jolietjane's review
5.0
UPDATE FROM THIS YEAR: this book is still good. Amazing. It comes out in a few days. BUY IT
If The Gilded Ones caught your eye because it had a beautiful cover, rest assured that the outside is just as good as the inside. Get ready to read your new favorite YA dystopian horror fantasy series.
YA fantasy these days is a dime a dozen, and after awhile, you start to see certain trends that can feel like clone stamps- even when the story is inspired from non western cultures or tries something different. The Gilded Ones is a case study on how a story can use tropes effectively without downing in them, because this story is completely original, You have some things- Like Deka being a chosen one- a special person among the special, and training with her squad to become a warrior, but even these common themes are turned on their head and written with surprising originality.
Deka lives in an incredibly, Handmaiden's Tale level sexist society that will shake you to your core within about 10 minutes into this book- and unlike many modern heroines, she actually buys into it completely. Deka is devoutly religious, meek, submissive, and gentle. She does not break the rules, speak up, or truly see anything wrong with the society she lives in. When she is discovered to have special powers and is accused of being a demon- even as the village turns on her, Deka feels as though the evil within her justifies their violence and cruelty- she does not become an independent "badass" overnight.
Our lovely main character is the product of her environment, and her growth happens slowly as she begins to engage with the bigger world outside of her village. Her journey of self discovery is a beautiful character slow burn that explores how patriarchal society imprisons women in our own minds, and it's not until Deka meets other women and hears their stories that she finds herself becoming the warrior she was meant to be.
The side characters are all beautifully written and woven into their oppressive world in a way that makes you instantly protective of them, while also being instantly mistrusting of the men in their lives. The world is beautifully crafted, dark, and biting. It's a violent world of blunt offering- decapitation, genocide, drowning, and full on body horror. This book is part of what I consider YA Grimdark. There are several moments in this story that will give you chills, even within the first few chapters of the book. Namina Forna's world is a ghastly nightmare that will leave a lasting impact on you. You won't be able to get the Deathless series out of your head.
If The Gilded Ones caught your eye because it had a beautiful cover, rest assured that the outside is just as good as the inside. Get ready to read your new favorite YA dystopian horror fantasy series.
YA fantasy these days is a dime a dozen, and after awhile, you start to see certain trends that can feel like clone stamps- even when the story is inspired from non western cultures or tries something different. The Gilded Ones is a case study on how a story can use tropes effectively without downing in them, because this story is completely original, You have some things- Like Deka being a chosen one- a special person among the special, and training with her squad to become a warrior, but even these common themes are turned on their head and written with surprising originality.
Deka lives in an incredibly, Handmaiden's Tale level sexist society that will shake you to your core within about 10 minutes into this book- and unlike many modern heroines, she actually buys into it completely. Deka is devoutly religious, meek, submissive, and gentle. She does not break the rules, speak up, or truly see anything wrong with the society she lives in. When she is discovered to have special powers and is accused of being a demon- even as the village turns on her, Deka feels as though the evil within her justifies their violence and cruelty- she does not become an independent "badass" overnight.
Our lovely main character is the product of her environment, and her growth happens slowly as she begins to engage with the bigger world outside of her village. Her journey of self discovery is a beautiful character slow burn that explores how patriarchal society imprisons women in our own minds, and it's not until Deka meets other women and hears their stories that she finds herself becoming the warrior she was meant to be.
The side characters are all beautifully written and woven into their oppressive world in a way that makes you instantly protective of them, while also being instantly mistrusting of the men in their lives. The world is beautifully crafted, dark, and biting. It's a violent world of blunt offering- decapitation, genocide, drowning, and full on body horror. This book is part of what I consider YA Grimdark. There are several moments in this story that will give you chills, even within the first few chapters of the book. Namina Forna's world is a ghastly nightmare that will leave a lasting impact on you. You won't be able to get the Deathless series out of your head.
books_005's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
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
4.0
dizzyingspinster's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
tillyjewell's review against another edition
2.0
This book had SO much potential! When I started it I was hooked! I loved the setting and the characters but once I got about 100 pages in I had lost all love for it. I found it slow and felt like not much happened (especially in comparison with the start). By the end of the book I was just counting down the pages until I finished. I may have enjoyed the end more if I hadn’t lost my interest with it. I also found it really confusing but that may have been because I had lost interest with the book.
Overall I thought it started off great but after that it was kind of dull. :(
Overall I thought it started off great but after that it was kind of dull. :(
https_my_mind's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
lnparicio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
shyshadoww's review against another edition
3.0
i admit when i began the book, i didn’t love it. the writing style isn’t much for me, and i felt it told more than showed.
but then right before the middle, something happened and drew me in and made me eager. i think with this book, whenever it started to lose its grasp on me, something—an event, revelation, curiosity, unanswered questions, confusion—drew me back in. a good debut.
but then right before the middle, something happened and drew me in and made me eager. i think with this book, whenever it started to lose its grasp on me, something—an event, revelation, curiosity, unanswered questions, confusion—drew me back in. a good debut.
lauren_popov's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
artbysmashley's review against another edition
3.0
honestly more like a 2 star for me but i think that’s just my personal preference and the fact that i connected with zero of the characters. i just wasn’t drawn into this one, which is a bummer. i was really excited about it!
cequalk's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
A good audiobook listen. It felt very YA at times, and I’m not sure if it was good enough to keep reading in the series, but I did enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Torture
There is some pretty graphic violence for being YA.