Each person is beautifully broken in their own way and together they are something so much more. I love this series and how this group is a team and a family. The multiple narrators have the reader in on all the information while the players are blind to the whole picture. The cliffhanger has me itching for the next one!

This was so so good. I expected to enjoy it quite a bit because I loved The Gilded Wolves but this book dialled everything I loved about the first one up to 10.

While I loved Roshani’s first work I felt like this series just fell flat somewhere. Where I’m in love with the characters I feel like I’m missing that deeper connection and that prose I got from The Star Touched Queen. That’s one of my favorite books because of its eloquence and beautiful wording. I think we miss the prose when we jump between characters.

The ending though! Oh my gosh golly I need to know what happens next because I’m just sitting here going “what was that”!?

This was a perfect continuation of the Gilded Wolves. I really enjoyed reading about these characters again and was immediately sucked into their world. It was packed full of adventure and friendship. I loved learning new things about the characters and feel like they are part of me now. I definitely recommend this one :)

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Where do I even begin with this one? The Silvered Serpents picks up shortly after The Gilded Wolves finishes and continues to explore the intrigue surrounding the Fallen House and a mysterious object said to grant the powers of God to whoever owns it. The quest for this object leads Severin and co. to Russia where they uncover more secrets not only about the artifact they're searching for and the Fallen House but about themselves/each other as well.

Everything that was good about The Gilded Wolves continues to be good in the Silvered Serpents. Chokshi employees her signature writing style and weaves a story that is beautifully written and full of evocative language and imagery. There were some scenes that were explained so well, in such exquisite detail, that I could picture them as clearly as though they were taking place in front of me. The writing is so well done that it almost becomes a character of its own and it really helps to bring the setting and time alive.

Where I would say the story struggled most is in the pacing. There was a good amount of action in the beginning and end of the book but it felt like a large portion of the novel was just the characters doing the same things, having the same thoughts and conflicts, over and over again and it definitely caused the book to drag. The book probably would have benefitted by being about 50-75 pages shorter or by adding some more twists/action into the middle of the story because as it was it felt like they spent too much time waiting for something to happen.

The only other thing I would say as a negative was that I felt it was fairly obvious what was going on from pretty early in the book. There were a few moments in the book that were clearly meant to be big reveals but they lacked impact because I felt they'd been telegraphed early on.

I don't want to sound too negative though because of course the shining star of this book is the characters! While I would have liked more hijinks in this book I'm definitely not mad about the more in depth look we got at the main gang/cast of characters. Zofia, Enrique, Layla, and Hypnos continue to amaze me. Each character is so unique, they have very distinct personalities and also very distinct insecurities/motivations which drive them throughout the story. Every time the POV changed I sucked into that character and what they were experiencing and I loved each of them so much but also differently. I really appreciated the alternating POVs because it really showed not only how they each see themselves but also how that differs from how they see each other. It also showed how Zofia must be protected at all costs.

Now you may have noticed that I left Severin out of my above paragraph and that is because in this book, Severin kind of sucks. I know that was intentional so I wouldn't say it detracted from the book exactly but it was frustrating because his behaviour really just made me want to shake some sense into him. However, Severin's character in the Silvered Serpents is just another example of how good Chokshi is with writing her characters; even when I wanted to shake him silly I was still rooting for him and (mostly) understood why he was doing what he was. I definitely look forward to seeing what happens with all of the cast but particularly Severin in the next book.

This book has a lot going on but ultimately I believe it was about love and how it drives the characters in all that they do, even when it may not seem like it. I love found family books and at its core that is what The Silvered Serpents is about so I would recommend this series who feels similarly. While it wasn't perfect I would rate it at a 3.5 overall and I will definitely be reading the next one.

4 stars

I am completely astounded. This world that Roshani has created is elaborate and compelling and so very creative. When I read the Gilded Wolves after its release, it was all I could think about for months afterward, attempting to discern the world and magic of it to better understand where the author might further take it.

But all my discerning was for naught as I never could have imagined how intricate and complex it was going to get. IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I am in awe at the thought that was put into the detailing of each and every piece, into each character and how extraordinary they were.

The appeal of this story is being able to lose yourself in a fictional world unlike any other, in following a cast of characters you’ll hopelessly fall madly in love with. Suffice to say, I’ll be racing to the bookstore upon the release of The Bronzed Beasts.

This one was so hard to get into and I kept getting confused. I was really looking forward to it but just couldn’t continue with it.

Better the second time around. Roshani Chokshi's work is full of grief, turmoil, drama, and every now and then suffers from second book syndrome. The book's pacing and character development are on point, and while the angsty drama is a little difficult at times, it doesn't take away from the book so much that finishing it was impossible. I still haven't decided if it was better than or equal to The Guilded Wolves, but I can say I will pick up the third book to see what happens next.

I had the most difficult time to jump into the book, maybe because Séverin is so dark and negative, trying to feel absolutely nothing... But when the action kicked in, I was hooked!!!! So much is happening in so little time, I couldn't put it down.

I absolutely devoured The Gilded Wolves. This one is different, but sooo good too! Hope you'll like it too.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love a heist. I love snarky characters and banter. This is emotional and beautiful and rich. Somehow, Chokshi manages to point up the inequity and darkness of colonialism without it being heavy-handed. The characters feel real- they're messy and flawed and you root for them so much. There's a great deal of grief and angst in this book, which is part of what keeps you reading, along with truly gorgeous setting and lots of atmosphere. I can't wait for the third instalment.

Omg this is besssssst book I read . I was earth to read this book after gilded wolves but don't have time because of various things happening in my life, but my God this book is epic.

