<strong>This sequel is a lot darker and gives off different vibes than the first one</strong>. It deals with heavy grief - not always expressed in a healthy way, which is kind of the point for some characters - after losing a beloved friend and the impact it can have on a friend group. This book is sad and heartbreaking and at times really emotionally upsetting. It was hard to divorce myself from my personal feelings (being really upset and hurt for and with the characters) to look further into the craft used by the author and appreciate how she handled so many tough topics. This is a well-written book that however at times was hard for me to read. So, I feel like you have to be in the right headspace to read this if you're a very emotional reader like I am because the characters get dragged through the wringer. I also need the sequel like right now, please!!!

<strong>Every character is dealing with grief and change in a different way and has a truly profound and well-written character arc! </strong>

➽ <strong>Zofia is worried about her sick sister and scared of being a burden to others</strong>. She askes herself the question: who will care and worry for me? How can I depend on only myself without needing to ask others for help? Zofia also deals with her neurodivergence (she's on the autism spectrum and has got anxiety as well) in a world that doesn't understand her. I also appreciated the continued discussion of her dealing with antisemitism. <strong>As my favorite character I was really invested in her struggles</strong> and I still love her very, very much!! Her slowly coming to see herself as brave and good just the way she is, was so good to see as she has so much doubt about herself and how she can exist in this world. Seeing the world differently from everyone else is hard and Zofia is truly brave for still trying to navigate it.

<strong>➽ Enrique is feeling like no one hears his voice</strong>, not the Illustradoes, and most heartbreakingly sometimes even his friends. His arc I deeply related to, because I know how much it hurts to feel invisible and overlooked like no one cares what you have to say. Oftentimes it doesn't even happen with malicious intent, but it stings all the same, especially when you're talking about something you're passionate about. The only person who seems to see him is Zofia, something that means a lot to him. I<strong> honestly just wanted to give him a hug</strong> as Enrique is such a smart and kind boy, but has felt shoved to the side many times in the past when he deserved someone who listened to him all the time.

<strong>➽ Hypnos is still trying desperately to belong to the group</strong>, something else I related to. He's felt like an outsider for the majority of his life and is now trying his best to secure his new friend group. That's why continued rejection hurts him deep down, even though he tries to cover it up with humor and charisma most of the time. I had hoped for a POV of his (after the last book ended with a POV by him in the epilogue), but we sadly didn't get one. Still, the author manages to <strong>explore his struggles to belong through the eyes of the other characters</strong> and it broke my heart when Hypnos felt shoved aside.

<strong>➽ Laila is coming to terms with her own morality as times runs out before her birthday</strong>. She doesn't want the others to see her as less human and keep away from her. Apart from that, she's also hit hard by Tristan's loss and barely does things she enjoys (like baking) anymore. Worst of all she feels like she's in love with a ghost, as Severin has completely changed and she tries to fight the hope that his old self might come back. I liked that despite her dilemma, <strong>she wasn't ready to die just to save Severin</strong> and not to be used as an object to further his character development. She called him out for his behavior and though she couldn't help but still love him deep down, she was determined to die on her terms and not his.

<strong>➽ Severin was the hardest character to like in this book. He was a bit TOO unlikable for me personally and the aspect of the book I liked the least</strong>. The problem is that he was my least favorite character out of the cast in The Gilded Wolves and his only redeeming feature was how he wanted to protect his friends. The latter was largely absent here (or at least not shown in a way that felt genuine to me) which left me with nothing to like. It wasn't so bad in his POV as here we at least saw his struggles, his attempts to divorce himself from his feelings and humanity to never make an error again, like what cost him Tristan's life. <strong>I understand that he wanted to become a God to be invincible and without the feeling of guilt and hurt and also to never be powerless to stop something ever again</strong> It was just frustrating to see him constantly isolated from his friends, manipulate them to get them to come on the mission and being unnecessarily cruel to them. Especially from the other's POV, it was so upsetting to see as they had no idea why he was suddenly against them too. Yes they know he's grieving but it still hurts how he disregards him. His Arc was well-written but how he treated his friends enraged me. <strong>His grief isn't pretty and that should be allowed to be shown as well, but that doesn't mean I have to like him or his actions</strong>.

