Written by Namina Forna
At 16 years of age, all girls in Otera must participate in the Ritual of Purity. Girls who bleed red are deemed ready for marriage. Those who bleed gold are labeled as demons and killed. An outcast in Irfut, Deka is dreading the day her blood will seal her fate. When she endures her ritual, however, her blood turns gold. Instead of dying, however, she wakes up somewhere else completely healed. Revealed to be an Ataki, a near immortal warrior, she must help fight an ancient battle to save the people who rejected her. Will she be able to protect the people who despised her?
The plot is complex and engaging but builds slowly. The diverse characters are underdeveloped, but intriguing. Word building is deftly created. Readers who enjoy fantasy, adventure, and war will want to pick this one up.
Reviewed by Jessica Moody, Library Technology Coach, Granite School District
Review shared in February 2023
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 7-12
The Gilded Ones
Written by Namina Forna
Delacorte Press
418 pages
Release Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 9781984848697 (hardcover) / 9781984848710 (paperback)
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
