The Gilded Ones

I would recommend this book. There was lots of action, twists and turns- I am looking forward to reading the second in the series!

I would never of chosen this book for myself, however, a school librarian always provides us with some reading over the summer! So it was a trepidation that I opened up my package for this year and was overjoyed to find this book, and what a masterpiece it was. I loved every single moment of it, and it really did just show me a different way of looking at a patriarchal society and also throwing into that a massive amount of fantasy! I guess it was a bit gory at times. Somebody had a sore foot through them within the first five minutes however, it was all part of the narrative! Ha ha. I would highly recommend this book.

This fiction book was very amazing. Never saw the twist coming. Very inspiring for young girls of colour

Very enjoyable read - strong female protagonist overcoming a society which wants to see her dead - that is until her gold blood makes her useful to them. Recommended as YA, around 15+ age group.

The Gilded ones is a perfect mix of fantasy and reality, it is full of suspense. You never know what will happen next. I really enjoyed reading it and just couldn't put it down!

Fantastic book for a young adult audience! How would you survive if you dreaded your blood turning to gold and being driven from all you know. The gilded ones seem to be cursed but is everything as it seems?
Great read for anyone wanting to explore the issues of equality and how to live outside what is meant to confine you.

I loved this book because it shows not only that women can be strong, it also is good because I love reading things to do with warriors- and guess what, she is a warrior!

This story is an exciting journey of self realisation and coming to power.
The world building is evocative and detailed, and delivered at the perfect pace to draw you in without overloading the narrative.
The protagonist, Deka, is wholly relatable and a joy to watch as she comes to the truth about her society and her place within it.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

At the start of this book I didn’t really enjoy it but when I got further into it, it became more interesting. It’s a fiction book about a girl called Deka who goes to a Ritual Of Purity, a service where they check if your blood is red(pure)or golden(impure). She bleeds gold and is sent to a camp to train for raids where they kill deathshrieks which were feared and thought to ruin everything. But she goes through a rough and long journey with friends she meets along the way and a woman who is thoroughly involved until she goes on a raid which changes her life. She finds out that she is the Nuru, the one which is supposed to protect deathshrieks and alaki(impure girls) and that she is immortal. The woman helps her along the way and protects her! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes darkness, black panther and marvel

The ideas and concepts included in the book, like feminism, race, patriarchal society, etc, are addressed extremely well. It shows the journey of self acceptance and the growth of the character.

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to everyone. The story is not my usual read as it is a fantasy, something I would normally avoid. The story follows a young girl called Deka who strives to find out who she is and where she came from. The book was graphic at times with the fighting and the words took some getting used to. The messages throughout questioning gender and peoples differences was really thought provoking and I am sure that lessons can be learnt from this book. I can not wait for the sequel already.

This is, so far, my favourite choice. I liked that tough topics were openly written into this. sexual violence (off page), extreme physical violence, misogyny, abuse, xenophobia, possible PTSD all linked into a fantasy love story. I did feel at times it was disconnected and checked to see I hadn't missed some pages but appreciated the fact that there was no "fill in" chapters. I did not expect the plot twists entirely so was surprised. I found it difficult to put down. This is an author I look forward to reading more from.

Deka's blood is gold ,talk about scary.she is very powerful though.

A beautiful written book about a girls anticipation and excitement of becoming a member of her village and then her failure of not not passing the test and being taken away to a whole new life with the knowledge that she and other girls are near immortals with rare gifts and are hated by they people.
It has all the thing a good book should, adventure, love, friendship, magic and some supernatural as well!
Read it and love it, the only problem is it’s the first of a trilogy and the second isn’t out until next year 😥

An abusive, patriarchal society. Girls literally demonised and devalued until a use is found for them in a complex, multi-layered plot. Some fantastic characters all finding their strengths and a protagonist who, although she fulfils the ‘Chosen One’ trope, does it with grace. A fantastic start to another incredible new series. I can’t wait to read the next one!

This is book was a wonderful mix of female empowerment and uncovering who you are. It does house some troupes of YA fiction, however, the grit of the storyline didn’t make it feel like any other storyline. The author in her notes conveyed that the world she created was based on her experiences in Sierra Leone and the US. You could feel the real world appeal even in this fantasy story. Thoroughly enjoyed!

The author's debut novel is also the first in a YA fantasy adventure series with a feminist theme and a BIPOC heroine as part of a diverse cast.

Deka has been raised in the northern provinces of the empire of Otera. Her home is a small village devoted to the main deity in the empire, Oyomo. At the age of sixteen, all the girls must be tested for their purity. They are cut by the local priest; if they bleed red, they are pure, but if they bleed gold, they are impure and branded a demon.

When Deka bleeds gold, she discovers first-hand just how horrific the results of that can be. The best girls can hope for is to be mercifully killed, but many suffer far more than that. Because the impure are faster, stronger and harder to kill, they can heal many of the wounds inflicted upon them. So the Emperor makes them an offer: become the front line troops of a new regiment he is putting together to face the monsters at the Empire's frontier or be killed. Deka chooses to survive.

Taken south to the training camp, she joins other girls like her and begins a brutal training regime to prepare them to take on the Deathshrieks. However, the more she learns about the Empire and its enemies, the more she realises things may not be quite as they seem.

An interesting start to a fantasy series, I'm curious to see where the author goes next in the second book.

The main protagonist was my favourite. Lots of twists to the plot and some unexpected outcomes along the way. Loved the power of the group at the end of the book.

I recommend this book.

Absolutely brilliant!! Highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book,my favorite chracter was Ixa because he is so cute. I reccomend this book to everyone who reads fantasy action ya books

This one was fab, a young adult fantasy novel, which is a genre I wouldn't normally choose but I loved the female empowerment in it and can't wait for the sequel to come out next year!