In this the sequel to the Gilded Wolves, We travel with Severin, Laila, Enrique, Zofia and Hypnos to Russia to find a magic artifact that can safe at least one of them.
I liked The Silvered Serpents  considerably more than The Gilded Wolves, which was a fine action heist story.  I think the reason for that was the concentration on fewer point of view characters, 4 rather than 6, and moe time spent with Enrique and Zofia who are more unique characters, or have more unique thought processes than with Laila and especially the rather sullen and broody Severin.  I am a very character focused reader and if I can't connect with the characters I won't connect with the story, I did so here more than the first book and will as a result continue with the trilogy(?).
I also enjoy the writing style of this book, it is not overly flowery and the mystery is paced out well through out the book.
Overall I would rate this book as 4 stars.

The Silvered Serpents is the second installment in author Roshani Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves trilogy. The book picks up 2 months from where the first installment left off. The story opens with a Prologue from 13 years ago with a revealing secret regarding Séverin Montagnet, House Vanth, & House Kore which I won't spoil. If fairness, this was hinted to at the end of the previous installment. Séverin, Enrique, Zofia, and Laila are reeling over the death of someone Séverin swore to protect.

The Silvered Serpents deep dives into the character's emotional lives and the repercussions of the notable death at the end of the first book. As a reminder, the Order of Babel hired Séverin and his crew to find the Fallen House's treasure trove. They have done so to a point. The Fallen House has shown their cards and it's not the last time we will hear from them. To top everything off, The Divine Lyrics holds the secrets of joining the world's Babel fragments which would cause irreparable damage to the world.   

Séverin summons his crew back to L’Eden with the news that he’s discovered a clue that could lead them to the Fallen House’s store of hidden treasure - including the Divine Lyrics. It's fair to say that this Séverin is not the one you've met in the opening installment. Séverin's urgently needs to find the Divine Lyrics which might lead to godhood for himself and his friends. The idea of attaining godhood for himself and his friends leads him to doing some very bizarre and terrible things including making a deal with the devil. This group heads off to St. Petersburg, Russia, Siberia, and the Sleeping Palace which is expected to host the Winter Enclave in a matter of weeks. 

Meanwhile, Laila, who can read an object's history, is literally running out of time. She has 21 days before her 20th birthday in which magic used to forge her comes unraveled and she'll no longer exist. Though she's resolved to tell no one about the whole dying thing, her resolve is starting to falter. Laila needs The Divine Lyrics in order to live. She was told all she needs to do is open the book in order to find a way to live past her 20th birthday. Laila also may be the key to opening the book.

Enrique is trying his hardest to fit in with the Illustrados, only he’s not having much by way of success. Then there’s his relationship with Hypnos, who seems more interested in being included as a fully-fledged member of the L’Eden Gang than he is in Enrique. Zofia is back in Poland tending to her gravely ill sister Hela, and is ready to quit the gang altogether. The L'Eden gang is on the verge of dissolution but Zofia desperately needs the money to send back to her sister.

As the team struggles to come back together to find a mysterious book that could be their salvation...or their downfall, there are old enemies, new enemies and twist and shocking surprises that await them in Russia. There's some really horrible surprises in store for this group which leaves a rather large hole in my heart until I am able to read the sequel.

I honestly don't know if I am reading a different series to everyone else because I seem to be missing the wow factor in these books. After reading The Gilded Wolves I was intrigued to see where the story went and how it developed, but The Silvered Serpents did not impress me. 

I found the book boring and many elements just slapped together. Only the last 10% of the book had me on the edge of my seat. For me, that last bit really saved the book and pulled it all together. It went from being a 1 or 2 star read to a 3 star in the last few chapters. So much of the plot is based on all these weird mythologies, symbols and gods all smashed into one narrative based in 19th century France. It was a little hard for me to keep my brain wrapped around these weird concepts, like ice palaces, steampunk machines, Egyptian gods and forging. 

