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queer_bookwyrm's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: suicide mention, violence
The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi is book two in The Gilded Wolves trilogy. I loved this book just as much as the last! The characters of this series are everything. This time instead of a heist, we have a treasure hunt.
We follow up with the gang after the events of last book when they come together for a other job: finding Tezcat spectacles in order to find an artifact called The Divine Lyrics, that is said to grant the power of God. Séverin wants the gang to help him find it. The character stuff really carries this book more than the plot. Honestly, I could just read about this group doing nothing and just being mundane, and I'd love it.
We find out something shocking about Laila that has shaken each member of the group. The striking thing about each them is they all just want to belong and to be loved. Hypnos is desperate for family, Enrique wants to be heard and respected, Zodiac wants to be seen as independent and capable, but also has some fluttery feelings about someone (👀), and Séverin just wants to take care of everyone.
We get a creepy haunted ice palace in Siberia, a treasure hunt, unexpected twists, cool mechanized ice creatures, and blood Forging. I found Séverin to be frustrating in this book. Stubborn, brooding boys. That ending was just rude! I will have to prioritize the next book when I do Sequel September. I must know what happens next!
The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi is book two in The Gilded Wolves trilogy. I loved this book just as much as the last! The characters of this series are everything. This time instead of a heist, we have a treasure hunt.
We follow up with the gang after the events of last book when they come together for a other job: finding Tezcat spectacles in order to find an artifact called The Divine Lyrics, that is said to grant the power of God. Séverin wants the gang to help him find it. The character stuff really carries this book more than the plot. Honestly, I could just read about this group doing nothing and just being mundane, and I'd love it.
We find out something shocking about Laila that has shaken each member of the group. The striking thing about each them is they all just want to belong and to be loved. Hypnos is desperate for family, Enrique wants to be heard and respected, Zodiac wants to be seen as independent and capable, but also has some fluttery feelings about someone (👀), and Séverin just wants to take care of everyone.
We get a creepy haunted ice palace in Siberia, a treasure hunt, unexpected twists, cool mechanized ice creatures, and blood Forging. I found Séverin to be frustrating in this book. Stubborn, brooding boys. That ending was just rude! I will have to prioritize the next book when I do Sequel September. I must know what happens next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide
marephobia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror and Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism and Infertility
astralbooks's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness, Antisemitism, and Self harm
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Animal cruelty
Re sexual assault,azrah786's review
4.5
[This full review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Though I don’t talk about them enough, these characters and this story live in my head rent free. This sequel was just wOW
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Though I don’t talk about them enough, these characters and this story live in my head rent free. This sequel was just wOW
The Silvered Serpents picks up a few months after where The Gilded Wolves left off, with grief an ever present shadow hanging around each and every one of the characters. The loss of Tristan has driven the L’Eden gang apart, but upon discovering a lead to a certain powerful artefact – The Divine Lyrics - Séverin is determined to bring the band back together and to do whatever is necessary to find it.
Roshani’s beautiful and immersive prose transports us right back into her world of secret Houses, magic and Forging, this time taking us on a quest to Russia. The story takes a much darker turn to its predecessor though I feel like it also really comes into its own. The National Treasure-esque storyline is dialled up with higher stakes and more complex puzzles and twists, and further elements of lore and history have been masterfully interwoven into the narrative.
The pacing and new aspects of the Forged magic system and world really keep you on your toes. I don't want to say much with regards to the plot so as not to spoil anything but I was absolutely hooked.
"Knowledge was coy. It liked to hide beneath the shroud of myth, place its heart in a fairy tale, as if it were a prize at the end of the quest."
The L’Eden gang are without a doubt my favourite found family and it really hurt to see how the tragedy at the end of the first book had driven a wedge between them and affected their relationships. Their connections with one another were so full of angst and constantly being explored, as was each individual’s arc and backstory - you can really sense a higher level of maturity around all of them. I really loved how well balanced this all was with the plot. Though the frequent banter from the first book has been somewhat reduced there were still some moments of wittiness that will warm your heart - I particularly loved the dynamic that reformed and strengthened between Laila, Zofia and Enrique. I honestly didn’t think I could love these kids any more but I was wrong.
Now fair warning this book will come with a desire to throttle Séverin on numerous occasions but I feel like Roshani represented grief and its repercussions remarkably well through his character. Again like with book one the various flashbacks added further layers to his story and I won’t lie and say his traumatic childhood had me sympathising with him a little. Well, until he opened his mouth… this boyyyy
"Séverin Montagnet-Alarie knew there was only one difference between monsters and gods. Both inspired fear. Only one inspired worship."
If you thought the romance and pining throughout The Gilded Wolves was driving you crazy, if the ending of the first book made you fling the book at the wall, well…
This book well and truly broke me and I will not know peace until I have book 3 in my hands. (But then again I am terrified of what Roshani has planned for my children.)
Either way I urge you to read this series and suffer with me!
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence
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