This was a really great sequel to the Gilded Wolves. The tension is ratcheted up by a ton, the characters are as usual amazing, even though they are completely traumatized by the ending of book one, and the story took a lot of turns i wasn't expecting.

We start the book with all of our characters kind of having all gone their own way. After the ending of the first book, and the traumatic loss of their friend, there's a lot of sadness as well as animosity to go around.

Severin has decided that he is going to focus on finding the divine lyrics. In his mind, if they're gods no one can die- they can bend reality to their will. As a character, he became a little unhinged and has purposely set himself apart from everyone so he doesn't have to feel.

The rest of the characters also have their own gauntlets to run. Laila is still dealing with the impending timeline of her death as well as her taught and outright hostile relationship with Severin. Zofia has to deal with her sister's illness, and is practically forced back by Severin to help with this quest, in addition to having to acknowledge her feelings for Enrique. Enrique and Hypnos have grown apart, and Enrique is still struggling with his identity and getting the respect that he so craves from certain people.

This book was in ways completely different and very similar to the first book. It's another quest, more of a mystery quest than a heist storyline like the first book, but there's still plenty of danger. The whole time you're reading you're waiting for the other shoe to drop because it's pretty clear our crew is walking into a trap.

The world is much more well developed, in my opinion, in this book than it was in the first - but i did find that the writing was less lyrical and the setting while more expansive seemed less romantic and fantasy-esque than in the first book.

One gripe I had was that I CANNOT STAND cattiness and girl hate and there was a lot of that going on and that was one aspect this story really could have gone without. Because of this I would definitely say it's more of a 4.5 rating than a whole five if half stars were allowed.

I had a hard time dealing with our characters not getting along, but at the same time couldn't stop reading because I had to know how it would end. I blew through this book in two sittings. It was absolutely fantastic. And I don't know how I'm supposed to go on, knowing what I know, and not having the sequel in my hands.

3.5/5

I found it difficult to get through this book but when the action finally kicked in, that's when I couldn't put it down. I was hooked. I think this sequel to "The Gilded Wolves" will divide readers. It will determine whether the reader will want to continue reading the story (or not). I was at the edge of my sit so I definitely want to read the sequel.

This sequel to The Gilded Wolves is even better than the original. I enjoy the dark ambiance and intelligent characters, intrigues, puzzles, clever world building. Very engaging.

The Silvered Serpens is the sequel to The Gilded Wolves, which is a magical heist story set in pre-WWI Paris following a large cast of characters that deals with colonialism and power very interestingly. I felt very conflicted about that book; there were lots of things I did really like, but an equal number of elements that I didn't like very much. I gave the first book 3 stars but knew I was going to read the second book because I was interested in enough of the story to continue. I don't like half stars (I could write a thesis about my probably overly strong feelings on this), and even if I did, I am a firm believer in rounding up, but I certainly liked this book more than I liked the first one so I am giving it 4 stars.

I am going to jump into some of the things that I didn't love about this book. Séverin, I don't really like this character very much. I did say in my review of the first book that he was very Kaz Brekker in that book, and I will say that there is certainly far less room for Six of Crows comparison in book two, but in this book, part of my issue with his character is why I didn't like Will Herondale in Clockwork Angel, I don't like the trope where a character is hostile towards others because of a terrible secret. And Séverin doesn't even have an exception to that cruelty that would help see why the other characters like him. Obviously, they like him because of past action and have tremendous empathy towards him because of the death of Tristan in book one, but I really still don't like that trope. He is cruel towards the only people who like him, makes decisions for all of them, and the logic of it all is not explained in this book. It just doesn't work for me. I also just found his chapters far less interesting than I found the other characters' chapters. I wanted to get out of his head and see what was happening elsewhere almost every time it was his POV.

Another trope that is not for me is the 'we love each other but cannot be together for fear of hurting the other' Séverin and Laila just don't work for me. I like Laila, but the only reason I want her to be with Séverin is because she wants to be with him. I surely do not get the reason she loves him back. I do like his trope on occasion, but I am not a fan of this execution of the trope.

