The Gilded Ones - Early Book Review

 

The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1)

by Namina Forna

What is it about:

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself.

What did I think of it:

This book was set to release this year, but the release was pushed back to February 2021. Luckily there were finished copies of the book included in the June Fairyloot box and after some negotiations I managed to get my greedy trotters on a copy.

And what an awesome read!

I will confess I was surprised at how brutal some parts of this book were. The things being done to Deka after she is found to be 'impure' are horrifying.

But then she is offered the choice to become a warrior for the emperor and she is brought to the capital for training. The woman who rescues her is very intriguing and I wanted to know more about her, the alaki, and the monsters they would have to fight.

Deka's training, her new friends, and her quest for answers about who and what she is had me hooked and I kept reading to find out more about everything that was going on. There are many secrets, intrigues, and dangerous situations. It's a good thing Deka is hard to kill, because death is lurking everywhere.

All in all this is an intense and beautiful read. The ending is very satisfying, and this book is perfectly readable as a standalone. But you bet I'm keeping an eye out for the next book.

Why should you read it:

It's a cool and inrtense Fantasy read.

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Expected publication: February 9th 2021