Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.' -Book jacket. 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. But 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. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. |a '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. |a 'Outcasts by blood, warriors by choice' -Cover. |a NjBwBT |b eng |e rda |c FMG |d OCLCO |d APL |d SKYRV |d CoBoFLC

'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.

The gilded ones book 3