The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves, #2)

by Roshani Chokshi

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I have come to crave Roshani Chokshi’s lyrical writing, but it’s not just the writing that makes The Silvered Serpents excellent – as a second book, it more than lived up to the expectations of its predecessor. The Gilded Wolves gave us a tantalizing steampunk world with memorable characters and heaps of adventure. The Silvered Serpents ascends the story to the realm of treasure hunting, secrets, and more than ever, the group races against the clock.

There is so much to like about this book, I’m faltering about where to begin. A bit of context – I’m writing this review on Saturday at 5:30am, because I woke up at 3:45am and rather than go back to sleep, my first thought was, “You know what I could do? I could read The Silvered Serpents.” That’s how much this book hooked me, and how much I’ve looked forward to sitting down and reading it. The story swallowed me whole from its first pages, and after that, it was so easy to traverse down into the belly of the leviathan.

For one, I love this cast of characters. I know the crew from Six of Crows gets a lot of love, but I like this group better. I love every one of them – from Severin’s icy exterior and desperation to Hypnos’ insecure flourishes, to Enrique’s lectures (he’s so precious) and Laila’s careful knowing. And Zofia? Zofia is one of my favorite characters of all time. Period. They all come to life in their own ways, have their own independent stories weaving in and out of the main plot line. We got to know them in The Gilded Wolves, but they really get their footing in The Silvered Serpents.

Then, of course, there is the story itself. I often criticize second books for their nature of offering a means to an end, a bridge rather than a story. Not the case here. The Silvered Serpents stands clearly as its own story. The only exception to this rule is the ending, which is a major cliffhanger and I am absolutely dying because not only is this book not released until September 22 (I’m writing this review in May), but also, I have no idea when book three will be arriving. And I’m certain there will be a book three. There has to be.

But in regards to the story itself, I continue to appreciate the way each character is vital to its progression, and the way Rosh effortlessly weaves in subtle nuances and twists. Her mythology and history adds to her world and while the setting of The Silvered Serpents is starkly different from L’Eden and the Paris catacombs of the first book, it is still marvelous played. She finds the balance between artistry and directness in her descriptions, and balances out the intricate world with playful banter even in some tense situations, and generally the whole thing flows perfectly and I am just utterly in awe of her. Seriously. I’m so excited for all of you who haven’t read this yet. You’re in for a treat.

Without giving too much away, expect the stakes to be higher in The Silvered Serpents. Expect more obstacles, more duplicity, and more tension. Come for the characters you loved in The Gilded Wolves, and stay for the sharp edges of this world and the secrets to be unlocked. You won’t regret it.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.