<strong>There are also a lot of interesting secondary characters that we got to see more of in this book!</strong> Some of them were new, but we also had a character from the first book who really surprised me by becoming much more intriguing to me this time around.

<strong>A character we know from the first book is Delphine.</strong> She's the Matriarch of House Kore and initially, I felt pretty indifferent to her, she is an important character but didn't stick with me. However, in The Silvered Serpents, I loved her a lot more, especially her<strong> complicated relationship with Severin</strong> and her maternal instincts towards him and also Laila. We finally get a glimpse into her own struggles and attempts to repair what happened with Severin. I was very sad that she died in the end, as I would have loved to see more of her!

<strong>I really loved Ruslan, the Patriarch of House Dazbog</strong>. He's joining the treasure hunt as the crew is in his region and he was funny with his hair jokes. He seemed so good-natured and often lightened the mood when things were looking glum, something I really appreciated.

<strong>Eva</strong> was a tough character as she was just there to cause drama and perpetuate girl hate by despising Laila for no reason</strong> (yes she was jealous but it wasn't explored enough.) Her character could have been so interesting and I'm sad it was never explored. Instead, she constantly insults Laila and tries to flirt with Severin. Laila acknowledges that she knows how the world pits girls against each other and later tries to at least find mutual respect, but it goes nowhere.

<strong>"And what if it doesn't change him?", she said, her voice rising. "And even if it does, what does it mean that I have to be at death's door to bring him back to himself? My life and whatever is left of it, will not be what his soul gnaws on to regain its strength. My <em>death</em> is not in service to his character, and I will not be a sacrifice simply for him to find peace of mind. He is <em>not</em> my responsibility to save."</strong>

<strong>The continued worldbuilding and new setting were really great</strong>! This time we're in Russia and are seeing House Dazbog, as the country only has one House affiliated with the Order. The change of scenery fits in very well with the emotional journeys of the characters, as they literally leave behind their old life in Paris as well as their dead friend Tristan, who however still continues to haunt them. Away from their old life - which was already changed - they find themselves in cold Russia and the <strong>snow and general atmosphere once again fit in with the more hopeless and dark mood of the book</strong>. It was all woven together and of course, Roshani Chokshi's writing continues to be breathtaking and so vivid. The<strong> main setting is The Sleeping Palace</strong>, the legendary headquarters of the Fallen House which brings us back to the discussion of godhood, the Babel Fragments, and the Divine Lyrics, a book said to be able to unlock the secrets of the Order. We learn more about the world like the Lost Muses, the other houses, and especially Blood/Ice Forgery. I wish we had learned even more about Forging though.

<strong>The Plot was more fast-paced than the previous book</strong>. It was an interesting plotline without feeling like a 'filler second book' and even though things got darker there were still the exploring and treasure hunting vibes from the first book. I loved the treasure hunt for the Divine Lyrics and seeing the characters slowly trying to uncover the secrets of the Sleeping Palace, so I enjoyed my time reading the book! Though the <strong>book felt very melancholic, I liked that Hypnos, Zofia, and Enrique's banter often lightened the mood</strong> (as well as Ruslan's hair jokes) and provided some much-needed light in the glum atmosphere. So even though my heart hurt a lot during this book, the authors tried to balance the tough topics with some humor and banter. The <strong>story also explores a lot of important themes</strong> like how people deal with grief, how love often looks less like beauty and like horror, lies or coldness, mortality, and colonization.

<strong>Once again there are a lot of character dynamics that continued to get explored</strong>. Romance-wise Hypnos, Enrique, and Zofia are my favorite dynamic and I liked seeing how that played out, as it could have gone either way. Severin and Laila are obviously tenser (see above when I talked about their character arcs), especially as there is<strong> love, but also so much hurt and grief</strong>. They were never my preferred couple, so I'm not too hurt, but it was still sad to see how far they drifted from each other. In my opinion, they're not the healthiest people for each other right now.

Friendship-wise I loved the <strong>dynamics of</strong> <strong>Enrique, Zofia & Laila still sticking together</strong> <strong>even in the face of everything that happened</strong>. They all seem to be losing Severin to some darker version of himself, but they still try to be there for each other. Zofia & Laila are checking in with each other (with Zofia determined to do anything to save her friends), Hypnos and Laila's banter and friendship were also so refreshing and in general, they are trying their best to still be a team even when everything is different 💕

<strong>IN CONCLUSION.</strong> ➽ <em>The Silvered Serpents</em> is a much<strong> darker sequel than I expected and there are a lot of upsetting things happening</strong>. However, the author is a <strong>master at weaving together</strong> the grief, hurt, and all the ugly feelings of the book together with the new setting and melancholic atmosphere.

