In this book, a group of incredibly wealthy and powerful young people--and some of their poorer friends, some of whom are actually the wealthy folks' slaves, gather together--or are forced to--in order to pull off a heist that will return one of said wealthy young people to the ranks of even more wealthy and powerful people. Everyone is young and gorgeous and magically talented and wears fabulous clothes and entertains in grand and whimsical and decadent places and ways and what a bunch of incredibly horrible snobs, who believe that your bloodlines make you better than other people and who use people in horrible ways to attain recognition of said bloodlines and what an utter waste of paper and ink.

[4.5 stars] This book broke me, okay?! If you're new around here, I am not a huge fantasy person. But I can usually tell the kind of fantasy that I will like and this sounded up my alley. And I was right! Definitely one of my all time favorite fantasies! I absolutely adored all the characters. Especially Hypnos and Tristan. I completely fell in love with Laila and Zofia's friendship. The care Laila put into helping Zofia feel comforted! MY HEART! (pretty sure Zofia is on the spectrum). Honestly, I loved the entire gang's found family vibe. It was just really fantastic. But then Roshani went and did something I did not want her to do. So now I am just a shell of my former self, while I wait for the sequel.

If it wasn't obvious, I highly recommend this book. There's lots of racial diversity, one character is Bi or Pan. Another male character definitely likes other men, but I don't know if he only likes men, dig? And like I said before, pretty sure Zofia is on the spectrum.

Description:
No one believes in them. But soon no one will forget them.
It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.
Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive.

My Thoughts:

This is a story of young thieves with different powers. If this were contemporary novel, the characters would have different 21st century tech skills. Together, under the leadership of their own ousted "prince," these young people have created their own extended family, working together to try and return their "prince" to his throne, or his House. What I like about this is the fact that in a way the characters are both loyal to each other and using each other at the same time. That leads a complexity to the relationships that draws me in. I also like that this is not a happy sappy. The best YA stories, in my opinion balance victory and tragedy, magic and mundane, disappointment and optimism.

Ms. Chokshi is not known as a trilogy YA writer, however, although there is no hype about a second book, based on the end of the book, there will be at least one more story. If I am wrong about that, I am very confused because there are so many unanswered questions left hanging.

well damn just damn I REBUKE THAT ENDING!! *sobs*

This was such an intriguing and lush world created here. Every aspect of it was fascinating. So many little details that wowed me, from the tezcat doors to the very idea of Forgers and what they could do, to the Sphinxes. And the characters felt so alive, just as the world did, and i'm still not sure who's my fave. With each POV change and backstory reveal I realize everyone one of them have an interesting story, made even more so by how they all intersect. I mean i enjoyed Enrique and Hypnos a lot because i always have a soft spot for the over the top, charming, flirty one and that is certainly Hypnos.

Although the ending did secure a special place in my heart for Laila, for reasons!! Damn girl, you let him know! No spoilers obviously but my feels were allll over the place. Laila has a past that was just sad and heartbreaking and i just want her happyyyy pleaaase.

So if you're looking for a fun,lush, fantasy with several characters of colour as the mains this is it friends!

So I’m going to get the elephant in the room out of the way first and then it’s done and we can move on. Yes, this book is very similar to Six of Crows. To be honest it was that that kind of drew me to this book in the first place, and whilst there a number of direct comparisons, when I read Six of Crows for the first time all I thought about was Ocean’s 11. A group of misfits banding together, plotting to steal an item is not a unique concept so please accept that fact and enjoy the book for what it is, you’ll be seriously missing out if not.

The characters are all strong, each with their own skillset and emotional baggage. There is so much potential back story for each of them which would be perfect to explore further in future books in the series, but we’re given just enough about each in this book to keep our interest piqued. Laila is certainly a character I would love to delve further into, especially when we learn her history! Her ability to transform from daytime baker to nightime darling of the burlesque is fabulous. The enigmatic Severin, denied a birthright, slowly simmers until the perfect opportunity arrives to take back what is his. He is the architect of the piece, and darkly complex. Zofia is wonderful, and as a sufferer of anxiety myself I totally identified with her and the quirks of her behaviour, her ability to force herself to adapt even when the introvert in her tries to drag her back down. I loved the beauty of the friendship she has with Laila, this story has a number of powerful moments but one that stands out most for me is when Laila set out 3 dresses for Zofia to choose from each with it’s own trait to help her with whatever anxiety she was feeling. Hypnos provides the much needed comedy relief at times when the story becomes too heavy and he really did remind me a bit of Magnus Bane!