I like that we get in depth looks at the characters in this book. I loved Zofia and Enrique's chapters. They were funny, had some awesome one-liners and kept the story interesting for me. However, Severin absolutely annoyed me throughout this entire book. He was sour, uncaring, rude and helped destroy his so-called friends. Initially I liked his character in the first book but this really put me off him. Laila and Severin's romance wasn't interesting in this book at all. It felt very forced. There was also introduction of other characters into the team dynamic and while they helped progress the story they felt superficial. 

The plot was quite straightforward to follow, albeit a bit tedious. There were a couple of twists and turns that I really enjoyed and it ended in a way that made me want to pick up the next book. 

I will read the next book, or at least the start of it, to see where the story goes. As I said the last few chapters really caught my attention and kept it. Overall though the book could have just had those last few exciting chapters and a summary of the events that happened prior to that and it would have worked just as well, instead of being dragged out and confusing. 

This book just wasn't for me unfortunately!

Where do I even start with this book? Besides to scream in rage at yet another cliffhanger!!

Séverin, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia are all dealing with their grief over the death of Tristan, but none of them are especially healthy in their coping methods. Séverin has ripped apart the garden his brother grew and made a garden of mirrors that show images because he can’t stand to look at his own face. Laila is still dancing, but when she sleeps with someone she’s taken to telling them that she’s dying in the hopes one day she’ll be able to tell the people she actually cares about. Enrique has been focused on being accepted into the Insturados and just wants his thoughts and learnings to be heard. Zofia had gone back to Poland because her sister, Hela, is sick and Zofia has to help pay for her care. But when Séverin gets a new lead for the Divine Lyrics, he makes it so the band is back together for one final acquisition.

This book honestly breaks my heart repeatedly and barely offers any glue to put the pieces back together. It aches to see Séverin especially dealing with his grief, and there are mentions of the fathers he and Tristan once had, but with a new understanding of Tristan. Séverin is also zealous in his pursuit of the Divine Lyrics because he hopes by becoming a god, a divine being, he can undo his mistakes and bring Tristan back.

One of the things I especially enjoy with this book, and series, is the discussions of colonialism and racism. There’s several lines about how history is taken by western colonizers and forgotten because they hide it away in museums. There’s also really great discussions about how colorism and racism play a part in how people are perceived. Both Séverin and Hypnos are mixed Black boys, but because Séverin has a lighter complexion he is able to get to places Hypnos is not as welcome. There’s also themes of belonging because Enrique is the child of Spanish and Filipino parents, but has more Spanish (European) features which, again, allow him access to certain circles, but he also navigates his Filipino identity through the lens of also being descended from their invaders. Just a lot of heavy topics addressed and I like the way these themes are addressed and expressed. 

Zofia is still one of my favorite characters, and her neurodivergence feels relatable, as do her feelings of not wanting to be a burden for how her mind works.

This was another great adventure mystery and leaves me wanting more in this world ASAP. Chokshi does a fantastic job blending magic, mythology, and history into a story of ambition and love. Silvered Serpents with break your heart along the fault lines left by Gilded Wolves, but it is impossible to deny the love these characters have for one another. If you loved Gilded Wolves, this will pick right back up and leave you wanting more!

Thank you so much for eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately, I think I have lost the desire to continue with this series at this time.  I wish this book all the success and I look forward to working with you again in the future. 

Kind regards, 

Brittney

The only problem with this book is that it leaves you desperately waiting for the next installment.  I love all the characters and the story arc.  Can't wait to see what happens to Severus and the team.

Ok, wow. Phew! I just finished this book a few minutes ago and I’m just sitting here trying to come to terms with everything that happened in the last 10%. This book was a wild ride! 

The Silvered Serpents is the sequel to The Gilded Wolves, which was one of my favorite books of 2019. I was so excited when I got the arc of TSS later last year, but I also knew that I wasn’t emotionally ready for whatever was going to happen in this sequel, so I put it aside for a few months and decided to wait for my summer break to read it. Not only did this book wreck me, but it was definitely a worthy sequel to TGW and added so many extra layers not only to this world but to these amazing characters. 


