This book was an absolute delight to read. I likened it to a rich, decadent chocolate with layers of mousse, caramel, nuts, nougat, and rich chocolate—the result being a melt in your mouth novel that you absolutely have to revel in. As always, Chokshi is a brilliant storyteller, weaving plot elements into character development and creating characters whose friendships you adore. Heartbreaking and heartbreakingly good, I couldn’t put this book down.

This book is a mix of The DaVinci code, Six of crows and Indiana Jones and incredibly, it works!
It is an amazing story about a group of outcasts who join to achieve their objectives, and they strategize together with their different powers to get what they deserve!
The twists and turns of this book made me want to read more and more, and I picked the book every time I had some free minutes just to see where the story was going.
Theres a lot of action, friendship, even love. The politics and history of this book is great, I think teres a lot of room for many many books on this world and I will read them all.
I will tottally recomment this book to everybody, its a fantasy that I think all will enjoy because there´s a bit for everybody´s taste.

Thank you net galley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting mix of fantasy and reality.
The story was exciting, suspenseful and dramatic. Having never read this author before, I was pleasantly surprised.

This book is an DNF for me. The cover and synopsis are promising and the plot is unique but the characters and premise were not engaging and immersive enough to keep my attention.

I am a huge fan of everything that Roshani Chokshi writes and this novel definitely did not disappoint! Chokshi has created an amazing mythology here that weaves in with history and with Paris at the turn of the century. Her writing was beautiful and spectacular, full of sentences and paragraphs that made me feel as if I, too, were really there with the characters as they walked the streets of Paris, danced at lavish parties, or baked in the kitchen of a grand hotel. I always found myself re-reading parts of the book because they were too beautifully written to enjoy only once.

My favorite part about this book, however, were the characters. Chokshi brings all six of the central characters to life effortlessly. I legitimately cared for each and every one of them. Even though the chapters shift perspective (while still staying in third person), I was never upset when one chapter ended to focus on another character. I loved each and every single one of them. For me, the two stand-out characters were definitely Lalia and Zofia, two very different, very dynamic women who have their own entrancing backstories. All the characters have wonderful, detailed, legitimately interesting backstories that make you root for them to succeed and also make you grow to love them more and more with each page. Romance is something I can honestly take or leave in a novel, but I was hooked on the very interesting, delicate dynamic between two of the main characters.

Honestly every page of this book was wonderful. Except the end, but only because of that cliffhanger! This is a great book for fans of Six of Crows or The Young Elites and is definitely a page tuner. Another wonderful book but Roshani Chokshi...I don't know how she manages to have so many awesome series going on at once!

I enjoyed this book a lot! I did find some elements of the plot confusing. It was clear that Roshani Chokshi knows her world and her heist/puzzles well, but I felt like sometimes I needed a little more hand-holding. Particularly when we switched character POVs--which was occasionally disorienting. However, I was happily willing to forgive a little confusion here and there because it was such a fun adventure, and I loved all the characters, and loved how they interacted with each other. Witty, clever, treasure-hunting fun!

Wow! Just wow! I have read one of Roshani Chokshi's novels and I knew I wanted to read this one! What a pleasure it was to sit down and soak up all this book had to offer. History... check! Ancient secrets... check! Treasure hunters... check! Paris... check! Oh my goodness I cannot even express how much I loved this book and the storyline. I am so thankful that there is a second one planned.

DNF.

I wanted to love this one--but I just can't get past the blatant misuse of Scripture that the whole story is based on. The story even goes so far as to misquote Scripture, adding to it without any sort of disclaimer or note about it being fictional (even with one, I'm still not okay with them twisting God's Word). I won't be finishing this one because of that.

Roshani Chokshi continues to impress me with her effortless skill and crafting marvelous stories and endearing characters. A lot of young adult fantasy/heist books have been lauded as the next Six of Crows, and so far I’ve been disappointment by the ones I’ve read. And while I’m hesitant to compare The Gilded Wolves to it – they are each their own completely unique story – I truly believe that fans of Six of Crows are going to be as enamored by The Gilded Wolves as I was.

The world created here can only be described as opulent and magical. Roshani has written such a unique story full of dark magic, thrilling adventures, and a diverse cast of compelling characters. From the mysteries and secrets, to the heists and plot twists, there is a lot of good stuff going on in this book. One of my favorite aspects was the interactions between the characters. There are a lot of different dynamics to love and each was written so beautifully and believably.

And speaking of character dynamics, I love everything going on with the romances. We have one romance which is essentially mutual pining and angst, and it’s like Roshani has read all of my previous reviews of books and wrote this specifically for me. I’m also totally on board for the love triangle Enrique has going on, and although I’m already trash for one of the possibilities, I’m also a big fan of the other possibility as well.

