The Silvered Serpents follows on from the Gilded Wolves in the heist style of its predecessor but with a much darker tone as the group deals with the fallout of the first instalment. Side note: ensure you have the events of book one firmly in your mind before picking this one up because I certainly did not and I struggled for it.

The good: there's lots of banter, romantic tension, and development of relationships between the main characters. I particularly enjoy the friendships between Laila, Zofia, and Enrique as well as the ways in which Zofia's experience of the world (especially in the case of her sensory overload) is approached by the people around her. The effects of grief and guilt are also explored through several characters and though that made for some deeply frustrating moments, it was overall an interesting exploration.

The not quite so good: as with book one, I often found myself lost in the details of everything from the setting to the magic system of this world. There's a lot of information and something about the way it's delivered just doesn't click for me and tends to leave me feeling bored and disengaged in what is otherwise a fairly fast moving story,

All that said, I flew through that finale. Things definitely pick up towards the end of the book and I'll absolutely be picking up the next instalment of the series.

TW: death, violence, stillbirth/miscarriage, colonialism, child abuse, mutilation, antisemitism

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this e-arc

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me access.

I have been waiting for this for what seems like FOREVER!

This was an excellent follow up to The Gilded Wolves. My heart is still broken over Tristan and I was low key hoping he wasn't really gone.

So much happens and there is a lot of character growth. Definitely faster than the first book and left no room for disappointment. Now to wait for the third installment.

Beauty Mixed with Horror

#Coverlove Five Stars: this series knows how to make us drool when it comes to the beauty of a cover.

#Review Five Stars: I think 2nd books in a series are so tough because we are usually dealing with the fallout of the first book. Soooo, it starts off a bit slow as we catch up with all the characters but once we get to the sleeping palace, hang on. I adore these mechanical creatures. I love a good crew story with varying personalities and this has it in spades. A bit of creepiness (I’m not going to forget that anytime soon)…a bit of romance…and a lot of adventures and mystery which I thought was well done (I loved the twist on the Divine Lyrics).

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eArc for an honest review. #TheSilveredSerpents #NetGalley

This story picks up right where we left off in The Gilded Wolves, and I honestly liked that the story line of this book was a lot darker. I thought the characters were better developed and more intriguing. I also liked that the romance grew a lot more in this because I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. The plot line of this book I also found to be a bit more enjoyable. And I thought the world building was well done in this book and I think it was better in this book than the first.

I hate when you read a book and need the next immediately! I have loved everything that Roshani Chokshi has written and this was no different! The pacing was on fire as we jumped in to see where the mission would take all of our favorite characters. So beautifully written and engaging- I didn’t want to put it down! I can not recommend this highly enough- check it out!

First, I have to point out this cover. It is absolutely stunning!! I got lucky and happened to see that Wednesday Books tweeted out about “read now” ARC’s for the day. I saw this one and instantly downloaded it! Thank you so much, Wednesday Books! More publishers should do this.. just saying..

I remember liking The Gilded Wolves but found a lot of issues with it. One of my biggest problems was that it was just info overload and I found a lot of things really confusing. Luckily, I did not have that problem at all with this one. I felt she did an amazing job expanding on book two. In addition, I loved her details. I found myself being able to picture what they were describing and it sounded so beautiful, just like the cover.

I found myself a lot more attached to all the characters in this book too. I love how they all have their own insecurities and own reasons for being on this mission. I didn’t like all the secrets though! I do know it has it’s reasons but ahh, if they would just communicate! I do think that they all really grew as a group and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

This book has taken a bit of a dark path. I don’t want to talk about anything spoiler-y but keep in mind that it’s dark. Some of the things that happen can be triggering.

The tension is so intense in this book. We have it coming from all places! I mentioned secrets, they all have them. There’s tension in relationships, love, and mission. I found myself having to calm my heart rate a few times because I was so tense. I don’t bite my nails but if I did, this would be a nail biter! I found that because of this, the story just flew. I couldn’t put this down and really found it fast-paced. It was a huge difference from book one, in my opinion.