The concept of the power of forging was great and covered pretty much all the bases when it came to the fantastical world and what they were able to achieve. Imaginative devices and wonderful potions and poisons, really gave me a feeling of steampunk. Exciting scrapes and tangles, bringing to mind thoughts of raiders of the lost arc and similar tomb raider style puzzles to be solved. The Gilded Wolves is an amazing race against time, I found myself holding my breath a number of times as each part of the plan (and sometimes the unplanned) unfurled – there is a ton going on and if you get distracted you’ll miss something important, such is the volume of information. This is a story with a pace that rarely lets up and will have you devouring the pages with it’s exciting set pieces. One of my favourite parts of this book is actually the small pockets of flash back where Severin recounts the families he stayed with during his childhood, giving each “father” a corresponding deadly sin – this is a poignant change of pace and also a valuable insight as to how he became shaped to be the man he has become.

There were minor issues with the storyline, minutes after warning Enrique not to taken in by Hypnos’ tricks I found Severin’s blind faith in what he witnessed jarring, I accept that was the pivotal point of moving the story forward but I think it could been captured without such a continuity issue. The beginning chapters really had an infodump feel, I found that I initially struggled to get to grips with The Order, The Houses, Forging and getting to know the characters and setting, the writing does fall into a natural rhythm with it though and it does become quickly familiar. I don’t feel that these points overall impacted my enjoyment of the book in totality though.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Gilded Wolves and despite the small issues I still give this 5 Stars, with thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

<i>The Gilded Wolves</i> follows a group of friends as they work to uncover the hidden secrets of the magical order that controls unspeakable power while also working to achieve their own goals. If this sounds incredibly vague, it’s because one of the best parts of this book was how well the plot unfolded and I don’t want to give anything away.

This is ultimately a book about friendships, chasing what you want, and magical artifacts. There were tons of twists that kept me hooked. The ending left me <b>so upset</b> and I can’t believe I have to wait so long to get my hands on a sequel.

I loved the world-building in <i>The Gilded Wolves</i>. This is a dark, glittering Paris filled with power and illusions. The Houses were a unique way to organize magic and the politics involved with them made the world feel even richer. I liked that the descriptions were rich and evocative without bogging down the plot.

The only place where I felt a little disappointed was with the character development. Séverin, Laila, and Zofia were really well done and had lots of internal motivations to explain their actions. Hypnos, Enrique, and Tristan felt a bit more removed to me and were often referred to in the context of just one character trait. This didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story by any means but I’d love to see more character development in book 2.

If you like books with ensemble casts, like <i>Six of Crows</i>, or are in the mood for something with an evocative setting and lots of action, I highly recommend <i>The Gilded Wolves</i>.

The Gilded Wolves contains some of my favourite elements: Paris in the late 19th century, magic, and a wonderful amount of diversity – so it’s no surprise that I absolutely adored this novel!

Chokshi’s magic system is unique and well thought out; I loved the idea of the Babel fragments, and the powers of Forging. The setting of Paris during the Exposition Universelle was used to wonderful effect with Chokshi’s lush and dynamic writing style.

For me, however, it was the characters who really made The Gilded Wolves. Séverin, our main character, owns the prestigious hotel L’Eden, where he lives with a select group of friends and allies:

Tristan, his childhood friend who has the ability to Forge living things and create wonderful and exquisite gardens. His talent hides a damaged soul, however, and he remains a rather mysterious and aloof character throughout.

Laila, a dancer from India with whom it is implied Séverin has had a romantic affair, but no longer. Laila, uniquely, can touch objects and discover their past. She is in Paris to search for a book taken by the Order of Babel which can hopefully provide answers for her.

