Book Review - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

This book has definitely earned a 5/5 rating. It is so beautifully written and kept me hooked the entire time. I finished this book in two sittings because I physically couldn’t put it down. I just had to know what would happen next. From the beginning, we’re introduced to Deka, a girl who has always felt different from the other people in her village. When her blood runs gold at her Ritual of Purity she is treated like a monster. Later on, she finds out that she’s an alkali, a near-immortal “demon”, and becomes a valuable warrior for the emperor’s army. I loved the aspects of friendship and love in this story, as the characters form deep bonds with each other as a result of their circumstances. Although some people may criticize how quickly their relationships form, I thought it was fair considering the situation they were in. One of my favorite things about this book was the creatures that we meet along Deka’s journey. It almost reminded me of Harry Potter with the diversity of fantastical creatures. Overall, I might even say that this was the best book I’ve read all year and I will definitely be reading the sequel at some point.