Read by my 13 year old daughter to complete the set she started reading at school, she raced through it and enjoyed it immensely - enough to purchase it once it was published and re-read it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc for my honest review

Rating: 2 stars

The middle of this book dragged on a lot, and I found myself losing focus and starting to lose the storyline, but I really enjoyed the first few chapters. They grabbed my attention and made me want to continue reading. The romance never speeds up and I was expecting it too in the end. I would say this is my least favourite book in the series.

SYNOPSIS:
Mere weeks after confronting the Gilded Ones—the false beings she once believed to be her family—Deka is on the hunt. In order to kill the gods, whose ravenous competition for power is bleeding Otera dry, she must uncover the source of her divinity. But with her mortal body on the verge of ruin, Deka is running out of time—to save herself and an empire that’s tearing itself apart at its seams.

When Deka’s search leads her and her friends to the edge of the world as they know it, they discover an astonishing new realm, one which holds the key to Deka’s past. Yet it also illuminates a devastating decision she must soon make…

Choose to be reborn as a god, losing everyone she loves in the process. Or bring about the end of the world.

To be completely honest, this series started to lose me a little towards the second half of book two. The introduction of the higher gods and their controlling of the planet etc was interesting, but I¨m not sure maybe was it just the writing? I still enjoy Deka and even though she is having a lot of trouble in this book, she powers through. The book tied everything up and I am glad I read this series!

The Eternal Ones is the final instalment of The Gilded Ones trilogy, a YA series set in a West-African inspired ancient world. Forna redefines sisterhood throughout this series, and her female protagonists defy traditions and cultural expectations to become fierce warriors taking on epic battles against the gods.

Deka is struggling in this book, physically and mentally. Surrounded by her friends, she is still truly alone as it is up to her to stop the gods by sacrificing herself. Her friendship with Britta still stands out for me as one of the most important aspects of this trilogy and the idea of sisterhood and unwavering love for each other is beautifully explored by Forna. We also get to see a lot more of Keita’s back story and his own struggles, furthering his connection to Deka.

Books one and two looked at gender and power balance and although elements of that are still found in book three, I would have loved to seen more about it in The Eternal Ones. One of the most refreshing things about The Gilded Ones is the inclusion of non-binary characters and gender fluidity which I think is so important to give a voice to in YA fiction.

Forna succeeds in giving her readers an immersive experience in this book. It just felt that at times the plot was disconnected or elements of the story seem just too convenient to solve a scenario. Book one will remain my favourite and it is so important that we have a series that gives black women, especially young black women, a voice in a world dominated by white authors and characters. The Eternal Ones is a fitting end to the trilogy and has many powerful messages which will resonate with its audience.

A must for fans of Children of Blood and Bone. Thanks to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for the arc. The Eternal Ones is out now.

What a great ending to a wonderful series! Love the authors style of writing I feel so immersed in the story.
The characters have grown so much over the series which was so good to witness. I just love how strong they all are physically and mentally!
The world building has got better and better with each book. The way the beginning was represented was just magical.
I loved everything about this book and series and I’m looking forward to re reading them all over again!

Book Review 📚
The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna 🫶🏻
4/5 ⭐

The Eternal ones is a beautifully captivating and imaginative story that blends in themes of reincarnation, love and destiny. Forna has a way of writing that draws a reader into a world where past lives intersect with the present challenges which has created a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

Deka’s journey throughout the book is compelling and filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Forna has manage to blend together both romance and mystery, with a supernatural element to it which has added intrigue to the plot. This was a brilliant read.

The best thing about the book was the character development. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, with a complexity of emotions. Forna’s writing style is descriptive which has helped to bring the characters and the setting to life. She has the ability to create such an immersive atmosphere which made it so easy to get lost in the book.

The story is strong, with enough suspense and intrigue along the way to keep readers invested. The Eternal ones is a beautifully crafted read and the writing is absolutely fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

Perfect end to a perfect trilogy!
I have thoroughly enjoyed Deka and her friends. Such fierce women I couldn’t help being completely obsessed with them and their journey
So well written amazing story!
All the stars

Perfect end to a series I absolutely loved every second of I have no notes this was just amazing and I will recommend this series until the day I die bc it's fun, action packed, heartbreaking at points I love it

The last series in a fantasy novel is the final push. Up that volcano; the big battle to fight or the amazing spell to cast. We the reader have trodden those miles with the cast and we now want the right ending. The outcomes should be just and the plots explained. It can set a high bar. I’ve loved Namina Forna’s first two books in The Gilded Ones trilogy and now get to read the conclusion in The Eternal Ones but while I am satisfied the various endings make sense I did feel that the story went a little too much for the straightforward option.

