leahrosereads
Written on Feb 3, 2019
Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Severin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Severin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Severin will need help from a band of experts:
An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can't yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.
Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.
- ISBN10 125014454X
- ISBN13 9781250144546
- Publish Date 15 January 2019
- Publish Status Transferred
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Wednesday Books
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 464
- Language English
Reviews
Briana @ Pages Unbound
Written on Feb 1, 2019
The novel is set in Victorian Paris, but in an alternate history were magic exists. It's called Forging and is somehow related to Babel Rings that House patriarchs wield and guard and also to Babel Fragments, which are hidden across the world. People think that joining the Babel Fragments to make a whole would be bad. That's my basic understanding of the magic system, but for the most part I was confused. The heist in the book involves going after certain artifacts related to the Babel Fragments, but I honestly was unclear for the entire book what exactly the heist was supposed to accomplish and why the characters were involved in it. Not understanding the fundamental premise of the book definitely made it harder to enjoy. Maybe this is a personal fault, and if I reread it again slowly I'd understand it, but I've seen other readers complain they had no idea what was going on either.
I also simply did not enjoy the characters. They've been compared to the Six of Crows characters, which is partially true. The crew leader does have elements of Kaz with his troubled past surrounding his family. and there is a courtesan girl who enjoys baked goods. However, my main issue with the characters is that they seemed like cardboard cutouts. The author obviously tried really hard to make them complex, but they never read as real to me. Even their dialogue was stilted, and their banter was flat, and overall I thought they had exactly zero chemistry as a team.
Here's just one example of a quote that struck me as something that no one would actually say, particularly in a casual conversation:
"Taste that?" she whispered. "There's zested yuku from the orchards, instead of lemon rind, and vanilla bean, instead of only vanilla extract. The glaze is hibiscus jam I made myself. Not some boring apricot. What do you think? Doesn't it taste like a dream?"
This might not be the best example from the book, but it's a really awkward way for someone to tell their friend they just baked something and they want them to taste it.
I also didn't think the characters faced any real difficulties, which is a problem in a heist novel where I want to believe that the characters are 1) actually badass characters doing the impossible and 2) occasionally actually in danger. I think the magic system plays into everything being relatively simple for the characters, or just not taking any skill that the readers can see. There's a magic object for practically everything? Need to be sneaky? You ring a magic silencing bell that silences your footsteps. Then you smear some powder over your shirt that makes you look like the wallpaper. No actual badass thievery skills involved. Have a rare magical item that is useful but too small? No problem: replicate it immediately. Zofia, the engineer of the team, frequently talks about how "Item A should not be able to do X, but she modified it, so now it does exactly what she wants." The wildest point, however, might be the scene where the crew leader has his historian trying to figure out a magical artifact and tells him that it's been four hours, so if he didn't figure out its secret, there clearly is no secret. FOUR HOURS is all it takes to solve a rare historical puzzle? In real life, someone could take weeks, months, or years pondering something like this. These characters just don't struggle, and it takes away tension from the book.
The book has some high points. It's interesting enough I decided to finish it instead of DNF'ing. It has a diverse cast of characters. It tries to be a cool heist novel. I'm giving it three stars, which is basically my "Meh, it's ok" rating, but I'm also uninvested enough in the story that I don't plan to read the sequel.
Joséphine
Written on Jan 31, 2019
Anyway, beyond identities, I had a lot of fun reading The Gilded Wolves. Lots of puzzles to solve, twists to overcome, and trust issues to address. I actually burst out laughing when I read the last page because I saw that coming during the first half of the book. The build-up towards that moment was good though, so I'm excited for the sequel.
Stephanie
Written on Jan 24, 2019
Quirky Cat
Written on Jan 14, 2019
Gilded Wolves is the first novel in a new series of the same name by Roshani Chokshi. Honestly, this is the first novel I’ve read by her and I wish I had found her sooner. Her writing style is exquisite and I never wanted the book to end!
The novel is one part fantasy, one part steampunk, and one part heist. There are also a couple of romantic subplots, which is a bonus. The characters that carry the plot are incredibly well written. Each one of the expanded cast is unique, from the way they act and dress to what their passions and motivations are.
Gilded Wolves takes place in Paris, 1889. But the Paris is this novel is very different from the one written about in history books. Here the elegance of the city is transcended thanks to the forging abilities of the people that live within it.
Forcing is very similar to magic, though it is somewhat more specific and specialized. Each character we’ve seen with a forging ability has had an affinity for one particular material. Some forge metals, others paper, yet others the mind.
