Must read! Dhonielle Clayton, NYT bestselling author of The Belles Debut author Namina Forna's created a fierce female protagonist you'll root for and a captivating world that feels so real you can step inside it. Stephanie Garber, #1 NYT bestselling author of Caraval A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold, The Gilded Ones lifts the veil of violent patriarchy and burns the idea of purity to the ground.

Refinery 29 The Gilded Ones redefines sisterhood and is sure to leave readers both inspired and ultimately hopeful. The Observer Namina Forna could be the Toni Morrison of YA Fantasy. Fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther are going to adore this one. The stranger offers her a choice: fight for the Emperor, with others just like her, or be destroyed. She is saved by a mysterious woman who tells Deka of her true nature: she is an Alaki, a near-immortal with exceptional gifts. But when Deka bleeds gold - the colour of impurity, of a demon - she faces a consequence worse than death. Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in Otera, a deeply patriarchal ancient kingdom, where a woman's worth is tied to her purity, and she must bleed to prove it. In Fornas first New York Times Bestselling book, The Gilded Ones, readers are introduced to sixteen-year-old. Namina loves spicy food and witchy-looking cats, and has been known to wear unicorn onesies to the nearest taco truck. In this world, girls are outcasts by blood and warriors by choice, perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther. THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER!The must-read new bold and immersive West African-inspired fantasy series, as featured on Cosmo, Bustle, Book Riot and Refinery 29. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.īut on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village.

The gilded ones book 3