Loved it! I thought I loved The Gilded Wolves but Roshani managed to exceed my very high expectations and keep the story and excitement up. All my favorite characters are back and yes that means Zofia!!! Although the tone of the book is a lot darker and grittier, the gang is still amazing and their adventure exhilarating. I know I'll be re-reading this one again and again, it was THAT good!

The ending had that distinct flare of book one and I'm again left dying to know what happens next! If you're looking for humor, action, danger, simmering romance, magic and friendship, I highly recommend this book and this series.

The Silvered Serpents follows our favorite band of treasure hunters from the first novel except the stakes are much higher. On top of that everyone is coming fresh off the death of Tristan and our heroes are not really their normal selves. They all want to leave and do their own thing but Severin will not let that happen. He needs to find The Divine Lyrics because he feels like it will protect everyone he loves. But Leila needs to find them for a much more pressing reason: her demise fast approaches and this book is the only thing that can save her. Severin gets the crew together for one last hunt and it is much trickier than any of them expected.

The Gilded Wolves was very much more of a heist novel whereas The Silvered Serpents was really a big treasure hunt. There was one small heist in the beginning of the book but the rest of it was only about finding The Divine Lyrics and unpacking the mystery of where it could be. I really enjoyed this book but like with all Roshani Chokshi books it left me very confused at times. With Roshani Chokshi it is like her writing flows well but then some parts have a disconnect. As if something was deleted that helped explained how something got from point A to point B. I was often asking myself the question, "Wait...how does that even work???" I, being a fan of her books, have grown used to it and it is just something I expect so it really does not bother me as much as it does other people. Even though the plot was not as exciting in this book I did understand the world better and I think that helped me to enjoy it as much if not more than the first one.

The characters are my favorite part of this series because I adore all (three) of them so much. Zofia is my favorite character by far...actually she is one of my favorite characters of literature period. Seeing things from Zofia's world is so fascinating and by far the best POV of the novel. Laila is such a sweet, kind soul and she deserves so much more than her circumstances. Enrique is an absolute delight and his presence in a scene makes it so much more entertaining. Severin is NOT my favorite in this book. Tristan's death twisted him into something ugly and he is not the same from the first book. Frankly, I didn't care for him that much in this book. He has truly gone mad in my opinion. Hypnos becomes more of a main character in this one and it was interesting to see how desperately he wants to be accepted and belong to the group. He was not a favorite of mine either but at least he was not as bad as Severin. Eva is a new character in this book that I actually really liked! There is a bit of girl hate that goes on with her and Laila but it is addressed and I think Eva comes around by the end of the book. Laila was always the better person in the situation because she did not want to be part of this feminine rivalry. Eva is very interesting and I am really excited to see what she does in the next book.

If you read The Gilded Wolves I would definitely read The Silvered Serpents. It was fun, adventurous, and every bit entertaining as the first book. I cannot wait to see what the next book holds. I believe the next book will be the last but I am not 100% certain of that.

The Silvered Serpents is an innovative fresh take on fantasy. It’s like Oceans Eleven, meets Indiana Jones. I love the fantasy genre, but the settings are often predictable. Chokshi, has created an incredible world mixing history, science fiction, fantasy, intellect and humor. I felt captivated from the second I began reading this sequel. I was expecting a similar heist plot like in The Gilded Wolves, but I was pleasantly surprised with plot of this story. It was unexpected and beautifully written. Another favorite aspect of this story was the continued character development. I grew more in love with each character as I read this story, and literally cannot wait until the next book. This series is a must read, it’s

4.5 stars

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Gilded Wolves series which sounds like it’s going to be a trilogy. I got this as an eGalley from NetGalley.

Story (4/5): I also thought for some reason this was a duology, but given the ending there needs to be at least one more book in this series. Up until the ending this was a 5 star book for me. This story mainly sends our characters on an adventure to the north, Russia. There they hope to finally find a very special book that Severin hopes will grant him godhood and Laila hopes will buy her more time to live.

Characters (5/5): The characters pretty much make this whole book. Every single character in this book is incredibly well done and the rotating POVs work wonderfully for this book. These characters have such depth and such complex histories, they pull you in and make you love them. So well done!!!

Setting (4/5): This book is set in an alternate version of our own world, it feels like it’s set in the past. The majority of this story took part in Northern Russia. While I enjoyed the wintery setting, I didn’t feel like the world building here was truly exceptional.

Writing Style (5/5): After the characters, it’s the amazingly beautiful writing style that makes this book work so well. Chokshi writes beautifully and has such an excellent imagination. I was a bit disappointed in the ending because it felt so rushed, I left feeling kinda like "Uh, okay I guess we're done??"

