GLAMOUR AND GUILE IN ROSHANI CHOKSHI’S NEWEST FEAT “THE GILDED WOLVES”

The Gilded Wolves is Roshani Chokshi’s newest fantasy young adult book that will surely resonate with young people looking for an action-packed plot, seductive characters, and an atmosphere brimming with magic and wonder. “Arrête, c’est ici l’empire de la mort. Stop. This the empire of death.”

Set against the backdrop of the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889, The Gilded Wolves tells the story of young hotelier Séverin who has been robbed of his rightful inheritance: being the Patriarch of House Vanth. In this alternative setting, people with the power of Forging (a mix of science and magic to bring forth stunning creations), live by the rules of the Order of Babel, an organisation that protects the remaining Babel Fragments from which their power springs. They are said to be remnants of the Tower of Babel and therefore hold God’s power of creation. The French faction of this Order used to have four houses. House Vanth’s line supposedly died out and one House fell. Through a chain of events set into motion by the theft of a mythical artifact by Séverin and his band of misfits, their venture through the cabarets, hotels, and catacombs of Paris starts. Their aim: restore what is truly theirs and settle some scores along the way. But they are going to need much cunning if they want to pull this one off…

The Gilded Wolves is an entertaining read for those who enjoyed Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, although it might not hold the same appeal and story-telling power. On the plus side, there are intriguing characters with ominous pasts and hidden agendas, a unique kind of magic that reflects the world on the cusp of the modern age, and most importantly the atmosphere that just screams “glamorous, seductive Paris” from every page.

“The Palace of Dreams. It was designed like a jewel box. On the roof, beams of lights pirouetted into the sky. The Palais’ stone facade was Forged with an illusion of dusk-touched clouds, purple bellied and dream-swollen as they skimmed across balconies. No matter how many times Laila saw the Palais, she always felt transformed. As if right then her lungs drew in not air, but the very night sky. Stars fizzed through her veins. The alchemy of the Palais’ music and illusions reshaping her from dancer to dream.”
While the book managed to shine in these areas, it fell short of a consistent narrative. First, I really had a hard time getting into the story. I’m not sure if I was too distracted, but the whole plot felt too convoluted to make much sense. Although this treasure hunt through 19th-century fantasy Paris shouldn’t have been too difficult to follow, I often struggled with the details and asked myself how one action led to the next, how they were connected, why the characters suddenly decided to follow a certain course of action, or how Forging actually works. Overall, I felt confused by some obvious plot holes. Moreover, it reminded me too much of Six of Crows concerning the whole setup of semi-criminals attempting a heist with the help of a little magic. Also, it felt too forced for my taste. Instead of an exciting and coherent plot, it ended up being somewhat blotchy. The language, albeit beautiful in many parts, sometimes resulted in the repetition of some awkward metaphors far overstepping the lines of kitsch. Even the relationships felt too contrived at the beginning. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that the author was trying too hard to create comradery between the characters when it wasn’t really there. Only towards the end did the dynamic between them become more relatable and captivating. A compelling twist at the end thoroughly made up for the lackluster development in the character and relationship department that marked the first two-thirds of this book, and I totally fell for the characters. The ending also paved the way for a sequel, which I’ll have to read if I ever want to find out if Séverin will finally triumph and if the rest of his party will find each other on their road to redemption. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I have read all this somewhere else.

The book has its strong moments and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for action, fantasy, trickery, and a little romance. It’s actually quite gripping if you don’t question the intricacies of the plot too much and are just in for the sensual ride. Or enjoy beautiful book covers 😍

“Everywhere he looked, he was surrounded by gilded wolves. And for whatever reason, it made him feel perfectly at home. Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war. Not that Séverin was complaining. It was just that, like other wolves, he wanted his share.”

This book is a historical heist novel set within a world where magic works. This really does work for it though. Paris, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie has been deprived of his inheritance through the scheming of various relatives. He grows up being shuttled through various living situations. He grows up to become a bit of a rogue. He makes a family out of his friends. When he gets the opportunity to recover his lost home there is a job he has to do and a very important decision to make. Can Séverin and his friends pull off this job? Will they all survive to reap the rewards of their hard work? Can they manage against magic and society? The Gilded Wolves is a interesting ride, filled with magic and mystery.

Love! Just absolute unconditional love! I have enjoyed everything Chokshi has written, and The Gilded Wolves continues that trend. Do you want characters who are complex, well-developed, three-dimensional, and who represent a diverse community? This book has it. Do you want detailed world-building? This book has it. Do you want a heist that is complex and will keep you on your toes? This book has it.

This is one of those books you finish and then scream because you don't want to wait over a year to find out what happens next. Read it, like, yesterday!

As a high school librarian, this novel was very appealing to me because it combined history, engineering, science, archaeology (artifacts), math and magic. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy magical fantasy with a tinge of history and realistic problem solving.

