This series has a lot of potential. It’s a little jumbled up, and some of the connections between characters are unclear. Similarly, the motives of the characters and the conflicts aren’t explicitly shared with the reader. The antagonist could be developed more. It’s a fun book, and I’ll read the sequels. Hopefully the story will become more streamlined.

Such a great job of world-building by Roshani Chokshi with these unusual characters and their strange powers. A great read for fans of Six of Crows.

I was given this book as an advanced reader copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is a YA novel set in Paris, 1889. It is not, however, a historical novel. It is a fast-paced fantasy novel about a group of tightly banded misfits. The world is full of magic, intrigue, deception, and powerful ruling families. This novel is a cross between The Last Magician and Six of Crows, but it is its own story.
I will preface by saying I had a hard time getting into this book because there were a lot of characters to keep track of, while also learning the rules of the world in which the book is set. That being said, the characters are endearing and have genuine depth. Chokshi has given us a diverse set of characters for which to root, and therefore I will forgive the confusion a large cast of characters caused in the beginning.
This is a heist story, mixed with magic and hierarchy, but at its heart it is a story of friendship. The characters are varied in personality and skillset, and they balance each other well. There is a love (lust?) story involved, which I think makes this more of an upper YA, but it is not over the top. I think it is just enough to lead us into the next book in the series.

Choshi engages in masterful world building that brings the reader into a Paris where magical families rule and their power is woven into everything from clothing to topiaries. Séverin and his ragtag bunch of compatriots plan, play, and steal together but they may have overplayed their hand when going up against the Order of Babel. YA readers will be enthralled with The Guilded Wolves and demanding more of their adventures.

I'm sorry, but this book just did not work for me. It ranges between being overwritten to having anachronistic contemporary slang, with the result that I never got a sense of what was supposed to be a rich, dark alternate Paris.

LOVED this book. I can't wait for it to come out so that I can recommend it to my students. I think it is a mix of Ocean's 11, James Bond, The DaVinci Code, and The Alchemyst series. The history, religion, and political lessons woven into the fantasy of this book is very intelligent. Students will love this fast-paced adventure.

I have read some of Chokshi’s work in the past and found this to be on par with her Star Touched Queen. The world building is intricate and detailed. The characters grow all the way from beginning to end. And the plot lines have a little bit of everything in them. This work is a great example of a fantastical world hiding within our reality. The idea is wonderful and had me excited to learn all I could about this under the surface society. Unfortunately for me, the writing was somewhat long winded and had me stopping quite often out of frustration over the excessive information. I liked the characters, but didn’t feel that I connected to any of them. I wish that I could have gotten more into this novel, but it just wasn’t for me, though I know there are many who will eat it up.

4.5 stars. This book is completely unlike Roshani Chokshi's previous books. It had a steampunk feel, with clever devices and stunning imagery. The characters' banter was snarky and fun. I am very much looking forward to the sequel, especially with themassive cliffhanger at the end of the book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

DNF at 19%. It feels like a blend of The Young Elites and Six of Crows. I was beginning to like this, despite the overuse of purple prose which makes the whole thing confusing and hard to get into. However, the inclusion of gay romance sealed the DNF-deal for me. This is a story with a lot of promise, but the violation of my faith makes it impossible for me to waste my time finishing it.

Late 1800s Paris. The L'eden hotel. A group of intelligent, eccentric, unique young people all work together on "acquisitions," aka thievery. When they stumble upon something that is connected to something much larger, and scarier, than they anticipated, they bring one more into their fold to find an ancient artifact with more secrets than they know the answers to.

I realize that this might not be the most popular opinion.... but I wasn't absolutely obsessed with it quite like other readers. The writing is superb, especially when discussing the emotions and turmoil of each of the characters. While I loved finding out about Zofia and Enrique and the relationship between Laila and Severin, I thought that the multiple character perspectives was just.. too much. I would have liked a focus on just 2 characters to go a little more in depth and feel connected.

I would definitely recommend this to other readers-- it's fantasy, treasure hunt, romance, friendship... It's worth a read :)

This will appeal a lot to fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Badurgo and for people who just like YA packed with magical elements, great characters and that historic vibe.

We’re introduced to Séverin, who believes he has cheated of his status as the heir of House of Vath, so he makes an unusual alliance with an old friend that he’s not sure he can trust. Séverin is the owner of a hotel and already has a group of partners, his friends, each one with a different ambition and goal, and they’re great in their own unique way..

This is all set in Paris 1889 and the aesthetic that it gives is amazing, with Secret Societies that hold a lot of power, elegant parties, glamour and heists/treasure hunts. All of this has a mystic catch to it, with magical elements related to alchemy, enigmas and puzzles. It also good in the representation aspects, with so many diverse characters, addressing racism, colorism etc.

Being a little bit more critic, I think some scenes and plot points were a bit confusing to me, I felt like the story wasn’t as easy to follow, but that might have been my own fault.

And even though I really liked the characters, to me their dynamic in the beginning felt off, kind of forced. From the start they were already a group and had their schemes (except for one character) so I think I would have liked to see more of how some of them met, what were their first impressions of one another, something that made me see more of their companionship and comradery. Towards the end of the book I felt like it gradually changed, though. By the end their dynamic was a lot more convincing, and it paved its way nicely for the next book, so I’m excited to read that.

