It’s time for another book review. I am determined to have more of these for you this year so here we go. This time, I read The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna.
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.
This book was such a great way to start off the reading year! It was SO good. I have been wanting a fantasy book that delivers with a badass main character and this was it.
The main character had to endure so much and they had a lot of development as the book went on. I also have an affinity for a lot of side characters in this book. The whole lore behind the society in this book was really interesting to learn about and I can only see them expanding on it in the future books of the series.
I love that the characters would be morally grey at times too. This always makes me like a book even more because I enjoy when they don’t just agree with everything that is going on and seem to think for themselves.
I will 100% be reading the sequel to this book when it comes out.
Book Rating: 5/5
You can buy this book on Amazon and find it on Goodreads.
Disclaimer: I was given an ebook ARC of this book by Netgalley to read and Penguin Teen to read and review.
Do you want to be taken on a scifi adventure? Well read on for the description of a book that might pique your interest…
UE – The Secret Revealed: Follow along with the U.S. Government in the recovery of an alien crash site in Roswell New Mexico, May 1947. As the story unfolds you will begin to understand what took place. The timeline follows two different years, one in the past when it took place and the other in the almost present day. The incident was coded as a code red alpha project, which became the biggest secret from the government. Watch as it is moved to Groom Lake (area 51) and becomes covered up in mystery. In the near present you will be introduced to Rogers a computer whiz kid and Starkes the brain behind the UE1 project. As more people are introduced to the program, what the world has always speculated to be true, becomes revealed……….
About the Author
Growing up in a military family has given me the opportunity to explore many places and to become exposed to many different types of subject matter. With a lifelong desire to publish stories, it has now come time for me to share them with the world.
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A little late this month but here are all the January book releases that I am excited about or thought you would be excited about! Let me know if any of these interest you or if you have any other ones that you think I would like in the comments below.
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