This book is the beginning of what I can only hope will be a multi-book series. Here is the thing. I love Chokshi's writing style. No matter what story she is telling, there is a lyrical quality to it that lulls me into the worlds she creates. I am always deeply affected by her characters and invest in them. THE GILDED WOLVES opened yet another new land I get to visit and I am here for it.

This book was incredibly confusing. It had a lot of potential, but when I couldn't figure out what was going on by 20% I gave up.

I tried to get into this book, but it was not happening for me. I had to DNF it. I will definitely pick this back up at a later date.

In 1889 Paris, a group of culturally diverse outcasts embark on a heist / treasure hunt to locate a hidden artifact. I was confused about the world building in this historical fantasy novel. I felt like the more details I learned about the world, the less I understood about it. Relatedly, I also struggled with the fact that there were five different perspectives. I felt like I couldn't get to know the characters well enough, despite learning their intricate backstories. I read 26% of this book before deciding I did not care to finish it.

I have never read anything like this before, and this is my first dive into Roshani Chokshi's writing, and I must admit that she has gained a new fan with this one. She writes so beautifully and with such depth.

I didn't get very far into this book. I think that this is something that a lot of people will enjoy but this just wasn't the book for me. I might give it another try in the future.

Beautiful novel by one of my favorite YA authors. Roshani Chokshi has a marvelous way with words. This was different subject matter than I normally read from her but just as lush and vibrant as her tales based on Indian mythology. Highly recommend!

Treasure hunting, heists, puzzles and a motley crew of misfits. Sounds great right? Well....

The writing style for this is really not my thing. It goes down the route of flowery and overly descriptive - which I've mentioned on several occasions that I dislike. It made the writing dense and difficult for me to enjoy. I also couldn't seem to warm to any of the characters. I didn't care. I know they're young, but I just found them immature and dull. And irritating. They all feel very one dimensional too, without any real backstory or anything to flesh them out and feel a bit more 'gritty'. None of their friendships feel genuine either. I think there's just too many of them in the group to really care about, with too many POVs and indistinct voices so that they all blended into one. Less members, with more time devoted to fleshing them out, would have been preferable.

The world building is ok, if a little confusing, convoluted and all of the place at times, and the plot is pretty fast paced. It just feels a little tired to be honest, and not all that unique in its concept. Nothing stood out to me, or made me want to continue on with the series. It's a shame, because there were some glimmers of great writing here, but I think the plot and style just wasn't for me.

It only took me months and 3 separate tries to get into The Gilded Wolves to finally read it from beginning to end. To be honest, I didn’t understand the hype. I enjoyed it but I wasn’t overly wowed by it. But that last 90%!? That sucked me right in and I knew I needed the next book right away. Roshani’s writing style is always one I am going to love along with the characters she creates. Sèrevin, Enrique, Zofia, Laila and Tristan as well as Hypnos were well fleshed out and I felt as if they were real people standing right beside me. I really loved the magic system in this book and how intricately designed it was. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before and I loved it. I’m excited to see where the team is going to go on their next adventure because damn, that ending all but killed me.

This is my first book by Roshani Chokshi and it did not disappoint! I loved the fantasy and historical aspect of this story! Worlds set in magic make me happy!! This has a very diverse group of characters that have varying talents, strengths, and personality. It is a heist book that will leave you wanting more!

I think, frankly, the timing of this book was just off for me. I had just finished reading Six of Crows which is a bunch of mismatched youths on a caper/heist, too, so wasn't quite into reading another version of a similar trope, although props for the diversity of the cast. The banter and dialogue unfortunately fell a bit flat for me, however, although the world building itself is complex (perhaps even a little overly so) and rather unique. I may need to give this book another try in the future, when I feel like a heist, so I'm leaving it at 4 stars.

I enjoyed this unique historical fantasy. The world, magic system, and dialog is exactly what I would expect from this offer. I can't say it was my favorite, but it was a nice break from the YA cookie cutter mold!

I saw this book pop up on NetGalley a while ago, and I was super excited to get my hands on it! I am so glad I finally picked it up, though, because I am even more excited to see where Chokshi takes this series. This is a YA historical fantasy trilogy and I am here for it! It’s always hard to understand magic on top of world building in a series, but I think Chokshi did a great job of explaining without info-dumping the whole time. Definitely check this series out if you haven’t already.

I felt fully immersed in this strange fantasy world of Paris in 1889. I love historical fiction, so this type of story is right up my alley, and Chokshi added magic and mystery to bring this story to life. I loved the friendship dynamic between this oddly-matched group of characters. They act like they can’t stand each other sometimes, but in the end they always stick together, which is pretty much how life and friendship works!

