I really wanted to love this book more than anything. I got it on netgalley and also found out I would be getting a signed copy in a book box subscription. I was happy thinking I could read it then have a decorative signed copy. This book was just very, very slow. I wanted to get into it where I couldn't put it down but it just never got there for me. I will say the ending was great and leaving me wanting to know what happens next but getting there was rough. I almost DNF this several times which is rare for me. I hope that if this has a sequel the writer can do more to keep us hooked throughout.

"Don't capture their hearts. Steal their imagination. It's far more useful."

The Gilded Wolves is a wonderful, powerful and imaginative story, teeming with representation for marginalized groups and with a superb cast of unforgettable characters.

With lush descriptions and thought provoking narratives, I was swept into the world of Belle Époque Paris. Roshani does a wonderful job of painting a world teaming with life, while shining a strong light onto those who pay for other's privileges.

This book is PERFECT for fans of Six of Crows. If you are in dire need of #squadgoals and heists, this is the book for you. I absolutely adore how these characters work together, how each has their own specialty and their backstories - particularly what brought them into Séverin's life.

"Anything could fall. Towers that scraped the heavens, Houses with pockets deeper than empires, shining seraphs who had once been in the confidence of God. Even families who were supposed to love you. Nothing was invincible but change."

Séverin is the heir to a fallen House. Disgraced and forgotten, Séverin is a highly complex character whose main goal is the gain back everything he's been denied. You will find yourself regularly charmed by and frustrated with him. He is my next favorite character of 2019 and I was constantly LIVING for his POV chapters in this book.

Enrique hit close to home for me, as my grandfather emigrated to the United States from the Philippines in the 1920s. I adore his character immensely, his dry humor and constant exasperation with his compatriots, and support him 110%.

"If you get in the way of a woman's battle, you'll get in the way of her sword."

Laila is her own mystery and a tantalizing one at that. Battling with her identity and feelings, she is probably the strongest personality of this book and the glue that holds everyone together. Serious #momfriend over here. Just don't tell her I said that.

Zofia is too damn smart for her own good. No really, her character represents several groups rarely featured in fantasy literature. As the mother of an autistic child, I loved Zofia's narrative and analytical mind. Roshani did a great job of portraying Zofia and I cannot wait to see her discover more of herself in the sequel.

Tristan is so lovely and sweet, I loved everything he brought to the page and how everyone seeks to protect him while all he wants is to feel useful. His relationship with Séverin is so important for the story and a driving force for much of the future plot.

"It seemed the world couldn't help but want to be near her . . . every beam of light, pair of eyes, atom of air. Maybe that's why sometimes he couldn't breathe around her."

While I certainly loved the plot of this and the world Roshani has created - I was absolutely ravenous for one of the romance subplots. It was so angsty, with history and wanting and I swear I was absolutely riveted every time these characters interacted with each other. I cannot wait to see where their relationship goes in the sequel - which has a fantastic set up in that regard as well.

Additionally, there are other romantic subplots hinted at in this including possible gay and bisexual feelings and I am just HERE FOR IT. These characters are still discovering their sexual identity and I am readily holding their hand through it all. I SUPPORT YOU.

My only complaint is that some of the historical and scientific descriptions can be a little lengthy and hard to follow. However, I loved the almost "treasure hunt" life vibe to this and easily looked past these instances.

Overall, this book opens a rich and vibrant world with a dark underbelly, unexpected twists and suffering, and is truly a statement piece for those under the heel of colonialism, racism and prejudice. The book ends with a captivating set up for the second book that will have you screaming from the rafters and dying for more!

I adored Startouched Queen and looked forward to reading this new series. Interesting and unique characters set in an unusual world kept me reading through the night and left me wanting more.

4.5 stars - this book was so much fun. It has so many elements that I enjoyed - Paris in the Gilded Age, a found family, a heist that's more than it seems. It reminded me of Six of Crows, but.... better.

I adored the characters in this book, though Hypnos did seem a bit of a caricature. He was just too witty all the time. But - I loved Laila and Zofia and Enrique so much. I loved that Laila was Indian and determined not to let Parisians appropriate her culture and religion. I loved that Zofia was Jewish and autistic and so, so smart. (Disclaimer, she is never called autistic but exhibited a lot of the characteristics.) I loved that Enrique was dealing with the Spanish colonization of the Philippines as a mestizo (and bisexual). So many of the characters were the product of culture clashes, and experienced a lot of conflicts regarding identity. Séverin has this real Kaz Brekker vibe, only without being so damn "the world is against me and I'm bitter about it".

