October 2021 First in a Series BOTM - The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna

[Alaina]

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.

**This BOTM thread will be open until November 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Emma]

Ch 2(view spoiler)[ well I wasn’t expecting her to actually die! That wasn’t in the blurb! (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 4 (view spoiler)[ that’s really tough having your father give up on you so quickly and treat you with such disgust (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 8
(view spoiler)[ that’s such an awful way to have your partner chosen! Imagine thinking you’ve lucked out only for the line to shuffle one more pace!
Obviously Deka is special in some *extra* way… (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 1- 9 (view spoiler)[ I was expecting her blood to be "impure" from the beginning, but I was not expecting her to die this early on! Very shocking.

I love her will to continue on, despite all the challenges she faces. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 10-20 (view spoiler)[:
I am glad that Deka is finally finding out the truth about her mother, but the fact that she may not be her father's daughter is shocking to me.

I was so glad when the woman agreed to be united.

White Hands's cruelty is so infuriating. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 21-27 (view spoiler)[
The combat scenes were not my favorite and were a little boring to me. There were too many scenes about gore and blood for me to enjoy. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Ch 28-end (view spoiler)[

This book is such a quick read for being over 400 pages.
The ending is good, and it wraps everything up nicely.

I am so happy for Deka that she is loved and has friendship in her life. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 14
(view spoiler)[ Deka showing leadership skills motivating the others?
Also she seems to be making progress with Keira. I’m looking forward to seeing what she finds out about her heritage in the heraldry book. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 15
(view spoiler)[ so Deka’s eyes go funny and she speaks differently to the Deathshriekers who also seem scared of her. What’s going on?! (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 17
(view spoiler)[ obviously her father is not really her father which is why he could denounce her so easily
Lady of the Equis- I knew there had to be more to her than met the eye! She seems to know much more about Deka’s skills and heritage. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 18
(view spoiler)[ if Deka can command Deathshrieks, why do they need anybody else at all?! (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 22 (view spoiler)[ there’s obviously something about the Deathshriekers wee don’t know- there must be a reason apart from the blood and gore of it, that is giving Deka second thoughts (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 26
(view spoiler)[ OMG what the hell is happening?!
The deathshrieks have learned to protect their ears from Deka’s commands and to use slingshots as weapons, and Deka’s skin transforms to the leathery texture of the Deathshrieks…. Are they and her related in some way? Is this why she feels so sick at the idea of killing them.
Also Deka’s voice now commands the alaki too- they must all be related.
Do the Deathshrieks have gold blood? No we know they don’t…. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Ch 27
(view spoiler)[ ah that’s so sad- the Deathshrieks can’t understand why Deka is betraying them. It’s the Deathshrieks who have been maintaining the shrines to the gilded ones. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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