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ellemnope 's review for:
The Gilded Ones
by Namina Forna
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Okay...first of all, this might be the most beautiful cover I've ever seen. And, in what seems to be a bit of an anomaly, the writing and story are just as wonderful. I was definitely caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book and how much I keep thinking about it and the way it's lessons apply to real life.
This is a strong commentary on so many social issues: patriarchy, prejudice, classism, racism, sexism, and so many other human constructs that serve only to further divide us. The story is feminist and strong, with characters from a bevy of backgrounds who are fighting to survive despite having lived through some horrendous situations. I love how well the narrative embraces multiple life pathways, elevates the characters above prejudice, and displays several cultures and ideologies, focusing hard on the fallibility and inconsistency of humans.
Deka's character is incredibly well-written, showing the change in her as she struggles to accept who she is, reconcile that with how she's been indoctrinated, and eventually rise to discover her own truth. This is such a great work for YA readers because of this display of character growth and serves as a great teaching tool via analogy.
The writing is beautiful, but blunt and captures heavy emotions in a plot with a well-moving pace. There is a blend of character driven and plot driven narrative that balances well and just kept me moving swiftly through the pages. The book is not perfect, but it still deserves a five-star rating. There are some places of awkwardness and a few instances of falling into the writing trope trap ("she released a breath she didn't know she was holding"), but it was still such a fantastic read. I can't wait for the sequel and already see this being a reread in the relatively near future. I just can't stop thinking about it and all the internal implications. A masterfully interwoven work of fantasy and realism. Gah. It's just beautiful.
Okay...first of all, this might be the most beautiful cover I've ever seen. And, in what seems to be a bit of an anomaly, the writing and story are just as wonderful. I was definitely caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book and how much I keep thinking about it and the way it's lessons apply to real life.
This is a strong commentary on so many social issues: patriarchy, prejudice, classism, racism, sexism, and so many other human constructs that serve only to further divide us. The story is feminist and strong, with characters from a bevy of backgrounds who are fighting to survive despite having lived through some horrendous situations. I love how well the narrative embraces multiple life pathways, elevates the characters above prejudice, and displays several cultures and ideologies, focusing hard on the fallibility and inconsistency of humans.
Deka's character is incredibly well-written, showing the change in her as she struggles to accept who she is, reconcile that with how she's been indoctrinated, and eventually rise to discover her own truth. This is such a great work for YA readers because of this display of character growth and serves as a great teaching tool via analogy.
The writing is beautiful, but blunt and captures heavy emotions in a plot with a well-moving pace. There is a blend of character driven and plot driven narrative that balances well and just kept me moving swiftly through the pages. The book is not perfect, but it still deserves a five-star rating. There are some places of awkwardness and a few instances of falling into the writing trope trap ("she released a breath she didn't know she was holding"), but it was still such a fantastic read. I can't wait for the sequel and already see this being a reread in the relatively near future. I just can't stop thinking about it and all the internal implications. A masterfully interwoven work of fantasy and realism. Gah. It's just beautiful.