From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

The Gilded Ones (Deathless, #1)

Namina Forna

Start date: April 3, 2023

Finish date: April 30, 2023

Discussion: Book of the Month

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 8 topics — 675 comments total

Book of the Month

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Previous BOTMs
By Felicia · 11 posts · 738 views

last updated Dec 27, 2024 06:25AM

* BOTM Polls!
By Alaina · 25 posts · 225 views

last updated Oct 21, 2025 05:28AM

showing 10 of 53 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2021 Jenn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2021, 3-star-reads, cover-love, new-author-to-me, book-club, read-in-2024, fantasy, young-adult, read-in-2022

I don't know if it's me and maybe the moods that I've been in that are affecting my reading, but this was another book that I just couldn't get into until the last few chapters.

First off, this cover is Gorgeous. The minute I saw it, it went on my radar. Then my local indie picked it as their book club book for March and my OwlCrate edition arrived - perfect timing! I was finally able to dive into this world. What I thought would be a book I didn't want to put down, ended up taking me 5 days to f ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2020 Elle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 5-star-reads

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Okay...first of all, this might be the most beautiful cover I've ever seen. And, in what seems to be a bit of an anomaly, the writing and story are just as wonderful. I was definitely caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book and how much I keep thinking about it and the way it's lessons apply to real life.

This is a strong commentary on so many social issues: patriarchy, prejudice, classism * Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Okay...first of all, this might be the most beautiful cover I've ever seen. And, in what seems to be a bit of an anomaly, the writing and story are just as wonderful. I was definitely caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book and how much I keep thinking about it and the way it's lessons apply to real life.

This is a strong commentary on so many social issues: patriarchy, prejudice, classism, racism, sexism, and so many other human constructs that serve only to further divide us. The story is feminist and strong, with characters from a bevy of backgrounds who are fighting to survive despite having lived through some horrendous situations. I love how well the narrative embraces multiple life pathways, elevates the characters above prejudice, and displays several cultures and ideologies, focusing hard on the fallibility and inconsistency of humans.

Deka's character is incredibly well-written, showing the change in her as she struggles to accept who she is, reconcile that with how she's been indoctrinated, and eventually rise to discover her own truth. This is such a great work for YA readers because of this display of character growth and serves as a great teaching tool via analogy.

The writing is beautiful, but blunt and captures heavy emotions in a plot with a well-moving pace. There is a blend of character driven and plot driven narrative that balances well and just kept me moving swiftly through the pages. The book is not perfect, but it still deserves a five-star rating. There are some places of awkwardness and a few instances of falling into the writing trope trap ("she released a breath she didn't know she was holding"), but it was still such a fantastic read. I can't wait for the sequel and already see this being a reread in the relatively near future. I just can't stop thinking about it and all the internal implications. A masterfully interwoven work of fantasy and realism. Gah. It's just beautiful. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 02, 2021 Kayleigh {K-Books} rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fairyloot, fantasy

The Gilded Ones Review on K-Books

“Alaki do not yield. You conquer or you die.”

WOW! I literally have no words to explain just how amazing this book is. The Gilded Ones has been sat on my shelf for around year and I am now kicking myself for not picking this one up sooner. Right from the very first page, I was completely obsessed with this incredible book. I cannot rave about it enough. Every single page was phenomenal and I couldn’t stop reading. This book is just stunning.

The Gilded Ones is The Gilded Ones Review on K-Books

“Alaki do not yield. You conquer or you die.”

WOW! I literally have no words to explain just how amazing this book is. The Gilded Ones has been sat on my shelf for around year and I am now kicking myself for not picking this one up sooner. Right from the very first page, I was completely obsessed with this incredible book. I cannot rave about it enough. Every single page was phenomenal and I couldn’t stop reading. This book is just stunning.

The Gilded Ones is a horrifyingly realistic fantasy tale about girls who are given a blood rite when they are of age. They are tested to see if their blood is ‘pure’. And if they’re impure… well that means they are a demon and must be dealt with! This is the debut novel by Namina Forna and oh my god… I am completely blown away! If this is how good her very first novel is, I can’t wait to see what she is going to do in the future. Namina has a serious way with words. They grab you right from the very first page and do not let you go! I raced through this book. It’s been years since I’ve managed to read a book this fast. I sat and devoured half of this book in one sitting. I am completely and utterly obsessed with this incredible series.

I seriously love every single thing about this book. The setting, the politics of the world, the intrigue, the magical beings and the gorgeous slow burn romance. Everything was just perfect. If I was to describe all of the things that make a perfect book to me… it is this! Everything in this book was just utter perfection! If you want a book that will take you away into its world and make you forget everything about your real life, then look no further… that is this book! It’s seriously been so long since I’ve been stuck into a book so much. And now I’m still thinking about it dying to get my hands on the second book. I was completely blown away!

The Gilded Ones was utter brilliance. It is a stunning fantasy with feminism at its core. Imagine an all female Black Panther and that is what you are getting with this book. I cannot put into words my utter love of this book. I already just want to pick it up and read it all over again. This is absolutely one of my favourite books of the year so far. It’s just utterly phenomenal. And now, I will end this incredibly fangirly review with this: READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! You will not be disappointed!

“Nothing will change how I feel about you, Deka… I know you’re not a monster.”

...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2021 Tanya Patrice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook

This book did me in! First, the cover is gorgeous and I'm not sure what I was expecting but what I got was a deep, complex fantasy novel that blew me away. It's a West African inspired story - Deka lives in a patriarchal society where girls are only allowed to do things that help prepare them to become wives and not do anything that will entice men. They go through a ritual every 15 years where they are cut to reveal if their blood runs red - if it doesn't, then they are impure. Deka is getting ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2022 Tbirdplanstoread rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: signed, own-hard-back, owlcrate, catalogued, z-2022-read

This book is amazing! The writing is enthralling. The story is so sad, yet you can't help but to keep reading to find out how it ends. Amazing! ...more

1 like · Like · see review