First of all, you cannot quote something and have that quote be incorrect. I stopped reading at 13% because adding in a quote from the Bible (literal quotation marks in the text and reference to the verses) and have the last part of the quoted text NOT be in the Bible. I searched different versions, googled the phrase I was looking for, and even asked my sister who is going through Seminary School about the quoted text in the book. The last few lines do not exist, I understand it serves the purpose of the novel but what the heck...total turnoff. I'm not even very religious and it annoyed me. If you want to add in what happened after a quote for your story then I get that but end the quote where it should end. Ugh.

I also wasn't a fan of all the really short sentences, they occurred way too often.

So im already a huge fan of Roshani Chokshi, and i knew i would have to have this book! This book is beautifully written and has such amazing prose! The alternating points of view between the rag tag group were well done and easy to follow. The dynamics were well hashed out! i also enjoyed the magic elements called forging and how some people can view an objects past, present, etc. This book packs a lot of fun action and i really loved every second of it!

A DRC was provided by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Ah, is there any more romantic place to envisage than Belle Epoque Paris? Not for Roshani Chokshi, a skilled world builder who delights in mixing the fantastical with historical details of late 19th-century France. Here the magical ability of Forging, changing objects at will and viewpoint, is the most coveted skill in the land, but increasingly, those with other worldly gifts must conceal their arts from an increasingly industrial age. Chokshi writes like a dream, from the lush imagery she employs with ease ‘The corner of his lips tipped into a smile as he raised his fingers. At once, a glass from the champagne chandelier floating above him broke off and sailed into his hand.” to the snark of the characters’ dialogue.
“You’re doing it again,” said Enrique.
“What?”
“That whole nefarious-whilst-looking-into-the-distance-thing. What are you hiding, Severin?”
“Nothing.”
“You and your secrets.”
“Secrets keep my hair lustrous,” said Severin, running his hand through his curls.”
Oh, Severin is hiding alot, not least that aside from running the most fabulous hotel in Paris, L’Eden, he is also the dispossessed heir of the disgraced House Vanth, in a Paris that is dominated by the remaining two houses, House Nyx and House Kore. Through fair means and foul, Severin is going to get back the objects that defined Vanth, and then regain its past glory. And perhaps find out what happened to that other ruined power, the Fallen House, and their lost treasure. And potentially make himself a target for the sinister House of Babel, which secretly rules the world. For this end he has put together a merry band of con artists, who all have their own reasons to score the ultimate object by planning a brilliant treasure hunt. What could go wrong?
Yes, this book is strongly reminiscent of Leigh Bardugo’s work, but any diverse group of misfits up to no good is a trope that has worked from Robin Hood to Ocean’s Eleven to Bridesmaids. Gilded Wolves has as much in common with Les Miserables, La Traviata and the Scarlet Pimpernel in its immersion in a tumultuous Paris where different factions struggle for power despite the cost, and the romantic young are crushed by their machinations. Aside from the superficial glamor and pursuit of power and riches, Chokshi examines themes such as the sins of colonialism and cultural appropriation. Traditions sacred to one society are borrowed and bastardized by another. The brutally efficient Order of Babel gives only two choices to the countries they subjugate, “ally or die.” Zofia, the Polish Jew, faces anti-semitism and accusations that her forging skills are stolen from Gentiles, but also daily stress from managing her autistic savant nature in a world that, however magical, is as suspicious of difference as our own. Laila, a Tamil Indian, who can read an object’s history with a touch, struggles with prejudice, sexism and her tendency to use her feminine wiles as a default for any situation (baker, dancer, showgirl, and seductress?) while also facing down a possible death sentence. Enrique longs to be a revolutionary in his native Philippines but also to be a serious scholar as the group’s Historian. Tristan pines for Severin whilst making objects that break magical rules and nursing his pet tarantula. And Hypnos, heir to House Nyx, who hires the band to make a heist while playing his own games, turns out to as interesting and even more complex than the French/Algerian Severin, whose massive shoulder chip and Chosen One complex drives the plot.

In a world where sensual pleasures are celebrated and commodified to a stifling level, Chokshi shows the danger of losing oneself to their pursuit, abandoning romance for politics, love for power, innocence for experience. This is a big ambitious book that hopefully will maintain its allure with the sequel.

Did not finish. It was just too slow paced for me. I thought the characters were great and I loved the intertwining of math and science within. It was just a bit over my intelligence level that I was confused some of the time. The author is obviously very intelligent. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I had to DNF this one at 10%.