I did figure out some of the twists early on but that ending was a complete surprise! I loved it and I cannot wait for the next book. I’m so sad that I have to wait so long because this book has really made me fall in love with this series. There are some high stakes and I expect the next one to be just as intense!

Overall, this book is just leaps and bounds better than book 1. It’s fast paced, exciting, intense, and a crazy ride. It’s so well done and I highly recommend it. If you were on the fence after book 1, give this one a shot because it’s on a different level.

Thank you, Netgalley & Wednesday Books, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. It has in no way influenced my opinions!

great way to teach third person multiple pov. it was interesting how the narrative felt different in this book. I felt like i knew the characters and i was seeing them after a couple of months. which makes sense...

great book. beautifully written. can't wait for the next book.

I'm delighted to be reunited with the amazing characters that Roshani Chokshi introduced in The Gilded Wolves! The Silvered Serpents takes on a more somber tone and explores the characters more individually as they each face their own struggles and cope with the events that occurred in The Gilded Wolves. Séverin is consumed by guilt, Laila is running out of time, Hypnos longs to be part of the team, Enrique craves acceptance from the members of the Ilustrados, and Zofia worries about her sister as well as feelings she can't ignore. I love all these characters so much, and Chokshi gives them so much depth and emotion.

Once the hunt for the Divine Lyrics begins, the plot moves quickly, although at times I felt overwhelmed from all the details to keep track of. While a slow read for me, it was absolutely worth it for the dramatic last chapters. I'm eagerly awaiting the final book of the trilogy!

In this book, we have the thief buddies™ coming together for their "one last mission." And let me tell you, Chokshi really took everything that she established in the first book and built on it spectacularly. There were so many more things at stake in this book and you can feel it in the characters' behavior. Everyone is just having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day in this book. But, that's what made it so good. The high stakes and the tension between the characters, particularly between Séverin and the rest of his team. Séverin has really evolved into this almost morally grey character. He's willing to do anything he can to reach the ending that he wants. Quite frankly, I think this made him an even more compelling character than he was before. Chokshi also took the time in this book to let us get to know the characters a little better. We find out things we didn't know (particularly about Madame Kore and somewhat Tristan) and we get a look into the evolution of their relationships with other people in the group. This is, once again, especially true of Séverin. The person that he has turned into in this book is almost unrecognizable, but at the same time it makes sense.

I said it the last time in my review of the Gilded Wolves, but Chokshi has such a mind for vivid storytelling. The way that she is able to put you in a time and place just using words is dazzling. It felt like I was in the frigid palace in Siberia, or at the Russian ballet with Séverin and Laila. She is also fantastic at imparting the emotion of the characters so that you completely understand what they are going through. It is because of this, that the characters felt human. Gone are overpowered protagonists who seem to experience the world shallowly. It was all just very well done, and I really do applaud Chokshi for her knack for description.

In short, if you read the Gilded Wolves and you weren't sure if you wanted to read the Silvered Serpents, don't hesitate! This book is everything the last book was and more. The changes we see taking place in the relationships of the characters, coupled with everything that is at stake make the story incredible. Authors need to take note, this is how you write a sequel that isn't boring. I don't think that this book ever dragged like the first one did at times. I enjoyed the first book, but I loved the sequel. I'm so excited to see where she takes the premise of the next book! I can promise you that I will be reading it, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Absolutely amazing follow up to the Gilded Wolves. I adored the characters even more the second time around. I'm thrilled I pre-ordered a personalized copy.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the world in Gilded Wolves, with the houses and the Babel Fragments that everyone wants and Severin and gang being the treasure hunters for these fragments. The Silvered Serpents kind of continues in this way but the gang is fracturing, with Laila counting down the days to her birthday, Zofia taking care of her sick sister, Enrique trying to join the Ilustrado, and Severin blaming himself for Tristan's death. They come back together though when Severin discovers a chance to find the Sleeping Palace of the Fallen house.

I found it a bit hard to read about Severin, who was very harsh in this book, trying to distance himself from everyone, but the other characters were good, especially Laila and Zofia. There are many dangers to get through in this book and much treasure but it does end on as big a cliffhanger as the first book. It was still a fun read though.

4 1/2 "Choose Me" Stars!!

