Cover Image: The Silvered Serpents

The Silvered Serpents

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I started reading back in August hoping I could get back to reading more than 10 minutes a day. Covid really got and almost killed my reading. Still I kept reading the second book of this series because even if I only read 10 minutes a day it kept me engaged and interested. I was sad I did not have the attention and concentration to read more of it each day. It is very much because of the plot, the characters, oh Enrique and Zofia I love you both, that I kept reading almost every day. I can't think of a better review. This book kept me reading at a time when it seems I couldn't. It broke my heart again, like the first book but I can't wait to read the last one. I love my gang of broken thieves.

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<b>Rating:</b> 4.25/5 Stars

I received an e-ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

<b>“I wish my love was more beautiful”</b>

This is how a sequel deserves to be written! I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this book! I gave The Gilded Wolves four stars last year. I enjoyed it. I thought the characters and the premise was interesting. Then this book happened! It builds so effortlessly on the plot of the first book. It felt more developed, better paced, and grittier when compared to the first book. I am now officially hooked!

The Silvered Serpents picks up with each character struggling to cope with the events of the first book while hunting of the Fallen House. When Severin discovers a dangerous lead to artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God, the team leaves for the icy heart of Russia.

What I liked:
I love the diverse cast of characters. I thought that in the last book, but it really hit me again while I was reading Silvered Serpents. Each character is different and complex. They each have their own rhythm and each contributes something unique to the story line. Sometimes with a big cast of characters they start to blend together but that is never the case in this series. I think the way Roshani built on the character development in the first book by adding this layer of grief and the desire to not lose another friend brought them to life and made them feel even more relatable. I thought the girls shinned in this one! Laila and Zofia completely stole the show for me. Both are so beautifully written and empowering in their own special way! Seriously love these two so much!
The world building was just as on point in this one as it was in The Gilded Wolves. I really enjoyed the new setting and Roshani’s writing brought the icy Russian palace to life for me! Everything was so clearly defined that I could picture it all from the Menagerie of animals to the ice grotto/leviathan.

What I didn’t like:
I think the only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was that I just wanted more from the ending. It built so nicely but then the unveiling of the Fallen House felt a little flat… maybe it was because I had kind of guessed who it was going to be early on but I still felt like the unveiling of the bag guys to the ending was really quick. Though that may have a lot to do with the set up for the third book. I don’t know! But ultimately the ending left me wanting a little more.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I think this is how a sequel should be done! This is definitely my favorite book in the series (so far) and I’m eager to read the final book!

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I was not very intrigued with this book. The premise was exciting about the main character pursuing a lost artifact that claimed to have the power of God.

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I didn't love this as much as book one, but I still thought it was really well done! Full of action and angst, I was on the edge of my seat in one way or another for the whole book.

The characters were so well done and so brutally beautiful. The grief, the heartbreak, all of it was so well done. Not to mention that the world building was incredible! So vivid and clear I could see it perfectly. I really loved this, and I look forward to more from Chokshi!

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The Silvered Serpents is the second novel in The Gilded Wolves trilogy and it picks up not long after the close of the first novel. Each of those working with Séverin are struggling to deal with their feeling about the death of Tristan at the end of the first book. Laila blames herself for not having revealed the core of darkness that was eating Tristan alive. Zofia wonders what she might have done. Enrique feels distanced from Séverin even as he sees that Tristan's death is eating his friend alive inside. Hypnos dances around all of the no-longer-merry band he wanted to join, but always hovering on the edges of belonging. They are shadows of themselves, and Séverin especially begins to grow colder, harder, and angrier than the young man we met in the first book. As his diffident relationship with Laila sours by degrees and the clock counts down her life, Laila pulls away from L'Eden, even if she hasn't given up the quest for some of the treasures the group must seek. She takes Enrique and Zofia into her confidence about the fragility of her situation, and her reasons for continuing to help the group as they seek out The Divine Lyrics that she hopes will provide answers to stop her impending death. But what are Séverin's reasons, really? And after the revelation at the end of the first book, that Séverin isn't the heir to the house he believes he is, exactly who is he really?

The Silvered Serpents builds upon the complex story that Chokshi is trying to tell, showing us how each of her major characters strives to find a place and people with whom they fit. Since the first book, we felt that was L'Eden and with each other but the edges of this tapestry are badly frayed. Séverin's hubris in thinking it's his job to protect everyone from everything begins to rub them all the wrong way, especially Enrique, who becomes unsure whether that protection isn't really just a way to control everyone, with Séverin keeping all his players in a state of play, when and where he wants them. Yet through all this, Laila and Zofia shine. Zofia, who is so clearly on the high functioning autism spectrum, makes progress in her interactions with the others in this novel and begins to recognize her own strengths instead of just her weaknesses. And her emerging greatest strength is her great courage in wanting to help Laila. Laila is more defined in this book, less a femme fatale than an alluring, all-mothering figure. Laila is the one who knows how everyone wants and needs things, and yet she is also growing weary of putting up with Séverin and his growing callousness. Enrique also evolves in this novel, coming to see Hypnos, Séverin, and Zofia with clearer eyes.

