This sequel to The Gilded Wolves picks up right where we left off. The group is reeling from the loss of one of their members and must figure out how to move on from this tragic event. Chokshi delivers a wonderful world to us that is part dystopian, part historical and part fantasy. I love getting wrapped up in these characters and all their flaws and abilities. There is something about these stories that draws the reader in immediately. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series!

For fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and the like!

I love this series and when I saw I got approved for this on Net Galley I almost cried (and I immediately called my mom). This book is the epitome of "Be Gay Do Crime" and I loved every second of it. Very few YA books that I've read depict diversity as well as this series does-- we have people of different genders, ethnicities, traumas without seeming like Roshani Chokshi (who is amazing and everyone should follow on Instagram) is just trying to tick groups off on a list. The characters are nuanced and fun and three dimensional and the story (started with Gilded Wolves) is GLORIOUS.

This is a heist book that melds technology and fantasy wonderfully and just the world-building itself is beautiful and intricate. I was so honoured to get this as an arc but now I CAN'T WAIT TIL BOOK THREE COMES OUT. But it was totally worth it.

A true joy to read!

In full disclosure, I will admit almost always my favorite book in any book series is always the first one. This is probably the case because I live for character introduction, world development, and the care that authors take to make sure readers understand. After I read Gilded Wolves, I did not know what to expect. This is the second in a series and can I just say OH MY WORD! This was GRIPPING! I could not wrap my head around one part when the next part would come and I would gasp again! The plot moved quickly but not so quickly that you could not keep up. It was face-paced, intriguing , and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I loved the twists and turns in this book and some things that truly threw me for a loop (in a good way!) When I finally finished, I was already lamenting it was over and wanted to know where these characters would go and do next! Highly recommend this book and series.

The publisher generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2) doesn’t even come out until September 2020—and I’m not one to brag, but I’ve already read it!
Séverin and crew are left devastated by the (no name mentioned) death of The Gilded Wolves. Now they are headed into another complicated journey—this one in Russia. This new adventure is as magical as the last, but the emotional aspect is deep and haunting. The world-building and craftmanship of the world is as unique and imaginative as in book one, but the intensity and emotional arc in The Silvered Serpents is off the charts! Roshani Chokshi has woven imaginative creatures and mythology in a beautiful, adventurous package—and it’s stunning! The banter between Séverin, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia is as witty and fun as in book one. It was like being back in a room with old friends. Bu that plot twist—oh, no! I can’t even wait for the next book, this is wholly and entirely unfair!
*I received a copy of The Silvered Serpents from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review

I had to flip back through the Gilded Wolves a couple times to really get started on this one! The author has created a complicated story/world here. I find this cast of characters to be so improbable that it can destruct from the story...however- the story keeps you going. Like it’s predecessor, every time I put it down, it called to me, and I had to pick it back up and find out. Oh, Severin. You just keep breaking my heart!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

This series is such a pleasure, and this book was just a fun read. I loved the first book, The Gilded Wolves and the introduction into this magical almost underground world or Houses and magic. For how good I felt that book one was, The Silvered Serpents, as a sequel was delicious to read and to continue the story. The group of characters in this story are smart, funny, fierce and all unique and they are such a joy to read about. Roshani Chokshi knows how to weave this tale of mysterious Houses and the quest for this lost artifact. It's very much a search for the Holy Grail kind of adventure. I did love the mystery behind who the Fallen House was and to figure that out was a fun and interesting shock. The story is almost Gothic-like and I loved that undertone throughout the book. I loved this book, and I absolutely cannot wait for book three now.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I was accepted for this ARC I was over the moon. Yet, I didn’t read it right away. Why? Because the release date is so far away! But, I decided I might as well read it now before it burns a hole in my pocket. It has also weaseled its way into my heart like its predecessor. It is not only going to be a long wait for this one to come out, but for the third book to come out as well. HOWEVER, I read a character I thought was coded into the aro/ace spectrum, and that took a turn and I am severely disappointed. I was really hoping it wasn’t going to go that way, and in the end, it sucked some of the enjoyment out of the book for me.

Chokshi’s writing is beyond amazing. I’ve always loved it, and am always happy to read it. There is something that clicks with me, and it resonates so strongly that I can’t even believe it…I just can’t. Chokshi is great at putting a mix of dialogue and description together, and it comes together beautifully. The world comes alive as she writes it, and it is a lovely one to boot.