This was a wonderful followup book! The Silvered Serpents is now my favorite in this series, of that I am certain. The thing about the first book in any fantasy series is that you have a great deal of world building and time spent establishing the characters. It often feels overwhelming and can drag a bit. By the second book, that is mostly complete and you can sit back and enjoy the story. It took me a few chapters to work my way back into the characters and the storyline and then I was a goner. I was hooked until the last word of the last sentence, when I realized just how much of a cliffy I was left with. Then I was frantically looking for a release date for book three. Sadly, all I could find was 2021. I hope it's earlier than later...because I'm eager to see how things resolve for these beloved characters.

"What is magic, but a science we cannot fathom..."

The Silvered Serpents did have a different vibe than The Gilded Wolves. In that friendships and relationships were discovered and established in the first book. In the second book, Severin is not the same person. He was changed by events in book one. The group of friends seem to be a bit more at odds and unsure of their place. Laila and Severin are denying their true affection for one another in a way that is almost painful to read. In addition, Laila is struggling with her own personal battle as well. One that she doesn't feel able to share with Severin for fear of his reaction...that he may not care at all. All the while, this group is racing after another treasure that they believe could change the world for the better. But when and if they find it, will it be what they expect?

"I wish my love had been more beautiful."

This book had a little bit of everything....great fantasy world, wonderful characters, angst, friendships, jealousy, danger, love, suspense, betrayal and some wonderful twists too!! I loved every bit of it...even the dreaded cliffhanger. I mean it really was the perfect place to end the book. That said, I really look forward to book three and am hopeful that it will be every bit as enjoyable as this one was.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I chose to voluntarily review this book and the opinions contained within are my own.

Let's talk Gilded Wolves and Silvered Serpents. These books are so DANG GOOD and I just don't think they get enough love! Seriously, the stories are so complex and there is so much history woven into this fantasy. OOO I LOVE IT! And the sexual tension and the action sequences...OOO and the puzzles! These are an absolute DELIGHT! I just don't understand why more people aren't just shouting from the rooftops about these books. Silvered Serpents just pulls on your heartstrings and I cannot wait for the next installment!

Though it took a long time to get the second book in this series it was still a great book to read. Severin has changed and not for the better. Though he is doing it all to protect the ones he loves, he's going about it all wrong. This book is fast-paced looking for the big treasure. The book ends on a cliffhanger. I would highly recommend you read the first book before picking this one up. Both books are a great adventure, wonder and fast-paced.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*

Lately, I have really been struggling with the young adult fantasy but I loved the first book in this series that of course I wanted to read it but I also didn't have high expectations. I am happy to report that I loved The Silvered Serpents. I was hooked on this one and I just didn't want to put it down..

I do recommend this one and I can't wait to read more books by Roshani Chokshi.

I’ve realised I really really like angst. Like I knew I liked it, but I didn’t realise that I actually prefer angst until I read Wayward Son (sequel to Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell). So, while I do really love happy endings and the sequel being all happiness and butterflies; I like the sadness and angst, especially with bountiful amounts of yearning and yearning, all the while the angst just builds and builds and it’s all so gorgeous.

And this is definitely the case in this book. You have Séverin perpetually pining over Laila, and that makes him sad. And he’s sad because of the very sad, awful thing that happened at the end of The Gilded Wolves (which is, you know, we don’t talk about that, okay). He must be so tired from thinking he’s doing things all wrong and a team that he’s bound to let down and/or lose them; can we all just chip in to buy him a gift voucher for a couple of therapy lessons? Like, please, Séverin, accept some love from your team.

And then on the other hand, Laila is also pining over Séverin, and I can now definitely count them as a favourite ship, and they need to be together at the end of the series. But there’s another issue that she also has to worry about, and which issue does she need to be worried about more? And the two of them go back and forth on their relationship and feelings, all written excellently and it’s all so good.

Don’t get me even started on how much I love Hypnos, Enrique, and Zofia. I love them so so much. Like I said below, I love all the cast equally but I do have a special super interest in these three because they seem to share the same thought – that they don’t belong, that they’re most likely annoying. Like, HI, I resonate!! FULLY! So that’s probably why I feel so much for them because I can relate to them just a little bit more than the others.