Basically, this book is amazing and should totally be on your TBR if it isn’t already. I highly recommend this for fans of Roshani Chokshi’s other works or those who love Six of Crows. The Gilded Wolves is a thrilling book full of heists, loyal friends, and magic. The ending crushed my soul and I have no idea what I’m going to do while I wait for the next book in the series.

The Gilded Wolves is beautifully written and really smart. There are parts of this book that read like dessert. It has so much going for it. I quite enjoyed the religious and mathematical references! (I love phi!).

You know the characters are good when you can't pick your favorite one because there are so many things that you like about them! Not only are they are diverse, but there is something to like about each one of them. Laila was created out of magic and has magical abilities. Séverin's flashbacks are really awesome and they were intertwined with seven deadly sins. Zofia's mathematical mind and awkwardness draw you in. Then there's Tristan who would do anything for Séverin.

With everything that this book has going for it, it was not always easy to understand, but I am definitely going to be reading the next book.

It was fun, it was fascinating, and I really want to explore more of this unique, complex world. The concepts were all delightful and used cleverly, with a comedic and interesting cast. I think it was also pretty admirable of the author to show this gorgeous world and also emphasize that in reality, the 1800's were a very dark time for many people. I'll be back for book 2!

I'll preface this review by addressing the giant literary elephant in the room. Yes, the comparisons to A Six of Crows are legitimate and at times startling. However, there is a huge difference between the two books. A Six of Crows is leagues ahead of this book in the enjoyment factor. Now that that's out of the way, I'm going to review this book on it's own merits with no further comparisons to other books.

This story is said to be set in Paris in 1889, however, the world conjured up by the author certainly does not lend to a feeling of times past. Actually, I got futuristic vibes if anything. That critique aside, the scenes as described by the author are vivid and easily summoned up in the imagination of the reader

There are six characters in this story, none of which I found terribly engaging, nor did I feel like I really got a sense of who they were. While told in alternating chapters between these players, I often forgot which POV I was reading because nobody seemed to have their own unique voice.

This story movies fast, too fast in my opinion. The story surrounding this world left me feeling like this was the second book in a series and I never read the first installment.

I found myself confused most of the time. I needed more clarity involving the mythology in this story. I kept having to go back and re-read pages desperately trying to figure out what was what. I finally got to the point where I just didn't care anymore.

The cover is no doubt gorgeous but the title is a mystery to me. There was mention of some characters wearing wolf masks but, unless I missed it, it was never explained why they wore them.

I would classify this book as a fantasy adventure that is surely to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. As for me, not so much.

2 Stars ⭐⭐ for the impressive prose.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the advance reader copy The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi in exchange for an honest review. From the first page, Roshani Chokshi held me captive with her drama and taut suspense as she worthily worldbuilds France in 1889 as well as the science, math, magic, and mythology in this sweeping tale of chasing one’s birthright, stealing treasures, and keeping close to those you love/work with. Not only is the plot full of intrigue, tension, and drama, the characters are strong and believable. I could not stop turning the pages. Severin, Tristan, Laila, Enrique, and Sofia work well together with their different abilities but they also have secrets too ---I am not a fan of Hypnos and think there is more we will learn about him. Toward the end, I was put off by Severin in his treatment (separately) of Tristan and Laila. I was not fond of the ending either and that said, the readers deserve MORE redemption, closure, hope, and happiness and less horror, heartbreak, and evil in Book 2, please.

I enjoyed this and thought that the characters were really interesting! I also liked the world-building and I'm excited to read more from this author.

I was rather torn by this new YA fantasy series; I loved the set of friends who direct and inhabit the story, but found the plot itself a bit confusing. Set in 19th century Paris, this Paris shows the clash between the established families that have all the money, power, and magic, and the ones that don't. The leader of the gang, Severin, runs a beautiful old hotel but is haunted by the disinheritance of years ago, relegating him to a back seat in the power circle. His gang of thieves who help him recover 'artifacts,' are a creative group: the mathematical genius with social issues; the gentle soul who knows everything there is about plants and keeps a pet tarantula; the once-dead Indian femme fatale; the history buff and gifted symbologist who helps get them all out of tight jams; and the arrogant but needy heir from the power brokers. Incredible character development, but put into a plot line that has to do with stealing stolen objects, unrequited love, mysterious bad guys, that ultimately left me a bit unclear as to what was really going on. Perhaps I read too late at night, or perhaps my brain was more muddled than it should be but I needed a bit more clarity on this one. I'm hoping book two will clear some things up for me.