To recap Deka was once doomed to die as so many girls and young women did in her culture. She did though have a magical gift of not being able to die and so was recruited into an army known as The Gilded Ones to serve a patriarchal society. But Deka and her soldiers found that they were being used and rebelled. But then Deka found the Goddesses guiding them too also revelled in the destruction and death these acts created and Deka rebelled one further time. In this process Deka found out that the Gods and Goddesses of her world are actually part of the same being and indeed Deka has been sent to stop them. We left Deka and her team isolated and Deka in great physical pain after her last battle. The way forward is unclear.

Up to now I’ve found this trilogy inspiring and subversive. It tackled important subjects such as women being viewed a weak, cursed and property. It also explored the dangers of a society that is too binary and was not afraid to challenge views on gender and sexuality. All of that has been delivered with a big story, interesting characters and a fascinating weaving plot. On the one hand I’m impressed how much Forna was able to gather together and neatly resolve all the plot ends. Indeed this story goes even bigger as we find more gods, hidden dimensions and bigger magic. Deka is at the start at her weakest for quite some time and has to dig deep. The fates of all worlds now rely on her and her team. The stakes are high but sadly I didn’t really feel them.

So far I’ve found Deka telling us her story a compelling tale of someone finding herself and battling to decide the right answer. While didn't are some aspects explored - Deka’s initial weakness makes her cut herself off initially its very quickly solved. Indeed as the main plot for this book arrives a lot of things just conveniently happen. While they set up hard tasks you soon start to think it won’t be too long before a solution is found which tends to be the case. The problem with god like beings is they can be very godlike and that slightly reduces the tension. In addition although still mentioned the exploration of society and how women have been treated feels here a little subdued and not to the same level explored as in past books.

I’mvery glad to have read this trilogy and I’m very intrigued as to what Namina Forna has in store for us next but this trilogy feels to have ultimately not quite hit all its potential It’s a solid conclusion to a very interesting story but perhaps the most traditional of the three stories. Ultimately the journey has been more interesting than the very final destination. Recommended for fans of the series to date.

I adored this book and found it was a perfect continuation of the series. Deka was a really compelling protagonist and I loved her developing relationships with her friends, as well as seeing how the story progressed and her character grew more powerful. I would definitely recommend this series to everyone interested in fantasy, as this was a fantastic addition to the genre and I’d love to read lots more by this author!

A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and if you enjoyed the previous you’ll enjoy this one too! It’s a unique, really hearftfelt novel and i love the critique and different view on the traditional ‘burn the patriarchy’. Occasionally it falls victim to the YA issue of things happening a bit too conveniently, but overall still a good pacing throughout and a solid plot. The crafting of the world and characters was really well done, and fully immersive and accessible. Yes there moments of horror and incredibly dire situations, however there is also rays of hope throughout to keep you reading on.

The main characters and the side characters are both equally intriguing and fleshed out and i really wanted to know what would happen to them and i found I really cared about them, and there was some solid character development

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure how to feel about this book because it just didn't grip me. The ideas were good, the magic system and mythology interesting, but it was all written about in such a detached way that I didn't really care. Maybe if I'd read the first two books in the series, I would have been more invested, so I won't judge it too harshly on that account. If you liked the other books, you'll like this one. Don't be like me and start at the end.

I have read and enjoyed the previous books in this series.
I liked how the author gave a brief overview of events leading up to the start of book 3 before moving onto the main action.

There is a wonderful cast of characters and the action is never predictable as Deka now sets out the final part of her journey. Will she or will she not become eternal and, if she does,how will she reign and what will she do with those who have done everything they can to thwart her.

I enjoyed the book but my rating reflects that towards the end it just felt a bit drawn out. I am not an avid reader of Fantasy trilogies partly because of the sometimes protracted nature of their narratives. However this was definitely in the upper echelons of it's type

4.5 stars
I thought this book was a wonderful ending to the Deathless series. The themes of community, gender, power, and more were continually explored and deepened. I’ve come to realize that Namina Forna is an author whose writing I really connect with. We see Deka searching for her the part of her godhood that will save her, trying to unite the people around her, and deciding whether to give up her love and relationships to be reborn as a god. My only critique is that this book felt long at times, but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (and the series as a whole).

A power punch of a finish to this wonderful trilogy that will have readers on the edge of their seat right until the last page.

3.75 stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but was quite disappointed with the second so I was a little nervous to start this one but I ended up really enjoying it and it brought the series to a nice close.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review

Wow. You know it was a good book when you get to the end and are just left sitting there still savouring everything that happened, not yet ready to return to the real world.