I had so many emotions while reading this. So, so many emotions – my Kindle is just full of it. If you’re a reader who reads for emotions and is wanting to find more books that’ll make you swoon and squeal (or whatever your choice is), then I highly, highly recommend this series.

Roshani is just a master at creating prose for her characters. Its all so beautiful. I don’t even feel like I’m sitting on my couch and watching a movie while I’m reading – the prose and the story and the way the characters speak with each other makes me feel like I’m right there with them. Basically, I just want to eat the words, I know that probably doesn’t make any sense at all, but that’s how I’m feeling – like I want to pick up the words and chew the words.

I love how sometimes, in the kindle notes I’m like Roshani, this and Roshani, that; like I personally have Sunday lunch with her or something, like she’ll read this review and then invite me to lunch 😂

Again, I can’t even begin to say who’s my favourite character. Okay, like, if you push and push and push me to give you an answer, then I’ll say Zofia – she is my utter favourite. But then ever so quickly afterwards, I’ll yell out Enrique and Hypnos’s name. So you see, it’s pointless to ask me that question because they’re all my favourite!

Even how they interact with each other – with Séverin having this whole façade and he thinks he’s lying successfully to everyone but his team sees right through him. Is that because Séverin subconsciously trusts them enough to let his guard down or are they all too good at seeing through lies and falsehoods? Either way, bound to make me more emotional.

Also, Roshani, we need to have a whole short story collection of some of their adventures. I want to know every little detail about the VOLCANO that was first mentioned in The Gilded Wolves. And then you mention MECHANICAL SHARKS?? Now I HAVE to know!! I’m glad I listened to the audiobook (of tgw) because now I know how to pronounce the stuff! And now I can see how everything is spelt.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Silvered Serpents is an amazingly atmospheric book full of magic, mystery, intrigue and treasure hunting. This book is a cross between the Davinci Code and An national treasure and was gripping from the first chapter.

The characters are amazingly portrayed and the scenes are excellently described, enough so that you feel you are there!

I loved and hated the ending to this book and can't wait to find out what happens next in book three!!

I always enjoy Ms. Chokshi's work and this one didn't disappoint, I really liked the characters and the story itself. Overall I really enjoyed reading this.

“Love did not always wear the face one wished it would.
Sometimes it looked downright monstrous.”

Title: The Silvered Serpent
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Rating: 4.75 stars
416 pages (I received an ARC)
Series: The gilded wolves
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: fantasy, young adult, historical fiction, lgbtq+, romance, mystery,
The book has humor and light banter, but also has very deep darker topics loss, death grief,
Chokshi has brought back the character we know and love.
The characters become a closer family.
What a wonderful book. There were moments that I definitely wasn't expecting..
The relationships were very well written. There is a hint of romance, but the relationships that resonate the most with me is between Enrique, Laila , and Zofia. Their family found and how much they are willing to do for each other is the must sweet and amazing thing in this book. If you enjoyed the gilded wolves you will love the silvered serpents.

I received this book from Wednesday Books via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

“If there were stairs to hell, would you venture down those?” one character asks another in The Silvered Serpents. “It would depend on what was inside hell and if I needed it” the other answers. This is the perfect descriptor of the issue at the heart of this novel. Our team needs The Divine Lyrics, the question is, just what are they willing to do to get it?

This is book two of The Gilded Wolves series and it picks up soon after the events of book one, so you have to read the first novel in order to understand anything taking place here. This review will necessarily contain spoilers for that initial volume so if you haven’t read it, I strongly recommend reading my critique of that tale rather than this to see if you would be interested in the saga.

Tristan’s death has profoundly affected Séverin, not just because Séverin misses him but because Tristan’s demise revealed secrets he’d never shared with him. Finding out his brother was a sadist responsible for killing numerous animals and probably a couple of people has shaken Séverin to his core. The loss has also left him with the desperate desire to protect the rest of his team – and he is convinced The Divine Lyrics, a tome from the Tower of Babel purported to give humans the power of God, will give him the ability to do that.