Welp, I can’t remember reading the premise of this book or that it is the second book in a series.

I started reading and felt a bit confused as the “start” of the characters and the world building had seemed to be forgotten. I was trying my best to get into the story, and then finding out that this is book two, I just couldn’t get myself to read the first book or continue with this story.

I apologize, but I couldn’t finish this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Gilded Wolves. When I found out about the sequel, I couldn't wait to read it. What was going to happen to my favorite found family babies?? I needed to know. Welp, I finally know and while I did enjoy this, I definitely didn't enjoy it as much as the original book. It's hard to describe, but I'll do my best.

As usual, Roshani's writing was beautiful and the magical and mystery elements of this story were intriguing. Blood forging was introduced in this installment and I have to say that was an interesting new addition to the story. The thought that forging of the blood could be both pleasurable and harmful plays to just how dangerous pieces of this world tend to be. Zofia, Enrique and Hypnos all pulled at my heartstrings, but I expected nothing less. I just wanted them to all be happy because they deserve nothing but the best. Laila also pulled at my heartstrings this time too. While her relationship with Severin was still irritating as hell, being able to see her in a vulnerable light due to her secret was a great experience. Overall I think the story was great, I just think the execution and some of the plot points were....not for me.

For instance, Severin. I swear to goodness she was annoying the first time around, but this time it was even worse. Yes he was grieving, yes he was breaking under the pressure, but SIR WHY ARE YOU DOING THE MOST?!?!?! It just felt like Severin was unraveling at every turn and while I can appreciate taking a character to hell and back, it just seemed like overkill. He was trying to convince himself that this wasn't selfish behavior, but it absolutely was. It's not until the end of the book that his actions really become about everyone else around him and that's the moment where I actually started to root for him. That's not to say I don't like Severin, I'm just saying he gives me the biggest headache.

Also, Tristan. Anyone who read the first book knows that Tristan unfortunately didn't make it to the Silvered Serpents. It broke my heart and apparently it broke everyone else. I get it. Tristan was the glue that held the group together. What I didn't get what the darkness that was discovered after Tristan died. Suddenly we learn that the sweet boy we all loved wasn't exactly sweet and was actually dark and twisted. Honestly, I just don't think I bought that part of the story and it felt like it was only there to send Severin into a bigger spiral.

Finally, I didn't get the poly relationship of my dreams. In my (humble) opinion, Zofia, Enrique and Hypnos have all been teased as having feelings for one another. They each offer something to the others that they need and want and it's a beautiful thing. I was really hoping that instead of making this a love triangle, Roshani would just throw caution into the wind and take a chance! Instead, we get the opposite. Unrequited feelings , broken heart and then oh look, this person actually cares about me instead is what we get. I just...I guess I was disappointed in the direction that this went in.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and I was continuously invested, there were just elements that prevented me from enjoying it as much as TGW. I am still excited about the follow-up book, especially since I had no idea that there were be a third book and I guess I'll just have to see where Roshani chooses to go with this story and it's characters.

I adore Roshani Chokshi. This is her second book in the Gilded Wolves series. The first one ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I have been eagerly awaiting this book ever since.
When Severin and his team go looking for the Divine Lyrics, there is trouble at every turn. Each of the team have their own motives for the search and their own secrets to protect.
It did take me a little bit of time to remember what had happened at the end of the first book, but luckily the author posted a summary on her website which really helped out. Chokshi has created such an inventive world and magic system in this series. The characters are absolutely unforgettable and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

