ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A lot of the issues I had with this book were the ones that I had with the first. Some issues are new.
We don’t really know how old anyone is (except for like, two characters). The extremely repetitive physical description of the characters (Zofia’s hair and eyes were described as “candle bright” or “blue as candle hearts” way too many times.)

To me some characters also seemed so inconsistent. I feel like the Hypnos in TSS is not the same person I read about in TGW. Séverin is utterly unrecognizable; even when faced in the events of the last book, I couldn’t connect or sympathize with him in this state – but if the goal was to alienate the reader, than it was a job well done.

I still struggle with the Zofia as a Jew. The only way you know she is Jewish is because it is stated multiple times. It’s like she was assigned this as a nationality, not a faith, and it’s only mentioned when talking about pogroms or racism. It is such a wasted opportunity to add something unique to this story like Cassandra Clare’s Simon Lewis of the Shadowhunter Chronicles or Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver.

I don’t want to say much about the ending until this is out, but it was predictable (but only kind of in a bad way) and some of the details were a bit of a stretch.

Now for the good:

There were noticeably less descriptions of food, to which I was very very grateful.

There’s definitely a lot more action in this one, and we get more glimpses of the promised heist aspect that sparked the comparison to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows but turned out to be non-existent in the first book.

I really enjoyed Laila and Zofia’s friendship, as well as Enrique's character growth.

At the end of the day, I admire the world Chokshi built. Some characters I learned more about and love even more and they are the reason I will come back for Book 3.

I’ve been questioning whether to do this review since the release date was moved to September 2020 and that is a LOOOOOOONG time from now, but if I don’t do it now, I’ll have forgotten everything about it by then. So here we are.

It’s very difficult for a sequel to live up to the first book but The Silvered Serpents is just as good as, if not better than, The Gilded Wolves. Roshani Chokshi is able to be explore the characters much more since she doesn’t have to introduce the reader to them. And the shit that happens to Severin, Sofia, Enrique, Hypnos, and Laila is incredible. Like…book twitter might explode. Let’s get to the review!

Everyone is back for this story (except Tristan because…RIP), but that doesn’t mean everything is the same. After what they went through together in The Gilded Wolves, nothing can be the same again. They lost Tristan and they’re all feeling the after effects of that.

Severin has closed everyone out. He blames himself for Tristan’s death and is not willing to let anyone close in case he loses them. And yes, this goes for Laila too. Their relationship has completely crumbled.

Laila is still working at a dancer but is no longer living at Severin’s hotel. It’s too difficult to stay there and bake for everyone when Tristan isn’t there. It also doesn’t help that Severin has completely shut down any kind of emotion so when Laila sees him, he barely looks at her. She’s also still trying to find the book that will help keep her alive. But with no clues in sight, her days seem to be numbered. That’s when Severin comes to her with his plan.

Sofia has been away visiting her sister who’s been sick. She’s worried about how she’s going to pay for her care but when Severin calls her back to the hotel, that problem seems to be solved. He’s going to send money to her sister in exchange for Sofia coming on a mission with the team. But Sofia still worries when she’s away from her for too long. What if she gets worse? What if she doesn’t make it?

She also might be a little sad when she sees Enrique and Hypnos together (But she’ll never admit that!)

Enrique is getting ready for the presentation of his life. The one that will get him everything he’s ever wanted. Recognition and people really listening to him when he speaks. Well that and to be loved for who he really is.

The presentation…does not go as expected (I’m really trying for no spoilers but with this book, it’s difficult!). As for the love part… Enrique is loving Hypnos’s attention but he wonders if Hypnos wants the same kind of commitment/relationship that he wants.

And Hypnos. My poor dude. He is as flamboyant as ever, but also doing everything he can to be a permanent member of the group. Severin is still not treating him like a member of the team and it’s killing him, but the others are trying their best to make him feel welcome.

But what’s the adventure?

This time they’re off to Russia (Siberia technically) in search of an icy palace where Severin believes The Divine Lyrics aka the ancient book that holds the secret to Forging, the knowledge of how to join the Babel fragments, and…and this is important (especially to Severin) will give the one who has it access to the power of God.

WTF?

But this book isn’t just a book of great knowledge, it’s also a way to prolong Laila’s life. But that’s not why Severin wants it…SPOILER ALERT!! I don’t know how to say this without it sounding totally bizarre but it also kind of is totally bizarre. Severin want the book so he can make him and all his friends into gods so that none of them can ever die and he’ll never lose them. SPOILER ALERT!!

