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A review by erinlaragh
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
✨”Never forget: the same gift they praise you for now, they will kill you for later.”✨
If you follow any Book recommendation pages this would of no doubt popped up on your add to your TBR list- but does it live up to the hype ???
Personally I loved this book it was an easy read, the world building was effortless , and done naturally without info-dumping, I felt I could clearly picture myself travelling right through the caves, jungles and desserts within this story. 🗺
Sisterhood and found family set up a strong foundation for the themes of feminism and empowerment to proliferate through a plot that surprises through revelations and a writing that’s easy to comprehend.
The plot follows Deka, a sixteen-year-old girl who has always been an outcast in her village born to a southern mother she is distinguishably different by her looks but she is hoping to be proven pure in the blood ceremony., and thus accepted. When the day finally comes she is shown to have the golden blood of the impure instead of the sought-after red blood. She is punished for this by the elders of the town until an unnamed messenger of the emperor comes to recruit her to an army of girls like her, alaki. You follow her journey training to be in this army to fight against the empire's biggest threat, learning about herself and about the empire around her.
On this journey Deka builds strong bonds with the girls around her many who have abused, raped and hurt in the worst way possible, just because their blood ran gold and they were considered to be impure. It was refreshing to see strong side characters whose trauma was respectfully addressed.
At times I found this story a little predictable and there are a few cliché tropes such as the chosen one etc. however these did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this book it’s strengths lying in it’s distinctive feminist narrative with messages of hope, self acceptance and endurance.
If you follow any Book recommendation pages this would of no doubt popped up on your add to your TBR list- but does it live up to the hype ???
Personally I loved this book it was an easy read, the world building was effortless , and done naturally without info-dumping, I felt I could clearly picture myself travelling right through the caves, jungles and desserts within this story. 🗺
Sisterhood and found family set up a strong foundation for the themes of feminism and empowerment to proliferate through a plot that surprises through revelations and a writing that’s easy to comprehend.
The plot follows Deka, a sixteen-year-old girl who has always been an outcast in her village born to a southern mother she is distinguishably different by her looks but she is hoping to be proven pure in the blood ceremony., and thus accepted. When the day finally comes she is shown to have the golden blood of the impure instead of the sought-after red blood. She is punished for this by the elders of the town until an unnamed messenger of the emperor comes to recruit her to an army of girls like her, alaki. You follow her journey training to be in this army to fight against the empire's biggest threat, learning about herself and about the empire around her.
On this journey Deka builds strong bonds with the girls around her many who have abused, raped and hurt in the worst way possible, just because their blood ran gold and they were considered to be impure. It was refreshing to see strong side characters whose trauma was respectfully addressed.
At times I found this story a little predictable and there are a few cliché tropes such as the chosen one etc. however these did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this book it’s strengths lying in it’s distinctive feminist narrative with messages of hope, self acceptance and endurance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Self harm