YES, another blog tour after I said I wasn’t going to participate in them anymore. But, what can I say I just can’t pass up on the opportunity to get free books, especially the ones with such gorgeous covers and such interesting synopsis.🙈🙈🙈 I just hope that I can manage my time well this time around.
The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing Date: February 9, 2021
Synopsis
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. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But 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.
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. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. 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. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
Book Links
Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes and Noble || Book Depository || Indigo || IndieBound
My Thoughts
My rating: 3.75 stars
I loved this book so so much!!! I did have a few issues but before that I would like to talk about why I loved The Gilded Ones.
What I loved:
1) Okay, starting with the obvious here. I loved the story arc. The concept, the premise and where the story went. I loved it all. Also, this book had everything I love to read in a fantasy book, good concept, action, one crazy twist, other twists, friendship, bonding, romance, etc etc etc, everything.
2) The twist of the decade award goes to…. The Gilded Ones. That was one twist!!!! I never saw it coming. When that twist happened I legit had to put down my book and process for a few hours, because that twist was definition of mind boggling!!!!
3) The Gilded Ones had one of the best friendship plots. Britta and Deka. I loved their friendship so so much. And the most important thing was even when the romance began, the friendship plot wasn’t let go off to make room for the romance.
4) Kind of extending on the last point. I loved all the bloodsisters and their bonding. So glad that this book didn’t have the jealousy and petty rivalry which we get in almost all books with this kind of setting.
5) I loved Keita tooooooo. He was always present by Deka’s side.
What I didn’t like:
The main problem I faced with The Gilded Ones was, for most of the first half and also for some time in the 2nd half each scene seemed like a separate disjoint incident. This book just seemed like a culmination of various scenes, there was no seamless flow between the scenes. I think the major reason for this was the numerous time jumps. For example, when Deka and her bloodsisters started training we got one semi-scene of first training and then we time jump and meet her months after that. Because of these time jumps and the lack of seamless flow between the scenes, some events seemed a lot premature. Even when the romance of Deka started that also seemed premature. I also took quite some time to truly connect with Deka because of the these time jumps. I get it there was a lot that needed to get covered in this book that is why the time jumps were necessary, but still I really wished that this book was a 800 page tome, so that we didn’t have these time jumps, because the concept and the plot of this book is so so good, I would hate to see people giving up on the book because of this issue. I also almost DNFed The Gilded Ones actually once in the first half, but I am so glad I went on because I ended up loving it so so much!!! But still I can’t forget this problem that is why I decided to deduct 1.25 stars.
My Favourite Quotes
All the following quotes are from an ARC so they are subject to change.
I don’t even know if it’s possible, if someone, somewhere in this vast world will ever love someone like me – an unaging, unchanging deviation of nature – but I want to find them. Want to survive long enough to experience that kind of love: loyal, unflinching, steadfast.
Deka from The Gilded Ones
I just have to be brave for once. I just have to believe that I am deserving of a life of my own.
Deka from The Gilded Ones
As I smile back, I realise something beautiful: this whole time, I’ve been searching for love, for family, but it’s been here, right in my grasp.
Deka from The Gilded Ones
About the Author
Namina Forna is a young adult novelist based in Los Angeles, and the author of the upcoming epic fantasy YA novel The Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina has an MFA in film and TV production from USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA from Spelman College. She works as a screenwriter in LA and loves telling stories with fierce female leads.
Author Links:
Website || Twitter || Instagram || Goodreads
Book Tour Schedule
https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2021/01/18/tour-schedule-the-gilded-ones-deathless-1-by-namina-forna/
Virtual Tour Schedule for The Gilded Ones
Tuesday, February 9th at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Launch Event
Featuring Actress and Comedian Kym Whitley
Located in San Diego, CA | Event via Crowdcast
Friday, February 12th at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT
African Mythology Smackdown
Featuring Authors Jordan Ifueko and Roseanne Brown
Located in Decatur, GA | Event via Crowdcast
Monday, February 15th at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Slumber Party
Featuring Authors Dhonielle Clayton, Kim Johnson, and Christina Hammonds Reed
Located in Coral Gables, FL | Event via Crowdcast
Tuesday, February 16th at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Featuring Author Stephanie Garber
Located in Brookline, MA | Event via Zoom
Wednesday, February 17th at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Celebrating YA Black Voices & Activism
Featuring Authors Renée Watson, Frederick Joseph,and Maika & Maritza Moulite
Located Nationally | Event via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
Wednesday, February 24th at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Penguin Teen Canada Zoom Trivia Night
Featuring Authors Amanda Joy and Frederick Joseph
Located in Canada | Event via Zoom
That is all for this post. Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked my review.
Bookshelf Life 
Great review! I love a book that doesn’t pit women against each other and so that’s already one thing that I know I’m going to love about this book! It’s too bad about the disjointed scenes though… That sounds like it could get confusing but also could affect connecting to the characters.
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It wasn’t confusing but my main issue was connecting with the character, like there was this one scene where the MC, Deka gave a speech, and given the time jump that happened before the scene the speech made sense, but due to the time jump I didn’t get to see any of the struggles which would warrant this kind of speech, so for quite some pages after this scene, I had to keep on reminding myself that we are seeing the post-speech Deka, it wasn’t the seamless development of character I like seeing.
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