“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 "Perfect for those who fell in love with
Black Panther and will leave all holding their breath until the very end."—
Ebony“Namina Forna introduces readers to an intricate, West African-inspired fantasy world.”—
POPSUGAR“Total book candy for fans of Tomi Ayedemi's
Children of Blood and Bone.” —
PureWow"A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold,
The Gilded Ones lifts the veil of violent patriarchy and burns the idea of purity to the ground. Must read!" —Dhonielle Clayton,
New York Times Bestselling author of
The Belles“Haunting, brutal, and oh-so-relevant. This book will suck you into a world where girls bleed gold, magic fills the air, and the real monsters hide behind words instead of claws.” —Roseanne A. Brown,
New York Times bestselling author of
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin“An enthralling debut.
The Gilded Ones redefines sisterhood and is sure to leave readers both inspired and ultimately hopeful." —Stephanie Garber, #1
New York Times bestselling author of
Caraval “
The Gilded Ones is a fierce, unflinching fantasy that marks Forna as a debut to watch.” —Kiersten White,
New York Times bestselling author of
And I Darken "Phenomenal and extraordinary! Forna's breathtaking use of language depicts a thrilling journey through an epic world, rife with danger and deception, as an obedient girl survives the patriarchy and becomes a warrior. Unquestionably, the best fantasy of 2021." —Kim Johnson, author of
This is My America“An epic new fantasy with heart-stopping stakes and a fierce, persevering hero,
The Gilded Ones is a dazzling and powerful debut.” —Elizabeth Lim, bestselling author of
Spin the Dawn“A poignant examination of patriarchal oppression that ensnares its reader and doesn’t let go. With a compelling main character and fresh magic system, it takes you on a journey of self-discovery through a fantastically built world with a burning mystery at its heart.” —Kalyn Josephson, author of
The Storm Crow“While elements of action and social justice are strong, there is also mystery . . . readers will find themselves awestruck with satisfying revelation, leaving both a clean ending and desire for more.”
—
Booklist, starred review
“Female-led YA fantasy is an overcrowded genre, but Namina Forna brings a fresh perspective in her stormingly good debut . . . Action combines with an intense feminist story of sisterhood, where strength is found in female friendships and alliances.” —
The Guardian“Brutal, brilliant, and ultimately hopeful,
The Gilded Ones takes readers on
a stunning sci-fi fantasy ride.” —
Nerdist“Formidable heroines and a thoughtful feminist mythology distinguish debut author Forna’s West Africa–inspired fantasy trilogy launch. Abundant action drives the pace, while a nuanced plot advocates social change by illustrating the myriad ways in which society cages and commodifies women.” —
Publishers Weekly“All of the alaki girls have realistic and moving trauma as a result of actions wreaked on them both as human women and alaki, and strong female friendships stand at the forefront of this novel that will have readers thinking about it long after the last page.” —
The Bulletin
“An interesting, immersive fantasy where women are treated as second-class citizens and killed if they are deemed to be impure. This all changes when Deka, deemed impure, survives death and joins the alaki, where she is trained to be an elite warrior in an army of women. With wonderful world-building and adventure, this book is perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone.”