The novel is set in Paris in 1889 and the Exposition Universelle dredged up ancient secrets for the secret Houses of Order of Babel in the city. The Order of Babel, seeks Severin out for help and he is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. Severin has assembled a team of his closest allies to assist him in finding the artifact that the Order desires.
Zofia, an inventive engineer with a debt to pay. Enrique is the historian who adds depth to their adventures with his knowledge . A dancer with a sinister past. Severin also has a brother in all but blood.

Together, they used their engineering, historical knowledge and quick thinking to solve the mysteries required to obtain the artifact all with great risk to their lives. This novel is suspenseful and full of adventure. It did remind me of a classic heist story with a cool team of characters to keep the story moving.

Young adults, all with special powers and with issues, up against evil forces. They aren’t sure who to trust. There are puzzles to solve, most of which relate to well-known mathematical concepts. Not a bad read, but not particularly original.

Thanks, NetGalley, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Gilded Wolves was a lush and sumptuous masterpiece, perfect for fans of Six of Crows, A Darker Shade of Magic, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. Roshani Chokshi could probably write a grocery list and I would read it.

If the idea of reading a story about a diverse cast of characters planning a heist in a fantasy version of Gilded Age Paris appeals to you, then this is your book. "The Gilded Wolves" sets up a new series where the glitz and glamor (and danger) of 1890s Paris is complicated by the existence of a talent called Forging--the ability to create and enhance objects through magic. In this setting we are introduced to Severin, a former heir to one of the great noble houses who has had his family name stripped from him following the death of his parents. In the time since that life changing decision he has assembled a new family, a group of talented young men and women who all come burdened with their own secrets. The action kicks in when Severin and his crew are hired (or blackmailed) into stealing a dangerous and highly coveted artifact.

The planning and execution of the main heist is great fun, and gives each character a chance to shine. It's a really nice way to introduce all of the characters and set them up for future adventures. In the end this book introduces some great new characters and an intriguing alternate history setting.

(my one major annoyance with this book, and it's the reason I would give it 3.5 stars, is more of a personal thing then an issue with the book itself. I'm kind of tired of reading about brooding heroes, and couples who are in love but aren't together because of stupid reasons like an inability to actually communicate with one another.)

This was a very different book to the type I usually read and I loved it. Full of myth and fantasy it took me to another world. If you liked six of crows you’ll love this.
I Highly recommend.

Fantasy, adventure, good friends, and evil factions...be still my beating heart! Diversity is seamlessly woven into this tale where the importance of heists to regain magically forged items mean more than just redemption.

Original and exciting! Fans of Six of Crows or Lies of Locke Lamora will find a book they love in this one. Anyone who enjoys books about loyalty, heists, myth, and brooding MCs will not be able to put this down.

Roshani Chokshi delivers a fun-filled caper that transports readers to Paris in 1899 on the verge of a new century and right before the debut of the Eiffel Tower, While at times the smiliarities to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology can seem a bit too much (a charismatic leader who assembles a team to perform a series of heists, a ragtag group where each individual has their own strengths, conflicted relationships and mysterious back stories, and magical abilities (called Forging in the book) that somewhat align with natural elements), I take it more as a homage. Plus we can’t get a new. Bardugo book every year so why not get something else fun while we wait? One thing I loved was the diversity (in almost all areas you can think of) that are simply part of making more well rounded characters that reflect the real diversity of people, as opposed o being a a plot point of a book. I loved the descriptions of Paris - the author does a great job of making the city come alive. The plot can get a bit convoluted at times but am hoping that subsequent books help clear that up. The one area i found lacking was the description of forging and how to worked It kind of just seemed to be a literary device to make cool things happen. Again hopefully this is a better developed in the future. And I would love to see if the author trades locations for the sequels. She has set the story up in a way that locales such as India, the Phillipines, Or Russia could be explored.

This book was wonderful! It was lush and gorgeous with plot twists to keep you on your toes! It was dark and yet kept you entranced. Great read, very enjoyable, and so exciting!!

Talk about plot twists! First of all the Cover is GORGEOUS. I hope the cover stays as is. I love reading setting in the 1800s, there is so much to adapt in a story and this was the perfect example of it. Magic, action, drama, just all of it.

SIX OF CROWS by way of THE LAST MAGICIAN, Roshani Chokshi's THE GILDED WOLVES is a decadent romp in 19th century Paris full of magic, adventure, and plenty of delight along the way. If, like me, you were on the fence about Chokshi's previous YA novels and hesitate in picking this one up, I'm here to tell you that you would be doing yourself a disfavor by skipping it. Imagination and wonder seeps through every lush page. You'll be hard-pressed to not immediately fall in love with this distinctive and diverse crew of characters that are flawed yet instantly root-able. You'll laugh at the banter, swoon at the romance, and seize with every tense moment as you race through catacombs and untangle the mysteries of legends and secret societies. THE GILDED WOLVES is the successor to SIX OF CROWS that I've been waiting for and it does not disappoint. The only question is: when can I get my hands on the next installment?