There was also a real Indiana Jones vibe, but if Dr. Jones had realized that he was stealing from other cultures and instead decided to work really hard to return artifacts to their rightful owners.

The reason I took of a half-star is because sometimes the puzzles and clues were a bit convoluted, and the characters just *happened* to know the most random, obscure facts about history that helped them figure everything out. It was a bit convenient, and I wonder if Chokshi did a ton of research and wanted to include it - not to show how smart she was, but because she was enthusiastic. There's a huge difference, when it comes to historical fiction. But overall, that wasn't enough to keep me from enjoying this book, and I can't wait for the next one.

I can never give enough praise to Roshani. She has done it again! She creates wonderful worlds and complex characters and gives every word life just by writing it down! I can’t wait to see what she has in store next

(I wanted to thank the publisher for letting me read and review an e-arc of this book via Netgalley.)

This book in one word : Overhyped.

I hate giving only one star to ARCs of but I can't seem to rate it any higher. Seriously, I... hated it. I almost went into a slump because of this book! It took me more than a month to finish it and honestly, if I didn't listen to the audiobook for the last 80%, I probably would have DNF it. The audiobook wasn't enjoyable either (the accents were annoying).

What bothered me the most I think is the world building. It was lacking and confusing to say the least. Also, I didn't care about any of the characters and the banter people keep mentioning... well, to me it wasn't that great. I didn't care about the heist either so I'm wondering if I just don't like heist stories? (I also read Fire & Heist and didn't really like it) I've never read Six of crows so I can't say anything about the comparaisons made between the two.

PS: if you're going to use french in your book, please make sure you don't make mistakes... "ma cher" is supposed to be "ma chère". I hope this was corrected in the published copy.

Oh, holy mother of books! I LOVED The Gilded Wolves! It has a bit of everything that I’m drawn towards in a book: love, humor, intrigue, action and mythology/history. It has a group of characters with a dynamic that I always fall for - the one where a group of misfits becomes a family in both friendship and hardship. They fit each other in any combination therein, despite or perhaps because of their respective personality flaws. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and sucks you in just as much as the character dynamics. The plot reads like an Indiana Jones adventure with puzzles, clues and a heist with traps along the way. The whole thing was awesome, and I can’t recommend it enough! So, if you like Six of Crows or The Raven Boys, I highly recommend this book.

"The Gilded Wolves" eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Roshani Chokshi (https://roshanichokshi.com). Ms. Chokshi has published six novels. 

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in 1889 Paris, though in an alternate history - a  timeline that includes magic. The primary character is treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. 

The powerful Order of Babel forces Alarie to help them on a mission. He recruits some well-known associates to help. There is the engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a near brother. They, along with Hypnos, the young heir of House Nyx, must confront other houses of magic, avoid the efforts of a fallen house, and protect the Babel Fragment held in Europe. 

I enjoyed the 9.5 hours I spent reading this 400-page alternate history fantasy. I think better cover art could have been chosen. I liked the plot and the different approach to magic in the alternate universe. The principal characters are an interesting assortment. I give this novel a  4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

A fairly enjoyable book. Personally, I enjoy mixing elements of fantasy with historical reality -- but only when it still fits within the bounds of a somewhat believable reality. For example, I can accept a book with wizards and werewolves living in a historical Chicago, but only if there is some explanation of why this is not common knowledge in reality. I would have much more difficulty with a book where the mayor of a historical Chicago openly uses his wizard power to help combat a gang of boot-legging werewolves. For example. The book felt more like the latter. It is a real historical place involving real historical people, except everyone is aware of the existence of all sorts of magic stuff. Again, it was somewhat enjoyable, definitely well-written, but demanded too much suspension of doubt for my taste.

Also, I was disappointed by the ending (or rather lack of an ending). None of the major plot issues get resolved in any way, and none of the hinted mysteries in some of the character's backgrounds ever seem to go anywhere. For me, there was too little satisfaction for me to want to continue the series. I wasn't brought in deeply enough to care about the unresolved future of these characters.

My review ran on January 17, 2019 and can be found here: https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/dnf-reviews/review-the-gilded-wolves-by-roshani-chokshi/

A fun fast paced read perfect for fans of Six of Crows. I loved the characters and the setting the fast paced plot line and the heist angle made this book extremely entertaining

Honestly, I think the setting of this book is what makes it stand apart from all the other YA fantasy novels on the market right now. I loved the diverse set of characters, and was emotionally invested in them. Chokshi did a wonderful job of immersing the readers in this world - her writing improves with each book she publishes.