The Silvered Serpents was one of those sequels that holds fast to everything you love about the first book, but takes it to a whole other level of good. Severin and the crew are left reeling after Tristan's death, but it only spurs them on in their search for the mystical Divine Lyrics that can reportedly turn people into gods. Lives are on the line as Severin, Laila, Zofia and Enrique travel to Russia in pursuit of the missing piece of the puzzle that will allow them to locate the Lyrics. But it soon becomes clear that they are not the only ones searching for the artifact. A plot decades in the making stands in their way, and Severin and company must decide what they are willing to sacrifice and how far they are willing to go in order to get what they most desire. For some it's revenge, for others, it's salvation, but The Silvered Serpent is sure to have your eyes glued to the page until its devastating end.
I won't lie to you, The Gilded Wolves was not my favorite read ever. I liked it well enough, but it wasn't something that slammed me to the ground with how amazing it was. The Silvered Serpents was an all together different story. I thought that TSS was MUCH better than TGW. Full of betrayal, forbidden attraction and high stakes, I found myself addicted to this story as Severin, Laila, Enrique and Zofia race to find The Divine Lyrics. I thought Laila's storyline, in particular, was really well-done. I loved seeing her shine in this book as she grapples with her secrets and fights for survival. I loved the heartbreaking trials her relationship with Severin went through. I also loved seeing more of the dynamics that the members of Severin's team has with each other. Those friendships and that banter was really enjoyable. The lore and mythos behind The Divine Lyrics and The Fallen House were crafted in such a way that made it fascinating, and I was not expecting the big twists in that respect. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about The Silvered Serpents. With strong writing, complex yet lovable characters, and an absolutely devastating ending, TSS left me breathless. It's a tale about sacrifice, grief and ambition that is sure to delight fans of The Gilded Wolves.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of an honest review!!

This book was amazing! Although we didn’t see much world building, like in the first one, she dived deep in the characters, and I fell in love with all of them again. The pacing was great, I really enjoyed the twists, the villains… I’ll definitely check more of Roshani’s work, because this series has my heart.

Our adventure begins by dropping you into our gang’s lives a few months after book one. And it’s so sad! They are all apart doing their own thing while Severin is drowning in his sorrows. Severin quickly calls them all together to finally find The Divine Lyrics. Then things really pick up.

They are not thieves like the gang from Six of Crows, but they are treasure hunters. So freaking cool. They each have a job to do within the crew. And of course, Severin trying to “protect” them, treats them all horribly. Especially Laila. *Cue tears* But through that, I love how close Laila gets with Enrique and Zofia! Those three are the sweetest ever. I love them.

Zofia was probably my favorite character this time! She is very logical to the extreme but she is learning social cues and maybe learning some of her own heart. I for sure ship her with a certain someone. And this book put wind in my ship’s sails!!!

I liked Hypnos but he was sort of the annoying/ little brother character? I don’t know how to explain it.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE WRITING?! I give 5 freaking stars to the writing alone. It’s pure magic. Chokshi makes the reader feel all five senses while reading. And it’s different for each character. One character will see snow as sugar while the other feels it as tiny ice droplets that makes their skin freeze. She also writes AMAZING food scenes. Made me hungry.

The plot read like an adventure, treasure hunting movie! They travel to Russia and discover new places to find the mysterious book. And they all go through plenty of trials and pain!

Gilded Wolves was such a stunning and fun book and I was hoping that Silvered Serpents would take this story to new places. I absolutely loved being reunited with our crew (and I loved seeing all of them again so much even if certain characters did frustrate me at times). This book gripped me from page one and didn't let me go until I'd finished it. We were at the point that I was thinking about this book during dinner, while doing homework, etc. I cannot wait for the next one!

"What he had done had not looked like love. But then again, love did not always wear a face of beauty."

Against the grain, and it's not a first for me, I liked this book more than the Gilded Wolves. treasure hunting is a trope, and hunting a lost/ almost destroyed manuscript is my kind of trope. So, go figure.

From the first few chapters, the clock was ticking. I thought that the Gilded Wolves had a little bit too much of everything. The Silvered Serpents, on the other hand, was just about right. Some live for the character introduction part, but I live for the plot, the real meat. And once all the cloying details of this character and that house were out of the way, there was something I was really anxious to get through. I finally wanted to know.

Chokshi's writing is a bit on the purple prose side, but as the story progressed there was a lot of heart. And yes, there was angst (not my favourite trope), but there was also a lot of grief carried out from the first book and as a result, a broken man seeking godhood. There were also intonations of bits of history that were brushed under the carpets: colonialism, pogroms and a lot of symbology that resonates with the modern world.

And that end...I mean, I didn't see that coming.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this adventure.