There was a lot of backstory, understandably, because the book jumps into a group of friends with established relationships and complicated pasts. I loved the moments of insight into Severin and Tristan’s childhood, as well as the minor bits of history for each of the other characters in the main group. With all the world-building and backstory needed, fantasy series’ usually lose me in the first book because the plot isn’t as strong, but halfway through this book gave me an urge to just keep on reading because I had to know what would happen. Chokshi paced the novel cleverly, inserting multiple fast-moving and stressful scenes throughout the book. I kept wondering what could possibly happen next because each scene felt important.

In short, I am very much looking forward to the sequel, The Silvered Serpent, next February.

I was fairly engaged with the characters of the story, but the plot fell flat for me. The time period, set during the Industrial Revolution, was interesting and unique. I appreciated the inclusion of magical elements to historical technology and the cultural changes that went along with them. The magic was well-integrated, but not very cohesive or workable. The magical abilities of the characters and the magical devices that were created or discovered were too unexplained, unlimited, and convenient for the plot. Can you say Dues ex Machina? Magic without limits just makes me roll my eyes every time they manage to come up with just the right device or ability to solve a problem. The characters are Too special. On the other hand, they're relatable and interesting, with mysterious backgrounds.
The plot suffers from the magical abundance, but also from a lack of direction. I never felt convinced that there was a bad guy or something to fight against. These characters seem to be floundering around in the dark, trying to do things for personal gain. I like to have a hero to root for against the bad guys and I didn't really have one here.
On the other hand, I read it right through with no trouble, mostly to find out what happened to the characters.

Gilded Wolves is a Historical Fantasy set in 1880s France at the L’Eden Hotel, which is owned by the main character, Severin. However, heists? Check. Found family? Check. Icing on the biggest slice of cake ever? I’m a history geek. So yeah. Double check. What I didn’t know going in? My younger self had read and seen the DaVinci Code with my mom… Helloooo NURSE!

A secret society of the Order Babel resides in Paris that was run by four houses, one that has since fallen and once that they have since claimed their lineage to be dead. Magic resides throughout Paris whereby should you be gifted with the magic of mind or the magic of matter it will show itself by age thirteen. However, not everyone is gifted with this magic.

A found family of characters led by Severin help him with acquisitions, for different reasons.

• Severin- Leader and on a mission to take back a destiny stolen from him and protect Tristan at all costs.
• Laila- A dancer with the Magic of Mind – the ability to read an object by touching- she can tell about the person who wears their clothes or the objects history. She is dealing with PTSD, and a mystery of her own. When Severin is offered a new job, she has her own reasons for needing it to succeed.
• Enrique- A Historian with a gift for languages that helps Severin with his acquisitions and is dealing with a world that he doesn’t fit
• Zofia- The Engineer with the Magic of Mind- Think Firestarter- dealing with PTSD, anxiety and possibly OCD, highly gifted in math (when she is highly anxious- she uses math, numbers, patterns to find peace/calm), running from her past and trying to fix what she feels she’s taken from her family
• Tristan- Magic of Matter- Botanist- Severin thinks of him like a brother because they grew up together and Severin protected him from a lot. He has a pet tarantula that he loves… A LOT.
• Hypnos- The character that you really don’t want to like but you just can’t help it. HE IS HYSTERICAL. He pulls a lot of the strings of the job they are sent on and has all the logistics they need.
Character wise, you couldn’t ask for much more than these lovelies. You want the world for all of them. Each have suffered and are fighting for answers, for what they are owed, to get back things they have lost and for some, what they feel they have taken from loved ones.

In this fantasy, Chokshi has created one of, if not the most diverse groups of characters I’ve encountered. Layer that on top of the fact that she truly interweaves it into the story. She shows it, rather than tells it. On a cultural and sexual level there is an intersectionality that is built into the story without being overt. And it isn’t just the character’s identity, but it is the story. It is in the plot not just in the characters.

There is an underlying message in Gilded Wolves through the greed in the Order of Babel’s actions. In doing so there are cultures that are being expunged. And a whole lineage they are lying to keep dead. Because of this, others are vying for power utilizing their religious beliefs that could have cataclysmic consequences.

And truthfully? That is the magic of Chokshi’s writing throughout Gilded Wolves. This is a fantasy book that is entertaining and fun. It is a heist book with a found family. It is also a book with a message, with themes that need to be heard. And when you show them. When you don’t just tell them? They are that much more impactful because they aren’t just overt. They don’t just hit you over the head like you are being preached to. They have the impact by being shown through characters you love that you see as people and a story you are invested in. They reach inside at the heart of readers.

Chokshi shows everything. Nothing is spoon fed, nothing is just handed to the reader. There is history, language, math and none of it is just given to you. It is something you immerse yourself into happily. It is an experience to read Gilded Wolves. Nothing less.

