The Gilded Ones

The Gilded Ones tells the story of sixteen-year-old Deka who has grown up an outcast in her village all of her life. She prays that her blood will run red at the blood ceremony which will allow her to finally be accepted as a rightful member of her village. On the day of her ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity, and Deka faces unimaginable horrors. The most painful being rejection by her own father, one of the only people to have always loved and accepted her.

Then a mysterious woman offers her a choice: stay in her village and suffer unimaginable horrors or leave to join an army of girls like her: “alaki” who will fight for the emperor with the possibility of one day earning their right to rejoin their villages as “pure” women.

The Gilded Ones tells the story of hope in the most difficult times and of learning to trust oneself self despite everything the world has to say. Deka is an awesome heroine and her story had me glued to the pages of the book. This tale is a perfect read for the strong-willed, independent girl who faces her fears instead of running from them. Read it. I know you will love it as much as I did!