The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna -- Restarting November 20th 2024

[Dannii]

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.

[Maddie]

I'm reading this this week

[Maddie]

7% (view spoiler)[I'm a fan of this so far! Maybe I needed another YA fantasy to break my funk, something quick and exciting to read. I like how the action's just starting, with the deathshrieks. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

I'll be starting tomorrow. I hope you're enjoying, so far :)

[Maddie]

Yeah I am! I'm going to read some more now before sleep

[Maddie]

12% (view spoiler)[This is exciting! I think I needed this light action-packed YA fantasy amidst all of my other reads. This is so gripping (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

About to jump in now.

[Maddie]

Yay!!

[Maddie]

25% (view spoiler)[I NEED MOOOORE, I'm loving this! I'm so glad they were treated well!

I like all of the fantastical creatures, and they're all explained simply enough that I can actually picture them!

Of course she got paired with Keito though. I was happy when she wasn't at first, and then they moved one more -_- (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "12% [spoilers removed]"

I'm excited to see (view spoiler)[the training and her friendship with Britta grow into something beautiful. Really sad that she had to tell her father that she was dead but I don't see any other way. He was completely turned against her. Poor girl. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

33% (view spoiler)[This is so exciting! I worry for the girls paired with horrible men. And I like this sense of sisterhood (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "25% I NEED MOOOORE, I'm loving this!..."

I'm also loving it and am relieved that (view spoiler)[they had White Hands because the torture that those other girls had to endure is just heartbreaking.

I actually don't mind that she got paired with him..? I can tell that there's so much more to him than she's willing to see at the moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

41% (view spoiler)[So now they've discovered how much of a demon she is! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

51% (view spoiler)[Daaamn the news is just getting out and it seems to be going okay! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

59% (view spoiler)[I'm in love with Ixa. I love animal companions! And it looks so cute, a little kitty with white horns that can shapeshift! (hide spoiler)]

Plan to finish this up tomorrow. It's taken me much longer than I wanted, that's for sure. Still a quick amazing read though :D I can't wait for number two! I'll be holding onto this one for a re-read

[Maddie]

66% (view spoiler)[This is still great! Not actually a lot of action surrounding the deathshrieks, and that's okay with me! I find my reading tastes are changing and I'm more into original ideas then action and fighting scenes (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

71% (view spoiler)[Didn't quite see that coming, that White Hands was actually the other side of the emperor! That they're being raised to overthrow him! But can't Deka now just control White Hands? (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Sorry I went a bit M.I.A. there. I had a few work deadlines. But I'm back and I'm ready!!

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "33% [spoilers removed]"

Yes, I'm glad that we're not getting girls pitted against each other, vying for the coveted spot as the leader of the group. So refreshing

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "41% [spoilers removed]"

I'm nervous...

[Maddie]

I plan on finishing tonight!

[Maddie]

88% (view spoiler)[I did wonder if the dead children were deathshrieks. I didn't think it was the dead alaki though! And it's so good that it was Katya who got through to Deka.

I loved how sudden Britta's death was, it was actually a plot twist, and then Keita saved her :D I like their backburner romance (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Boy oh boy this was great! Slightly convenient at times, but such a good read for this point in my reading, it's getting 5 stars! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Dee Dee wrote: "Maddie wrote: "41% [spoilers removed]"

I'm nervous..."

Keep going it's so gooood

[Dee Dee]

65% - (view spoiler)[Cousin?! Oh...? (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

69% - (view spoiler)[Deka! What power! At least they aren't shunning her or anything because that's a scary amount of power that singles her out as VERY DIFFERENT from the rest of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "71% [spoilers removed]"

Somehow I feel that (view spoiler)[White Hands hasn't revealed all of her cards just yet. She's more powerful than she's letting on so it's best if Deka keeps biding her time for now. (hide spoiler)]

[Dee Dee]

Maddie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

Definitely one I'll be recommending for fantasy lovers who want something that isn't romance heavy or that is info dumpy!

