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A review by blessingo
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
adventurous
hopeful
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
(One step closer to meeting my goal of reading more fantasy this year). Forna's The Gilded Ones is a fantastical story, full of towering mountains and glowering alaki determined to take back what is true, rightfully theirs.
Deka of Irfut, the MC, is whisked away from her home after the blood ceremony that pleads her impure, sent to the mountainous Otera where she is to fight for the emperor's kingdom and kill all the deathshrieks that wreak havoc on the One Kingdom. Throughout the way, Deka finds solace in her guardian/best friend Britta, friends Belcalis, Katya, Adwapa, Asha, and uruni Keita, all with the mysterious and crafty White Hands guiding her – and learns all about her heritage, divinity, and true calling as an alaki (and even something more??) along the way.
Happy to finish this!!! If you want a true fantasy full of bold and nuanced characters, I'd recommend this. :)
Deka of Irfut, the MC, is whisked away from her home after the blood ceremony that pleads her impure, sent to the mountainous Otera where she is to fight for the emperor's kingdom and kill all the deathshrieks that wreak havoc on the One Kingdom. Throughout the way, Deka finds solace in her guardian/best friend Britta, friends Belcalis, Katya, Adwapa, Asha, and uruni Keita, all with the mysterious and crafty White Hands guiding her – and learns all about her heritage, divinity, and true calling as an alaki (and even something more??) along the way.
Happy to finish this!!! If you want a true fantasy full of bold and nuanced characters, I'd recommend this. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Racism