I am going to go read some reviews of this book by bi or gay men and see how they felt about the representation in this book because I felt a little weird about Hypnos character arc in this book. Gay men are very often portrayed as flighty and unable to form a serious romantic attachment to others, and I just felt weird about that being a big part of Hypnos in this book. It does seem like we are going to get more from Hypnos in the last book so I will be interested to read that.

I do like seeing couples change over the course of series; seeing people realize they do not want the same thing out of a relationship is valuable and an interesting plot and character point. But I am not going to say that it didn't make me feel weird that the gay man doesn't want a relationship and is using an emotional attachment to get something for himself, while the end game partner is a very dedicated and attentive girl. I also feel weird about this because I think it is excellent representation to show Zofia being attracted to Enrique and not phased by him being bisexual. Bi men are so often dismissed by women in anything romantic, so I absolutely love seeing a bi male character being shown as desirable. Also, these are my favorite characters of this series, which adds another layer.

I really adored Enrique in this book. His chapters might have been my favorite (I also loved Zofia's). His character growth and dedication to his friends really make his chapters excellent. I especially loved the way his shame over not being heard was presented in this book. It was heartwrenching to see him dismissed in different ways and built to the endpoint of the book very nicely. I liked that Enrique got to make his own decision on his relationship with Hypnos and that it was not colored by affection for Zofia but on its own self contained dynamic.

Speaking of Zofia, I do still really love her. I loved her conflict in this book. She has so many stressors, her ill sister, self-doubt, the increasing antisemitism in Europe and Russia at this time, and her desire to help her friends. She pushes so much of the plot forward and had great badass moments in this book. I also intend to look at some reviews by autistic and Jewish folks to see how Zofia is received. I am specifically interested in seeing where this book is going with someone of the religious plot lines and how that interacts with different faith systems.

One of my critiques of book one was I found the foreshadowing very heavy-handed. This could be because I am 27 and this is YA, but I felt like it was very strong even trying to factor that in. I didn't have as much issue with it this round; I thought the one related to the divine lyrics was a little strong, but I also think that could be tied to my classics education, so I am iffy about this! I will say I was surprised very much by one of the twists in the book!

I very much did not like the new character, who was basically a cartoon character. I was absolutely baffled by the way he was written. He really seemed to literally belong in a children's cartoon. I also thought the reveal about the matriarch of House Kore would have had more emotional resonance if she had more page time. She was in this book more than the previous books, I certainly was interested in her character, but the end would have hit better if I had more time getting to know her before the reveals start happening.

Something else I really did like about this book was how creative Chokshi was with this world. The platonic ideal of book two in a trilogy involved widening the world, and I really think she did that very well in this already very wide world. Even when I didn't love a character whose point of view I was reading from, I did really love the world building elements being laid down. I think they serviced the plot excellently, but that they also just really served to root this story in time and in the magic of the story. I really like the way Chokshi writes descriptions of physical objects, and I think she is excellent at having each point of view character notice and interact with the world differently. It was excellent for the world and for the characters.

I would clearly recommend this book! Especially if you, like me, were middle of the road on book one, I would suggest you continue with book two. I am very curious about where the series is headed and look forward to finishing The Bronzed Beasts when it is out in September!

I loved the depth of individual character development in this installment of the Gilded Wolves series. While the seeds had been planted in the first book, The Silvered Serpents took it to a whole new level. I especially loved Enrique and Zofia as individuals and their personal arcs.

The writing style is as beautiful and impactful as always from Chokshi, and I loved the atmosphere it gave.

I will say I missed the group dynamics from the first book, but I did like the careful exploration of how and why things have changed between all of them and how it these character relationships impact the plot intrinsically and powerfully.

The ending broke me in all the right ways, and I cannot wait for the final installment in the trilogy! It is my fervent hope that all goes well and that they can be happy and together again, but somehow I suspect Chokshi will put the characters and her readers through a lot of eagerly anticipated pain before that happens.