This is one of those books that totally breaks your heart (somehow in a good way??). I feel like I fell in love with every member of Séverin’s team. The story goes so deeply into their minds and their feelings that I couldn’t help it. Zofia and her very literal interpretations of things. Enrique and his need to be listened to. Séverin and his broken, desperate quest to make everyone safe. Laila and her secrets.

I struggled a little bit with THE GILDED WOLVES simply because there was so much worldbuilding that it got a little bit overwhelming and drowned out the story in a few places. THE SILVERED SERPENTS, though, has the perfect balance of setting and story, and even has some cleverly placed details in the opening that helped to jog my memory about things that happened in the first book.

From the very beginning, there’s a kind of desperation across all members of the team. That and their quest to find the lost artifact drives the story forward and made it nearly impossible to put this book down. In addition, I LOVE Roshani Chokshi’s writing. She gets inside each character’s head and heart and makes them so real.

The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so be prepared to immediately crave the third book.

If you haven’t read THE GILDED WOLVES, I’d start with that one first. If you liked SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo or WE HUNT THE FLAME by Hafsah Faizal, you’ll definitely want to check out this series.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a dramatic and tragic return! Roshani Chokshi has taken everything that made The Gilded Wolves fun and intriguing and added so much more for The Silvered Serpents. It’s not perfect, of course, but it’s an easy 4.25 stars from me because I felt swept away from the first page. Everything here is richer. The world, the magic system, the stakes, the consequences, the characters, oh my, the characters.

Everyone has been left reeling from the aftershocks of the previous book and the losses they each experienced, from friends and family to love and godhood. The wounds are fresh and run deep, and everyone is attempting to deal with the trauma and fallout in their own ways, namely by seeking out their most secret, closely-held ambitions. Because this is how we cope. I totally understand.

From Séverin’s newfound coldness to Enrique’s yearning to be truly heard, Chokshi breathes so much life and emotion into these characters. I had always felt attuned to Séverin and Laila from the start, but I had trouble viewing Zofia, Enrique, and Tristan as fully-fledged characters before. That trouble has vanished with this book. Chokshi gives us constant deep dives into their heads, their thoughts, their feelings, and even demonstrates with respect and insightfulness about how their Otherness influences how the world interacts with them. This author has always done well with diversity, but here it shines like a jewel. You just want to keep it in your sight to admire it. The same could be said of her descriptions; I particularly love how character-focused they are.

That being said, the only main character I felt landed flat this time was Hypnos. I enjoyed him in The Gilded Wolves as the handsome, gay love interest of Enrique, always quick with a joke and wanting to fit in with the group. In The Silvered Serpents, however, Hypnos felt like he was standing still next to everyone else. Aside from a few, brief moments of self-awareness, he didn’t seem to be growing in any particular direction. His jokes were ill-timed and highlighted many of the problems the dialogue still has with these books. (The dialogue is, for me, the weakest aspect of the trilogy so far, which is a shame because the descriptions are so strong in comparison.) I also quickly became disenchanted with his romance with Enrique, which was the point the book was making, and I do ultimately prefer Enrique and Zofia together, but still. It was difficult to watch Hypnos being so tone-deaf toward Enrique’s feelings all the time.

I also had no real use for Eva and Ruslan. Their presence is necessary for the plot, if not a bit obvious, but even so. I usually wanted them off the page as soon as they appeared.

Speaking of the plot, it’s more meandering this time compared to The Gilded Wolves. This is a book, not of much action, but of introspection, quiet desperation, and horror. I personally didn’t mind this because it was to the benefit of the characters, with the author taking the time to flesh them out more. As exciting as the first book was, the action and puzzle-solving did prevent me from getting to know them with the depth I craved.

I’d be remiss, too, if I didn’t highlight the quiet desperation and sheer yearning between Séverin and Laila in particular. This is my OTP of the series, and their constant push and pull was as sizzling as it was agonizing. You ever see two people so clearly meant to be together—who both also know that—but they’re telling themselves all the reasons why they can’t? That it’s for their own good, that it’s because they’re hurting, that it’s because of the long game, which will make all of the suffering make sense one day, but oh my God, can y’all also just be transparent with each other and kiss already?

I love to suffer, though. I really do.

