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A review by atvreads
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
4.0
The Gilded Ones is the feminist high fantasy we’ve been dreaming of since Tomi Adeyemi punched through the snow-capped peaks of fantasy publishing in 2018. Because of her work and many others, works like The Gilded Ones have a foundation to build and stretch and grow.
What’s it about?
-a horrific patriarchal world where the usual suspects reign: racism, classism, anti-blackness, misogyny, xenophobia, and girls are mutilated in a public “bleeding” ceremony in their 15th year
-this ritual is a public mutilation that the village “priests” perform by cutting the chests of the girls in front of everyone
-if the girls are “pure,” meaning their blood runs red, it’s open season for the males in town to begin practically bidding on the girls like a prize sow
-but, if a girl is deemed “impure,” she is... well, terrible terrible things happen to her (spoilers and triggers for trauma and graphic violence at this part)
-enter White Hands, Warthu Beru, the Jatu warriors, and the Alaki
Why you need to read this book:
Because of this quote right here, “are we girls or are we demons?”
What’s it about?
-a horrific patriarchal world where the usual suspects reign: racism, classism, anti-blackness, misogyny, xenophobia, and girls are mutilated in a public “bleeding” ceremony in their 15th year
-this ritual is a public mutilation that the village “priests” perform by cutting the chests of the girls in front of everyone
-if the girls are “pure,” meaning their blood runs red, it’s open season for the males in town to begin practically bidding on the girls like a prize sow
-but, if a girl is deemed “impure,” she is... well, terrible terrible things happen to her (spoilers and triggers for trauma and graphic violence at this part)
-enter White Hands, Warthu Beru, the Jatu warriors, and the Alaki
Why you need to read this book:
Because of this quote right here, “are we girls or are we demons?”