I give the book five stars. I really enjoyed the world that the author created and loved the characters. It’s a book I could read again. I would definitely recommend the book and author.

This was one of my most anticipated reads, but unfortunately it ended up falling short.
Couldn't really connect with the characters and the plot felt a little slow in some parts.

Full review on blog!

"Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds."


The Gilded Wolves is obviously the next big YA title. Think somewhere along the lines of Six of Crows meets Caraval--this book has all the hardcore action and diverse characters as the former, and the brilliantly-crafted world of the latter. If you read for escape, this book will definitely take you somewhere epic.

There are literally no dull moments in this book. I didn't come across a single scene that felt like a filler; everything that happened in the book happened for a reason, or at least deepened the characters' development. Roshani Chokshi did a fantastic job filling this novel with impossible puzzles, complex politics, and delicate secrets.

"Am I pretty?" [...] "Be honest."
"'Pretty' is a stretch. Let's call you 'striking.' Or 'impossible to look away from.'"
"Oooh. Like the sun?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of a train wreck."


Like I mentioned earlier, the characters in The Gilded Wolves are pretty fantastic. We have a main cast of six eccentric characters with unique personalities, who each bring something different to the story:
🐺 Séverin - This half-Algerian, half-French mastermind is probably the hardest to read among all the characters. He has so much to fight for, and take revenge for. I found his character to be really similar to Kaz's from Six of Crows, although it was a bit harder for me to connect to Séverin.
🐺 Laila - She's a gorgeous Indian dancer, and a fabulous baker during her spare time. I think her character's the most interesting--I don't want to spoil anything, so just take my word for it. She's also probably the group's sweet mother-figure and I love her for that.
🐺 Enrique - I'm totally biased, but the fact that he's Spanish-Filipino pretty much made him an instant favorite for me. Being Filipina, I learned about our history in the eyes of the Filipinos, so it was fantastic to read about the struggles of someone who looked more Spanish than Filipino, and how this was not a great thing for him. He's also the group's comedic relief, and I loved his charm so much.
🐺 Zofia - This Polish math genius has a lot to offer as well. She's always anxious, always lost. She's adorable and sensitive, but is still incredibly strong.
🐺 Tristan - Séverin's foster brother who is basically a teddy bear personified. He's everyone's favorite botanist who has a lot of heart.
🐺 Hypnos - He's black and unapologetically queer. He just wants to be loved and wants to love, which I loved so much about him. He's also funny and charming, and he's just so himself all the time, which is fantastic.


I loved the characters individually, and their relationships--friendship-wise and romance-wise--were equally commendable. Séverin and Tristan, of course, have the most genuine and beautiful relationship, the one between two people who are brothers in everything but blood. Séverin's banter with Enrique also gets me every time. Laila and Zofia had a very sisterly relationship, and I adored them together so much. (view spoiler)

"Take what the world owes you by any means necessary. The world has a shit memory. It will never pay its debts unless you force its hand."


The politics and the world-building were fantastic--there was definitely a lot of depth. That being said, it became hard to follow at some points. I had to pause a lot from the information overload, being someone who doesn't like having to take in too much information about something. The background information got too intricate, and there was a bunch of terminology that I had trouble following.

Overall, I would still recommend this gorgeous YA fantasy to any lover of heist-related stories, diverse characters, and unique magic systems. Chokshi also leaves much room in the ending for a sequel with even more magic, secrets, and revenge. I can't wait!

A rather refreshing type of YA fantasy. I can see why this was hyped up so much. With the inclusion of math and equations and puzzles, I felt like this was really special.
With a diverse set of characters, Enrique and Zofia being my favorite, they really brought the story to life.
I enjoyed the heartwarming found family moments of this group, even welcoming in Hypnos.

However, I felt like the Babel fragments and the Fallen house weren’t discussed thoroughly enough to have as much of an impact on the book as they had. The climax with the Babel fragment felt too grandiose in comparison to the rest of the novel and I wished that the whole book had that sort of world building and writing.

I’m looking forward to the second book and hoping that it is even better than the first.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

**ARC kindly provided by Netgalley and the publisher**

I’ll be honest, I don’t think this book was for me. I was initially drawn in by the pretty cover because even after reading the blurb I wasn’t 100% sure what Gilded Wolves would be about.

I’ll be completely honest and say that I DNF finish the book so I cannot accurately rate and review it. Some books just don’t mesh with certain readers. I’ve seen it be compared to Six of Crows quite frequently (which I also wasn’t a fan of) so found family themes apparently my thing.

As △⃒⃘lways, I recommend trying out a sample at least because what doesn’t work for me could be treasure for you. Happy reading!