Roshanki Chokshi is a genius and her books make me really focus on each and every part - even the ones that are not used to being up and running! The Silvered Serpents has word puzzles, logic cues, history, science, and match...it's part fantasy and science fiction and another part seems to be part of a global IQ test!

Actual Rating 3.5

What he had done had not looked like love. But then again, Love did not always wear a face of beauty.

After reading The Gilded Wolves I had REALLY high expectations for The Silvered Serpents. The cover was magnifique and after I found out that it would be set in Russia, I was so pumped.

The Silvered Serpents follows the aftermath of book one. A LOT of stuff happened in the first book and thanks to that, the characters don’t have the same lively banter. Severin specifically is very upset and is fighting/not speaking with Laila for the majority of the book. The book still had its moments of snark/comedy, but definitely a different vibe from book one.

Another thing that changed (maybe?) was that there weren’t as many word puzzles. I read an e-arc of the book (and also listened to on Audiobook) and I didn’t see any of the fun puzzles that were in book one. I will definitely be picking up a finished/physical copy to confirm. But I was kind of disappointed I didn’t see any.

Something that really surprised me, was how much I ended up enjoying Zofia’s character. Here were some of my favorite quotes from her chapters.

Sometimes she needed help, but that didn’t make her helpless.

...the panic she felt at whether or not the way she processed the world made her a burden to others...but would such observations then make her a burden?

It filled her with a sense of capability...as if she might go anywhere and not count the trees;as if she might talk to anyone and never know panic. It was power, she realized, and she quite liked it.

It was so refreshing to read a character like Zofia who likely has a mental disability, but is still at the forefront of the action, and also never feels the need to clarify out loud or in writing her differences.

Overall, The Silvered Serpents was much darker than the former in the series. It was a lot to take in and we are still left with a bit of darkness left after this second book. It’s likely we can expect the next one to be just as dark, with maybe (hopefully) a light at the end of the tunnel.

This was definitely better than The Gilded Wolves. The worldbuilding is better, the characters have more depth and well realized, their motives and personalities leap through the pages. The prose is great too!

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If I’m being completely honest, I requested this book based on its gorgeous cover without even reading what it was about. When I realized that it was the second in series I actually meant to read awhile ago, that was just a great bonus.

I really enjoyed the Gilded Wolves but the Silvered Serpents was so much better. This novel is set in Russia in the winter and the descriptions used are beautiful. The story picks up months after the first one ends. We find out so much more backstory about these characters you just can’t help but really like. The author brings you on an emotional rollercoaster ride as each character has a burden they are carrying.

This novel also ends like the last one, on a cliffhanger and now I need to get my hands on the next novel. Great and terrible things get put in motion and many lives are at stake, including Laila’s. I can’t wait to see what happens.

Loved this book! Set in Russia, this story deals with the dark feelings of the characters after the tragedy that happened in the first book. As you follow them on their treasure hunt, you learn more about them and find yourself growing attached. Can’t wait for the third book!

Myself and many others have been awaiting the sequel to The Gilded Wolves for a little bit longer than usual. But it’s finally here and I’m so happy to have been able to read it! I really like where the story took the characters in The Silvered Serpents.

As is the case with the other books by Chokshi that I’ve read, the plot and small details were very nicely planned out and developed–I had to pause here and there because I was just in awe at the amount of detail (especially regarding the mythology that permeates this book series). I also enjoyed the way that the characters were portrayed and how they developed.

Everything was just so well done! I think that I may have actually enjoyed The Silvered Serpents more than the first book in the series! I was hooked from the start and read the book fairly quickly considering I was focused on a big project at work and was putting in a lot of overtime. I just can’t say enough how impressed I am with the amount of thought and detail that went into The Silvered Serpent.

Oh, and the emotional pain! Chokshi is the queen at making me feel the pain, haha. I’ll stop rambling now and just say that this book was really great and that I recommend it (and the series in general) and that I now eagerly await the next installment!