I enjoyed this second book and found the introduction of Ruslan and Eva to be interesting if predictable development. The revelations at the end of this novel offer insight into the revelations of the first novel and set up daunting possibilities for the third novel of the trilogy. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Chokshi closes out the trilogy.

I received a paper and digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I loved this book and all of the characters. It flowed better that the first book and got deeper into the characters and their lives outside of L’Eden. The ending was not what I expected but was awesome still leaving it at kind of a cliff hanger. There is a twist that was shocking that I didn’t see coming.

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This is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read! The five main characters are not only diverse in terms of culture, background, and ways of processing the world around them, but also all fully developed, each with their own secrets. Their friendship is made stronger by their differences, and they value each other's unique skills in navigating each new challenge they encounter. The plot was paced extremely well, with a little being revealed at a time but enough held back to keep me guessing and turning pages. This is one of those books that made me lose track of time because of how absorbing it was to read. The ending left me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for a sequel to find out what happens next!

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I was so excited to head back into this world. The Gilded Wolves, the first book in this series, was so unique and memorable that I was worried that the sequel wouldn't match up. Don't worry it does. The plot of this book is much more straightforward than The Gilded Wolves but I loved the character development.

Chokshi’s writing is incredible. The covers of this series match the beauty of the words written inside. I am counting down the days until the third book is out in the world.

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The characters are more amazing in this sequel than the first book! It was a quick read and the magic system is so unique. I hope the cliffhanger is resolved in the third book!

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I loved Gilded Wolves so much so of course when the sequel was available I knew I had ot get my hands on a copy. Once again, the novel is written from different POVs, but I really enjoy that. I like feeling like I understand each character on a deeper level.

I did find that it took a long time for me to feel like this story pulled me in. I just had a hard time getting into it, if you know what I mean. Near the end, it grabbed me with two hands and threw me into the story. Once that happenened, I couldn't put the book down!

I enjoyed the character development of the younger members in this novel. And the cliffhanger....!!!!! I hate it but love it!

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I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I am really glad this series is written in multiple POVs, because Severin is such an ass and I need the other characters to keep me from throttling him! I will say that I had a hard time getting hooked on this book, but I think some of that comes from the fact that its been so long since I read book one. It took some time for me to get back into the rhythm and to sort out the characters again. HOWEVER, I did enjoy the plot and I reallllly love Zofia and Enrique and Laila. We got quite the cliffhanger here, and I can't wait to see what the last book brings us.

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The Silvered Serpents was the much anticipated sequel to The Gilded Wolves. I read first book in the series and loved its fresh take on YA. I adore all of these characters and was happy to be reunited with them once again. This book takes a darker stance after TGW and we got a lot of character development from the young crew. I love a good heist and was happy the crew was back together again in this sequel. I am anxiously waiting for book 3 in the series. If you love Six of Crows, you will love The Gilded Wolves series.

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i wish i liked this series more, but for some reason it just didn't hit the magic mark for me. I do like how the sequel explores grief and how relationships are impacted when your world is torn apart.
but overall this book moved much, much slower than the first and just dragged for me.

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While I liked Gilded Wolves, I REALLY liked The Silvered Serpents. This book has everything -- amazing writing, wonderful plot, intriguing characters, a great setting, and enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. My students who love SIx of Crows will gobble this one up and will be anxiously awaiting the next book.
Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this title for review purposes.

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3.5 / 5

I'm glad I read a quick plot summary online of The Gilded Wolves before reading this because I had forgotten so much of that book. There is a lot going on in The Silvered Serpents, both in terms of the general storyline as well as with each individual character. Some big twists, betrayals, and romantic moments made for an exciting read. As with The Gilded Wolves, I liked that we continued to get to know all these characters. I look forward to book 3!

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“Séverin. A silhouette of silk and night, a boy with a mouth made for kisses and cruelty. A boy who had once conjured wonder and came too close to touching her heart. Laila reached for her hate like armor, but he was too fast.” — THE SILVERED SERPENTS, Roshani Chokshi

In THE GILDED WOLVES, readers met 6 fantastic characters who all came together for a common goal: to find something known as The Divine Lyrics, the thing that will solve all their problems and finally allow them the freedom to find where they fit in this world. In THE SILVERED SERPENTS, they’re still searching, but the tone is dramatically different. The characters are now muted shadows of what they were. The stakes with this quest haven’t changed though — whether or not they find it, the outcome will be life-altering. Though it’s anyone’s guess if that’s a good or bad thing.

