The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Deka, age 16, is terrified and eagerly awaits the blood ceremony that will determine if she will be accepted into her village. Deka, who already stands out from the others due to her unusual intuition, prays for red blood in order to feel more at home.
However, on the day of the ritual, her blood turns a purplish gold tint, and Deka knows she will suffer an outcome worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman approaches her and offers her the option to either remain in the village and accept her fate or to join an army of girls who are just like her in fighting for the emperor. They are known as alaki-near-immortals with exceptional abilities. The biggest threat to the empire can only be stopped by them.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
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Deka decides to leave the only life she has ever known while being aware of the perils that lay ahead and wishing for acceptance. But she will find that the vast walled city has many surprises in store when she travels there to prepare for the biggest battle of her life. Even Deka herself cannot be trusted to be who she claims to be.
I was quite excited to read this dark, inspiring tale of female emancipation, and I was not let down.
Deka, 16, experiences a complete breakdown when, on the day of the blood ceremony, her blood turns gold instead of red, the colour of impurity. Deka has always wanted to fit in because she has felt like an outcast due of the origin of her mother. But a strange woman appears to her and offers her the option to either remain in the hamlet and accept the cruel fate of an outcast or to go and join an army of girls who are much like her in fighting for the emperor. Deka picks the army of alaki, who are almost immortals with unique abilities.
And together with new friends and allies, Deka joins the fight to stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Namina Forna sends Deka on an epic journey of sisterhood, self-discovery and struggles against a deeply patriarchal and oppressive society. The world is skilfully crafted, the enemy is ghastly and spine-chilling and Namina masterfully builds up a mystery around these evil creatures, which unfolds towards the end, keeping you glued to the pages.
