Book Reviews

Book Review - The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

I adore this book, the chemistry it upholds, what it stands for and the message it brings across. I think Namina is a feminist and I am looking forward to the sequel. This book brings out how the girl child and women are looked at in society, neo-colonial era and how religion operates adversely if wielded by the wrong hands.

I love how the author took me on journey to an era where magical beings, super powers and all things unnatural resided. The way she wrote allowed my imagination to soar and create these things and actually see them from her adept descriptions.

There are special characters I fell in love with like White Hands and Deka. The powerful women dynasty and ancestry they stood up for. I bought their ideologies and the politics they played. Tactically, White Hands was the queen of masterminding. I was amazed at how everything was playing out as the she kept the suspecting Deka at bay at all times. She gave out just enough information to keep everyone at ease. She was too composed for everything which is a character trait I personally liked.

Deka the protagonist was a lovely character, she wielded the power within her ever since she knew that she was special since inception. She kept her secrets until the deathshrieks threatened to kill those she loved. She suffered a huge ordeal and I believe she got stronger after that unwarranted suffering. When Deka was asked to show up, she did show up!

Romance was also portrayed in this lovely book and the Uruni and Alaki were paired. They loved each other and could actually die for each other if the occasion asked for it. The grandeur of his majesty the king was so clear and admirable, however the jatu plot twist at the end was quite fascinating.

Religion in this book was clearly depicted as what it is and how it is affecting the people in society. Men, women and children are bound to it without a wholesome understanding and uphold to it values regardless. If high positions in religion are wielded by the wrong hands, it kills. It is weaponized to attack the weaklings in society and push agendas opposing good.

Namina did a good job and I would recommend it for the afro-futurism lovers.