Too many names and places I was having a hard time keeping track of.
Too many characters in the beginning. I had a hard time feeling invested in any of them.
The magic system did not interest me.
I had a hard time melding the idea that the story took place in Victorian Paris with what I was actually reading, which felt far too modern (especially the interaction amongst the characters).

Overall, definitely not for me. It will certainly find eager hands, though. So if the synopsis sounds like something you'd enjoy, I would not discourage you from trying it out!

This is an awesome mix of classic heist books; mixed with a supernatural science that some might call magic, mixed with classic young adult angst. A joy to read!
Severin, a wickedly clever young man, has been exiled from his rightful place as the head of his House. With his closest friends, and his closest enemy, he plots to get back what was stolen from him.
That is the synopsis in a sentence, but Chokshi goes so much further within the book - with multi layered plots and individual heartbreaks and mysteries galore.
I love how all of the crew are so sharp - so clever. Sharp enough to cut themselves and others. I loved the emotion within the book. I loved the bond they shared.
If I had to make a criticism, I would say that I found it unbelievable that they were all so young; being teenagers. I'm sure you could argue that as prodigies, they have matured early, but I felt the characters would have been better served if they were in their mid twenties.
I would happily recommend to all readers of YA, and especially those that like Maas, Laani Taylor, and other such authors.

My relationship with YA has been very rocky over the past few years. There have been significantly more misses than hits for me. So, needless to say, my hopes weren’t very high coming into this book. I was so pleasantly surprised, though!

This book tells the story of Severin, a young wealthy hotelier who desires to earn back the inheritance that was stolen from him, and his unique and compelling band of friends/adversaries. I won’t go into details about the story beyond this because I don’t wanna spoil anything.

Things I Liked About the Book:

1.) The setting - The book takes place in 20th century France in the days leading up to the Exposition Universelle. It was such a rich setting to choose and the author really took advantage of it!

2.) The writing - I found Chokshi’s writing to be incredibly beautiful. I’m eager to check out her other books now!

3.) Inclusivity - The author incorporates characters with a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, etc. and she does it in a very natural way that doesn’t feel forced.

4.) Laila - Definitely my favorite character. I saw many aspects of myself in her and the mental struggles that she goes through. I thought the author did a great job of making her accessible to an audience that may or may not have had similar thoughts/difficulties in their own lives.

Things I Didn’t Like About The Book:

1.) There were a few times when it felt like the author had an afterthought or came up with an additional plot point and, instead of going back and adding them in at points in the story where they would make more sense, she just added them randomly later on. That being said, I read an early ARC of the book and these things may be fixed in the finalized edition!

The only bad thing about reading this ARC is that I’ll have to wait even longer for the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book!

THE GILDED WOLVES is a lush historical fantasy novel, set in a wonderfully rendered nineteenth-century Paris. And—there are #ownvoices elements!

Open these pages and you’ll find the historical puzzles of THE DA VINCI CODE paired with the found family and heists of SIX OF CROWS. It’s an enchanting combination, full of wise-cracking characters and daring adventures.

I am a huge fan of Roshani Chokshi’s novels and will happily sing their praises, but I will also say that those previous novels often had prose so purple as to be nonsensical, along with not much of a plot. If you have had similar feelings and are on the fence about reading THE GILDED WOLVES, I urge you to pick it up. The prose in this novel is more straightforward, but it also has plenty of Chokshi’s beautiful descriptions and signature turns of phrases. And there is most certainly a plot. So please do check it out, and immerse yourself in the wonders within.

The first few chapters and the last few chapters were definitely my favorites. The beginning was full of intriguing mysteries and charming new characters, and the end was equal parts glorious and devastating.

The middle, for me, got rather muddy. My main piece of criticism is the sheer breadth of information that pervades the novel. While Chokshi obviously did a massive amount of world-building, I think it could have been conveyed to the reader in a much clearer way. Even after finishing the novel, I am still confused about what’s technology vs. magic vs. inherent abilities vs. a combination of the above. I don’t have the best grasp on Forging, and what its history, capabilities, limitations, and exceptions are. That confusion led me to feel rather apathetic about aspects of the story that I’m sure I would have otherwise been riveted by, if I had been able to follow Chokshi’s thought process.