As someone who loves a good YA fantasy novel, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Gilded Wolves, and it lived up to my expectations! Characters were engaging, and the author utilized the changing perspectives well to really tell the story. I also appreciated the amount of historical fiction that was put into a fantasy novel, especially in descriptions of the foods, the Eiffel Tower, etc.

I am eager to read the next book in the series and hope we don’t have to wait too long!

Disclaimer: I received this book from BookSparks. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5

Publication Date: January 15, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 14+ (action, adventure, mystery, murder, romance, and masks)

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 464

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Set in a darkly glamorous world, The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous but thrilling adventure.

Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can’t yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.

Together, they’ll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.

Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. I liked the characters for the most part and thought their dynamic was really good and I feel that they were really well developed. I liked the banter between them and I felt that the pacing was really even and fast. I feel that the writing was very easy to understand and the book will be a hit this year overall.

However, I do feel that this book needed more world building. There was a good amount sprinkled throughout the book, but I think it needed a chapter or two at the beginning to explain it a little more. But it is interesting and I enjoyed the uniqueness of it!

Verdict: A great six of crows style book and another hit for Chokshi!

Beautiful cover? Check. Beautiful prose? Check. And this book is gloriously diverse. We have, in no particular order: a half French/half North African hotelier; a bisexual half Filipino/half Spanish historian; a Polish Jewish engineer; an Indian dancer; and more. This might well be the most diverse cast of a YA book ever. Plus, let’s not forget that it’s set in 1889 Paris!

All these teenagers have been gathered to help retrieve an important artifact. The multiple plot threads can be a little confusing at times, but the similarities to Six of Crows make it an incredibly intriguing book.

I'm rounding up from 3-ish stars because I know some of my YA readers are going to love this... but really? There are problems with the writing (overdone to a ridiculous degree), not to mention the fact that Six of Crows and Grim Lovelies are similar (the latter is actually set in Paris!). There are some interesting "sets", like the hotel and the catacombs, and with the exception of Hypnos and Severine the main characters were interesting. So a strong 3-ish, and the hope that in the next book some of the problems are corrected.

eARC provided by publisher.

This one is tricky for me to review. It was a bit hard for me to follow/get into at first, but I did enjoy it! The concept of Forging was a bit hard to grasp, but I liked the... powers? Affinities? Especially Laila’s. It seemed interesting. I’m not sure that I’ll continue the series, but ultimately, I did like the book.

4/5 Stars

Author: Roshani Chokshi

Publisher/Imprint: Wednesday Books

Edition: e-ARC, 304 Pages

Hardcover Publication Date: January 15, 2019

A Spine that Shines? Fairly Well

*This review is based on an e-ARC edition provided by the publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest opinions.*

The World-Building:

In my opinion, the setting and world-building of The Gilded Wolves are the novel’s greatest strengths. It feels like we are in France – but not. A crew of six sets out on a quest to retrieve an ancient artifact central to the preservation of the civilized world. It’s 1889, and Paris is on the verge of the World Fair. It’s a time of glittering parties, but also a time filled with darkness. And this Paris has magic!

It is an interesting idea to center the story around “Babel Fragments,” objects that are imbued with God’s power to create things. And Chokshi adds many creative details that contribute to her fictional France. In this world, people have the ability to “Forge” – the power that allows humans to create artistic magical gardens or to give inanimate objects, such as stone animals, lifelike qualities. Every forged object or creature is also built with a fail-safe called a somno that will put the creation to sleep. There are secret workshops hidden behind mirror-like doors that turn transparent, called Tezcat doors. There is actually a powder called “mirror powder” that allows a person to look exactly like another person for a few minutes. This Paris also has mnemo bugs, which are Forged beetles that can record images and sound and project them like holograms. Another interesting – but creepy – addition is the Phobus Helmet, which plays the wearer’s nightmares on a loop.

The Characters:

The characters are OK. I didn’t feel drawn to them very strongly. Here’s a brief overview of each:

Severin is the leader of the quest and also the lost heir to House Vanth. (There are several Houses for each country that are part of the Babel Order, which helps to govern the world.) Severin is part Algerian and deeply wants to protect his crew members, who are like family to him. But I couldn’t get over how much of a jerk he is to Laila near the end of the book.

I found Zofia to be one of the more interesting characters. She functions as the crew’s “engineer.” She seems to be a touch Autistic, and she is superb with numbers. Zofia also has the ability to forge metals and enjoys blowing things up. (She can light a match with her teeth!) She is also Jewish, which creates a difficult situation for her during that time period. However, the author doesn’t go too deeply into it.