I love how Severin and his team work together to achieve their own goals. In the world of Forging, The Order of Babel have certain rules about artefacts with magical- like properties. As Severin gets closer to his own goal, what would be at the end of the line?
The Gilded Wolves is chilling, thrilling and down right magical, I am totally in love with the setting and the characters. The mystery keeps me hooked, while the beauty of France/ Paris is just perfect for the historical story.

A world building that is majestic and fantastical. The magic system complex and almost incomprehensible. A Six of Crows but set back in time. This series has everything except book two. The ending is quite the falling off point and it really is what people call a cliff hanger.
I enjoyed the misfits and the magic but it did get to be a bit long for me. I would have also enjoyed a bit more resolution that didn't leave you hanging so much.
A perfect read for fans of fantasy friendships, rogues, and heists.

"The Gilded Wolves" is a fantastic YA fantasy. Although given a year in the 1800s and a historical setting, the world is completely different and did not feel like a historical fiction to me (I'm not always a historical fiction fan so this was preferred). I would definitely label this as a fantasy vs. historical in terms of genre. Anyway, I absolutely loved it. We follow a group of young people who are led by Severin, the heir of House Vanth. Although he is the financial heir, he has been unable to claim his birthright (embodied by the House ring)- he believes that the results were falsified because of the color of his skin. This birthright would have placed him as one of the leading houses of the Order of Babel.

"Half of winning, my dear wallet, is simply looking victorious."

The Order of Babel safeguards the location of the Babel Fragments, which were scattered throughout the world after the failure of the Tower of Babel. These led to certain individuals developing powers in a certain skill, which is called Forging. Severin has assembled such a group of individuals with these gifts who are bound by their contracts/promises (in a magical type of way) and by the fact that they have become a family. They work together to steal specific artifacts which they believe will further their causes- to seek hidden treasures.

"Is it our shame that we're hiding or our delusions that we can hide at all?"

We follow the book from various points-of-view. Although Severin is probably the main figure, we also follow Laila quite a bit. She is known as L'Enigme, who performs for crowds and is rumored to have slept with many wealthy and influential people. She came from India in search of a specific book and has a long scar down her back which represents her biggest secrets. There are also Enrique and Zofia, who work on Forging specific items with a host of skills. Enrique is personable and has a big personality, while Zofia must decode human interactions and act according to what she has learned (I suspect she is on the autistic spectrum). Zofia is mathematical and loves to use explosives/fire. The last of the group is Tristan who adores his spiders and spends a lot of time in his greenhouses, forging. He grew up with Severin and they are essentially brothers (though not through blood). We get glimpses of the horrors of their upbringing with their foster fathers labeled according to which of the 7 deadly sins they most embodied.

"I think the greatest power is belief, for what is a god without it?"

The group is soon joined by Hypnos, the young heir of House Nyx and also a POC, who strikes a bargain to restore Severin's birthright/ring in exchange for his group's help to locate and obtain an artifact. Hypnos was delightful with many jokes and much hopefulness (for instance when he asks Zofia if they are/can be friends, she asks what it would entail and he replies "Well, on Wednesdays, we sacrifice a cat to Satan."). I absolutely loved his addition to this lovely group of people. As they begin this quest, they find they have stumbled upon something bigger and more dangerous than they could have imagined. And what a journey it is- magic, villains, and traps at every turn!

"Lust is safer than love, but both can ruin you."

This book absolutely captured me from the beginning, and I loved every second of it. The characters were amazing and so diverse, with different ethnicities and sexual orientations. They are all completely endeared to my heart, as Chokshi made us care about all of them (which seems hard to do with so many but I adore them all). There was also a touch of romance between a few of the characters, and it just felt like icing on the cake. I was completely enamored of this world, the writing, and the cast, and I absolutely need the next book in this series stat! While it wasn't a complete cliffhanger (the main part of this book was wrapped up), the overall story continues into the next book, so you will be left wanting the next. Lovers of YA fantasy will not be disappointed- this is an amazing new series, and I am absolutely gushing over how much I loved it!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I don't try to hide the fact that I am a huge, huge fan of Roshani Chokshi's work. I have loved the Star-Touched series so deeply, so when I had the chance to grab an ARC of her newest fantasy, I did not hesitate to dive right into it. It did not disappoint me in the least.

Set in 1800s Paris, The Gilded Wolves is the perfect mix of action, suspense, character-building, plot, magic and romance - all the things that make for a near perfect young-adult fantasy book. The story follows Séverin and his group of friends on a bit of a hunt to not only change their lives but the lives of everyone in the world they live in. Without spoiling anything about the plot - seeing as there is suspense involved and I want every reader to experience it for themselves - I will say that Chokshi really had me on the edge of my seat (or rather the edge of my bed at 2 in the morning as I scarfed down this book as fast as I possibly could). 