The boy has taken grief to the next level.

But does he tell his friends what he plans? Of course not.

Together, they go along to search for The Divine Lyrics and make their way to Siberia. But they don’t go alone. The Matriarch of House Kore (Severin’s aunt) is along for the ride as well and as you can probably guess, Severin is pisssssed about it.

And so the adventure begins. I don’t want to give anything away here because it’s magical beyond belief and it’s better if you read it for yourself. It’s filled with goddesses, murder, magic, mechanical monsters, portals, secrets, twists and turns, secret rooms, things not being what they seem, and relationships tested and brought to the brink.

Also…be prepared for a cliffhanger (I KNOW. I ALMOST DIED!)

The Silvered Serpents is an epic adventure with the characters we’ve come to know and love. Sofia will always be my favorite character, but (and I can’t believe this) this book made me actually like Severin a little bit!

But all the characters have their own unique parts and the development of the different relationships and personalities is incredible to read. I’m giving The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi 4 out of 5 stars. If you loved the first book or thought it needed a little more oomph, read this one. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

I was amazed by the first books ability to have so many characters and yet make them all so memorable. This book does that and more. All I can say is…get ready for the ride of your life.

The Silvered Serpents comes out September 22, 2020 (I know! It’s a long time from now. I’m waiting for the cover reveal at this point lol)

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read a lot of Roshani's books including the Gilded Wolves so having that little bit of background going into the Silvered Serpents did help a lot and with that said I was expecting just as much excitement just as The Glided Wolves gave us and I must say it did not disappoint. Having a victory that was short lived and that came at a price I believed left a chip on Séverin and his team's shoulders and now with the risk of obtaining an ancient relic that possesses the power of God most definitely comes at a price. While reading this book, I definitely got an Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark vibe to it which allowed me to read on and have my interest stay peaked. The book was filled with suspense and conflict like no book I have ever read.

We will consider adding this title to our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 4.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I was a tad nervous going into the second book in this series because I had head so many good things about the first and it was kind of a flop for me, but this one made up for it . We had mystery, growth, treasure and just everything. You get to see why things played out the way they did and had a bit of a twist in who certain people were. I was so blown away. BUT THE. CLIFFHANGER!! I NEED TO KNOW NOW!!!

There are about a million things I love about 'The Silvered Serpents,' the latest in the Gilded Wolves series by Roshani Chokshi, and one thing, I absolutely detest. We'll save that for last though, because in no way do I want to allow it to overshadow the rest.

Though the series seems to be billed as Young Adult, the themes are actually very mature and fully developed, as are many of the scenarios the group of characters find themselves in. The relationships don't lack depth or physical contact, the author simply.. easily manages to convey it without getting down into the 'smutty details.'

Her prose is elegant and she deftly swings between intimate emotional sequences and moments of fast-paced action, without interrupting the flow of the story. The pace is constantly in flux, yet not disjointing. This is a genuinely talented writer and I loved the references to the legend of Laila and Majnun.

Severin, the focal point in much of the story, is absolutely sexy. He's the perfect mixture of beautiful, brooding, self-loathing behavior. The darkness and conflict in him, only serving to draw those around him (as well as the reader, in my case), closer and closer with every glimpse. Truly, he breaks my heart, and not just when he's good.

Laila.. is a lovely combination of strength and vulnerability. She has weaknesses, as we all do, but she's a tough girl. Not physically imposing or annoyingly overbearing. She doesn't overcompensate by trying to intimidate or insult (as a rule).. no. She's just tough enough to build those walls out of pride and the self-awareness that sometimes letting things through, might break her.

I often struggle to like more than a character or two in a story.. finding the others to be grating or insubstantial, but that's really not the case with any of Chokshi's characters. I am just as drawn to Hypnos' understated neediness, as Enrique's desperation for recognition, and Zofia's struggle to see things in the same ways as those around her. Even the antagonists and supporting characters are likable in their ways. Good, bad, or neutral, they're all vivid characters that I won't soon forget.. and.. don't wish to.

Now, remember that thing I said I hated? It's a cliffhanger. An utterly unnecessary.. mistake.. in my opinion. If this were some short, weekly serial a la the original release of Stephen King's 'The Green Mile?' Acceptable. If the writer/story were weak.. and the author needed something to capture the reader and bring them back for the next book.. at least understandable. But it's a tactic and nothing more.. and in this case.. it cheapens the work.