Tristan is like a brother to Severin. He has a Forging affinity for liquid matter, particularly the liquid in plants; as a result, he can create extravagant gardens. In my opinion, he is a bit too fond of Goliath, his pet tarantula, which often generates jokes. Unfortunately, I think the emphasis on Goliath is a bit distracting from the mature atmosphere that the author seems to be going for. The first few mentions were cute, but Tristan talks about Goliath so much that it later became annoying.

Enrique is the crew’s “historian.” He excels at puzzles and is very knowledgeable about ancient civilizations. He is part Filipino, and he often brings a nice touch of humor to the group’s conversations. He wields a cool walking stick that has a light bomb attached to the end.

Hypnos is the patriarch of one of the other Houses – House Nyx. He is wealthy and spoiled, and he is the person who recruits the team members for the mission (by tricking Severin into it). He is crafty and sly, but it seems that he just wants a family to be a part of.

Laila is the wonderful dancer of Indian descent. Her stage name is L’Enigme! She is passionate about baking desserts, and she also has the power to read an object’s history. She can see what the objects once witnessed. The other interesting thing about Laila is that she has an expiration date: age 19. Apparently, she was magically stitched together from body pieces – like a zombie? Laila’s creation is one thing that seems a bit muddled and could have used a bit more explanation.

A Lot Going On:

I think my remaining criticisms have to do with how much stuff is packed into the book. There is quite a lot going on.

Laila has her own side quest, searching for a book that may help her with her predicament.

There are a lot of POV switches. I typically enjoy books with fewer POVs so that I can gain a deeper understanding of one or two main characters. I’d say more than two or three POVs is a lot to keep track of.

There are several love triangles going on. All six of the main characters seem to be involved. I felt that this kind of cluttered the main plot, because most of the characters don’t even know who they desire – except for Severin. Severin is clearly interested in Laila, but there also seems to be something between Laila and Tristan (unless I’m mistaken). Then Zofia seems kind of interested in Enrique, although she doesn’t seem to fully understand her feelings. Enrique at times thinks he’s attracted to Zofia, but then Hypnos is attracted to Enrique. These relationships are a lot to juggle in the very first novel of a trilogy, and I think the novel could have done well with fewer relationships. I like the idea of Laila and Severin, and it seems as if the focus is more on them. The Zofia-Enrique-Hypnos triangle seemed like it was there for the sake of being there.

The death scene that occurs near the end of the novel feels too rushed. (I won’t say who it was.) The character was someone pretty important, but the person only received a few sentences describing the event itself. We are told what happens weeks later, but that moment is not fleshed out enough. Thus, I don’t think the death scene really had the emotional impact that it could have had on the reader.

The Writing:

Overall, Chokshi’s writing is lovely. I found that I was pulled easily through the scenes. The pace is pretty brisk. However, in several instances, I found the writing to be slightly confusing or unclear.

Aside from Laila’s creation, I was confused about how Severin manages to get his hand unstuck near the beginning. Something about the pronouns and POV change is confusing in that moment. And he really shouldn’t be able to crack jokes when bleeding profusely…

Another instance of inconsistency occurs in the underground library. The text says that Hypnos clutches an object. But then moments later, it says that Enrique is holding it, and Severin orders him not to give it to Hypnos. But there was no mention of Hypnos ever tossing it to Enrique in the first place.

Final Thoughts:

[As far as content warnings for parents, be aware that there are some expletives uttered occasionally.]

Overall, I am awarding 4 stars to The Gilded Wolves for its creativity and entertaining aspects. I especially enjoyed the scene that occurs down in the Paris catacombs, and the ending does leave me curious. Thank for reading, and I hope this review was helpful!

THE GILDED WOLVES captivated me from the very first page. It was a whirlwind of edge-of-your-seat excitement, thrilling characters, and dazzling world-building. This is the first book I've read by Chokshi and it certainly won't be the last! Her vivid descriptions and attention to detail left me feeling like I had truly walked through this fascinating world she's created. The only complaint I have is that I need to wait for the sequel!

This book intrigued me because I'm always up for a good heist story.
Severin's whole life has been spent trying to acquire enough wealth to take back what is rightfully his. His inheritance, His House. If Severin and his team can pull of one last major heist, the Order of Babel will perform the bloodline test and his House will be restored.

I enjoyed most of this book. The middle lagged a bit. The characters were my favorite part. I especially liked Laila. I just didn't have that "I can't wait to read more" feeling with this book. I will probably read the next one just to see what happens, but I can't say I'm in much of a hurry for it.