[Maddie]

Dee Dee wrote: "69% - [spoilers removed]"

Right!? No one even shows that much fear or curiosity!

[Maddie]

Dee Dee wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

Definitely one I'll be recommending for fantasy lovers who want something that isn't romance heavy or that is info dumpy!"

It's just great!

[Dannii]

I'm so late but I am FINALLY reading this!

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[Okay, this is SO GOOD so far! I was immersed straight into the story. I was expecting Deka to be deemed impure, during the purity ceremony, but I was not anticipating the arrival of the deathshrieks. And I most certainly was not anticipating her to die... nine times!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddie wrote: "12% [spoilers removed]"

I'm currently 35% in and still feeling exactly the same way!

[Dannii]

Maddie wrote: "25% I NEED MOOOORE, I'm loving this!."

(view spoiler)[I'm so ready to learn more about their training and the war against the deathshrieks. I'm anticipating there being more to them than we already know. I'm glad Deka has some allies as their training sounds like it is going to be intense! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "Maddie wrote: "12% [spoilers removed]"

I'm excited to see [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Britta seems like such a great friend. She is right by Deka's side during every panic attack. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "Maddie wrote: "25% I NEED MOOOORE, I'm loving this!..."
."

(view spoiler)[I'm eager to learn more about White Hands. It is rare for women of power to exist in this world and she clearly has some. She also didn't stay to garner her monetary reward for delivering the girls like the other men did. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I'm still absolutely obsessed with this. I loved learning more about this world during the girls' travel, even though Deka slept through an entire month of it! She is already displaying different abilities to the others and I wonder what this means? I anticipated her mother attended training in this place too but is this where her differences stemmed from?

I can't believe poor Katya died so soon! We've only really glimpsed at the personalities of Deka's Bloodsisters but I already really love them all, already. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddie wrote: "51% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was so worried the others would betray or turn upon her and she has had enough of that in her short life! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[So many revelations occurred in this quarter! White Hands is not the saviour the girls thought her as but actually orchestrated the creation of this army, Ixa appeared and no one has any idea what he actually is, the deathshriekers are capable of intelligent thought and actually worship the girl, and chapter twnty-seven closed with, I think, Deka realising she was bred as a weapon to kill them! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddie wrote: "59% [spoilers removed]

Plan to finish this up tomorrow. It's taken me much longer than I wanted, that's for sure. Still a quick amazing read though :D I can't wait for number two! I'll be holding ..."

(view spoiler)[Give me any sort of furry inclusion in books and I'm happy, but when they are fantastical I am doubly so! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddie wrote: "71% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was actually so sad to find out she wasn't the saviour the girls thought her! I thought she would become their badass leader to help them rebel against the rest of the empire. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "69% - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Her powers transformed so quickly during every single battle against the deathshriekers. I never could guess what was going to occur next! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

Definitely one I'll be recommending for fantasy lovers who want something that isn't romance heavy or that is info dumpy!"

I completely agree with this. I've tore through this book in two sittings. Even though fantasy is my favourite genre I sometimes find I have to slow down to immerse myself in the new world it presents. Not here, though!

[Dee Dee]

Dani that's exactly how I felt!

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[ARGH THESE TWISTS KILLED ME! I went from loving to distrusting to hating to loving White Hands. The ending was also so powerful and I am excited to see these women smash the patriarchy in book two! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "Dani that's exactly how I felt!"

It is such an incredible read, isn't it!?

[Dee Dee]

It. Was!!!! Gah. I can't wait to get this in hardcopy

[Dannii]

Dee Dee wrote: "It. Was!!!! Gah. I can't wait to get this in hardcopy"

Same here. The cover is one of my favourites ever made, alongside . I can't wait to purchase this and display them, side-by-side.

[Dee Dee]

Oh. Imagine the beauty of them together *my heart*

[Maddie]

Riiiight!? It was just such an amazing book! Oh I'm so happy you loved it Dannii <3