THE GILDED ONES Deathless, Book 1

Narrator Shayna Small guides listeners through the slightly rushed setup of this action-packed YA novel. On Deka's sixteenth birthday, her golden blood marks her as impure, and she is sent to fight demons in the emperor's war. Though peppered with episodes of intense violence, this story is ultimately evidence of the power and strength of young women. The breathy, smooth voice of Deka is but one among a variety of voices given to the cast of characters. The desperate but hopeful tones of girls who are striving to prove they are not monsters in a society that hates them will leave listeners eager to hear more about this feminist fantasy world. H.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2021]