at whoever edited it.
SPOILERS: Literary gold. This YA fantasy pulls the mask off and reveals the sexism and religious abuse attacking the female gender. Set in the mythical land of Otera, the “Gilded Ones” illuminates the demonization of difference.
Namina Forna creates a world where gifted girls are shamed and killed for their different abilities. Sixteen-year-old Deka saves her village with her voice, but instead of receiving gratitude she’s branded a demon. As usual, this stigma marks her for death. Her fate is sealed when she bleeds gold when the villagers attempt to execute her.
Deka is saved by a mysterious woman who takes her to the capital to be trained as one of the emperor’s warriors. Her time in the capital teaches her the truth about her heritage and identity. She is so much more than what she’s been told. And so much stronger than she could ever believe.
This is a must read for anyone who has been taught to shrink and to dim her light.
Namina Forna creates a world where gifted girls are shamed and killed for their different abilities. Sixteen-year-old Deka saves her village with her voice, but instead of receiving gratitude she’s branded a demon. As usual, this stigma marks her for death. Her fate is sealed when she bleeds gold when the villagers attempt to execute her.
Deka is saved by a mysterious woman who takes her to the capital to be trained as one of the emperor’s warriors. Her time in the capital teaches her the truth about her heritage and identity. She is so much more than what she’s been told. And so much stronger than she could ever believe.
This is a must read for anyone who has been taught to shrink and to dim her light.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
In Forna’s series, we follow Deka, who is treated like a outcast in her village for her blood is the color of gold and is used for only it’s valuable purposes. Intended to face her dark fate, it all changes when she gets an opportunity to be part of a royal female army with members like her who are known as alaki (near-immortal). She will make acquaintances with her fellow members while also facing many surprises in her new beginning.
While I’ve read many YA novels with similar protagonists and storylines, it’s still a harrowing adventure with a lot of potential. Deka is certainly a sympathetic heroine with a harsh life who wants to find acceptance and I can’t wait to see where her new life will take her. A- (91%/Excellent)
While I’ve read many YA novels with similar protagonists and storylines, it’s still a harrowing adventure with a lot of potential. Deka is certainly a sympathetic heroine with a harsh life who wants to find acceptance and I can’t wait to see where her new life will take her. A- (91%/Excellent)