Summary (4.5/5): Overall I loved this book even more than the first book in the series. I love the characters, the adventure, and the amazing imagery here. These are very creative books and you never know what’s going to happen next. Although I enjoyed the big twist at the end, I thought it felt rushed and was disappointed in where this book left off. Part of that was because I thought this was a duology, they do say in the synopsis that “the crew risks their lives for one last job”.

My short review of this book would be this: I am finished, and I am not OK, and I need the third book immediately.

My somewhat longer review of the book follows: Chokshi has done it again in creating a book and a world that is so vivid and so intoxicating that it draws the reader in. Her characters are so real and the situations they find themselves in are so heartbreaking that I just wanted to gather them all up, snuggle them under a weighted blanket, and give them hot cocoa until they feel better. Anyone who loves unwilling team-up stories will find so much to love in this series.

3 for neutral. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. While I enjoyed the first, this one just never grabbed me and got my interest. Maybe because I’m a bit of a newbie to fantasy or even possibly my mood. I’ll update if able to enjoy at a later date!

I really enjoyed The Gilded Wolves and while I’m not sure I thought this was quite as good, I still liked the characters and the world building a lot. I would recommend this for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows series. I was really interested in the mythology of this world, which i was happy to see further developed in this second entry in the series. There was more mystery and intrigue in this one as well. A good bit of set up for the next book towards the end, but an overall fast-paced and engaging read.

To be completely honest, for most of this book, at least 75%, it wasn't making me happy. And I wouldn't necessarily say the ending made me happy, but it at least made me feel a lot more than the rest of the book did. The plot of this series still is just not my favourite at all, and I so wish it was because I want to love these books. I will say I really love Hypnos. I have a head canon about him, that I would love to come true but am also not super optimistic because lol I've been disappointed many times before.

I'm definitely going to read the third book after that ending

I enjoyed the first one for this series and while I struggled through this one, it wasn't because it wasn't well done. It is a well done book and world building, I am no longer finding myself in these novels however and have gone on to others. But that's nothing against this book, it is without a doubt quite good.

⅘

The magic. The charm. The thrill of the mystery.
The sequel to The Gilded Wolves is a marvellous story that lives up to the first book while standing on its own with new characters and a group of people with secrets so dark and lonely it seems to fill in the cracks left behind after the events of The Gilded Wolves.

The Silvered Serpent, opens with a truth whispered between sheets and talked about in mirrors so others wouldn’t know it. A secret and a pain that comes off the page with such force that it grips you around the collar of your shirt and throws you through the next four-hundred and sixteen pages.

The group is fractured and the one empty chair in the observatory under the stars is more of a wound than a reminder. But no one is going to talk about it. And just as well since the group is taken on a new heist, with larger than life characters who seem just as odd as they are, and new land with impossible backgrounds and even more impossible tasks in order to save the one they love the most.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books, Netgalley, and Roshani Chokshi for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

The second installment of The Gilded Wolves trilogy continues the adventure of our new fave gang since Kaz Brekker and the Dregs. Severin and Laila (and others) are back with a new mission - find The Divine Lyrics, a book that no one can agree on what it says, but everyone knows it's important. Severin needs it to become a God. Laila needs it to learn more of her past. The Fallen House wants it because it was theirs, but they can't find it because it was lost so long ago. It's a race to see who will uncover it first.

I was worried this installment would fall to the typical middle book syndrome but IT DID NOT. Middle books can sometimes be on the slow side because of setting up the plot in the third, but The Silvered Serpents kept the action and adventure going the whole time - with twists and turns and a stunning ending that I did not see coming.

For fans of Six of Crows and Enchantee, The Silvered Serpents continues the captivating, historical adventure that will take you through France and Russia - and everywhere in between - while deepening the magical story of these 5 friends.

This books picks up exactly where the last one leaves off. Emotional highway and dealing with death 😭
Definitely more action and more suspense than the first. Can't wait for the next one!

Amazing novel that is highly recommended for genre fans. This book will be purchased for library use.

“You cannot protect everyone from everything. You are only human, Severin.” With these words Laila inadvertently plants a seed in Severin’s mind: if he were immortal, he could save everyone. All he needs is the book, The Divine Lyrics. All he needs to get the book are his friends, the people he cares most about, the people he must keep at arms-length in order to reach his goal. With reluctance, the team gets back together and travels to the ice-covered location of the Sleeping Palace to find the book before the winter meeting of the magic-wielding Houses convenes. For when they do, the possible will become impossible.
This is the second in a series (hopefully only a trilogy!) It won’t make sense unless you read the first. The characters are individuals with their own quirks, desires, and opinions. Love them, though Severin gets pretty annoying in this title with his one-minded goal that tears his friends apart. I hope the spark remaining in him at the end will burn brighter in the next book.