One last thing worth commenting on before I begin my actual review: The cover. I honestly think this is one of my favorite covers so far. Admittedly I am partial to the deep green used, but it’s more than that. Even the cover speaks of elegance and fantasy all in one. It’s a perfect representation of the novel.
I honestly think I loved almost every moment of Gilder Wolves; even the twists that were designed to make me cringe. It was all so beautifully written. The writing felt like it flowed from one scene to the next, slowly building up the tension.
What really made this novel, in my opinion, were the characters. Originally we were introduced to five main characters. With time we’ve given the impression that a sixth might join the group (the jury is still out on that one). Six characters is a relatively large cast, especially before considering the number of secondary characters that are involved. But despite that, I never had a moment of trouble telling each one of them apart. Their way of thinking, speaking, and acting were all so clear and distinct.
The best part of these characters was their varied backstories and reasons for being involved. I’ll confess that I think they did the best job with the true main character, Severin. Each of his chapters started with an italicized backstory focused on one element in his past. All those moments were tied together with a common theme. It was brilliant and I found myself looking forward to those moments.
The rest of the characters fit their backstories well. Each one had a painful past, but they also had the drive to keep them going, and I respect that so much. Chokshi did a wonderful job of making these characters feel so painfully human at times.
The writing style allowed us to do more than just see what drove each character. At a certain point, it became impossible to avoid seeing the faults in these characters. The human faults, that is. Their obsessions, their weaknesses, their fears. All those elements were slowly revealed with time, but in the end, they all came into play as well. It was brilliantly done.
As for the plot…it was as intense as it was breathtaking and heartbreaking. The convoluted nature of their missions helped to obscure the true goals of those behind each scenario, leaving us at the edge of our seats.
It became quickly evident that there was more going on here than meets the eye. I enjoyed watching the plot unravel, as it showed a unique level of complexity. When combined with the fluid writing it became captivating.
I won’t talk too much about the conclusion here, for obvious reasons. I will say that I didn’t even remotely see it coming. Yet with some retrospection, I have to agree that it was all laid out to happen exactly like that. It was very well done.
Part of me is sad that I’ve finished Gilded Wolves. I know it’s early yet, but I rather hope that we’ll get news soon about the sequel. In the meantime, I think I’ll dig into Chokshi’s other works. I think she’s an author worth keeping an eye on.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
tweetybugshouse
Written on Jan 11, 2019
Terri M. LeBlanc
Written on Dec 28, 2018
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
chymerra
Written on Dec 6, 2018
The Gilded Wolves showed up on my radar a few months back. When I read the blurb, I had a “meh” reaction and almost didn’t accept the review request from the publisher. At the time, my reading/review schedule was busy. Even though the book was due to be published in January, I didn’t think I was going to be able to read it. Then I reread the blurb and my “meh” reaction turned into a “Hmmm“. Since I had a few books scheduled for review in January, I decided to accept the review request. Let me tell you, I am so glad that I did. This has to be one of the best books I have read this year.
This was a beautifully written book. The author took her time building up the characters backstories while progressing with the main storylines. Any other book would have me sitting here and complaining about it. But not here. It worked. The author separated the backstories by having them in italics. What I liked also is that there was no confusion when that happened either. That alone made this book an enjoyable read for me.
I liked that the main characters were fleshed out and they were diverse. Enrique was from the Philippines and was mixed race. He was Filipino/Spanish. Laila was from India. Zofia was Jewish and from Poland. Hypnos was White and Black. Severin was Middle Eastern and White. I enjoyed reading how each culture was different and how everyone meshed together.
I also liked how the author chose to bring up sexuality in the book. The century that the book is set in wasn’t known for being tolerant of homosexuality or bisexuality. So to have Enrique be bisexual was awesome. His attraction to both Hypnos and Zofia was written beautifully. He wasn’t ashamed at being attracted to both men and women. Which was fantastic.
I didn’t like Severin when he was first introduced in the book. He came across as cocky and careless. As the book went on, I did start to like him. All he wanted was to bring his House back and to be its Patriarch. Which is why I was surprised when he did what he did at the end of the book.
I liked Laila. She was the heart and soul of the group. The relationships that she forged with everyone was prevalent throughout the book. I was surprised and intrigued by her backstory. I am wondering what is going to happen to her when she turns 19. Her hidden ability was amazing.
Zofia was odd but I liked her. She was brilliant. Her nickname of “the phoenix” fit her. I wanted to cry when she was remembering her years at the university. The way she was treated by both her classmates and teachers was horrible. I don’t blame her for doing what she did (even though it was by accident).
Enrique was one of my favorite characters in the book. For the reasons, I stated above. Also because he told it like it was to Severin. He was also brilliant. The history he knew blew me away.
