YA BOOK of the week

THE GILDED ONES

by Namina Forna, Usborne, paperback £8.99 (ebook £3.99)

★★★★★

IN The Gilded Ones, Namina Forna delivers a powerful feminist anthem in a dazzling fantasy land.

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in the patriarchal kingdom of Otera, where women are subservient in accordance with religious doctrine.

When Deka bleeds gold during the Ritual of Purity, she’s identified as a demon and an outcast. So begins her journey towards survival, identity and, ultimately, freedom.

Forna’s work in scriptwriting has doubtless helped her create the spectacular world of Otera: vibrant with colour and steeped in mysticism and beauty.

It’s the confidence with which Forna delivers the pain caused by patriarchy, and the coming-of-age sisterhood that ensures Deka’s survival, that gives this story real credibility and depth.

This is an empowering read that you won’t want to put down and that will be enjoyed by teenagers and adults alike.