NOW I CANT WAIT FOR NEXT BOOK.

A nice, fast-paced fantasy/mystery that had me eagerly turning pages. My only complaint was that the ending was a little too abrupt for my tastes and such a cliffhanger (I don't mind the cliffhanger per se but I hate having to wait for the next book). I did manage to figure out a couple twists pretty easily, but it still wasn't necessarily predictable or tropey; it was more that I watch so many thrillers and mysteries that sometimes I'm good at picking up on plot turns.

I spent most of the book wanting to smack Severin upside his head but I get it, he's dealing with trauma and fear. I still wanna smack him. Enrique and Zophia really shown in this book and I found myself really enjoying their chapters more than anything else.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi

(Warning: there's no way to talk about The Silvered Serpents without spoilers for The Gilded Wolves, so consider yourself warned.)

I'm not sure what it is about Roshani Chokshi's story of a motley, fractious heist crew in magical Belle Époque not-Paris that draws me in so thoroughly when heist-driven stories in general often aren't my thing . The worldbuilding certainly helps: with an intriguing magic system and history, Chokshi creates a version of an imperialist European nation whose genteel facade doesn't in any way obscure its imperialist exploitation of other cultures. The characters themselves are perfectly placed to underscore that: from mixed race Filipino academic and cake enthusiast Enrique, whose dual heritage leaves him distrusted and shut out of his peers' endeavours; to Jewish, neurodiverse engineering prodigy Zofia, all are people who find themselves on the margins of the elite, recognised and occasionally valued for their talents but never truly accepted. Or maybe these books hook me because they're just great, and they also end with heartbreaking cliffhangers every time and I can't help but finish up wanting more.

The Silvered Serpents picks up where the Gilded Wolves left off: with the found-family heist crew put together by disinherited noble and terrible choice-maker Séverin smashed into tiny pieces by the events of the last book, as Séverin attempts to prevent himself from having to grapple again with the kind of loss brought on by its catastophic revelations. However, when an opportunity arises to pursue godhood in the form of a lost text called the Divine Lyrics, Séverin decides to get the band back together - including Laila, his former flame, who he pushed away in a brutal ending scene in The Gilded Wolves - and the group end up travelling to Russia, working with Séverin's estranged Aunt and another noble House to uncover the artefact's secrets, and to stop the damage being caused by another, considerably more murderous group seeking to harness its power.

Even more than its predecessor, The Silvered Serpents' thematic focus on bloodlines and heritage means that the emphasis is very much on the characters and the relationships between them, and that works perfectly: there's just so much to enjoy. While I did find some elements strained (honestly, I'm sort of done with "neurodiverse person doesn't realise they are experiencing love because they can only analyse their emotions through the detached lens of physical reaction", no matter how much I was rooting for that particular relationship), on the whole this is a great follow-up and (thanks to that cliffhanger!) I'm definitely keen to see where the final book goes.

I love the cast of characters of Chokshi's beautiful world.

However, I feel like this book definitely felt the middle book syndrome. The first half of the book felt very slow and I struggled to keep my attention on this book, but once we hit the last third, I finished it in a couple hours. I think pushing through the dragging parts was well worth it to get to the end. And these characters are so enchanting, I just want to root for them through every triumph and failure. Plus, heists? Always sign me up!

Though this wasn't my favorite book of my series, I am so excited to read the thrilling conclusion of this series.

3.5 stars

Roshani Chokshi's beautiful writing continues to create the stunning world in this sequel where the L'Eden squad are searching for an artefact mentioned in the first book, in the midst of a snow-clad Siberia and on the grounds of a Sleeping Palace where the magic, puzzles, and stakes continue to rise. With a greater focus on the emotional pain, struggle, and misunderstanding among the characters, especially after the saddening end of The Gilded Wolves, this instalment easily delivers heartbreak, dwindling relationships, and love that surpasses loss as well friendships. In terms of plot complexity, The Silvered Serpents ranks lower than the predecessor but the essence of a diverse cast and a set-up for what the dangerous combination of pain and power can bring to a table where godly purposes are thought to be the ultimate solution, continues to effortlessly impress in this character-oriented sequel and certainly makes one anticipate the conclusion of this trilogy.

Roshani Chokshi masterfully tells her story through multiple points of view, with each character developing their own unique voice. I've previously enjoyed her titles The Star Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes. Beginning this book, I was unaware at first that it was a sequel, so I think I would have benefited from previously reading The Gilded Wolves. Ms. Chokshi knows how to create a thrilling plot set within a world that captures your attention and allows you to imagine the buildings and scenery so clearly. I especially enjoy plots that mix real life elements with those of fantasy or magic. I would recommend for any readers who previously read and enjoyed titles by this author, and those who enjoy fantasy and adventure.

*Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy for my honest review*

This book was definitely darker than the first book but that's one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much more. The character growth was amazing and that was a huge plus for me in this book. The author has the ability to grab the reader's attention and you will not be able to put this book down. I adored this book and I love Roshani Chokshi's writing style, it's just beautiful.

The Silvered Serpents is the second book in Roshani Chokshi's trilogy. It's darker and much more grim than its predecessor. The story progression was perfect and I enjoyed more world and magic building in this novel. The pacing flowed naturally and I was eager to continue reading even when I should have been attending to other things. For me I would equally enjoy these novels in movie, or television format. The settings, and time period are stunning. The only disappointment I feel is that the third book is not due until September of 2021.

I had never read the first book in this series but that didn’t stop me from getting hooked. Following a team of treasure hunters for the ultimate prize. So many twists and turns that keep you wanting more.