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.

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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 7 Up--Deka has always known she was different, but when during the Ritual of Purity she bleeds gold instead of red, her entire village, including her own father, turns on her and kills her. Her body heals itself quickly, so they repeatedly try to kill her, but it doesn't work. When a mysterious woman offers Deka a new life fighting for the emperor in an army of "demon" women, she gratefully accepts. She soon finds out that nothing is as it seems, however, and she struggles to find out who the real enemy is. Shayna Small narrates and uses her wide range of accents to distinctly voice the characters. The frequent action sequences are performed with vigor and passion. VERDICT Give this to listeners who crave social justice issues mixed with their action.--Julie Paladino, formerly with East Chapel Hill H.S., NC

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. (May)