Zofia, a Jewish girl from Poland who was recently kicked out of university. Zofia sees the world a little differently than most, but her friends never treat her as any less because of this. She is an expert engineer, nicknamed ‘Phoenix’. I admire Chokshi for including an autistic character, and I loved the chapters from Zofia’s point of view!

Enrique, a historian and linguist who is Spanish-Filipino and a walking encyclopaedia. He is sarcastic, hilarious, and a solid friend. He wants to join a group working for a Filipino revolution, but he is white-passing and none will let him join.

Hypnos, who at first no one actually really likes – they are working for him, after all – but eventually they are all enamoured by his charm. He is heir to a different House, and wants to help Séverin and is often underestimated due to being black.

And Séverin, of course, whose claim as heir of his House was denied, and who desperately wants it back. He is half-Algerian himself, and was raised by seven different ‘fathers’, each of whom he named after one of the seven deadly sins.

Together they make a fantastically diverse group, and I adored every one of their interactions. There are mysteries and adventures aplenty, as well as more touching moments between them. Our group contains characters of colour, characters who are gay, and characters who are neurodivergent – and never does it seem like the author went to a great amount of effort to make it seem this way. They simply are, and it’s wonderful to read about.

The attitudes that were common at the time are constantly called into question, and I admire the way this is done – we are never allowed to forget about the colonialism and exploitation of the age, and the white Europeans claiming the objects, magic, artefacts, of other cultures as their own.

Overall I gave The Gilded Wolves 4 stars, because while I did genuinely enjoy it, I found that the ending kind of fizzled out; it also ended on several cliffhangers, but I feel the effect of these was less successful as a result. I still look forward to reading the next book in the series, however!

Part heist novel, part adventure story, part fantasy – this book is many things, all of which I feel come together to create a dynamic and exciting YA novel, one which I can see becoming very popular and which I expect to see lots of praise for – and deservedly so.

Actual rating: 4.5/5

I've been hearing about Roshani Chokshi (and about this book) for a while now, and now that I read it I completely get the hype. Not only is Chokshi's writing truly beautiful, but the parallel universe she created in The Gilded Wolves is captivating and unique.

The story is set in the Paris of the 19th century, during the Exposition Universelle, and throughout the entire book I could perfectly picture how it was at the time. Roshani Chokshi perfectly translates the atmosphere of the period, and I loved discovering the French capital through the characters' eyes.

Séverin, Tristan, Zofia, Laila and Enrique are amazing characters, as flawed as interesting, and I quickly fell in love with each of them. I especially loved how different they are, but somehow they form a family (even if quite dysfunctional). Their bond reminds me of Leigh Bardugo's Dregs in Six of Crows, though only in the relationship that these characters share.

I absolutely loved what I read, from beginning to end, though I must admit that it took me a while to fully grasp the workings of the Order of Babel, and to understand everything that was happening, which is why I'm not giving this book a higher rating.
Now that I'm done, I don't know how I am supposed to wait for book 2 (and the fact that The Gilded Wolves is not even officially out yet doesn't help).

A magical heist set in the historical period of Belle Époque? Roshani Chokshi has breathtaking prose and imaginative world-building. I've read other reviews that compare this to SIX OF CROWS (which I adore), but I think this novel definitely has legs to stand on its own.

WOW! Roshani Chokshi did it again! This novel will rock out there! A MUST READ FOR EVERYFANTASY READER!

There is nothing better than a book set in Paris, except for a book set in Paris in 1889. This book is fun and unique. It isn’t just any YA, which is hard to come by now. The story is great and the characters are intriguing. It’s all I could want in a delicious book..

4.5 stars. The story was so intriguing that I read the book in a night. I want the book to be made into a movie so the vivid characters and scenery can come alive. I like the diversity of the main characters in appearance, background, talents, and weaknesses and the fact that they all have secrets. The mixture of science, math, history, religion, nature, and "magic" (for lack of a better word) is great. I like that the book utilizes historical events and religious beliefs and events to advance the plot and explain the current circumstances. In particular, the story utilizes the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. It was also nice that scientific inventions and principles and mathematical principles were key to solving some of the puzzles/mysteries that confronted the main characters. Although the six main characters are not equals in terms of status and power, I appreciated that all of them made major contributions and that the success of the group in their endeavors could not have happened without all of them. I liked the use of the seven deadly sins as the nicknames/identities of Severin's foster fathers and the fact that he learned lessons from each of them, even the worst/cruelest ones. While all six main characters are appealing in their own way, Zofia is one of my favorites because the reader gets to witness more emotional growth/self-confidence.