It’s why my heart also broke for Enrique, with how brilliant yet overlooked he is because of his age and race. For Zofia, who is equally brilliant and brave yet feels like a burden to everyone because she can’t view the world the way her friends can. (I must give my props to Chokshi again for depicting an autistic character’s POV, something I’ve never read before this series.) Plus, Zofia is Jewish, and Chokshi knows how to ground her fantasy, 19th century Europe in real-world politics, giving it that extra depth and relevance it needs. My heart even broke for Tristan, which is impressive given how he had to be shown in this book.

And then the ending happened, and I lost my entire mind. Heart-pounding, sexy, terrifying, cruel, devastating—all of these words describe the ending and yet cannot fully sum it up. One line, however, can:

“I wish my love was more beautiful.”

That right there is one of those rare, galaxy-brained lines a writer only dreams up every so often, and its power lies as much in its construction as it does in its delivery. Chokshi. Does. Both. Reading this line on the page punched me full on in the gut; I’m still thinking about it. I’m obsessed with it.

The only thing I wish was that the book had ended sooner than it did. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I think the very last Séverin chapter should’ve been saved for the third book. For the drama. And because I love suffering, remember?

But regardless, so many mistakes have been made by so many people, and I can’t believe another year must pass until the last book comes out. Why? Why is the passage of time so necessary but so merciless?

Chokshoi is a very popular author in my school. I ordered this book for my library and have seen good circulation.

I struggled with the first book and had such high hopes for this one and yet I’m wondering if 3 stars is too high.

I don’t know how I feel about these characters. I don’t do well with so many POVs and everyone’s inner monologue started to sound the same to me.

Plot wise, I don’t even know. I ended up skipping around because I was getting so bored and then just like with the first book, the last 20% was action packed and had me deliciously second guessing everything. I wish the entire book would have been like that.

Overall, it’s the ending that captivated me, but not much else. I’m sure I’ll read at least the last few chapters of the next book, but I know that I won’t be clamoring for it.

**Huge thanks to Wednesday Books for providing the arc free of charge**

It's been a long time since I found a series that I loved as much as the Gilded Wolves trilogy. Chokshi's writing is unparalleled. Every time I think I know where the story is headed, she surprises me with a twist that I didn't see coming yet makes perfect sense. I loved the insight into the characters that we get in The Silvered Serpents, building upon the backstories we got a glimpse of in The Gilded Wolves. I read the whole book in one sitting, skipping lunch and then reading through dinner. The interweaving of culture, history, and mythology is absolutely masterful.

4/5 stars

I really liked this magical, adventure packed sequel! The ice palace setting was my favorite part of the story and felt so unique. It was absolutely magical, imaginative, dangerous, and mysterious! There was definitely still a feeling of Indiana Jones and National Treasure-like adventure. I loved this fact and it seemed to help the story flow a lot faster than the first. I really enjoyed seeing some of the couples and possible couples in the group interact, especially Laila with Severin and Enrique with Zofia. As much as I love Hypnos's antics and distractions, those four characters are my favorites. Severin and Laila have so much pent up feelings and chemistry that you can't help but root for them. Zofia is such an interesting character herself and I love her blunt personality when it interacts with Enrique's historical nerdiness. Once again though, the adventure ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so beware! I'll be interested to see where this story goes next, where it takes all my favorites and how it all manages to end.

***Thank you so much to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this tale of grief, love and betrayal, Séverin and his friends assemble for one last heist that just might save - or doom - them all.

The Silvered Serpents is a story about longing. Longing for something more, a longing to be anything but who you are, to strip away the pain and loneliness and be something more. In many ways, this novel is an exploration of grief and love and how different people let themselves be guided by those emotions.

The Gilded Wolves was set in golden glittering Paris, but with Tristan's death, there's a coldness casting a shadow over this group of friends. The setting reflects this, as the team makes its way to silvery, cold Russia to search for a hidden palace filled with treasure and secrets. There's plenty of mystery and elements of the first book start to click in place. I have to admit, I found the first half of the story quite slow and it took me a while to get through, but once the action hit and secrets started to unravel, I couldn't stop reading!

Roshani Chokshi is a master at crafting beautifully flawed and complex characters with real arcs that you just can't help but fall in love with. Every single character is being devoured by longing for something out of their reach. Laila longs to live, Enrique longs to be listened to, Zofia longs to belong.

