The Gilded Ones Audiobook By Namina Forna cover art

The Gilded Ones

Deathless, Book 1

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The Gilded Ones

By: Namina Forna
Narrated by: Shayna Small
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About this listen

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TEEN VOGUE

South Carolina Children's Book Award nominee

"A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold. Must read!"–Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles

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.

The start of a bold and immersive fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.

©2020 Namina Forna (P)2020 Listening Library
Dark Fantasy Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Young Adult

Critic reviews

"Namina Forna could be the Toni Morrison of YA fantasy." (Refinery 29)

"Fans of Children of Blood and Bone, Mulan, and the Dora Milaje from Black Panther are going to adore this one." (BuzzFeed)

"The girls are powerful, the danger is real, and the characters are engaging and diverse. Forna has accomplished something really special here, equal parts subversive and fun." (Tor)