Paris, 1889 - Severin has put together a group with a range of brilliant abilities, aiming to restore his place as head of a magical House. A historian, an artificer, a caberet performer who can read people and objects - all of them with interesting back stories which are gradually revealed and are vital to the major heist another head of House wants them to carry out. The world building is good, the characters are sympathetic, the betrayal was NOT the one I expected (there's always one in a heist) - it was a highly enjoyable combination of action and good writing which I raced through and want the next instalment already!

Several things which I liked about it in addition: the setting, it feels a little unusual to get a YA Book set in Paris and it made a nice change; the use of religious myth was sympathetic; the varying personalities of the main characters.

Magic, mathematics and mayhem. Heists, history and humor. Glamour, gore and a gardener’s pet gargantuan spider. Welcome to the world of “The Gilded Wolves.” Set in 1889 Paris, readers are swiftly enveloped into a high-action heist led by an “Ocean’s 11” type troupe teens. Each character is intoxicatingly enjoyable, and as an ensemble of friends, they each contribute talents and traits critical to the team’s success. In their pursuit of ancient artifacts, planning is paramount and death-defying dangers abound.

Readers will revel in Chokshi’s ability to seamlessly integrate a breadth of knowledge to construct a world that is superbly imaginative and brilliantly built. Alluring costume design and stunning architecture heighten story aesthetics. Enigmatic equations and expertly engineered gadgets add technical appeal. Kitchen concoctions, a performer’s perfumes, and chemical explosions intensify olfactory experiences. Meanwhile, allusions to mythology and religion intensify the depth of the story.

Roshani Chokshi’s writing acumen is astounding. She crafts polished prose, ignites multi-sensory imagery, and delivers dialogue that is deliciously dry, undeniably funny, and always true to character. “The Gilded Wolves” is truly a “14 carat” contribution to the fantasy canon. Guaranteed to enrapture YA and adult readers alike. Recommended for grades 9 and up. ~Lisa Brennan, Middle School Librarian @noveltalk _ARC via Netgalley

~~ I was provided with an ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~

Wow.
I haven't loved a book in a long time.

But this book, reminded me why I still love the YA genre. I loved the twists and turns, the nuances of the characters and the development of the plot wouldn't let me put The Gilded Wolves down. Chokshi's new work is a masterful tale of a clan of misfits looking for acceptance. I love the details explaining L'Eden, the Palais and the Houses. Severin, Laila, Sophia, Enrique, Tristan, Zofia and Hypnos are all complex characters that don't fall into the stereotypical mold. The plot was well developed and the twists and turns were spectacular. It was a joy to follow this story and the end has me craving book 2.

A beautiful beginning to a promising new series.

Roshani Chokski has the most lovely prose, I would probably read her books even if the plots were sub-par. But her plots are amazing as well! I'm a sucker for a storyline with some grit, and heist books are a favorite genre - here I got both, and during one of my favorite time periods, turn of the century. Lush, dark, descriptive and beautiful, it was easy to forget everything else and keep turning those pages.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Wow, what a great historical fantasy! Set in 1889 Paris (right before the famous Exposition Universalle), this story revolves around Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, a former noble who was stripped of his title and seeks revenge. Along with his friends--Laila, a baker with an interesting past and hidden identity; Zofia, a Forger with an affinity for explosions and mathematics; Enrique, a historian looking to find his place in the world; and Tristan, a plant Forger with a big tarantula and an even bigger heart--the crew must work together on yet another "acquisition" after being tricked by another noble.

I loved the magic within this book! It was very glamorous without being over-the-top. While I did find the math-related parts to be hard to understand, I'm chalking that up to my repulsion to the subject itself. This felt like a fun, historical take on Six of Crows with some Moulin Rouge thrown in for good measure. This will definitely be a bestseller!

Fans of Roshani Chokshi will be glad to learn she's taken her ornate style and detailed world-building to yet another arena -- a fictional magic-infused steampunk-esque post-revolutionary France. The trope of a marginalized group of young people fighting to correct the wrongs the world has wrought against them isn't new for YA, but Chokshi's universe is unique enough to render her story nonetheless compelling. While it isn't my favorite work of Chokshi's, I strongly suspect it will be the favorite of many others. There's something almost Firefly/Serenity-like about the series that should appear to a broad segment of the SciFi and Fantasy readership.

A lush, decadent, adventure story! Oh, Roshani Chokshi, how I want to live completely in your world! This is a story that I didn’t know I needed. 20th century France, magic, adventure, heist. The first in a series that I will be anxiously waiting to devour.

The Gilded Wolves will leave you breathless. Roshani's exquisite descriptions of the late 1800's reimagined with a modern twist set the tone for this fantasy quest. There were once four leading houses, but circumstances have now left only two in power. Severin, the lead character, hopes to change that. All he needs to do is find a way to secure his right as the heir to one of the leading houses with the help of his friends, an unexpected alliance, and the magic of forging. The journey is told from the alternating viewpoints of each team member and speeds toward an unexpected conclusion that will leave you wanting so much more.

Amazing! ! Thanks Netgalley for this arc! Epic fantasy? Check! Plotting for revenge? Check! Simmering romance? Check! There have been comparisons to Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and this is well warranted. The comparison favors both highly talented writers and their books. I I will say that while Bardugo's Six of Crows crew is clearly of Slytherin House (for you Harry Potter fans out there), it's safe to say that Chokshi's crew is of Ravenclaw. I love, love, love the riddle solving and quirkiness of the characters. Each point of view character was equally interesting and I'm excited to see where this all leads.