The cliffhanger takes a stunning story, filled with rich characters, creative mechanical and magical/alchemical elements, and gorgeous scenic imagery.. and rather than trusting in what it has to offer to draw the reader back.. it forces the issue. I understand that there's a continuing arc here that will carry throughout the books, but there's no reason to double down on that and give us an incomplete Act either. And that's how this feels.

All that being said, I highly recommend this novel. I'm going to go out and buy the first in the series, and I'll buy this one too when it releases in physical formats. I'll eagerly wait for news of a third. I didn't want to put 'The Silvered Serpents' down.. and I'm willing to bet.. you won't either..

Of course, Roshani Chokshi does it again. I mean, truly iconic following The Gilded Wolves. I didn't know what to expect and how she was going to follow that up but I loved it and think this is truly the next big YA series.

A great continuation of the series! I love the versatility and diversity of the characters. It was fun reading as they developed from book 1 to book 2.

Roshani Chokshi’s The Silvered Serpents did not disappoint with this fantastic sequel to The Gilded Wolves. All the action, romance, and absolutely gorgeous prose are present. Although, there seems to be a more serious vibe to TSS - there are some really heart-wrenching scenes - Ms. Chokshi’s clever wit remains ever-present in some LOL moments. The story line, the twists and the progression of each character are all fantastic.

Well done, Roshani, well done! Now to wait …..

More detailed review closer to publication date.

A big thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and Ms. Chokshi for providing this e-book for my honest review!

This was even better than Gilded Wolves! Roshani Chokshi tore my heart out with this one. The character development was far superior in this installment, and I cared about our little group of misfits every step of the way. This was a dark, yet beautiful book. The ending still has me in its grip - I can't stop thinking about it. There is just so much depth and meaning in the whole story, it is a breath of fresh air in the YA scene.

The Silvered Serpents is a decadent adventure filled with action, intrigue, and just enough crazy to keep you on the edge of your seat. Now don’t get me wrong, this book gets dark, and fast. But after the ending of The Gilded Wolves this really felt like a natural progression. In the wake of a traumatic and unexpected death, our core group of characters grapple with the effects that this loss has on their lives while simultaneously trying to prevent the death of another. Chokshi tackles grief and trauma head on, inviting the reader into a world of complex and challenging emotions. It might not be all action and wit the whole way through, but the details and exploration of the characters are both deep and realistic. A patient reader will be rewarded with nuance, so don’t rush through the ‘slow’ bits – it’s all good stuff!

And the world building, my word! Transporting the setting from France to Russia was simply divine, as it allowed for layer upon layer of mythology to be built up over time without ever feeling onerous. I was in love with the ice palaces, mechanical leviathans, enchanted winter animals and stories of long dead goddesses. It is magical, steeped in folklore, and the perfect setting for a tale that is darker and more turbulent. The parties were spectacular and opulent, the challenges imaginative, and the villains not at all what I expected. Everything came together into another perfect cliffhanger ending, and I simply can’t wait for the third book to come out.

I loved how much time we got to spend with Sofia and Hypnos, gaining greater insight into their personalities and the effect that they have on the group dynamic. Sofia remains one of my favourite characters, and I can’t wait to see how she will develop in the next instalment. For someone that is often seen as weaker than the others, she has some truly spectacular moments, and the real beauty was seeing her recognize that she’s not just a sidekick. Laila and Severin too, were particularly show-stopping, with their raw feelings and excessive tension. We are all fools for love, and it seems these two are fond of playing games with higher stakes than most.

This delectably dark tale is wrapped up in Chokshi’s spellbinding prose. It evokes the heartstrings, the imagination, and offers a veritable cornucopia of diversity without going the line of tokenism. Through it all she highlights the value of all life, and addresses through subtle undertones the issues arising from colonialism and cultural destruction. It is a testament to the intelligence of a younger reading audience, but I know that many of the issues and undertones addressed will not be appreciated by all.

I can't even deal with the way this book ended right now! Talk about a cliffhanger. Although the beginning of the book was a little slow for me, the amount of twists and turns in the final third more than made up for it! It's going to take me a while to fully process everything that happened. Just WOW.

This sequel was AMAZING! I totally feel back in love with the world and characters, and the end left me in shock and in desperate need for the next!! I will be rating this one high and recommending it to everyone as series whole!