Overall, I absolutely recommend THE GILDED WOLVES. With its delightful banter, treasure-hunting antics, swoony romance, and ample diversity, you don’t want to miss it!

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

A delightful mix of the friendship and camaraderie from Guardian's of the Galaxy and the heist/mission aspect of a Mission Impossible-esque tale, The Gilded Wolves was fun and exciting. Chokshi has woven an intricate and deeply involved story with this new approach to a supernatural/magical ability, Forging.

Forging is the ability to manipulate or enhance an object, either physically changing it or showing a manipulation through mind forging. It's complex but fresh, which is a commendable feat for Chokshi. Forging is part of an elaborate history tying to the biblical Tower of Babel and its remaining fragments, controlled by the Order of Babel. The Order is constructed from members of Houses of families, similar to a royal lineage and royal courts.

Forging is introduced a little heavily in the beginning, along with the history and entire set-up for the world, but it's completely worth the little bit of info-dump thrown into those opening chapters. I know no other alternative, so I get why it is all there early on.

Propped up against the Paris backdrop featuring a newly constructed Eiffel Tower, and coinciding with the Exposition Universelle of 1889, The Gilded Wolves is hard to put down (after that info-dump). Between the characters, the settings, and the detailed history, I was entranced by the atmosphere and intensity so well-written by Chokshi.

Séverin, the main narrator and head of the band of misfits he calls his crew and family, is both cold and removed while still practically vibrating off the page with his vulnerability. Revealed both through his interactions with his crew and through flashbacks that read like dark fairytales, I could not get enough of Séverin as the narrator.

This is what I wanted, and didn't quite get, from Six of Crows. So any fan of that one should be thrilled with the web Chokshi has constructed for this new world that melds perfectly with the real-life 1889 Paris in which it is set.

The Gilded Wolves was a lavish, dark, and terrifyingly beautiful novel, with dynamic and instantly loveable characters that you root for, along with a suspenseful plot full of heists and double crosses that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final word.

I particularly loved the diverse cast. There was so much wonderful representation with these characters!

I will be highly reccommending this book as an addition for our Young Adult collection to my library manager.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of "The Gilded Wolves" by Roshani Chokshi. This book is wonderful. I love everything about it! This book is a must purchase for teen collections.

An unlikely troupe of talented teens works together to uncover an ancient secret and plan a daring heist to prevent disastrous consequences for their world. Of course, each member of this group has their own interests in mind and their own personal reasons for participating in the dangerous venture.
Paris, 1889. Stunningly beautiful, evocative descriptions of setting, elaborate costumes, and mouth-watering confections abound. These details aren’t surprising considering the author: Roshani Chokshi delivers her signature descriptive prose all throughout this story. While Chokshi’s previous novels relied heavily on otherworldly, whimsical turns of phrase, The Gilded Wolves seems to weigh the equation more heavily on plot and action than any of her other works, yet there is no loss in the focus on aethstetics that elevates Chokshi’s writing to a near poetic level.
On the topic of action and pace: I was at times overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information that was given to the reader to absorb at a given time. This novel moved along briskly, fitting in a ton of exposition and background for not just the main character of the novel, Severin, but also the other central members of the cast. Explanations of the world and magical system were worked into the story via history book-like snippets of previous rulers general comments and observations. Some readers (including myself) may benefit from additional readings of the story to fully grasp all of the concepts presented in the text. However, an abundance of information is much more preferable to a lack of background and it wasn’t enough to drag the reader out of the story entirely; in fact, the fast paced plot, intricate planning and loads of action made this one tough to put down at all.
If the high praise of the action, writing style, and gorgeous descriptions aren’t enough to entice a potential reader, my final note is this: come for all of the previously mentioned aspects of the novel, stay for the characters. The multiple character POV provided a delightful peek into each of the main player’s heads and gave each a depth and uniqueness that vacillated between the hilarious and heartbreaking at times. Roshani Chokshi’s sharp, glimmering gem of a novel is surely not to be missed. The only question that remains is: when are we getting the next installment in this series?

An explosive tale reminiscent of Six of Crows. This book teems with magic, hidden agendas, and unlikely alliances. I was hooked from page one and couldn't stop until I reached the satisfying conclusion. Rich characterization, colorful worldbuilding, and heart-stopping action make for an unforgettable read. I highly recommend!

