By Megan Amato
Content warning: talk about rape, explicit violence, colourism, sexism,
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna was my most anticipated book of the year, and it didn’t disappoint—it caused stomach curling, hands gripping the edge of my seat, shut-the-book-and-run-to-another-room level anxiety—but it didn’t disappoint.
The story is a first-person young adult narrative following 16-year-old Deka, the only dark-skinned girl in her puritanical and patriarchal town. When her blood runs gold—instead of the desired crimson—on the day of her Ritual of Purity, her village turns against her, and Deka learns she is immortal—the hard, painful and should-have-been-permanent way. After her world—and body—are completely torn apart, a mysterious woman proposes to glue it all back together by offering a position as a soldier in an elite army of alaki—“almost immortal” girls who fight to help the Emperor defeat the monstrous deathshrieks. Deka soon learns that there is more to her heritage than she knows, and her blood may just be the key needed to defeat her enemies—known and unknown.
Deka is by far one of the most likeable characters I’ve read in YA fantasy. She’s equal measures kind and determined, desperate to find someone who accepts her—demon and all, quick to take a leadership role but unafraid to lean on someone when she needs to. From the very beginning, you root for her; even when the blurb on the back of the book warns you of what is to come, you are always crossing your fingers that she will be okay and overcome whatever hurdle the world Forna has created throws at her. Watching her grow into her position and confidence, make mistakes and thwart others’ plans for her is an absolute delight.
I am a sucker for a magical school or supernatural training ground of any kind, so this book might as well have been on my shelf since conception. Some might find complaint in the common trope of a chosen one being found in an unwanted girl in some remote village, trained to fight evil and exceptionally good at it. However, those criticisms would be shallow, as Forna has crafted a world unlike any other. The book is full of worldbuilding, creatures that delight the imagination, and a plot that moves and shakes both the characters and the reader to our very cores. Even if this West African-inspired fantasy didn’t have this strong foundation of originality, the story would still be novel as there aren’t the same amount of fantasy stories written by and featuring a Black woman.
The one aspect of the novel I am of two minds about is the romance between the protagonist and a soldier named Keita. On the one hand, I think he is a tad underdeveloped, and more could have been written about his experience training and falling in love with Deka. However, I love that the emphasis isn’t placed on the romance. It’s there to show that Deka is worthy of the romantic love she seeks, but as Deka says herself, the centre of the world is her friendship with fellow alaki, Britta. While readers of fantasy romance may be disappointed by this, the power of a friendship between women is the shining gem in this novel. It’s what you turn the page for—along with the marvellously comprehensive plot that deepens on every page.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve read The Gilded Ones, but it’s all I can think about as I go about the chores of my daily life or dive into new worlds. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new immersive read!
*Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review