I found this book really boring and the only reason I read it so fast was because I just wanted to be done with it. I didn't feel anything for any of the characters and the plot didn't really interest me at all.

Everything was just a bit too easy. The characters just somehow knew the answers to all the problems they encountered and there was no mystery or thrill. The villain in this installment was also very lack luster. I guess he was also supposed to be the comic relief and it was just sad and cringey.

The romantic relationships in this book felt so forced. It's like Chokshi made a list of what characters were going to end up together and wrote all the scenes to match that idea. The Zofia and Enrique just don't really connect for me and instead of showing us that they have feeling for each other, Chokshi tells us how they feel with cheesey lines.

I was really disappointed because I did enjoy the first book. Now I'm not sure if I want to continue on and read the final book in this trilogy.

I wasn’t in love with this book when I read it, but it was very well written and was still a nice story. I’d consider reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Note: Review to be posted to Goodreads on November 10, 2019 and on retail sites (Barnes & Noble, Amazon) upon publication date, September 22, 2020.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Silvered Serpents left me completely breathless and in awe of Roshani Chokshi’s ability to craft such a mesmerizing, intricate tale. The second installment of The Gilded Wolves series, Chokshi’s latest entry is certainly darker than its predecessor and will leave you reeling from the countless twists and turns.

From the first chapter, Chokshi lures readers back into the immersive world introduced in The Gilded Wolves, which eruditely interweaves real-world history, religion, and folklore with fantasy. Continuing shortly after the events of The Gilded Wolves, The Silvered Serpents centers on Séverin and his team as they embark on another dangerous acquisition; however, this time set against the backdrop of Imperial Russia. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that the stakes are even higher and the events of this book leave our favorite characters irrevocably changed.

Prior to reading The Gilded Wolves and The Silvered Serpents, I considered Roshani Chokshi to be one of my favorite authors based on her beautiful The Star-Touched Queen series. Through her words, she is able to breathe life into every page and make her characters truly come alive. The Silvered Serpents was no exception and I frequently found myself taking notes with my favorite sentences and passages (not common for me). I was also delighted by her subtle nod to The Star-Touched Queen in one of Laila’s chapters towards the conclusion of the book.

As the events of The Silvered Serpents slowly unfolded, Chokshi’s cast of characters only continued to develop, at times in unexpected ways. Each chapter gave us a unique look into these characters’ lives and made me feel as if I knew each one personally. In particular, I felt most connected to Laila and found her story to be captivating. My only critique of The Silvered Serpents is that I occasionally had to reread sections because of the complexity of the situation or location being described.

That being said, The Silvered Serpents completely shattered my expectations and is definitely my favorite book in The Gilded Wolves series (so far). Fortunately, I was able to dive right into The Silvered Serpents immediately after finishing The Gilded Wolves. I have absolutely no clue how I am going to wait until the (presumably) final book in this series is released (expected publication date 2021)!

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC! Assigning a rating to this book is difficult. Although it qualifies as highly engrossing, it was not particularly enjoyable to read. A melancholy pervades the narrative landscape of The Silvered Serpents, creating a somewhat bleak reading experience for the reader. The shadow of Tristan's death permeates the story, effectively excising buoyant moments for the reader. None of the lightheartedness and camaraderie spills over from the previous book. Roshani Chokshi’s diction choices are still vivid and magical, but now her brand of magic is at times soulless and devoid of joy. All the characters of the story are emotionally damaged to some degree, seeking connection in their actions and subsisting on a fervent hope of belonging and being loved unconditionally. Their voices seamlessly and effectively propel the story forward, but it is a story steeped in sadness and bereft of hope for much of book. Perhaps Chokshi wanted to push her readers to the brink of despair along with her characters, but I hope the next installment will offer a much-needed reprieve from the darkness. I will definitely continue reading this series because I am ravenous for a resolution to this harrowing tale. Chokshi deftly dangles the reader at the precipice of her story, but mercifully offers a hopeful glimpse of a satisfying conclusion.

This series continues to be very confusing for me. Like a lot of other readers, I found it difficult to follow the plot of this book, as well as The Gilded Wolves. The only reason I continued the series is because I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships, and I wanted to see what happened to them next. But I didn't really enjoy anything other than the interactions between characters.