Roshani Chokshi has done it again! Once more she graces the page with an alluring balance of evocative prose and characters you'll want to either love or throttle or perhaps even both. Gilded darkness, Parisian mystique, secret history, and a thrilling current of witty banter all ties this dangerous chase together into a must-read for readers everywhere. If THE GILDED WOLVES is not on your list already, then it really ought to be.
-pooled ink

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves introduces a captivating world where magic and science collide. Words cannot do justice to the mesmerising world building that will teleport you to another world and another time and you’ll just want to leap right in.

Set in 19th century Paris at the time of the Exposition Universelle the story centres on one Severin Montagnet-Alarie - hotelier and self proclaimed “treasure hunter” – and his group of talented cohorts. Together they dabble in acquiring *cough* stealing *cough* artefacts that belong to the Order of Babel – a powerful elite organisation that secretly governs the world. When a particular acquisition opens up an opportunity to achieve their dreams, this group of misfits plunge into a high stakes adventure full of riddles and puzzles, secrets and baked treats and all of the feels!!

This was the first book by Roshani Chokshi that I have read and I absolutely loved it!! At first it does feel like there is a lot to take in, as with every new fictitious world there are various names, characters and features to become accustomed to, however Chokshi has a beautiful way of weaving her words and has created an entertaining and twisting plot that keeps you hooked throughout. I don’t want to give too much away because you need to read and appreciate this book yourself but it does give off a Six of Crows vibe but with its own unique tangent.

It is wonderfully diverse, ingeniously sprinkled with historical and scientific knowledge and hosts a bunch of endearing characters that you will want to protect with your life.

I just hate that I read this as an ARC because it means a longer wait to see how the story goes on because THAT ENDING ! ! OH MY GODDDD!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars

I couldn’t get into this one as much as I would have liked. I think because I kept envisioning Six of Crows. A lot of the book reminded me of that. It did havevery beautiful writing, though. Roshani is a master at that!

Such an enticing novel with a romantic mystery twist. Every chapter was engaging in a time period of 1889 where gangster crime is at its beginning. Some parts however were somewhat predictable but it made up for incorporating unexpected turns and surprises to keep the story more exciting. This story was also the 1889 Paris version of Indiana Jones where three people come together to find an ancient artifact with all at stake. The story is so enticing and adventurous that it was hard to stop reading.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely be considering this title for our YFiction collection in the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This books sells itself as a heist, a leader gathering his team with their unique abilities. What I found it to be at its core was a story driven by its characters. The story is told from four unique points of view that each add to the story.

The world is built with technology, a bit of magic (forging) and awash with religious imagery. With her previous books, she created a world that I wanted to live in this is just the same. It draws from history, historically recognizable characters but rewrites it to her own. I want to live in this Paris.

I found Laila's POV to be my favorite. She wears the tightest mask, puts on the biggest smile to hide the truth. Its mysterious magic I wish had been explored more, how did it come to be. She cares for all the different characters, finding ways to connect with them. There is a particular scene with Zofia late in the book that she specifically picks something she know will help put Zofia at ease in a situation she knows makes her uncomfortable. The way Laila and Séverin circle each other, both seemingly too afraid to be something more to each other. Their ending though, my how that upset me. I don't want to wait however long until the next book to see the outcome.

I wish we had a POV from Tristan. He is written almost childlike but you see the hints of something darker and broken lingering below the surface. Séverin history is explored with the seven different fathers but it would have been nice to see how this directly affected Tristan and I wish this had been explored a little more.

Overall, this is a good book with a tantalizing (read why you do that to your reads?) ending that I look forward to seeing more of.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters and the plot. The pacing was really slow and it was sometimes hard to tell the difference between each character's voice. I often forgot who was the focus of the chapter.

The Gilded wolves

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of The gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi. This will be released on January 15, 2019.
All opinions are my own


Six amazing people, one heist.

First off I would like to say the writing is absolutely beautiful. The world is entrancing, the diversity is strong, and the magic is beautifully executed.

“Distracted Laila smoothed her hands across jer dress. A mistake. She should never touch anything when her thoughts were too frenzied. — hands folded in prayer and then, blood”

I reallyed liked the gardens and the powers and seven deadly sins interwoven through the story.

“Gardens were no paradise but a labyrinth of sins. Seven to be exact.”

There were alot of characters and prospectives so at times the story was confusing for me. I would have liked each persons prospective to be longer so my brain wouldnt have to constantly change who was talking and what their story was. Otherwise it was an excellent book. A mix of six of crows and smoke and bone.