I do want to point out that I think I loved TGW a liiiittle bit more. Although I understand the reason behind it, I think The Silvered Serpents lacked character interactions and romance, which was my favorite part of the first book. I thought group was so funny together, and some of my favorite scenes from The Gilded Wolves were of moments between all the characters. Like I said, I understand the reason behind the lack of said scenes, but I still missed them. 


This was also a much darker book than the first. The characters are dealing with a painful loss, and they all deal in their own ways. It was heartbreaking to see what Tristan’s death did to the group as a whole. 


I also think that, although I thought this book had a beautifully executed plot, it dragged a bit in some areas. Some moments I couldn’t stop reading, meanwhile there were some parts where I do have to admit I had to force myself into picking the book up and continuing. But, the later situation didn’t happen as much, and didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. 

I also expected more of the Laila being Severin’s mistress, since The Gilded Wolves ended in a way that made me expect this plot point to be an important part of the sequel. We got so little of this plot and I was expecting more from it! Quite honestly, this might be biased, but I just wanted more of these two together overall!! I felt like I didn’t get as many scenes as I hoped, and I was left hoping for more. 


Lastly, like I mentioned in the beginning of the review, the last 10% of the book were WILD. I found myself gasping so many times. I honestly predicted a few of the twists, but I still enjoyed their reveal even without being surprised. The last 3 chapters made me so frustrated, nervous, sad and obviously excited for the 3rd book! I can’t wait to see where Roshani takes us next! 


*i received an arc of this book by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I wanted to love this, but Severin is just an extremely annoying character. He pushes everyone away who is close to them thinking it is for their betterment. How can he lead people when he can’t even face his own demons?! I wish the plot was more focused on the puzzle aspect of the heists versus the emotional. It was a bit too dark for my liking.

Severin: French-Algerian. Leader of the group. Supposed heir to House Vanth. 

Tristan: Severin’s foster brother. Botanist. Pet tarantula Goliath (yikes!).

Laila: Indian. Chef. Dancer. Can read objects.

Enrique: Spanish-Filipino. Historian. Bi. 

Zofia: Jewish-Polish. Lab rat. Autistic? OCD. 

Hypnos: French-African-descent. Heir to House Nyx. Enemy to friend.

 

Things I Liked:

Growth. We start to see the characters’ flaws and how they came to be the people they are today. We see their weaknesses, as well as, them overcoming their fears in the form of strengths.
Not everything goes right. So many young adult novels have characters with essentially no faults. It is nice to see things not work as they are planned.
The puzzles. I love them! It was so fun to try to figure the puzzles out before the characters.
 

Things I Didn’t Like:

People who think they can decide what is best for someone. Severin is a guy that you love to hate. He has the best interests of people close to him in his heart, but he doesn’t always execute in the best way. He takes responsibility for things he has no control over and let’s that fear of hurt for those he loves takeover his life. People can decide for themselves if they want to take risks, they don’t need someone else choosing for them.
Forbidden love. Man loves girl. Girl loves man. Man can’t be with girl for fear of hurting her and vice versa. This is so stupid! You’ll make things work with someone if you truly love them.
Dark. The Silvered Serpents was a lot darker than The Gilded Wolves. Readers can find more foul play, deception, and a look into the darker parts of the human mind.
 

The Silvered Serpents is a story about deception, love, and friendship. People who enjoy heists and a loyal gang of misfits will love this novel.

Hello, friends. Today, tonight, or whenever you're reading this, I'm reviewing The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi, a sequel that is absolutely worth waiting for.

Unlike my previous reviews, though, I decided to review this book by posting ~some~ of my NON-SPOILERY notes from when I was reading. I promise these are all no-context notes. Hopefully, reading my reactions will intrigue and excite you for when the book comes out in September.