That same current of otherness that was present in The Gilded Wolves follows the characters through this book as well, but where the team had each other to give them a sense of belonging, circumstances and Séverin’s current state *because* of said circumstances have rendered that sense broken. The characters we met in the first book have had no choice but to make their own way, apart from their found family.

While the first book focused heavily on their search for the book and all of the amazing riddles, the sequel focuses more on the characters and their relationships with one another, and how their rift is growing larger and larger. I said in my review for the first book that the emotional scenes were like a punch to the gut. The same can be said for The Silvered Serpents, but then Chokshi makes sure you *really* feel it by ripping your heart out too. And then promptly stomping on it. The best word to describe this second installment is fractured — that’s how the characters are, and that’s how readers will be left feeling.

All I know is the wait for the third book is going to feel tortuously and brutally long. I can’t wait to see how this trilogy wraps up and to see if these amazing and delightful characters manage to finally find their way back to one another, because that’s where they belong. They’re just too stubborn to see it.

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Return to the dazzling world of hierarchy and deceit with the sequel to Gilded Wolves.

Silvered Serpents is the second book in the series and takes place shortly after the events of the first novel.

With the same main characters returning to continue the journey to find the divine lyrics, you now get to see more of the world created in the previous novel. Everyone is still holding their cards close to their chest and secrets from each other. Mixed in with some new clues to the location of the divine lyrics and all they hold, more of the questions left from the gilded wolves will be answered. And there may be  more questions that will arise.

I really had a hard time getting through the first half of this story. It felt like a lot of the story and plot lines from the previous novel were being repeated except they added some new characters and villains. I was starting to become disappointed until I hit some where around the two thirds mark. That was when I found things started to pick up and my attention was grabbed full force. I had a hard time stopped until I finished the last page from there.

However, I have to warn that this one does end with a cliff hanger ending. If your like me then you don't mind a good cliff hanger ending. I do know they aren't for everyone though and that's why I wanted to add that information in.

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Wow. WOW. I gave The Gilded Wolves five stars, but I'm seriously reconsidering knocking it down to four stars because The Silvered Serpents is so phenomenal, so breath-takingly tense and amazing, that I can't imagine how amazing that final book will be that follows it.

As someone who also enjoys writing, I felt like this story was so well-crafted! Roshani does a wonderful job fully delivering on the series promise of feeling like National Treasure. The majority of this book centers around finding The Divine Book of Lyrics, a magical object with the power to turn one into a God - or give them god-like powers, anyway. When we begin the story, our characters are still grieving from the loss of Tristan. Enrique is trying to distance himself from the team and make his own name; Zofia is on her way back from her spending time with her ill sister; Laila is counting down her days to live; Hypnos is shrouded in secret as he leads a romance with Enrique; and Severin is so absolutely destroyed, and seeking to be a God. So, you know, totally normal stuff! As the team reunites once a lead arises about the Divine Book, their traumas, secrets, and desires clash together as they work through puzzles and treasures in their quest. Along the way, we have a few other major players: Delphine, the almost-mother that abandons Severin as a child; and Eva and Ruslan, two people from the Russian house to help. But no heist is ever normal, and things go south at an alarming speed, leading to what is probably one of the most shocking endings EVER.

This book was so phenomenal, I couldn't stop saying "oh my GOD" at the end of it! The last 100 pages or so is BANANAS and it totally stole my breath away. Also, Severin was out to make me CRY in this one and I was very stressed OFTEN. Overall, 100/10, would recommend.

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**I received an ARC in exchange an honest review.**

This book suffers from middle book syndrome. It drags and feels like slogging through mud to get to what I really want to read.
The plot is bogged down and grief has taken over the characters. Yes it is understandable but I felt like I was drowning.
This felt like filler and I would rather have an excellent duology than a half ass trilogy.

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“What he had done had not looked like love.
But then again, love did not always wear a face of beauty”
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Oh what a sequel full of angst! It’s been a minute since I read The Gilded Wolves but I remember really enjoying the cast of characters and the world of Paris.
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Our heroes are in a much grimmer place in this book and the mood is....somber. I felt for Laila and Enrique while I internally screamed at Séverin to please get his head out of his ass. The romance was angsty but some of the light hearted charm and excitement from book one was missing from this installment.
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I still have a ton of problems understanding the puzzles and mysteries that ground these stories. It jumped from revelation to revelation and setting to setting and I was like ??? But honestly I’m not reading these books for the plot so I don’t really care too much lol.
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I’m not going to say that this book is groundbreaking YA but Roshani Chokshi is a fantastic and immersive writer and I did enjoy myself. So I’m giving it 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for the ~vibes~

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