This is the sequel to The Gilded Wolves and, perhaps, is even more intriguing. The end of the first book was devastating and created a division among the protagonists of this series.
Severin is the leader, however, he leads with a harshness that reflects his inner turmoil to what he has lost. Although he can be difficult, his main goal is always to protect his fellow team members, even if he doesn’t exactly show that.
Join Severin, Laila, Enrique, Hypnos and Zofia as they travel to Russia seeking the Sleeping Palace and The Divine Lyrics which will give them access to godhood. By reaching this goal, Severin believes he will forever be able to put his past and his emotions behind him by erasing feelings of guilt and sadness.
This sequel has a certain cleverness to its writing that can charm any reader. Match that with the elaborate plot and complex characters, and you get a truly great story. This world is so unique and delicious. Lavish details that will leave the reader fully satisfied. I highly suggest enjoying this enchanting creation. Pick up your copy on September 22, 2020.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!
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★ <i>I received an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i> ★

I want to start my review by stating if you absolutely loved the first book you will probably love this installment.
I really enjoyed the world building in the first book, but was not fully invested in the cast of characters and their relationships. I had high hopes, and was anticipating a deeper dive into the characters' development. However, the characters are all really depressed over the events of the last book, and have all split off from each other physically + emotionally. Which is understandable and would have been fine, except, this lasts THE ENTIRE BOOK!!! No one is working together properly, there is drama from unnecessary secret keeping, and Severin is being rude to everyone + dumb about everything. It was just too infuriating, all the new world building and magic introduced was fantastic, but I could not get over the characters and "plot twists" that were completely obvious. Also, there wasn't any real resolution in this installment, most of the plot was about creating ~drama~ between the characters and setting up the third and final book. I'm invested enough to continue reading this series to see what happens, but was pretty disappointed with the direction.

If you're a fan of magic, wonderfully deep characters, friendship, a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue and a tale which takes a darker note, this is one you'll gobble up and want more of.

Note: This is the second book in the series. I did not read the first one, which was a mistake. While it isn't too hard to settle into the second one without reading the rest of the series, it's clear that a lot of depth and richness is lost especially on the character end by not having the background information. So, I recommend starting with book one.

Severin is determined to find the one artifact that is said to enable mortals to turn into gods, especially now that his brother is dead and he'd like nothing more than to escape all emotions and the sense of helplessness. After a long and seemingly hopeless search, he happens across an unexpected clue and calls his group together. The friends all have been affected by the brother's death and let it hang over them like a dark shadow. Plus, each is battling demons of their own. Especially one of them has a heavy secret, which will only burden all five of them more. If they can find the artifact, there might be hope but there's more than a few secrets standing between them and that dream.

This is the first book I've read for 2020 and wow. The year definitely started off with a bang. To say that this one is well-written is an understatement. The author knows the craft and weaves the words into a very dark, emotional and well paced read. The scenes carry weight and come to life through details without ever nearing the brink of boredom. Emotions hit hard and are easy to identify with as each character sucks in with their own personality, fears and desires. It's definitely a read which grabs and draws in.

The book is written from the view of each of the friends. The author keeps this from growing confusing not only by labeling the person at the beginning of the chapter, but the writing and style for each one is fairly easy to identify right away. Kudos on this end, since that much head flipping isn't always easy. This, of course, allows the reader to sink into each character and gives the tale a lot of depth. Each character is amazing, each harbors horrible fears and secrets and each one has the reader feeling for them...even when some intentions aren't very pure and even, at times, slightly twisted.

The pacing is well done and holds steady the entire way through. On this end though, I did find that the constant head flipping took a toll. Although never slow, the main plot lost a tiny bit of steam sometimes as the characters were lost in their own thoughts and experiences. Also, some of the time jumps came a little sudden and I had to read back a paragraph to make sure the new paragraph was, in fact, a scene switch. A lot of this is due to the amount packed into the novel. There is a wonderful richness in character depth, and there are many secrets along with a large helping of intrigue. The story twists in dark ways and keeps emotions high. There's a lot to shoved into these pages, and the author does to a fantastic job of getting it all to settle in.

Also, this one is sold for the young adult audience, but I'd recommend it more for the higher end of this age bracket if not adults. The characters act very mature for their age and will settle in with older readers very easily, too. In any case, this is a wonderful read for darker fantasy friends.

