4.5 stars
Great sequel that raises the stakes and deepens the diverse and complex cast.

Content warnings include: violence, ableism, antisemitism, racism, colonialism, grief, self-harm in magical context, knowledge of one's own impending death.

The one struggle I had with The Silvered Serpents was the same one I had with The Gilded Wolves - the book throws you right into the events and world and complex character dynamics without much exposition or explaining.
In case of The Silvered Serpents, this can at least partially be solved by reading it right after finishing the previous book, and in retrospect I really wish I had reread it before starting this sequel.

That said, what the book throws you right into is compelling, exciting, and grips you right from page 1 onwards! It easily topped book 1 of the series. It was so readable I finished it in record time (for me.)

My favourite part of the book were the characters and their complex and ever-changing dynamics. Each POV was compelling to read, I was rooting for all of them and I couldn't get enough of their interactions. Romance, friendship and sibling relationships all had their time in the spotlight, non being favoured over the others, which I adored. Every pair or subgroup of characters have their own dynamic, quirks, details, depth and meaning, and I loved that.
Additionally, The Silvered Serpents meaningfully develops not only those relationships, but also the characters themselves. I especially enjoyed Enrique this time around.

There were a couple new additions to the cast as well, and while some seemed strange or trope-y to me at first, my first impressions were quickly proven wrong.

The plot was exciting and included the riddles and heists that are integral to the series, but it had an overall darker tone that overshadowed the book. Still, there were light moments and plenty of delightful banter and comedic effect, mostly born out of the characters' eccentricity and the previously mentioned dynamics. However, there was also more tension than before, mostly leftover from the events of book1, but also due to developments within book2 itself.

Overall a great sequel that doesn't suffer middle-book-syndrome at all! I can't wait to see how both the plot and the characters will develop in the next book.

Though the storyline is complicated, this book shines with wonderful worldbuilding and diverse, multidimensional characters. Far from predictable, it keeps the reader intrigued and wondering until the very end and then some, leaving one wanting for the next installment in the series.

This book was so good. I was amazed by how it was so full of culture, the descriptions were marvelous. If you are a fan of Six of Crows then I for sure recommend this read.

The long awaited sequel to The Gilded Wolves was absolutely fantastic!! This book took us to Russia, which is one of my favorite book settings, so that really worked for me. I loved the deeper character development of Zophia and Severin. I feel like we got to know them even better, which was lovely. I can’t wait for more of this story!

Okay, WOW. I don't think that I have read a squeal this well done since A Court of Mist and Fury - this book is full of well developed characters that have secretive adventures and mystery. Which carries the book along at a fairly fast pace. I don't want to say to much more because of spoilers, but I am extremely excited for the third one!

I already adored the first book and was glad to get an arc of this one. The whole crew is fantastic. I really like the relationship arc I'm seeing form between Enrique, Hypnos, and Zofia. There is some really good potential there. While I'm not a big fan of the love triangle, I oddly don't get that feeling from the tension the three of them have. Hopefully, in the next book we get to see a poly relationship between the three of them since representation of polyamory in book is very seriously lacking. The story was well paced and I really liked the descriptions. I could picture everything really nicely in my head which made the book suck me in even more. I definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of the fantasy genre that pulls from real world events. The historical aspects of this book are just brilliant. Definitely pick it up if you have the chance.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I was so ready for this book after I read Gilded Wolves. It was everything the second books in the series should have been. I had to keep putting the book down for I did not want the story to end too soon. I love the characters and the world that they exist in. They are still dealing with the fall out from the first book and this journey takes them far from Paris to Russia. There is a series of unsolved murders. They have to see if a myth they might not be just a myth. This book kept me on the edge for the whole ride. I don't want to give a way to much. It is something that has to be experienced to understand the beauty of this adventure.

I loved this book! I look forward to reading more from this writer! I love the cover and how it ties well with book one, Gilded wolves.

I really enjoyed this book and I believe my students will too! Easy to read and follow along and simple understandable story. Interested to see work from this author in the future

Rarely is the second book in a series better than the first, but The Silvered Serpents is one of those few exceptions. Severin and the crew continue to sweep through Europe in search of the needed artifact, with each character's backstory building along the way. The focus is no longer as action-oriented and I found myself increasingly drawn into the character's dilemmas and tragic pasts, making it easier to become invested in their search.
I was initially reluctant to read this book because as much as I wanted to love book one (that title! that cover! that premise!), I just didn't. However, every single reservation I had was addressed in this book and then some and I'm now eager to continue the series. While I don't think we'll see the happily ever after these characters so deserve (the author has no problem killing off main characters), it will undoubtedly be a lyrical and stunning finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary advance copy. This did not impact my review.

