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A review by crlyhairedbibliophile
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
5.0
*Thanks to Delacorte Press and Hear Our Voices Book Tours for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes included may change in final publication.*
The Gilded Ones caught my attention immediately from both the beautiful cover and the pitch of Black Panther meets The Handmaid's Tale. I've always been drawn to fantasy and was excited to add this to the growing list of stories in the genre that revolved around people who looked like me. I admittedly had some tiny reservations at first, given certain aspects of the content, but I was completely absorbed in the story from the first few pages and couldn't wait to see what happened next.
The world of Otera is such a beautifully interesting place to get sucked into. Everything from the way people in the community were dressed to the details of the various creatures walking among them were painted so vividly that I could picture them in my head off of the page. I loved being plopped into the middle of a big event like the Ritual of Purity and getting a feel for the different rules and traditions that governed how these people lived and how it would all piece Deka’s story together.
One of my favorite aspects of any story is character development and this one didn’t let me down one bit. Forna created such beautiful characters here with Deka and the rest of the alaki and I found myself invested in them immediately. I have a soft spot for stories of found families and the bond between the girls was beautifully done - especially when it came to Deka's relationships with Britta and Belcalis. Though what they'd gone through in their own individual journeys to becoming members of the emperor's army was painfully exposed, it was great to follow them in smaller moments of joy, whether it be just a joke between blood sisters or exploring their abilities to their fullest potential. I also appreciated the development of the camaraderie between the alaki and the boys chosen to be their uruni. Given the fear and hatred thrown in the girls' directions from the beginning, it was great to see them being seen as human from once and have someone to place their trust in, even in the slightest bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and my time spent in Otera. There were so many interesting topics woven in that hopefully lead to needed conversations on patriarchal systems and trauma, especially when it comes to young girls. Although a little triggering and tough to read at points given the content, I'm looking forward to the next installment and more adventures with Deka and the other alaki.
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, body horror, gore & torture and sexual assault towards children ⚠️
"Are we girls, or are we demons? Are we going to die, or are we going to survive?"
The Gilded Ones caught my attention immediately from both the beautiful cover and the pitch of Black Panther meets The Handmaid's Tale. I've always been drawn to fantasy and was excited to add this to the growing list of stories in the genre that revolved around people who looked like me. I admittedly had some tiny reservations at first, given certain aspects of the content, but I was completely absorbed in the story from the first few pages and couldn't wait to see what happened next.
The world of Otera is such a beautifully interesting place to get sucked into. Everything from the way people in the community were dressed to the details of the various creatures walking among them were painted so vividly that I could picture them in my head off of the page. I loved being plopped into the middle of a big event like the Ritual of Purity and getting a feel for the different rules and traditions that governed how these people lived and how it would all piece Deka’s story together.
One of my favorite aspects of any story is character development and this one didn’t let me down one bit. Forna created such beautiful characters here with Deka and the rest of the alaki and I found myself invested in them immediately. I have a soft spot for stories of found families and the bond between the girls was beautifully done - especially when it came to Deka's relationships with Britta and Belcalis. Though what they'd gone through in their own individual journeys to becoming members of the emperor's army was painfully exposed, it was great to follow them in smaller moments of joy, whether it be just a joke between blood sisters or exploring their abilities to their fullest potential. I also appreciated the development of the camaraderie between the alaki and the boys chosen to be their uruni. Given the fear and hatred thrown in the girls' directions from the beginning, it was great to see them being seen as human from once and have someone to place their trust in, even in the slightest bit.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and my time spent in Otera. There were so many interesting topics woven in that hopefully lead to needed conversations on patriarchal systems and trauma, especially when it comes to young girls. Although a little triggering and tough to read at points given the content, I'm looking forward to the next installment and more adventures with Deka and the other alaki.
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, body horror, gore & torture and sexual assault towards children ⚠️