The initial frantic search for the treatise made by Séverin, Laila, Enrique, Hypnos, and Zofia ended in failure and most of them gave up the hunt, believing they had exhausted every possible clue. Not Séverin. He has continued to chase down the merest rumor of a hint and his tenacity has paid off. He learns that the secret to the hidden location of the item they seek can only be seen through a heretofore unknown pair of spectacles and before you can say National Treasure Redoux the team is reassembled and on their way to Russia. Once there, the real adventure begins as they fight for both their lives and the chance to gain access to unbelievable power.

If I hadn’t been reading this book for review I’m not sure I would have made it past the first few chapters. That would have been a shame because once the group finds the spectacles, the story takes off and I could barely put it down. But before then it barely plods along. Pages and pages are spent in morose mourning for Tristan and additional space is lost to the quagmire of everyone questioning the meaning of life sans The Divine Lyrics. The start of the novel felt like a teen soap opera that didn’t fit at all with the first tale’s narrative of a group of successful new adults overcoming incredible odds to leave their mark on the world.

Since most of the exciting and fun bits of the story take place in spoiler territory, I can’t tell you much about the plot. I can tell you that the spectacles are only the beginning and that they lead our team to a house of wonders where all the treasure hunting escapades an adventurous heart could desire take place. Our daring swashbuckling fortune-hunters make some new friends, some new foes and stumble across folks who are a bit of both. Issues that have simmered in the background come to the foreground, containing shocking revelations and all the incumbent heartache and glory one could hope for. Ms. Chokshi’s writing is always lyrical and her elegant prose creates a world of gorgeous fantasy which she balances perfectly with the historical opulence of La Belle Époque, the era in which the tale is set. Once things start happening, you will be turning the pages as fast as you can to get to the end, which contains a frustratingly awesome cliff hanger.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints and this gives us a chance to see into the heart of each member of the team. Zofia, a Jewish girl who has what was labeled in the twentieth century as Aspergers, feels as though she is a burden to those around her. This has been sweetly pointed out to her by her sister, and Zofia can’t see that she is the one supporting her and who has built a life for herself outside the family. That cruel doubt niggles at her throughout the tale and to add to her struggles, being in Russia brings back unpleasant memories of the pogroms her people have had to face over the course of her lifetime.

Enrique, who is of Filipino descent, continues to struggle to make a name for himself in spite of his brilliance as an historian. He is slowly being worn down by the grind of battling racism and the only joy he has found in recent days is his flirtation with Hypnos.

Hypnos has problems of his own. He had been a childhood friend of Séverin but when Séverin was excised by the Houses, Hypnos had no power to help him since he was struggling to hold on to his own position. Now that his place is solid, he longs to be part of Séverin’s team and hates that he is consistently made to feel an outsider, especially by the person whose friendship he longs for most.

Laila has just twenty-one days of life left. Forged rather than born, she has no chance at a continued existence unless the team can find The Divine Lyrics. She longs to come to terms with her likely demise but she loves Séverin and watching the change the death of Tristan has caused in him makes it likely she will die with a broken heart and her hope of even a fleeting love unfulfilled.

All these issues give depth to what could easily have been a superficial action-adventure story. Understanding the motivations of the characters gives an authentic emotional element to their hunt for The Divine Lyrics and turns it from greed to a noble quest.

The Gilded Wolves had the start of two tentative romances, which I alluded to above, and those are both kinda, sorta addressed here. This is very much a middle book, where the action appears to move our narrative forward but there is enough fluidity to the non-conclusion to leave us wondering as to where all the pieces will land when we reach the finale. I’m hoping for happy endings all around and will keep my fingers crossed that book three will provide them.

Perhaps the largest barrier to true love conquering all will be Séverin. He has pulled away emotionally from everyone, determined that the pain of losing Tristan will be the last he ever feels, and as a result is completely resolved to do whatever it takes to acquire the power to protect himself and everyone he cares about. He’s a desperate, dangerous man and he is skirting catastrophically close to destroying rather than guarding his friends. It’ll be interesting to see how this is resolved.

The truly lamentable start aside, The Silvered Serpents is a fantastic sequel to The Gilded Wolves. I can only hope that the next volume comes out very, very soon.