BONUS REVIEW: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


On the day of Deka’s purity ritual, her village is overrun by the violent, monstrous deathshrieks. But with the power of her voice alone, Deka makes them leave. This skill, and the gold that runs through her veins, marks her as a demon – alaki. Her sentence is death, but no matter how the elders try, she just won’t die.

The alaki are thought to be descendants of the Gilded Ones – four demons who terrorized the kingdom until the first Emperor defeated them. But Deka can’t fathom how she could be connected to them. And she’s consumed with shame for her impurity.

Deka is taken to serve the Emperor, committing to 20 years of service where she can earn her freedom. She and her “bloodsisters” will train with the most skilled alaki. Then they will lead the Emperor’s campaign against hundreds of thousands of deathshrieks. They will wipe them out forever, or die trying, no matter how many times it might take.

Review


Wow, this was great! I loved the world building here and the fascinating magic structures in the story. I was not expecting the smash-the-patriarchy angle to this, and I loved it. (There’s a great author’s note for readers on the themes of the book.)

I was impressed with how the author builds her story. It’s satisfying and compelling while also holding back significant information until the later sections of the book. The story never suffers in the waiting, though, but I did feel some of the reveals were more rushed than I wanted. I think slowing down to give more time to them would have negatively impacted the pacing of the story, though. So I will “suffer” with less depth and detail than I wanted. Maybe I’ll get that in the next book. I expected a cliffhanger for this, but the book stands on its own. There is still story to tell – this is just the start of a series. But the book ends in a way that feels “whole.”

I loved Deka in this – her sweet nature with her friends, her immense inner strength and loyalty, and her resilience. All of the core characters are great, but Deka really shines.

While the story has a lot to say about patriarchy and misogyny, it also hints at some questions about religion and faith. This is meaty and would make an amazing book group selection. YA fantasy fans should not miss this one! (Some language, violence/abuse, TW: references to sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary


Two hundred years after Cinderella died, the country of Mersailles has become an oppressive place for women. They may honor the story of Cinderella with repeated readings and magical thinking and an annual ball, but the magic is all a lie.

The king reigns with an iron fist. Men are the heads of households, and whatever they do is “right” and acceptable. Anyone who doesn’t fall in line is either executed or they disappear. Girls who attend the annual ball three times without being chosen by a suitor tend to disappear, too.

Sophia doesn’t want a suitor. She wants her best friend Erin. But same-sex relationships aren’t allowed. Both girls are required by law to attend the ball and go with whatever suitor chooses them, no matter what. But when everything turns ugly that night, Sophia runs off.

She meets Constance who shares the true story of Cinderella and her family. They had challenged the king of their day – and paid the price for it. Their example, though, is just the inspiration Sophia was looking for. Maybe there’s something she can do to change life for her people who have suffered so much.

Review


This was an interesting twist on the story of Cinderella with a strong “smash the patriarchy” vibe. I was completely on board with the girls destroying the misogynistic world they suffered through, but I wasn’t 100% sold on how the fairy tale tied into the way things were. I want my fantasy stories to have well-developed world building, so I wanted more here.  But I did enjoy the twists and the way the magic system played out in the big picture, though.

The characters are interesting. I liked Constance’s connection to Cinderella and the ways her story enhanced the typical Cinderella tale. I also liked Sophia’s strength and determination throughout the story.

The romance didn’t click for me. Sophia’s immediate draw to Constance and some of their flirtations and long looks and such felt a little forced, especially when Sophia was supposedly so devoted to Erin at the start. I did appreciate Sophia’s integrity in at least trying to talk with Erin before giving into her feelings for Constance.

Fans of fairy tale retellings, fantasy stories, and fans looking for F/F romance in young adult novels should check this one out. (Language, LGBTQ+: F/F relationships, reference to M/M relationship)

Rating: ♥♥♥½