I loved the first one and I loved this one even more!
It continued on effortlessly from the first in the series but with even bigger and better development.

The detail of the characters and plot lines kept me encapsulated from the first page. The more we learnt about each of the characters, the more I fell in love with them.
The plot is fast, fun and full of angst and I can't wait for the next one.

The adventure! The drama! The splendor! The angst!
I love all the characters, but I have to say Séverin and his brooding man-pain could get a bit tiresome. It served a purpose, however, so I wouldn’t call it a drawback – it just made me look forward to the other characters’ chapters more.
Despite my complaint about Séverin, one of my favorite aspects of The Silvered Serpents is the characters deal with their grief and pain from the first book. It’s an integral part of the story and not ignored.
Some of the plot points were a bit predictable, but the story still held my interest. I’d say it served more as setting up the next book, in terms of where this story ended and exploring the world more.
Overall, a wonderful sequel to The Gilded Wolves. I can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Thank you Wednesday Books for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Silvered Serpents
By: Roshani Chokshi

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

I actually like The Silvered Serpents better than the first book. These characters are so complex, flawed and unpredictable. The dark menacing vibe that hangs around is awesome and makes the story even more haunting and eerie. Lyrical language transports the reader to a different world of magical darkness and danger, and it's enthralling enough to bid you stay. I was captivated by this story, and I wanted more!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Silvered Serpents shows us Severin and his crew as the adventure continues in Russia as they search for an artifact said to make gods of men. I love how the relationships between the main characters have developed and how we learn a bit more about them. The storyline progresses smoothly from The Gilded Wolves and some questions are answered and others have just begun to be asked. What a cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read the next one!

I love this series. It’s so diverse and magical but also dark and interesting. There’s not much to be said without ruining the first book but this was a truly worthy sequel and I’m really excited to see what Chokshi writes next. If you liked the first book you’ll love this one too.

Although The Silvered Serpents started out slow, the ending was full of the hijinks, banter, and action that I loved so much in The Gilded Wolves. I thought that Chokshi did an excellent job of showing how the events of the first book affected the gang, particularly Séverin. But it also kind of bogged down the beginning because the team was so fractured and it took quite a while for them to come back together even slightly. But once they got to the Sleeping Palace, the story really took off.

I loved seeing how the Fallen House’s mansion came to life. I could see the beautiful but deadly ice menagerie, the empty bookshelves, and the slightly sinister dining room. The descriptions really brought this majestic ruin to life. And, as with the first book, The Silvered Serpents was at its best when the team was focused on solving a mystery, unraveling ancient puzzles and riddles. It totally sucked me in and I loved watched how the search for the Divine Lyrics played out.

The Silvered Serpents did feel a bit like a middle book, but the ending gives me hope that the next book will be absolutely amazing. The set-up is there and I cannot wait to see how Chokshi explores some of the ideas that were introduced at the end.

I had no idea what to expect from this story, but had seen the author's name and other books mentioned highly in the past. This was a fun read and I'm glad I was able to read it!

Have not had a chance to read this yet, but will keep it on my list for a rainy day! Appreciate being offered the reading copy!

I received a complimentary copy of The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi from Wednesday Books through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The Silvered Serpents came out in September 2020!

Since The Silvered Serpents is the sequel to The Gilded Wolves, I won't be going into too much detail about the plot. I don't want to ruin The Gilded Wolves for anyone who hasn't read it! I will admit I didn't enjoy The Silvered Serpents as much as The Gilded Wolves. The thing I loved most about the first book was the group dynamic and relationships between the characters. In the second book the group is much more fractured and their relationships are strained. Although I think this was a good choice for the plot and allowed some of the characters to grow and develop as individuals, it took some of the enjoyment out of the book for me. I really loved the Russian setting of The Silvered Serpents and think this book is an excellent choice for a winter read. The Silvered Serpents is beautifully written and complex and I'm excited to see where Chokshi takes us in the third book! Although The Silvered Serpents didn't immerse me as much as The Gilded Wolves, I'd highly recommend giving this series a try if you're interested in a historical fantasy heist story with a great cast of characters!

A wonderful follow up to The Gilded Wolves! The cover is absolutely beautiful and I love Roshani's writing! Will definitely be recommending to friends.