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Namina Forna
Namina Forna writes the bestselling fantasy series that began with The Gilded Ones, continuing with The Gilded Ones #2. Her books, including The eternal ones, are popular BookTok favorites, known for their compelling fantasy worlds.
The Gilded Ones
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.
Genres
Characters
Deka (Otera)Protagonist
A sixteen-year-old girl whose blood runs gold instead of red, marking her as one of the near-immortal alaki; she leaves her village to train and fight for the empire.
KeitaSupporting
One of the uruni, the male warriors paired with each alaki recruit; he becomes Deka's training partner and, gradually, her love interest.
White HandsSupporting
The enigmatic woman who recruits Deka into the alaki army and takes a particular, closely guarded interest in developing her powers.
AdwapaSupporting
One of Deka's fellow alaki recruits at the Warthu Bera training ground, and one half of a pair of twin sisters among the trainees.
Britta (Otera)Supporting
A fellow impure girl who joins Deka's cohort of alaki recruits at Warthu Bera and becomes one of her closest friends during training.
Frequently asked questions
Is this book part of a series?
This novel is the first installment in a trilogy known as the Deathless series.
Is there a film adaptation of this book?
A film adaptation is currently in development, with the author herself writing the screenplay.
What inspired the world-building in this story?
The author drew upon West African mythology and her own upbringing in Sierra Leone, specifically incorporating stories of figures like the Dahomey Amazons and Mami Wata.