The pacing in this book was good. Saying this as someone who liked the first book (5 stars) I felt the pacing was even better in this one than the previous one. It all felt that it flowed smoothly together and I really enjoyed that. There is little that I can despair about in terms of pacing. It all came off without a hitch. And the pacing, is what helped make this book. You were anxious to know what happens next…

And that is part of the superb plot! This book is a lot more straight forward than The Gilded Wolves was. It is far less confusing, and not nearly as daunting. It isn’t so much a heist in this one as a treasure hunt. Which is <i>almost</i> as good. As the plot moves on you’re left wondering what is happening, what is going, on and OH MY GOD every ten pages. You never know what is going to happen. I loved that, and I loved that about the first book as well. There is something satisfying when a plot brings in characters and it works for them all. And this plot worked for everyone. As they hunt for this mysterious book, lots happens, and I prevaricate because I do not want to spoil this book at all! It is so much better left unknown and you just sit down and read it!

I love the characters. Not so much Séverin in this one though. Séverin was definitely my least favorite character of all this time around. Okay, that’s not quite true, but of the main cast he was. Enrique remains my favorite of all. Also Zofia is super amazing. And Laila. Let’s just go…with LOVE THEM ALL. All their characters in this have a little growth, and it adds to the plot.

There were a few things I was…unhappy with the direction they took in the relationship department. One of them at least – I’m a little unhappy about because I thought the character represented something else. I don’t want to spoil too much, but it honestly brought down the rating for me overall. I love a good relationship drama, but I felt this one was done poorly and it didn’t sit right with me. This is all personal preference of course, so I’ll be interested to see how it turns out in the next book. (As in…I hope it turns into a poly relationship. My heart would be much more relieved about that.)

I liked it a lot. There is a lot to love (except that one relationship aspect, it felt shoved in) in this book. And the next one will be amazing, no doubt!

I love the dark turn Roshani Chokshi gave this book after the devastating events at the end of "The Gilded Wolves". After a tragedy people and relationships do not stay the same, and this was very well reflected in the depiction of the characters in this second book.

Although this is another "heist" book, the changes in the characters, and especially in Severin, made it interesting. In the first book the team trusted each other implicitly. In "The Silvered Serpents" there is an air of second guessing motives and the keeping of secrets. I love that the second book isn't just a slightly changed version of the first, and that we get to see the characters all transformed through their experiences.

The plot was extremely well written, and the twists and turns kept me very engaged. I'm only sad because it will be too long before the next book will be released.

This is a beautifully written sequel to the Gilded Wolves. We reenter the world that enchanted so many, and our gang comes together once more for another high stakes sweep. With a grittier, darker atmosphere - cloud of loss and sorrow hanging over the group - we explore their worlds as they attempt to cope with their emotions. Ever poignant, brilliantly quotable, and entirely immersive, I definitely recommend this novel to those who even mildly enjoyed the first one!

Chokshi has done it again. She has written a beautiful novel with many surprises and a diverse and interesting cast of characters. This is a definitely must for fans of Six of Crows, or fantasy, or history, or...well....reading. This book has so many appeal factors. My only complaint is that we have to wait so long for the third installment!

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I tried very hard to read it, but I had to DNF it.

I don't feel like I can accurately review this book as I did not finish it. So I kept this as neutral as I could. And rated it 3 stars.

Thank you for allowing me the chance to read it.

I have no words. This was one of the top books I wanted to read this year and it did not disappoint. I missed Roshani's writing style.

I absolutely freaking loved this book. I loved the Russian setting, the new characters we found there, and the shenanigans our crew got into. The story developed in such an engaging way that I could not put it down and I did not see the twist coming until the very end. These characters are so near and dear to me and they're so thoroughly developed that I scream and cry right along with them.

This has a huge number of reviews which paint a very good picture of what to expect from this rather prolific author who knows how to tell a good tale. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the the ARC for review!!

This is a sequel to the Gilded Wolves. Unfortunately I haven’t read it so I could not get into this book. I believe the story is beautifully written. The writing is very descriptive and I could visualize each place distinctly. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and since I haven’t read the first book I was utterly lost. I got about 50% through it but decided I couldn’t completely enjoy it until I read the first book so that is what I’ll do. Then I’ll revise this review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC In exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the ARC! Took a little while to get into it but once they got to Russia I was sucked in (though as usual for Roshani Chokshi, there were points where my heart was so far into my throat I had to take a break from reading).