Tristan touched my heart. From the beginning of the book, I could tell there was something wrong. The abuse that he suffered by Wrath broke him. He reminded me of a small child at points in the book. Because of that, I thought he job as a poisoner was odd. But he was brilliant. He was also obsessed with spiders. He devotion to Goliath was touching. Creepy, but touching.
The plotline with Severin and his quest to get his House back was fascinating. I liked that Egyptian mythology was used in the book. At times, the book reminded me of an Indiana Jones movie. I love it when a plotline keeps me guessing and this one definitely did.
The secondary plotlines enriched the main plotline. They added more depth to the book that was needed.
The end of The Gilded Wolves surprised me. It also broke my heart. The author did a fantastic job at wrapping up some storylines and leaving other ones wide open. The cliffhanger at the end of the book did its job. I am going to have to read book 2 when it comes out.
I gave The Gilded Wolves a 5-star rating. This is a beautifully written book. It has a diverse cast of characters and plotlines that kept me reading.
I would give The Gilded Wolves an Older Teen rating. There is no sex (there is mention of sex and several kissing scenes). There is no language. There is violence. There are trigger warnings. They would be child abuse. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.
I would reread The Gilded Wolves. I would also recommend it to family and friends.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Gilded Wolves.
All opinions stated in this review of The Gilded Wolves are mine.
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
Amber (The Literary Phoenix)
Written on Dec 2, 2018
The Gilded Wolves is a steampunk novel, set in an alternate Paris. There’s magic and the Great Houses guarding a secret. There are girls made from clay, consciousness, and bits of the dead. There’s dancers and secret doors and giant spiders and secrets. I really couldn’t ask for more from a novel. The adventure here is thick and fascinating and it was an easy read. Simply put, I loved it.
There are multiple POVs in this novel. My personal favorite was Zofia. She’s the closest thing to a budding mad scientist I’ve seen in a YA novel, and she immediately makes my list of all-time favorites. But if inventing and instability isn’t really your thing, there’s also the vengeful heir, the character a little too obsessed with creepy crawlies, the society defect, the actress, and the researcher. I thought some character stood out more than others, but they are all varied and interesting.
If you’re looking for relationships, widely cast books like this always bring a rush of different love stories. There’s a forbidden/rejected love story filled with tension. There’s well-meaning flirtation that goes awry. There’s a M/M relationship that I will just let you lovelies guess at until you read the book yourself.
The setting of Paris embraces the best of the city, but not the sites you would expect to see. I personally was thrilled to see the catacombs embraced as a setting, as well as the Expo. Chokshi flawlessly weaves her forging magic in with the turn of the century city, bustling with possibility. You get an excellent sense of the richness of this world. I found it really easy to slip into the story because of how vibrant the world was with mythology and possibility.
And I haven’t even begun to talk about the adventure. This is one of those plots that is just go-go-go. I can’t help but to compare it to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The setting and characters are very different, but the feel has the same thrill and romance and dance between danger and that adrenaline rush of success.
I really have nothin but high praise for this book – it was a highly enjoyable read, and it set up the ending perfectly that I am itching to know what is going to happen next. The Gilded Wolves has the same spirit as Six of Crows and I think that it will be well-received by Bardugo’s fans.
kalventure
Written on Nov 30, 2018
"Everywhere he looked, he was surrounded by gilded wolves. And for whatever reason, it made him feel perfectly at home. Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war. Not that Séverin was complaining. It was just that, like other wolves, he wanted his share."I am a sucker for historical fantasy, and The Gilded Wolves delivers an action-packed story with a diverse cast of characters that I treasured with every ounce of my being. A secret society that pulls the strings of society (Illuminati?!)? Hunting for artifacts? Magic and technological invention when the world was on the cusp of Industrialism? Heck. Yes. If you are in the mood for an adventure with a precious found family, this book might be for you!
It's Paris, 1889. The world is at the brink of the Industrial Revolution, but there is another kind of technology that goes back way further. "The art of Forging is as old as civilization itself," and is the magic system of the book. Those born with the ability manifest it by their 13th birthday and can either influence the mind or matter.
"To those blessed with a Forging affinity, it is an inheritance of divinity [...T]o Forge is not only to enhance a creation, but to reshape it."The former is heavily regulated by the Order of Babel, but "all Forging is bound by three conditions: the strength of the artisan's will, the clarity of the artistic goal, and the boundary of their chosen mediums' elemental properties." The Order's taking of culturally significant artifacts and assimilating folk beliefs are a powerful and nuanced allusion to colonialism.
