I 1000% proudly admit that I bought The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna, solely for the cover: I was completely drawn in by the complex possibilities of this warrior woman!
not merely a YA, this book tugs you deep into the world. I loved how intricate the history, theology, and orthopraxy of this world is infused throughout the story. Deka’s world is not a warm, soft, cozy, welcoming one, but it draws you in so completely! I’m so excited to hear that this is the first in a planned series.
Deka is horrified to learn that instead of red blood, she has golden blood, forever marking her as a demon, separate from her family and village. Deka encounters a mysterious woman who introduces her to an alternate direction: Deka can choose to become a fierce warrior, tasked with protecting the empire from the worst enemies, the feared death shrieks.
Deka and her friends, bonded by common pain and a shared destiny, must unravel their past to understand their future.
“The physical body—it heals. The scars fade. But the memories are forever. Even when you forget, they remain inside, taunting you, resurfacing when you least expect.”
“All this time, I’ve been afraid of my ability, when instead I should have been regarding it as a treasured weapon.”
“We all have a choice right now. Are we girls or are we demon? Are we going to die or are we going to survive?”
“No matter my origins, there is worth in what I am.”
perhaps the greater 