The only thing that could make a magical action story in a period setting better is, you guessed it, the found-family trope. Chokshi executes this perfectly, as well. We have an incredibly diverse cast of characters (which is so lovely and so necessary to see, especially in a period story in Europe) whom Séverin has brought together to become a part of his team - and they work so well.

As an avid young-adult reader and an Indian, I've become so used to not being able to see characters like myself in Europe-centric fantasy settings (and always hearing the tired and factually incorrect defence from white authors and readers that older Europe did not have POC). Chokshi bringing POC to life in front of my eyes in 1800s Paris (a diverse and intersectional group, at that) was so genuinely heartwarming. It was bold in its approach without stripping the realistic element of having POC in Europe at a time like that (i.e the sexism and/or racism they would inevitably face).  The book is such a fresh take on what one would assume is otherwise a fairly cliche setting - but Chokshi keeps it relevant, and very inclusive. 

I think it was impossible for me to not fall in love with each and every character Chokshi has created in this book because they each have such a unique personality and story. Combined with Chokshi's fantastic(al) prose (which has always been one of the main selling points of her books, for me), it was taking all my effort to not adopt these kids myself and protect them in every way I can. 

Chokshi has a way of making you reach out your hand with curiosity and then tugging you head-first into a whirlwind you'll want to keep experiencing forever. The Gilded Wolves journey is just as turbulent, and in the best way ever. There is not lull or resting point because she keeps giving us more - whether that's with backstories that would make your jaw unhinge, plot twists that will have you pinching yourself, or emotional scenes that will tug at your heartstrings.

If you're a fan of Chokshi's work already, I can't imagine you not liking this new series. Although drastically different from The Star-Touched Queen , A Crown of Wishes, and Star-Touched Stories, in its own right, The Gilded Wolves is a thrilling opening to a brand new world that one cannot wait to become a part of. The book is a recipe for a new fantasy fave and I urge everyone to grab their copy when it hits the shelves in 2019. You will not regret it.

There was nothing on Net Galley from whence this came, nor appended to the novel itself to indicate this was volume one in a series. Had there been, I wouldn't have request it. I'm not a series person because I don't buy into the popular idea that the only thing better than one novel is three novels all telling the same bloated story. Publishers buy into it because it makes them money and it's getting to the point these days where it seems that you can't sell a novel - particularly if it's a young adult novel - to a publisher unless you can promise them a tree-slaughtering trilogy. This is why I personally have no truck with Big Publishing™ in terms of selling my own work.

I read this authors A Crown of Wishes over a year ago and had the same problem with that that I ended up having with this - a strong start followed by a slow decline into boredom as the story rambled on too long instead of staying on topic and getting to the point. If I'd known that Kirkus had reviewed this positively, it would have saved me some time. They never met a book they didn't like so their reviews are meaningless. Any time I see them gush about a book, I avoid that book like the plague on principle.

Set in 1889 Paris in an alternative universe where magic exists, and only two of the original four powerful magical houses of France remain, the novel follows the story of wannabe house leader Séverin Montagnet-Alarie and his ragtag band consisting of renowned stage performer Laila, artificer and socially-inept Sofia, botanist Tristan, and pretty boy, the Latin Enrique.

The group are thieves, and Séverin seems to think this will lead him back to greatness, especially when he's approached by Hypnos, an alienated childhood friend, and the enigmatic leader of one of the two remaining houses, who offers Séverin a way back to heading his own house for his help in acquiring something for Hypnos. This kind of story has been done before, but here it was given a glaze of bright paint that was fresh enough to initially render it quite appealing, but the more I read, the more translucent that glaze became, and the underlying mess bled through.

I was truly disappointed, but not altogether surprised, therefore by the ending which wasn't an ending. It was dissipated and rambling all over the place when it should have long before come to a satisfactory conclusion. It never did because this wasn't a novel - it was a book-length prologue and I don't do prologues. It never explained the title, either - or if it did, it went by so fast that I missed it. Yes, the crew wore wolf masks on occasion, but why? I have no idea!

I was truly disappointed in the author, and felt robbed of a good story by her. What we got in place of an ending was a cliffhanger, so this and the rambling story-telling turned the whole book around for me in a very negative way. While I'd liked the beginning, the book was way too wordy and draggy and started losing me in the second half, and that ending was the last straw. This is why I don't like to invest my time I reading long novels! This was nearly four hundred pages and only about half of it was worth the reading. The only thing it was missing was a good editor. I cannot commend it as a worthy read.