The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Written By:  Namina Forna

Genre: YA Fantasy

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.

Format: Paperback,432 Pages

Series: Deathless (#1)

Awards: Waterstones Children's Book Prize Nominee for Older Readers (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction and for Debut Novel (2021), Nommo Award Nominee for Best Novel (Shortlist) (2022)

Goodreads Rating: 4.01

*Please note, all books are pre-loved, but have been carefully looked through to ensure they are not missing any pages and are in good condition. If there are any visible flaws, these will have been noted in the product photo.