Already apologizing for the amount of profanity here lol. Here goes:

"nooo babyyyy 😔"
"I CAMT FUCKINF TAKE IT PMGSKSKDJFNFN"
"oh, honey"
"I HATE EVERYONE 😭😭😭"
"POETIC FUCKING LITERATURE ROSHANI QUEEN OF WRITING"
"I CANNOT FUCKING BREATHEEEEEE"
"I HATE HIM"
"I CAN'T STAND HIM LMAO"
"I LOVE HIM AJSKSKSKKDKD" (yes, this and the previous one are about the same character lol)
"SHUT THE FJCKKKK UPPPPPP"
"im not crying im not"
"hot 🥵"
"MOM COME PICK ME UP"
"GAGO KA" (this is a filipino curse word lol)
"i luv them 🥺"
"I'M CRYING AT JAMBA JUICE"
"dramatic ass bitch"
"FUCK EVERYONE"
"OHMTGOD I FIGURED IT OUT"
"HOLY SJEBERKNFJDBFKSOEJDIDHSKAISHDBOAJDJFJD"
"HELLO? GOD? WATCH OUT IM COMING UP"
•••
In case the all caps keyboard smashes weren't clear, I loved this book. In fact, love is an inadequate word for what I feel. I cannot wait for you all to join me in my suffering while waiting for the third book.

The Silvered Serpents is the sequel I wanted and needed after Gilded Wolves. It builds on the first book and ramps everything up perfectly, and honestly I just need the third book immediately. 

There’s always a worry that the second book will change things too much, or that the author will go in a direction you weren’t expecting. This story was thrilling though, and I found myself immediately wrapped up in all their relationships. 

The characters are also all fascinating, and I have a hard time picking a favourite because they’re all so lovely. Even Severin, who does frustrating things, is doing these things for understandable reasons, so even at his worst he’s still a good read. If there’s one thing I hope for more of in the third book, is more explanation on Tristan. I feel like the character we knew in the first book is so different from the character we learn about in the second, and I want to know more! 

I also love the writing and style of this book. Each character has a unique voice, and the writing itself is superb. I’m a bit picky when it comes to writing styles, but this one really works for me. I get serious Six of Crows vibes from this series, and I mean that in the best way possible. 

Seriously, if you loved Gilded Wolves, you’ll love Silvered Serpents. Probably.

I love the world that Roshani Chokshi has invited us into. The historical details are as rich as the characters and every page is a delight.

I LOOOOOVE when a sequel is even better than the original book. I devour everything by Chokshi, and this book was no different. I actually read through the night and then had to teach and write a response for one of my classes the next morning. Was it a good decision? No. Was it one heck of a thrill ride? You bet. If given the opportunity, I wish I could read this one for the first time all over again. So, so, so good!

St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley are the source of all my joy in this time of unknown. 

While Gilded Wolves is a warm sensual adventure in the land of Paris. Silvered Serpents is the chilling and thrilling follow up in the ice covered land of Russia. And let me tell you it shattered my heart like a icicle falling to an unforgiving ground. (Read: GREAT AMAZING IM DYING. ITS FINE)

Picking up a short time after the devastating conclusion of Gilded Wolves, the beginning of the book takes us on a painful journey of healing. Nothing is forgotten and moving forward seems near impossible. There is a hollowness and desperation from all the characters that makes you as the reader feel your heart squeeze. 

But what I absolutely love about Roshani Chokshi is that she blends action adventure heartbreak and humor like a forged item that only she can control. 

You will be in the middle of a tense moment and a character will have a perfect one liner that will make you laugh aloud and then worry for their safety in the next breathe.  Because I love all of them, and no one is ever safe. 

There is something so scientific and poetic about the writing too. Many times words were used that I had never heard and then when I realized their meaning saw that they fit perfectly in a tale of this world. A world we’re magic, science and the divine are a tethered chord. 

I just finished it and I am uncertain if my blood pressure will ever be the same until the next installment comes into my life. 

