The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Fantasy, Human Rights, Women's Issues, Women Soldiers, Mythical Creatures, High School
418 pages
Description
Booklist starred (December 1, 2020 (Vol. 117, No. 7))
Grades 7-10. Deka lives in a society where women are intended to be pure and serve those around them. So when she bleeds impure gold during the coming-of-age ritual for girls at age 16, her life’s presumed purpose—the care and keeping of a husband and family—is destroyed. Left to decide between death or dedicating herself to the protection of Otera from the ghastly deathshrieks, Deka joins the ranks of girls deemed impure, known as the alaki. Soon she realizes that even among them she’s different, leading Deka to question who and what she is, and what she’s fighting for. The world building here takes some time to get used to, but Deka’s entrancing character development is so wrapped up in these systems that they are quickly understood. The action and intensity are relentless as Forna builds not only Deka’s character but also those of a kick-butt posse of fellow alaki, whose histories speak to various ways Otera’s patriarchy has weighed women down. While elements of action and social justice are strong, there is also mystery, as readers journey to understand just what is at stake in the heat of the war. At the close of the first of what is rumored to be a trilogy, readers will find themselves awestruck with satisfying revelation, leaving both a clean ending and desire for more.
My Comments
Fast paced plot with lots of suspense and twists and turns. I enjoyed seeing how Deka comes into her power. There are a lot of ethical dilemmas in this book, but good triumphs! The torture scenes lead me to recommend it for grade 8-12 depending on the reader.
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