This was absolutely amazing and a treat to read, despite how painful the angst and how much I wanted Severin to come to his senses earlier on in the book. I’m more eager than ever for what’s next!

This is definitely not the book to read first - getting into the characters, the world and the plot requires having read Book One (<i>The Guilded Wolves</i>). And unfortunately, the ending feels as though the author just stopped there and will pick things up in Book Three. Having a more sensible transition between books would definitely help.

However, if you have read the first book, rejoining the crowd pretty easy. They're all in bad places following their adventures trying to retrieve an artifact (no spoilers!). Trying to get and keep the gang together isn't easy, but for this mission they've agreed to try albeit for their own selfish reasons. There are some gaps in how things work, and what they're doing but eventually they end up in Siberia in a palace that has been virtually abandoned by the ostracized Fallen House. Again, the world here seems to be based on a "oh, we need this? ok, we've got it" basis leading to some leaps of faith on the reader's part.

And, again, that ending. It's just too abrupt for my taste.

eARC provided by publisher.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

**Spoilers ahead for The Gilded Wolves**

"Love did not always wear the face one wished it would. Sometimes it looked downright monstrous"

Roshani Chokshi has taken the beautiful, enthralling world from The Gilded Wolves and built upon in to create this masterpiece of a book! Fans of the first book will have their hearts broken, rebuilt, and broken again as they follow our beloved characters on their next adventure.

So what is this book about?

Following the rise of the Fallen House and the death of Tristian, Séverin and his team have drifted apart. After pursuing any leads on the Fallen House and The Divine Lyrics, the case has grown cold and their hope has dried up. But when a surprise lead pops up, the team will get back together for one last acquisition in order to avenge Tristian and stop the Fallen House. Journeying to the cold heart of Russia, Séverin, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia alongside Hypnos and his House, will learn exactly how far they'll go and how much of their souls they are willing sacrifice to save the ones they love... and maybe the rest of humanity.

In the first book, Chokshi introduced us to this beautiful, Forged world and to the wonderful characters that make up our team. I particularly loved how the POVs changed in order to introduce us to each character, their story, and to see their perspective of the story as it unfolds. In The Silvered Serpents it is no different, and Chokshi takes us even further into the depths of these beautifully complex and diverse characters. This way, we see the ice that has surrounded Séverin's heart after the loss of his brother, and his twisted and heartbreaking resolution to protect his friends further. This way, we see Laila as she approaches her birthday, and possibly the end of her life as well. This way, we see Zofia as she struggles to reconcile her natural family, with her sister sick, with the family she has created amongst her friends. And this way we see Enrique, still struggling to make his voice heard in the world and to gain respect for his work, all the while figuring out the state of his heart.

In this breathtaking sequel, Chokshi takes our team and their world and turns it on its head. The grief of their loss has changed each of them in their own way, affecting their work and relationships, while the world of the Order may be flipped upside down as well with the discoveries that they are about to make. What I enjoyed so much about this book was that Chokshi really leaned into the darker sides of each character and their personal struggle. She doesn't shy away from from the heavier emotions or the moral ambiguity that creeps into their lives. This lended an extremely human and realistic aspect to a world where everything seems Forged and made our characters all the more relatable.

Pushing further into this darkness, the lines between the "good team," i.e. Séverin & his crew, and the "bad team," i.e. the Fallen House, become blurred. The power that the Divine Lyrics offers is desired by all...what will they do to get it? What does it mean for the ends to justify the means? And who will they be at the end of it all?

Yet while this world is beguiling and beautiful, I wish that we could learn more about the art of Forging. This magical, god-like affinity that is so integral to the world Chokshi has built here is something that, even at the end of the second book, feels like it is under-explained. The art of it, how it comes to manifest in a person, and the extent to which Forging can be used are all things I want to know more in-depth....and this book doesn't necessarily give me the answers I wanted. However, this flaw, while important, doesn't impact the book as a whole, as the Forging concept is used as a mechanism for our characters' adventures, as they are the most important piece.

All in all, this is a character driven book that happens to be set in a beautiful, magical world. One of the things I love the most is the sheer diversity that Chokshi has brought to her characters. Biracial characters in the time where colonialism is still cool, a Jewish & ASD character when Anti-Semitism is on the rise and ASD isn't understood, and bisexual characters in 19th century. Readers will be hard-pressed to not find a character that they relate to in the slightest, and that is one of the many strengths of this wonderful series.

To put it lightly, I am in love, I am so sad this book was over, and I am dying for the next one. RIP my soul.