piqandsee's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars.
The only reason it isn’t 5 stars is because the writing - it’s a bit redundant when it doesn’t need to be. And Deka was a little whiny (oh no don’t make me the hero - I’m not worthy!) in the beginning-midbook. I get why in Joseph Campbell way, but still.
The end of this book is everything, and I cannot wait to read The Merciless Ones later this year.
Netflix, please make this a series. K thx, love, bye.
The only reason it isn’t 5 stars is because the writing - it’s a bit redundant when it doesn’t need to be. And Deka was a little whiny (oh no don’t make me the hero - I’m not worthy!) in the beginning-midbook. I get why in Joseph Campbell way, but still.
The end of this book is everything, and I cannot wait to read The Merciless Ones later this year.
Netflix, please make this a series. K thx, love, bye.
amythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tiphreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A powerful reckoning for those oppressed. Love Namina’s writing style and all of the passion and emotion emanating through the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
ravenclawomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book the second time. Loved this black feminist dark military fantasy! Fuck the Patriarchy!!!! Down with colorism! Down with imperialism! Book was a bit too long but still my favorite! I really liked the romance. Strong emotional ties with this one because of the mother plot. Can't wait for next book!
laurenmidna's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure that I would like this one, in the beginning. It felt like a lot happened all at once, overwhelmingly, without giving me much time to care about the characters. But as the story progressed, I realized that the shock of the first few chapters was really just context for the rest of the book, a backdrop of suffering that each of the girls goes through in their journeys here. Deka was a really fun main character, flawed but still strong, and easy to root for. There were a few things about the story that felt a little bit rushed or hand-wavy, but overall it kept me hooked the whole time.
monarcadelibros's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this! 4.5
A super original story, full of twists, action, friendship, coming of age. A fun read.
A super original story, full of twists, action, friendship, coming of age. A fun read.
lokolay's review against another edition
1.0
I can’t...go on. I give one star because of the utter disappointment I felt while reading this book.
The story was so promising- unique fantasy world, interesting concept, anti-racist and feminist themes. But the execution just isn’t there. The pacing is too fast, there’s no depth to the characters nor the heavy themes it tries to explore.
Also, I don’t know if this has any correlation, but this has to be the third of fourth YA fiction I’ve read where the author is originally a screenwriter, not a novelist, and the writing has fallen super flat.. no shade to screenwriters, but I don’t think the same skills translate
The story was so promising- unique fantasy world, interesting concept, anti-racist and feminist themes. But the execution just isn’t there. The pacing is too fast, there’s no depth to the characters nor the heavy themes it tries to explore.
Also, I don’t know if this has any correlation, but this has to be the third of fourth YA fiction I’ve read where the author is originally a screenwriter, not a novelist, and the writing has fallen super flat.. no shade to screenwriters, but I don’t think the same skills translate
jeannamarie's review against another edition
3.0
The Gilded Ones wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either.
Honesty, I lost interest in this book pretty quickly and put it down for a while. The world building was not the best and the synopsis in the back or inside cover did not prep me for the disappointment of the lack of world building. The redeeming quality of this book is the relationships between the female characters. Throughout the book those relationships only become stronger. There’s no competition or jealousy or pettiness, there’s only mad love between the female characters. This was refreshing, because so many times authors write tension between the female characters due to another third party character (typically a abnormally hot guy) and the lack of that, allowed the story to get more interesting. Women don’t need men to make their lives interesting.
However, I felt like the book did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. There’s an element which is dangled in front of the reader that the world you know may or may not be real. Not sure if I’ve read too much in my life or YA books are becoming more obvious, but the “reveal” WAS NOT surprising. You see it few thousand miles away. Like the second or third chapter.
Overall, an okay debut for Namina Forna. Look forward to the sequel to find out what happens to these women.
Honesty, I lost interest in this book pretty quickly and put it down for a while. The world building was not the best and the synopsis in the back or inside cover did not prep me for the disappointment of the lack of world building. The redeeming quality of this book is the relationships between the female characters. Throughout the book those relationships only become stronger. There’s no competition or jealousy or pettiness, there’s only mad love between the female characters. This was refreshing, because so many times authors write tension between the female characters due to another third party character (typically a abnormally hot guy) and the lack of that, allowed the story to get more interesting. Women don’t need men to make their lives interesting.
However, I felt like the book did not really pick up until the last quarter of the book. There’s an element which is dangled in front of the reader that the world you know may or may not be real. Not sure if I’ve read too much in my life or YA books are becoming more obvious, but the “reveal” WAS NOT surprising. You see it few thousand miles away. Like the second or third chapter.
Overall, an okay debut for Namina Forna. Look forward to the sequel to find out what happens to these women.