Thank you, Netgalley for providing me with this ARC! After really enjoying The Gilded Wolves, I was excited to see what Chokshi was going to bring in the sequel, and ultimately I was not disappointed! Although at the beginning I was a little worried as she started to undo most of the cliffhangers from Book 1 (ex. Severin finding out about Tristan so quickly), I held out and it seemed like it was a better story because of it.
In many ways, Book 2 was easier to follow than Book 1 because the magic system was already in place and required less detailed explanations. I thought Zofia really shined in this book, moreso than any other character. I enjoyed seeing her Jewish heritage brought into more detail through their trip to Russia and discussions of the pogroms. Enrique and Laila both remained constant from Book 1, although I thought Laila's feelings toward Severin fluctuated too often and too quickly to remain perfectly believable. Severin, although frustrating, was believable in his reaction to Tristan's death. My biggest disappointment with the series has always been a lack of description of the setting-- I often find characters in places that I had no idea where they were.
Overall, I keep coming back to this series due to Chokshi's wonderful discussions and depictions of diversity in her chosen time period. I am always impressed and pleased with her handling of cultural artifacts, biracial characters, and different religions, as well as her phenomenal characterizations of Zofia and Enrique across both books. I enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to Book 3!

A little note to say that this is a spoiler free review, for those who have not yet read The Gilded Wolves. I urge you to do so, it will only enrich your literary life.

Another note: I am so incredibly thrilled to have read an early copy of The Silvered Serpents. Roshani Chokshi is one of my favorite authors, and I am constantly amazed by her stories. It is an absolute honor to review this novel. You all need to read this trilogy.

Again, Roshani Chokshi blows me away. I am eternally stunned by her world and character-building, which came out in equal force to create the dynamics of Séverin’s team in icy, beautiful Siberia. The Silvered Serpents expands upon the tale wound up in The Gilded Wolves, a masterful sequel that does not suffer from second-book syndrome. I was already in love with these characters, but Chokshi used that to wrench my heart around, as I suspected would be the case. I am so incredibly torn that The Gilded Wolves is a trilogy and not a duology—I love these books so much, but my heart cannot take much more!

Where, even, to start? Probably with the world and the prose. The depiction of the world in 1789 links history (colonization, European powers) with the magic of Forging and connections to ancient references (the tower of Babel, the Nine Muses), to a magical effect. Readers can understand and connect with each clue towards The Divine Lyrics (the object of desire for Séverin’s team) because of their cleverly crafted historical and magical significance within the real world. I especially loved seeing representations of the Nine Muses from Greek mythology, each with a special connection to an art or science. They each also had a symbolic item that signified their presence in a work, because they were otherwise indistinguishable from one another. My favorite muse has always been Urania, depicted with stars and compass. Chokshi’s prose is lyrical and devastating, as always. A couple of my favorite quotes are "What is magic but a science we cannot fathom?” and "Love does not always wear the face we wish."

For me, the heart of this story (or, I should say, the characters in this story to which my heart belong) is Laila and Séverin’s plot thread. The two of them are so magnificent together, but are blocked by their own desires: Laila’s to live, and Séverin’s obsession with protecting his friends. I cannot evaluate the strength of their stories objectively, because every time they were on the page, my heart just screamed for these angel children (though, of course, they are neither angelic nor children. This is merely my intense affection taking over my rationality). The tension between them as they continue to hide their desires and intentions from each other builds in a tantalizing way, much as it does through the first book in the series. I especially liked the contrast between Séverin grappling with the concept of godhood and Laila simply wishing to live her mortal life to a longer end.

Of course, the whole team is depicted in such a beautiful manner. Haunted by loss, and fractured after the events of The Gilded Wolves, they must find a way to focus on their mission while balancing high tension. Each of them is so well defined by the portrayal of their grief. Their individual arcs are given full attention within the scope of the story, which rounds out the novel.

The plot never disappoints. In the novel, we continue the journey of Séverin’s team as they seek the key to divine power. Fast paced and exciting, there’s an exceptional balance between emotion and action in The Silvered Serpents. The tension between the characters changes state throughout the novel, and I found myself screaming, holding my breath, and crying at various moments while reading. The pacing was snappy and each beat precisely placed, exactly as I’d predicted. I didn’t expect The Silvered Serpents to be such a quick read for me, although perhaps this is due to the fact that once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I never imagined finishing a day after I started.

Overall, an amazing novel. I have exactly zero bad things to say about The Silvered Serpents, and am so excited for you all to fall in love with this series just like I have. 5/5 stars.