Well, this took me a whole year to finish. I got an ARC from Netgalley in January 2020, but found it pretty dull, and when the pandemic broke out, I just couldn't focus on it. I was about 60% done, but set it aside till January 2021, when I got the library audiobook. I listened to about 2 hours, which jump-started me enough to finally finish the ARC.

I felt it was more boring than the first... the plague of the 'middle child' of a trilogy... but the end was quite cliffhangery, so hopefully the final installment will be more exciting!

This book was such a fantastic read! I loved spending more time with these characters, but oh, man, are they damaged after everything happened in The Gilded Wolves! And that last scene of Gilded Wolves, that was just evil, and I needed to know how it was going to play out!

Watching these characters deal with the reveals and the scars from the previous book, well, Séverin lashed out, which lead to hard feelings between him and Layla. Given Layla's countdown to live, that they were wasting what potentially little time they had left, I was frustrated on their behalf!

I loved diving deeper into this world, we do get to go to Russia, and explore more, and learn about the Fallen House. There were so many mysteries, and some secrets that the characters were holding that started to have, and will continue to have, impact on the world, and I can't wait!

That ending, oh, it was such an amazing read! Things were just so intense, and I didn't know how they would make it out! Just incredible, so much happened, and then it was done and I just need more, because it can't end like that! It was just such a killer ending!

This was a really fantastic read, and I need to read the 3rd book!

I have a weird relationship with this series. I really enjoy it, I think it is beautifully written, I think the world building is amazing, but I also just....feel separated from it. I just finished this book, which ends on a cliffhanger, and instead of groaning that I need to wait 8 months for book 3, I am more like "oh yeah, this will be fun to finish at some point!" I really love the characters, but I am not "Rosa in Brooklyn 99 saying if you hurt them I will break you" with them.

I think Roshani Chokshi is an incredibly talented author, I just think my disconnect is somehow related to my accepted feelings about YA fantasy. There is just going to always be a wall between me and the genre.

I am saying that because if you do love YA historical fiction/fantasy, I think you'd genuinely love this series! And of course I'll also pick up book 3. While I am not desperate to know how it ends, I am excited to see where it goes next.

I have a major problem with the world building, or lack thereof. I felt very lost reading the gilded wolves and hoped that the by the sequel I would be able to fall in to the story easier, but unfortunately I had the same problem. The character chemistry is what kept me in the first book, but I didnt find it as compelling in the sequel.

I absolutely loved this book. I was lost for most of the first book, but I loved this one. I’m so glad I accidentally read six chapters of this book first. If not, I never would have started the series. Thank you!!

This is a great sequel to GILDED WOLVES. Roshani doesn't disappoint. Severin has my heart & there was so much angst and sadness and love in this book that makes it a worthy read!

I think this was a lovely book and I hope more people read this series! it's a lovely follow up and I can't wait for the next book!

My favourite thing about this book was how the stakes of every relationship were heightened. There was plenty of drama and tension between characters in the first book, but this sequel took them all to a new level. Severin's deeply burning angst that slowly chars his relationship with the other characters. The way he and Laila teetered between drawing closer together and falling bitterly apart. Hypnos so desperate to be part of the team that he leads Enrique on. Zofia's gradually growing feelings for Enrique. House Kore's matriarch having a secret backstory and loving Severin like a child! Everything is so fraught now, just waiting to catch fire and explode into the third book. The ending where Severin pretends to sell everyone out, I can't wait to see him cross paths with them again. If possible, the stakes are EVEN higher now. As always, the cultural and historical references were excellent. Especially the link to Laila and Majnun. This does not bode well for their relationship... Sometimes the writing style did not work for me, especially the humour, and the pacing seemed to lag for the first two thirds of the book, but that's a very subjective feeling.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. I liked most of the cast (Zofia is my favourite, but I can’t stand Séverin. Layla deserves better than him) and the plot was exciting.
I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the first book.