Deka has never fit in her village. At age 16, she needs to go through the Rite of Purity to see if she bleeds red or gold. If she bleeds gold, then she is impure and the Death Mandate will be enforced. She prays she will bleed red and be pure. From there she will find a husband and live happily ever after. However, on the day of the Rite, an attack happens and she bleeds gold. She is dragged to a cell is killed in different ways, but always comes back alive. A woman that is a stranger comes to her and offers for Deka to either stay or come with her to serve in a special army of girls who bleed gold to defeat Deathshriekers. What will she choose? What secrets will she discover?
The Gilded Ones is definitely unique. It focuses on sisterhood and finding your own strength as a woman. I did get a little annoyed with Deka going back and forth on how she felt with the Deathshriekers. Overall it was a great and fast read.