5/5

Thanks Wednesday Books for making my dreams come true!

The best parts of Indiana Jones and Leverage, I was pulled in by the sheer force of adventure and discovery.  Through this I’ve learned that I’m both made for treasure hunting and would cave at the intensity required. In the year of our Lord, Coronavirus 2020 that simply leaves me with dreaming of scaling the pyramids and unleashing a Hamunaptran curse while I tie my cloth mask a bit tighter as I brave the bagel shop. 

Chokshi has seamlessly transitioned from France to Russia, where the stakes are even higher, and more dramatic. Perfect. I’m such a sucker for settings that live and breathe and move, even if Zofia would insist they’re machines, while she names them, Each scene is effervescent without being exhausting, and while I still love all characters equally, Enrique really started to edge to first place. I’m a sucker for a softy. 

Reading this was a thrill that made me go partially gray from worry, however in the beginning there was light and descriptions thatnverged on being purple prose and just a little too much. I’m also far too chaotic to sit through page after page with no dialogue. My eyes need to rest on some quotation marks every now and then. 

But y’all, that was literally my only critique. Five freaking stars, and hey, Ms. Chokshi, if you’re looking for a beta reader for the third and final, I’m here in Boston, biting my nails.

The Silvered Serpents is a fitting sequel to the excellent The Gilded Wolves. I enjoyed spending time with all the characters again, and the plot was entertaining and held my attention from start to finish. This is a darker work overall than the first book in the series, but there are still moments of wit and humour along the way. I liked the introduction of some new figures, especially Ruslan, and I turned the final page eager to know what would happen next and how things would conclude. Guess I'll just have to hold on for the release of book three! Highly recommended series for readers who like YA fantasy with the occasional darker twist. A solid 4.5 stars from me.

When I chose this book as an ARC, I did not know that it was book 2 in a series. There are parts that I felt lost in, but the author did a phenomenal job of filling the gaps. 
This story was well written, with minimal use of unknown words (there are some). The intertwining of characters and stories was seamless. 
I do look forward to the next book!

As always, a copy of this book was provided by the authors in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.  

The Silvered Serpents is pure magic and a worthy follow up to The Gilded Wolves. After finishing book one last year, readers were treated to a magical ride and the kindling of a new obsession. The ending to The Gilded Wolves proved to us how perfectly executed storytelling should progress and left us dangling on the edges of for the next chapter.

Don't let the ethereal quality of the novel's cover fool you--The Silvered Serpents is sharper, faster and a little darker than you might expect.

Theoretically speaking, there's a big part of me that preferred the way that The Gilded Wolves made me feel. There's something undeniably engrossing about both installments, but, there's no doubt in my mind, that The Silvered Serpents--in terms of world building, and imaginative writing--is all the more enthralling and will appeal to a broader spectrum than, perhaps, The Gilded Wolves did.

(Although, obviously, it appealed to many and is very beloved.)

With this new installment comes magically fused, new plot-twists and an ever-changing landscape. As we pick up nearly immediately after The Gilded Wolves ended, The Silvered Serpents wastes no time in thrusting readers into the thick of it. Not only are we engulfed in the vividness that is the novel's prose and world-building, we're treated to an array of plotlines that even I didn't always see coming.

Roshani Chokshi truly outdid herself with The Silvered Serpents.

This book was fantastic!! I couldn’t put it down! It was so intense. So full of mystery and intrigue! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading it

I didn’t much care for this book. Maybe I should have read the Guilded Wolves before picking this one up. I think I will try that and then reread it. I’m having a hard time staying focused on heavier reading. I’ll visit the first book soon.

If you loved the first one, I recommend picking this up. I enjoyed the setting, characters, and action sequences but I found the plot pretty obvious. None of the big reveals grabbed me. However, even with the predicable plot twists (looking at you main villain), I still really want to revel in the world. Everything is darkly beautiful. Opulence and mechanics and a bit of adventure a la Indiana Jones. Chokshi is a wordsmith rarely found.