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. Multiple attempted executions reveal that Deka is both gold-blooded and seemingly unkillable. When the ceremony is interrupted by deathshrieks vicious monsters with agonizing screams Deka miraculously repels the creatures, only to be dubbed a demon. Sturdy brown-skinned Deka is an outcast in Irfut, where villagers skew thin and blond, and she craves the rite's validation. Those who bleed red when cut are judged fit for marriage and motherhood those who bleed gold are deemed impure and banished. The start of a bold and immersive fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther.Īll 16-year-old girls in Otera must endure the Ritual of Purity. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her.
Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.īut on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village.
Must read!" –Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles "A dark feminist tale spun with blood and gold.
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