Reviews with content warning for Confinement - The Silvered Serpents

The above quote perfectly encapsulates what this series is. This book, it tore my heart to pieces!! I love the world, I love the characters, and I'm so happy I re-read it so I can finally finish the trilogy!!! Bonus that I don't have to wait months for the book to come out, I can just grab it from my bookshelf this time

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bookish_otaku's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4/5 stars

I must say I really enjoyed how the relationships and characters were developed further in this book. I would say Zofia was the character I liked most in book one because of the insight we got to her character and insecurities, and in this book (though I absolutely still love her) I think Enrique unexpectedly shined the brightest for me! Of course, Laila's back story and her romance with Severin is riveting and really yanks those heartstrings, but I don't know why, I found Enrique's story more... Resonant. An aspect I liked, as it displays Chokshi's ability to deepen multiple characters at a time.

The romantic angst was nice, but at times I found myself having to remind myself why there was angst. "Why is Severin being dumb again?" Then I'd habe to justify it because he has a reason, I just can never remember what it is and find it hard to buy when I do remember. To me, this felt like a sign that we needed better time learning about Severin and his own thoughts. The ending section was good, especially in showing us how he thinks, but I feel like sometimes there was this reliance on inserted back story about his fathers that didn't always have the clearest connection with the plot, or didn't seem supepr relevant. And then it didn't follow through and go through each sin like it had in the first book which just left me kind of confused.

I don't know, Severin and Laila's arcs just felt too straightforward whereas the other characters had more nuanced struggles. I like when we see Laila struggling with her own identity and if she considers herself "real" but feel there could have been a much deeper exploration. Severin was obviously upset about Tristan, and I think his desire for godhood was fine, but I'd love to know more about him feeling misunderstood. A little detail that was touched upon nicely and in such a wonderful metaphor of monsters and gods at the end. Seeing how the smallest but most basic of human desires morph and form our actions. With Laila, it would be her desire to be loved. We already know Hypnos wants belonging in more than one way, Enrique to be heard, and Zofia to not be made to feel as if she doesn't fit. All just different sides of the same die, differentiated in nuance to become a completely different menifestation in their characters. Hoping we get more of that in book three.

Now of course, the plot was mwa chef kiss as always. Chokshi really does a nice job with her historical heist plots. And the twists? Loved it. I can't say I was too shocked, but it felt more like a satisfying click of a missing puzzle piece fitting into place. I was worried this book would fall into second bridge book syndrome, but I'm so glad it didn't and if anything, was a great build off of the first book.

Chokshi really capitalized off the angst between Laila and Severin, and wow it hurt so good (when I just went with the flow and stopped questioning things). Despite them being in the spotlight, I love how the love triangle plays out in the background. So understated but also it really steals the spotlight for me and ugh I love itttttt. Is it clear enough yet how much I love Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos?

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