Where this story truly shines is with its characters. The Gilded Wolves is told in the perspectives of four main characters: Séverin, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia. The fifth part of their crew is Tristan, and they work together to help Séverin get what is needed to claim his true inheritance. While they each are looking for something themselves, they never expected to form a family of their own and each of them express anxiety at what the future holds when their goals are achieved.
"It'll be 'like dreaming' you said. As 'easy as sleep!'"Honestly the banter between the characters is absolute perfection and everything that I want in my friend groups. Can I enlist myself into their friend group? I will help feed Goliath. *shudders*
"Nightmares are part of sleeping."
"Is that a joke?"
✨ Séverin is a French-Algerian treasure hunter and hotelier with a haunted past. He was robbed of his true inheritance 10 years earlier and is determined to claim it.
✨ Enrique is a Spanish-Filipino historian that has a mind tuned for riddles and history. He longs to be part of the Ilustrados' inner circle and recognized for his brilliance.
✨ Laila is an Indian girl that has the ability to read the histories of unforged objects, loves to bake, and is honestly mom of the group. She cares so much for everyone, taking the time to do little things that matter to each of her comrades.
✨ Zofia is a Jewish Polish Forger with a propensity for fire. She adores math and solving puzzles, and has social anxiety. Zofia loves perfectly round cookies, counting, and of course fire.
✨ Tristan is the little brother in all but blood to Séverin and a botanincal genius with a giant pet spider named Goliath.
✨ Hypnos is honestly kind of Anne Hathaway's character from Ocean's 8 and really seems to want friends. Which is adorable.
Power and race play an important role to the diverse characters of this book and their positions within the world they live in.
"Of course it would be easy to spy when you hardly look like one of us. Marcelo spoke with no malice. In a way, that was worse."Each of the main characters has something about them that outwardly alienates themselves from their cultural identity, whether it be their religion or their mixed heritage. These assumptions and misunderstandings are all brought to the fore when fake identities are provided which directly challenge their identities: a Filipino is given an Chinese identity, a classically trained bharatnatyam dancer is told she will be a nautch dancer. This blatant insensitivity is addressed and called for what it is - offensive - but sadly brushed aside as they realize that playing into the prejudices of others will allow them to blend in and go unnoticed, thus continuing the system of oppression. I really appreciated this quiet and nuanced discussion on racism and power dynamics.
Séverin [...] saw how each invitation flew in the face of each person's self-image. But he also understood how Hypnos had seen the scenario, how he had worked to ensure that each person could access the Chateau de la Lune without incident. 'When you are who they expect you to be, they never look too closely. If you're furious, let it be fuel.'"I loved the world that Chokshi crafted, drawing from history and mythology from multiple cultures around the world. The reader is thrown right into the world and action. The one thing that didn't quite work for me was the execution of the worldbuilding. It was kind of infodumpy in parts, over time I became overwhelmed and confused by all of the information and backstories provided. For me there was SO MUCH going on to keep track of that it was a little difficult to keep it all straight. Where I think I struggled the most was that some of the events were not clear to me while reading: some things were left unresolved/skipped over and I assumed something happened that made future plot points not make sense, only to find out much later that the thing I thought happened didn't. Since I read an early ARC, it is possible some of this confusion will be edited for the final copy. What's weird was I was still so intrigued, so interested and hungry for more. I wanted to wade through the confusion to have everything slide into place like the puzzles our team was solving. If I am being honest, usually I am a lot more bothered by confusing worldbuilding, but I adored the characters and the ideas so much that I was a lot more forgiving.
Friends if you are looking for a character-driven book with a truly diverse cast of characters, I highly recommend The Gilded Wolves! The puzzles, the adventure, the heists, the banter between the characters made this an incredibly enjoyable read for me. The excellent diversity and representation in this book, along with its subtle discussions on racial prejudice, colonialism, and assimilation also make this an important read.
Things I hope are explained in the next book:
- How the overall Order of Babel functions & different country's Houses interact with one another
- How Forging works. It doesn't appear to be inherited but is something a person is born with. What does being born with the affinity mean, and what training/indoctrination do they undertake?
- More about Fallen House
REPRESENTATION: racially diverse characters (Filipino, Indian), Jewish rep, bisexuality, anxiety
CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS: racism (kind of challenged), inferred abuse, death of a loved one
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC via NetGalley for review. Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon publication. Buddy read with Destiny & Scrill! ♥
Preorder Incentive: Pre-order your copy of The Gilded Wolves and submit your receipt by January 6, 2019 to get a pack of character tarot cards designed by Yoshi Yoshitani!
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