This was great! I can’t wait for book three. I needed a little more exposition because it’s been so long since I read book 1 that I forgot who some of the characters are, but I was able to google to fill the gaps. A family tree or something in the front would help.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! It hurts me that the publication date is so far away now, and I don't know why the date got pushed back. I also don't know why I was convinced that this was only going to be a duology?

Anyway, let's talk about the book. The most important thing to know is that it is 100% inarguably better than the Gilded Wolves. I honestly didn't love that book as it was overdone with prose and long scientific ramblings. She does it a lot more tastefully in this book - Holly Black apparently offered advice on spicing things up a bit and it definitely worked.

There is still some Enrique and Zofia chattering about puzzles and math, then another character often jokes that they don't understand it. I imagine that this mirrors what most readers are thinking, and the book becomes generally a lot more readable. There is still a lot of "purpose prose" but definitely less; descriptions are entirely more concise and the action flows a lot better.

I admire Chokshi for keeping the advice and criticism from book one in mind and making this a better sequel.

The Silvered Serpents has plenty of it's own merits, including the elevation of Laila to my list of top 5 favorite YA heroines ever. She pulled an Inej and loudly, proudly declared that she was not responsible for the soul, fixing, or happiness of some ruined asshole. I mentally dropped the book and started clapping because I despite women that pine over ruined men, often to the point of their own downfall. Laila is amazing. She is the group's caretaker, the cement, the big sister that they all need.

Chokshi gives her young readers credit, something that a lot of YA authors aren't doing. Authors: please spare teens and other readers the endless repetition and pining and terrible inner monologue rambling that I have seen in a lot of recent novels. The YA genre deserves the reading comprehension level that this book offers.

These characters have fixed themselves in history firmly as my favorite heist crew. Enrique and Zofia essentially carried the book for me character wise, along with Hypnos' antics and Laila's amazingness. I am shipping these people and the straightening of the crew that seems to be happening.

The plot itself is more interesting as well, the crew is tracking down the Sleeping Palace and book called The Divine Lyrics, which can make gods or break the world depending on how the artifact is wielded. The architecture, traps, obstacles, and magic in this book had me HOOKED. So did some of the historical references, such as the pogroms, Chokshi is bringing in history and lore that actually make sense to the time period and that is awesome.

One other point that I admire is that this book is a meditation on love, masking as grief. Masking as horror. Concern. Banter. Cake and poison. I fully enjoyed reading her discourses on both grief and love in their various forms of expression and think they are both important themes for young adults. I would hand these books to any kid, totally just RIGHT for the target audience.

The only thing that slowed the book down (for me at least) was how in some chapters it seemed like she had the thesaurus open and was going for the most obscure words she could come up with. To some extent vocabulary in young adult novels is very important, I agree, but there is a point where it slows the story down and just gets unnecessary. She clumps them together too and it threw me off a bit.

I can't wait to get the finished copy so that I can add character quotes and express my love more fully for these amazing people. My best advice is that even if you struggle reading The Gilded Wolves, read this. It gets better. 100% 5 stars all day long

ARC from NetGalley

4.5 stars

I devoured this in a matter of hours. An excellent book two in a series. Full of Roshani's flowery prose. The visuals are, as they were in Gilded Wolves, detailed and gorgeous. The characters further develop. We have some internal turmoil churning inside of most everyone. Mysteries. Redemptions. Admissions. Fantastic.

Here we first see our found family broken and scattered, both externally and internally. They are still roiling from the death of their loved one. It has only been two months, and if you have ever lost anyone close to you, you know that two months may as well be two days for all the pain you still feel. The relationships are in tatters, and through this book we see the characters grow and mend their wounds and develop as humans. They puzzle over beautiful enigmas and as always come together to overcome.

Zofia, my ASD lovely, I adore you. You didn't what I wanted you to get, but the breadcrumbs have been dropped, and there is no spite like a me scorned, so I have a feeling Ms. Chokshi will allow me this in the last book. ;o)

The twist at the end wasn't really a twist at all. I saw it coming a mile away, but it didn't take from my enjoyment. At the very least, it gives us a possible redemption arc for the following book, and I do love those so very much.

I am thoroughly stoked for the next book whilst being simultaneously depressed about it, because this book hasn't even been released yet. Weep with me these tumultuous tears of both joy and despair.