April 6, 2020
All 16-year-old girls in Otera must endure the Ritual of Purity. Those who bleed red when cut are judged fit for marriage and motherhood; those who bleed gold are deemed impure and banished. Sturdy brown-skinned Deka is an outcast in Irfut, where villagers skew thin and blond, and she craves the rite’s validation. When the ceremony is interrupted by deathshrieks—vicious monsters with agonizing screams—Deka miraculously repels the creatures, only to be dubbed a demon. Multiple attempted executions reveal that Deka is both gold-blooded and seemingly unkillable. After two months of torture, a mysterious woman, White Hands, extends an invitation: come to the capital, where the emperor is assembling an army of quasi-immortal “alaki” like Deka to combat deathshrieks. Deka enlists, relieved to find a place where she might finally belong, but the more she learns about deathshrieks and alaki, the more she questions Otera’s patriarchal tenets and the emperor’s true intentions. Formidable heroines and a thoughtful feminist myth-ology 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. Ages 12–up. Agent: Alice Sutherland-Hawes, Madeleine Milburn.

April 10, 2020

Gr 7-10-In this West African fantasy set in Irfut, Deka, 16, is awaiting the blood ceremony that will seal her fate: will her blood run red, indicating purity and guaranteeing a normal life, or will golden blood lead her to a life of unknown terrors and pain? To Deka's despair, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity, starting her on a journey she could never have imagined. Everything Deka grew up knowing will now be tested and tried by war, friendship, and death. Forna's debut novel is masterful in its world-building and character development. The setting is vast and full of wonders, while the protagonist is well-rounded, bold, and as real as any other 16-year-old who wants to be accepted and loved. VERDICT Brutal, and occasionally graphic in its depiction of violence, this is nevertheless a must.-Rachel Lipkin, Brooklyn Public Libraries, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2020
Sixteen-year-old Deka seeks acceptance and absolution. Every year adolescent girls in the patriarchal kingdom of Otera prepare for the Ritual of Purity that determines whether they can join their communities as pure-blooded women or be cast out and branded impure monsters. Brown-skinned, gray-eyed Deka yearns to prove she belongs, but when her blood runs gold, she's revealed to be an alaki--a near-immortal woman warrior--and is carted away to become the front line of defense for the people who've discarded her. With measured focus, debut author Forna creates a provocative world filled with fantastical creatures, centuries-old divine conflict, and overt feminist messaging around gender inequity and "purity." Also compelling is Forna's ability to capture feelings tugging on the consciences of many, telling them they are unworthy of life, liberty, and unconditional love because of who they are. The character development is a bit superficial, unfurling quickly with movie montage-like speed. There is celebration of diverse body types, some peripheral queer representation, and ethnic diversity that roughly correlates with the real world (e.g. a character called Li is from the East, and Northerners have pink skin and blond hair). The plot-twist climax is hinted at throughout the book, held just out of reach until the pieces fall neatly together. Unfortunately, the energy then peters out for the falling action and epilogue. An adventurous and relevant fantasy that strives for gold but settles, in the end, for silver. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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Starred review from December 1, 2020
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* Deka lives in a society where women are intended to be pure and serve those around them. So when she bleeds impure gold during the coming-of-age ritual for girls at age 16, her life's presumed purpose--the care and keeping of a husband and family--is destroyed. Left to decide between death or dedicating herself to the protection of Otera from the ghastly deathshrieks, Deka joins the ranks of girls deemed impure, known as the alaki. Soon she realizes that even among them she's different, leading Deka to question who and what she is, and what she's fighting for. The world building here takes some time to get used to, but Deka's entrancing character development is so wrapped up in these systems that they are quickly understood. The action and intensity are relentless as Forna builds not only Deka's character but also those of a kick-butt posse of fellow alaki, whose histories speak to various ways Otera's patriarchy has weighed women down. While elements of action and social justice are strong, there is also mystery, as readers journey to understand just what is at stake in the heat of the war. At the close of the first of what is rumored to be a trilogy, readers will find themselves awestruck with satisfying revelation, leaving both a clean ending and desire for more.

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