Séverin takes this to an extreme, longing to not only cease to be human but be more than human: a god. This desire guides his every action, he's trying to be more than human because humans are fragile and the only way he sees to protect his friends, is to become a god. As a reader, this was incredibly frustrating. I perfectly understood his pain and helplessness, but having to see him make terrible choices and continually hurt is friends made me so angry. Throughout the whole book, I simultaneously wanted to hug and punch him. Roshani Chokshi brilliantly plays with the tragedy of Séverin's wish. It's his biggest weakness and what ends up hurting him and his friends the most. And that's what we call character development and great tension!

Overall, I had a great time with this book and I cannot wait for the next one to see how this story continues.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This was a fantastic second book in this YAFantasy series. This book definitely does not suffer from the notorious "second book slump" and there is little to no "filler" that is typically stuffed into second books.

The action picks up right away. I was glad the author inserted a bit of exposition in the beginning to explain what happened in the last book, because it has been quite a while since I read it. We find the crew scattered at the onset of the book. Severin is haunted by the death of his brother Tristan, as is everyone else. He vows to cut off all emotion and stick strictly to business when it comes to the crew in an effort to save them from Tristan's fate. He is determined to find The Divine Lyrics, which is rumored to contain the secret for joining the Babel Fragments to build the Tower of Babel and thus access the power of God. Once he has those powers, he will be able to protect his crew forever. This search will drive the action for the remainder of the book.

The rest of the crew is also licking their own private wounds from the events of the last book. They notice the change in Severin, but decide to trust him once again and embark on this latest venture. It will take them to the frozen tundra deep in Russia in search of the Sleeping Palace, which is rumored to hold the treasures of the Fallen House. Of course, treachery is found around every corner and old and new foes put the fate of each crew member in danger.

This book is full of action and suspense. There are new characters to be suspicious of, and old characters that may or may not be friends. The tense relationship between Severin and Laila is hard to read, because I just want them to get back together and work it out, dammit! Hey, here's an idea - how about you actually talk to each other?! :-)

The book ends on an insane cliffhanger and I cannot WAIT to see what happens next. If you haven't gotten into this book series yet, I highly recommend you do so. It's a unique combination of Historical Fiction and Fantasy, with plenty of sciency gadgets that do cool things.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Having really enjoyed The Gilded Wolves, I was intrigued to see where the story would go in this second installment. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. Roshani Chokshi has done a fantastic job here, both in terms of the relationships between characters and also with the deepening of the world. We find out more in this novel about the mysterious fallen house and plunge into the icy tundras of Russia, as the story moves out of Paris. Given the larger scope at play and the increase in personal stakes, the nuance between the characters was still wonderful and the level of angst was turned up to eleven. I love all of the characters in this series and it was fascinating to see how the events of book one had affected each of them. There is a lot to unpack in this novel in terms of character behaviours and I am utterly intrigued to see where things will go in the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"If there were stairs to hell, would you venture down those?"
"It depends on what was inside hell, and if I needed it"


Still broken and traumatised from the devastating ending of The Gilded Wolves, Séverin and his team take on another adventure to the forgotten Sleeping Palace. While our beloved characters are all fighting their inner conflicts, they search for a book that is said to give you the power of the gods. We see their search surrounded by myths and mythical creatures, dangerous friendships and secrets of the past.

While I loved the plot and thought the writing was captivating and simply beautiful, the real highlights were the characters and their relationships. While I had a hard time connecting to them in The Gilded Wolves, in this stunning sequel, they irreversibly stole my heart. The tone changed, the story got darker, and the grief was almost tangible. Every single one of these characters had their own story: Enriquez, feeling unheard while becoming one of my favourite characters; Séverin, feeling like he failed his found family. Laila, incredibly strong Laila, having trouble facing mortality; Zofia, burdened by her sick sister, while feeling like a burden herself; Hypnos, beautiful aristocrat just trying to belong.

This diverse set of characters made me fall in love with this enthralling book. Their relationships, the pain, the longing, the angst: I'm still in awe. The dialogue made me laugh out loud but other moments broke me. I already feel a hole in my heart reserved for the third and final instalment.


I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost ― one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.
Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into the icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.
As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.
A haunting, beautifully written tale of love, danger and the setting in Russia being one of the greatest characters.