Following the tumultuous events of The Merciless Ones (no spoilers here in case you haven’t read it yet), Deka and White Hands have split up in the quest to find Deka’s kelai the source of her divinity so that she can ascend as a God and slay the Oteran pantheon of gods who are so desperate to hold onto their power, they are bleeding Otera dry. Alongside the fierce fighting on the battlefields, Deka has her own internal struggle as she wrestles with the decision she must ultimately make. By becoming a god eternal , she saves the world but will lose her friends and her true love Keita.

This trilogy has been brilliantly crafted with this last book’s plot twisting and turning all the way through to a such a satisfying ending; it feels so complete. As you weave your way through, it is full of action without being rushed, has constant twists without being over complicated and one can identify fully with the characters, their feelings, what they must be suffering. Countless times I wondered how they would get out of a situation and was never disappointed. Namina’s imagination and writing are fantastic. This is truly a perfect ending to the Gilded Ones trilogy and I look forward to her next project.

Title: The Eternal Ones (Deathless #3)
Author: Namina Forna
Published: 13th February 2024
Genre: Fantasy
Age: YA

What’s it About?
The Eternal Ones is the third and final book in the Deathless trilogy by Namina Forna. This series follows 16-year-old Deka who lives in the patriarchal and oppressive land of Otera. When Deka underwent the Ritual of Purity at 16, she bled gold instead of red, making her an abomination in the eyes of her people. Since then, Deka has become a warrior along with other girls like her in a specially trained army, but she has also learned the truth about who she and the other girls who bled gold truly are. In this final book, Deka is on a mission to free her land and discover her true destiny.

Opinions:
Before I get to my opinions, I must thank the author and publisher for including a “The Story So Far…” section at the beginning of this book that recapped all the important plot points from the previous two books in just a couple of pages. When years go by between book releases it can be hard to remember where you’re up to - especially in books like this one with huge casts including dozens of characters - so having that little recap at the beginning was hugely helpful and something I hope to see more of going forward.

Obviously, reviewing books that come late in a series without discussing spoilers is always difficult, so I’ll have to be vague here. First of all, I ended up giving The Eternal Ones the lowest rating of the entire Deathless trilogy, even though I probably had the nicest time reading this one out of the three! The previous two books (The Gilded Ones and The Merciless Ones) were some of the most challenging books I’ve ever read, filled with horrific and graphic violence against women and girls. In book one, Deka herself is subject to horrendous violence and torture at the hands of men she trusted, family members included, and this sets the tone for everything going forward. Going into The Eternal Ones, I was expecting more of the same and while, yes, this was still an uncomfortable read at times, I was surprised at the lack of overt violence compared to the other two books which did make it a more pleasant read overall.

There are always girls like that, girls who believe so desperately that they'll get the lives they've been promised if only they sacrifice everything that they are. That's how those who have power retain it: by promising they'll share some of that power if a chosen number obey whatever commands they have been given.

That being said, it kind of also meant that the book lacked something that the others provided. The stakes here are naturally at their highest in the series, and yet I never got that impression while reading it. The characters lacked much of the urgency I felt they needed in their situation, and events unfolded with a lot of convenience to the point of plot contrivance with new characters quite literally emerging out of nowhere to offer help and provide answers and solutions. The final conflict never felt that it had the grandeur it deserved and Deka’s moment of destiny happened with so little fanfare that it did her and her story a disservice. Everything felt just a little bit too easy considering the hardships this group of characters have faced until now and the whole thing wrapped up with just a smidge too much forced “and they all lived happily ever after”.

Despite what might feel like a negative review, I honestly enjoyed The Eternal Ones and I’m thrilled to have reached the end of the series although I will miss many of the characters (Ixa and Britta in particular). I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for future books from Namina Forna and picking them up to see what she does next. Many thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rating: 3/5

Firstly I have to say how much I LOVED the recap at the start. Everyone needs to do this for books as part of a series where recall of earlier stories is needed, please!

The story picks up right where The Merciless Ones ends, with Deka and her companions on a mission to ultimately destroy the gods of Otera. All the favourite characters from the previous two books are back, and I did enjoy some of the moments between them. Despite this, I found the first half of the book to be slow going, but it picked up around halfway through for a strong conclusion to the series (and the epilogue even made me shed a tear or two).

Overall, an enjoyable read and a solid conclusion to a series I have thoroughly enjoyed.

4 stars

I honestly don't know how I feel about this series.

The first was amazing but the second was almost a dnf.

I'm just left wondering whether the second was even needed? this could have been the second with a little bit added.

this is a great finale though and I love the development of the characters. I feel I need to reread this though as I read this straight after the second which was a one star. it was bad.