I am glad I had the opportunity to read a copy of the e-book via NetGalley and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Stunning. Absolutely beautifully written. Roshani Chokshi is a master storyteller and this is yet another example of her mastery. If you enjoyed her previous works, this one will captivate you as well.

This book was an absolute delight to read. I likened it to a rich, decadent chocolate with layers of mousse, caramel, nuts, nougat, and rich chocolate—the result being a melt in your mouth novel that you absolutely have to revel in. As always, Chokshi is a brilliant storyteller, weaving plot elements into character development and creating characters whose friendships you adore. Heartbreaking and heartbreakingly good, I couldn’t put this book down.

This book is a mix of The DaVinci code, Six of crows and Indiana Jones and incredibly, it works!
It is an amazing story about a group of outcasts who join to achieve their objectives, and they strategize together with their different powers to get what they deserve!
The twists and turns of this book made me want to read more and more, and I picked the book every time I had some free minutes just to see where the story was going.
Theres a lot of action, friendship, even love. The politics and history of this book is great, I think teres a lot of room for many many books on this world and I will read them all.
I will tottally recomment this book to everybody, its a fantasy that I think all will enjoy because there´s a bit for everybody´s taste.

Thank you net galley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting mix of fantasy and reality.
The story was exciting, suspenseful and dramatic. Having never read this author before, I was pleasantly surprised.

This book is an DNF for me. The cover and synopsis are promising and the plot is unique but the characters and premise were not engaging and immersive enough to keep my attention.

I am a huge fan of everything that Roshani Chokshi writes and this novel definitely did not disappoint! Chokshi has created an amazing mythology here that weaves in with history and with Paris at the turn of the century. Her writing was beautiful and spectacular, full of sentences and paragraphs that made me feel as if I, too, were really there with the characters as they walked the streets of Paris, danced at lavish parties, or baked in the kitchen of a grand hotel. I always found myself re-reading parts of the book because they were too beautifully written to enjoy only once.

My favorite part about this book, however, were the characters. Chokshi brings all six of the central characters to life effortlessly. I legitimately cared for each and every one of them. Even though the chapters shift perspective (while still staying in third person), I was never upset when one chapter ended to focus on another character. I loved each and every single one of them. For me, the two stand-out characters were definitely Lalia and Zofia, two very different, very dynamic women who have their own entrancing backstories. All the characters have wonderful, detailed, legitimately interesting backstories that make you root for them to succeed and also make you grow to love them more and more with each page. Romance is something I can honestly take or leave in a novel, but I was hooked on the very interesting, delicate dynamic between two of the main characters.

Honestly every page of this book was wonderful. Except the end, but only because of that cliffhanger! This is a great book for fans of Six of Crows or The Young Elites and is definitely a page tuner. Another wonderful book but Roshani Chokshi...I don't know how she manages to have so many awesome series going on at once!

I enjoyed this book a lot! I did find some elements of the plot confusing. It was clear that Roshani Chokshi knows her world and her heist/puzzles well, but I felt like sometimes I needed a little more hand-holding. Particularly when we switched character POVs--which was occasionally disorienting. However, I was happily willing to forgive a little confusion here and there because it was such a fun adventure, and I loved all the characters, and loved how they interacted with each other. Witty, clever, treasure-hunting fun!

Wow! Just wow! I have read one of Roshani Chokshi's novels and I knew I wanted to read this one! What a pleasure it was to sit down and soak up all this book had to offer. History... check! Ancient secrets... check! Treasure hunters... check! Paris... check! Oh my goodness I cannot even express how much I loved this book and the storyline. I am so thankful that there is a second one planned.