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A review by lennie_reads
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Gilded Ones is a Black Feminist tour de force that features an oppressive patriarchal religion and the ways in which they control society, all set against a wondrous, inclusive and unique fantasy world.
When I received this ARC in my Fairyloot box back in July I was beyond thrilled. This has been one of my most anticipated releases for 2021 ever since I started my #PromoteBlackAuthors series.
This book follows Deka, a 16 year old due to have her ‘Ceremony’, where she will be cut to expose the colour of her blood. If her blood runs gold, she will be denounced as a demon and executed.
Inevitably, Deka’s blood runs gold causing a chain of events in which even her own family turn on her and she is tortured by people of the Infinite Wisdom (the aforementioned religion).
She is eventually rescued by someone from the capital who is creating an army of Alaki (demons who have gold blood) to defeat the horrific Deathshrieks that plague the world.
This book deals with a lot of heavy subjects and at times I was just seething with anger at the world and the religion in this book. The restrictions on women, and alaki especially, are just horrific.
However, this made me appreciate Deka’s growth so much more. At the beginning of the book, Deka is extremely meek, pious and obedient and it made me want to shake her at times. But her character development is really something to behold.
The world building is fantastic, I loved the descriptions of the Goddesses, the capital, the different provinces (North, South, East & West) and the racial diversity. We did have some queer rep but I would have liked to see a bit more.
Parts of this book also reminded me of the Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs and also Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, take from that what you will, but I think if you’re read all three you’ll see what I mean.
This was such a refreshing Fantasy story with a brilliant array of characters and history and I’m so excited to see where the series will go from here.
CW: rape, torture, death, genocide, religious oppression, war, blood
When I received this ARC in my Fairyloot box back in July I was beyond thrilled. This has been one of my most anticipated releases for 2021 ever since I started my #PromoteBlackAuthors series.
This book follows Deka, a 16 year old due to have her ‘Ceremony’, where she will be cut to expose the colour of her blood. If her blood runs gold, she will be denounced as a demon and executed.
Inevitably, Deka’s blood runs gold causing a chain of events in which even her own family turn on her and she is tortured by people of the Infinite Wisdom (the aforementioned religion).
She is eventually rescued by someone from the capital who is creating an army of Alaki (demons who have gold blood) to defeat the horrific Deathshrieks that plague the world.
This book deals with a lot of heavy subjects and at times I was just seething with anger at the world and the religion in this book. The restrictions on women, and alaki especially, are just horrific.
However, this made me appreciate Deka’s growth so much more. At the beginning of the book, Deka is extremely meek, pious and obedient and it made me want to shake her at times. But her character development is really something to behold.
The world building is fantastic, I loved the descriptions of the Goddesses, the capital, the different provinces (North, South, East & West) and the racial diversity. We did have some queer rep but I would have liked to see a bit more.
Parts of this book also reminded me of the Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs and also Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, take from that what you will, but I think if you’re read all three you’ll see what I mean.
This was such a refreshing Fantasy story with a brilliant array of characters and history and I’m so excited to see where the series will go from here.
CW: rape, torture, death, genocide, religious oppression, war, blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Torture