In Deka's society, all girls who turn sixteen participate in a blood ceremony, where the color of their blood is examined. Red, and the girl is allowed to live in the village as a full member of the community. Gold, and the girl is executed for being a demon, a cursed being who represents a threat to the village and the empire. As the ceremony nears, Deka hopes her blood is pure, but fears that it isn't. Deka is already much different from the other residents of the village, with a skin darker than most, and with an intuition that seems to be right more often than not. With her mother long dead, all Deka has left is her father.
But just before it is time for her blood letting ceremony, Death Shrieks attack the village. As warriors run to attack the monsters, Deka's eyes turn gold, and her voice seems to paralyze the creatures. Accused of being in league with the demons, and denounced by her own father, her blood is revealed to run gold, and Deka is killed ... only to return. Those with gold blood are known as the Alaki, and they are nearly immortal. Each Alaki has one true death, but until it is discovered, they can be slain but will always awaken again.
Recuperating from another painful death, Deka meets White Hands, a mysterious woman from the capital who offers her a position among an army of Alaki being assembled by the emperor to fight a mass of Death Shrieks now assembling on the borders of the empire. Faced with the prospect of certain death if she remains in the village, Deka agrees and travels to the capital. She meets other Alaki like her, and eventually discovers that the empire's reasons for training Alaki may not be what they seem at first glance.
With armies assembling on the field of battle, Deka will be faced with a painful choice: Fight for what's right, or fight for her friends?
A tale inspired from West African myths and legends, The Gilded Ones offer a different view of fantasy that is unfamiliar yet very relatable. Deka's struggle to accept her new role feels realistic, and the world-building includes several twists and turns that propel the story forward.
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