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.

What a brilliant ending to the trilogy!

Firstly, thank you to Namina Forna for including a series recap at the beginning of the book - super useful before diving straight back into the action!

This book is SO fast-paced: we jump straight into the action with Deka and friends regrouping and embarking on their biggest adventure yet, to locate Deka’s divinity and bring peace to Otera. Of course, this isn’t as simple as I make it sound and there are plenty of challenges along the way.

I love the strong message in this trilogy that women can be whoever and whatever they want to be. The overarching theme is completely empowering and kept me rooting for Deka throughout all three books.

My favourite thing about the books is the characters. Not only do I adore Deka as our protagonist but her loyal friendships are a true reflection of found family. Ixa is the best companion for Deka and I particularly enjoyed learning more about him and his kind.

Overall a brilliant ending to the trilogy, I couldn’t put it down and loved how it ended!

Thank you to Usborne, Namina Forna and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

The Gilded fantasy series was an excellent one and this is the great conclusion of this series. Gripping and fascinating.
A very satisfying last novel
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

First of all thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This action packed conclusion to this trilogy did not disappoint and was fitting to the story.

Forna developed the world-building that they had started in the previous two books fantastically. It all fit with the history and the magic mechanics that they had created.

While a lot happens, the book continues to focuse on Deka and because of the first person POV we learn as she does. This book got quite emotional in places.

The development of all the characters was very well done and in line with who they have been throughout. The inclusiveness and acceptance from the characters within this book continues to be seamlessly woven in.
Ixa is and will forever be, my favourite character.

I really enjoyed this book and this trilogy as a whole and would recommend giving it a read.

With The Eternal Ones, Forna brings this epic YA trilogy to a close in bombastic style.

This has excellent world-building, characterisation and even more twists. However, at its core, this has always been Deka’s story and she remains fully in focus. This entire trilogy has been fascinating to witness as she grew and evolved into her full power. It is very much centred around destiny, fate and being comfortable within yourself. You are more than your prescribed role and there are infinite possibilities for you, waiting just beyond reach. Deka’s journey exemplifies that in an empowering message and this is particularly important for young Black girls who get to see a brilliant, brave, vulnerable and complex heroine who looks like them stand proud on the covers. This trilogy is blazing trails in so many ways, but also sits happily in the growing shelves of Black excellence within YA literature. Long may it continue.

The world building in this book was absolutely fantastic. That has been a real strength of this trilogy, going from level to level of excellent worldbuilding. From mythologies, landscapes and cultures to individualised detail of a sprawling world, Forna has had it down pat. Without giving anything away, we encounter some of my favourite parts of the series here. We learn so much more about this world and its inhabitants, which adds new depth to previous events and also just sticks in my brain as powerful and beautifully crafted imagery. Forna’s writing is so incredibly immersive and her characterisation soars. There is a throughline about grief that really stuck with me. This is both bereavement for lost loved ones but also a grief for the person you used to be. It is profound and heart-breaking as it is stunning and strengthening. As I have come to expect from this series, there are also some jaw-dropping twists in store. Every action has consequences and these are some far reaching ones indeed. The way the entire trilogy fits together by the end is just fantastic.

The Eternal Ones brings an amazing YA fantasy trilogy to a close in truly fantastic fashion.

(Minor spoilers if you’ve not read the other two! I’ve tried to keep it as spoiler free as possible so hopefully there’s not too much if you plan to start the series..)

In this final book of the trilogy, Deka and her friends are finding what it means to help Deka fulfil her destiny, whether it’s one she chose or not.

Wow what an ending to this trilogy! I finished the first book back in June 2021 and I can honestly say that Deka has stayed with me this whole time.

If you’ve followed me for a while then you’ll know I absolutely adore this series. We have incredible young women fighting for what’s right in a patriarchal world set on keeping them quiet and under control. Friends have stuck by her side from beginning and their bonds only strengthen as we continue their journey.

The Eternal Ones is no different in this aspect. Deka faces more hardships and disappointments as she finishes her quest. She’s grown so much through the books but she’s still a young woman, she still is learning how to cope with all that’s thrown at her and honestly I love that about her. She’s still a bit messy and can’t believe how unfair it is sometimes, but she’s also fiercely loyal to her friends and refuses to give up.

This was a fitting end to a woman who will go down in fictional history in my eyes. I sobbed my way through the last 40 or so pages. I know I’m going to miss them all.

If you’re a YA fantasy fan I cannot recommend this series enough. Please do yourself a favour and pick it up this year.

I was extremely excited to read the final instalment in this series and very pleased to have been granted early access to this title!

I really loved the first two books in this series and unfortunately I felt that I didn’t love this one as much. I still enjoyed it, but some parts felt quite confusing at times to remember who was who and to visualise all of the fantasy elements.

I liked Deka’s character development and the role of Ixa in this story. I also appreciated that the romance aspect was slowed down, and the characters realised that they did not need to rush their relationship. Overall, I feel like it was a good conclusion to the series and look forward to more titles from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Usborne and Namina Forna for early access to this title.

I started this trilogy reading in the sunshine in 2021, and have just finished this the third book (now 2024). You don’t need to wait patiently, as I did, for the next publication date to read the next instalment. My advice is to start at the beginning if you are new to Deka and her story. You will have lots of entertaining reading ahead. If you’ve read the first two books then you are in for another treat. This third book was a joy to read. The pan-African set story once more sees Deka, along with her friends, continuing to fight the Gods in a race to save the world. Lots of interesting creatures and characters again pepper the story, some beautiful and helpful, others not so. Then there are the self-serving tribal priests, probably the worst of the lot. The author brings this series to an exciting conclusion. Thank you to Usborne Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.