The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna - Book Review

Even though I am no longer a young adult, I still asked my parents for this YA novel for my 23rd birthday, and thankfully, I was given it. The Gilded Ones is the first book of the Deathless series (there are only two books out, there might be a third one coming out next year). This is Namina Forna’s debut novel, and as a first novel, it is really good. And by the end of the year, I have read the first two novels of this series.  

The novel is about Deka who lives in the Northern Provinces of Otera. Every girl when they turn sixteen who lives in Otera has to go through the Ritual of Purity, where they see if the blood of the girl is pure, and if it is not, they are killed. On the day of the ritual, Deka’s blood is gold, and she knows what waits. Until, one day, a woman offers her to stay where she will die, or come with her and fight with a group of girls who are just like her. Deka accepts the life of an Alaki who is immortal and has rare gifts. But on this journey that Deka goes on, she learns a lot about herself, and wonders if she is a demon like everyone calls the Alaki or if she is more. 

One of the reasons why I love YA, especially ones that are fantasy, dystopian, or adventure, is because they were the books that made me become the woman I am today. I read many YA novels when I was younger, the most popular was The Hunger Games, and books like that one and this one are, at their core, about a girl, growing and learning how powerful she truly is when she accepts all of her flaws and perfections. It is why I still enjoy reading these types of books, because even though I am twenty-three, my sixteen and fifteen and fourteen and all of my teen years still live within me, and feel power learning that women are as strong and powerful as males. 

I loved the storyline of this book, how we followed Deka as she learnt about this world more and more, and understood where she fit in. The twist that occurred in this novel really made my mouth drop, I did not expect it. What worked so well, is when looking back through the novel, there are many areas where it hinted at this twist. I applaud Forna for doing this. 

I also really love how all of the girls stuck together, something that many YA novels don’t do. I think some authors think that to make a girl feel strength means they do not come across as friendly to other girls, when the truth is, it’s the support from the other girls that helped Deka grow into who she is meant to be. I am thankful that Forna shows the importance of girl friendships.

I did like the feminist elements in this book, being an intersectional feminist myself, it was nice to see this in the book.

On top of that, I liked how there was a warning sign on the page before the novel started, stating the violence that would occur. 

Now, stating the warning sign that Forna put in, I am not sure why some of it was written in the novel. For example, on Deka’s journey from her village to Hemaria, she realises how lucky she was to have the woman taking her as some of the other girls were sexually abused on their journey. Not only that, but one of the characters ended up being sold to a brothel at a young age. As much as I understand it was to show all of the terrible experiences these girls have gone through only because they have gold blood, I am not too sure about it being in a Young Adult novel. I truly understand that this does happen in real life, but when reading, many people, especially the young, want to escape the real world. Therefore, reading something that affects many people, in reality, isn’t something I expected to read in a fantasy novel.

Now with the love interest. From the moment this character was introduced, I knew he was going to be the love interest for Deka. The reason I knew this is because love interests are very common in YA novels, and also the way the two meet. Although I knew there would be one, I do feel like this was sprung on us. This could be due to how much time we cover in the book that we do not see these two getting closer and closer. One second they were partners and then boom, the kiss. Now, I’m not saying I don’t like them together, but as this book is a part of a series, I believe it would have been better if Forna built this relationship and them developing their relationship by the end of the second novel. 

Saying all of that, I did enjoy this novel, and I am happy that I saw this novel in the same year as the second one came out because now I can read the second book straight away, I will be sad if there is a third and I will have to wait for a year. This is why I will give this novel a 3.7/5, I couldn’t choose between 3.5 or 4 so it will be between the two. The reason for this is that there is a lot that I loved, but a few elements that I was not too sure about. But I am confident that the way it is going, the second one will get a higher mark. 

Now, onto the second book of the Deathless series!!