A review by amphipodgirl
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

adventurous challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I found this compelling and a bit disturbing, which I think it's meant to be. I don't want to say to much about the details of how it's disturbing, as I enjoyed the suspense and gradual unfolding, but it explores themes of abuse, trauma, power, gender, and betrayal. I will be re-reading, and look forward eagerly to the release of volume 2 later this year. In particular, I am eager to discover

whether White Hands and the Gilded Ones are really recreating a lost egalitarian utopia. I am hoping that Forna continues to take the messier and more nuanced approach, and they turn out to be really not so lovely as all that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Genocide

The golden-blooded girls can survive most forms of being killed and are murdered repeatedly by a variety of means for a variety of reasons as well as being abused sexually and otherwise. Also CW for drowning.