I’m sorry for the late review. I completed the prequel as audio and it was difficult for me to read this as a book. I could not for follow along and felt that there was a lot I missed by doing the first one as an audio. I know everyone raves about this book and I will be trying it in audio. Thank you for the chance to read this as an ARC!

Interesting premise. Likable/hated characters. Cool plot. I would recommend this story to others. Some spots I found that didn't hold my attention, but overall, I still liked it.

I liked this book a lot more than The Gilded Wolves. I think partly it is because I went into this with the right expectations, so I knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of explanations about how the world and the magic system worked. It’s still a pretty cool world and magic system even things are not really explained in detail.

The main characters are still amazing and the relationship between them got so angsty and so much more complex in this book, because all the characters are trying to deal with their grief over what happened in The Gilded Wolves and some are not handling it well, which is messing with all the relationships. Also, there’s so much longing in this book, everyone is longing for someone else and not only in a romantic sense, and it was very painful to read at times. Zofia and Eduardo are my favorite characters and their relationship is the best, I can’t wait to see where it goes in the next book.

This is another heist book and it isn’t outstanding but it’s interesting enough. Mostly, I was invested in everything that was happening because I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the characters, and this book did such a good job of keeping me at the edge of my seat for the last chunk because so much happens. While there were some predictable aspects, the plot was overall more engaging than the plot in The Gilded Wolves, I think partly because there weren’t as many things happening, so it was easier to follow and be engaged in the story. There’s a change of setting and the characters end up in a strange and magical place and it was interesting seeing them explore it, which is something I really appreciated about the story.

Overall, The Silvered Serpents was an angsty story full of complex relationships, longing and grief, but also a fun adventure with twists and turns that will keep you at the edge of your sit.

I had an e-ARC for this title sitting on my kindle for well over a year and I feel like that was both a bad and good thing. Bad because I let a fabulous book rot for way longer than I should have, given how much I enjoyed the first book. But good because now I don't have to wait as long for the third book after that ending.

Silvered Serpents picks up a few months after the end of the first book. Tristan is dead, the memory of him changed by the discoveries made after that terrible event in the catacombs. Séverin and his gang of friends are still recovering, grieving in their own separate ways. Zofia returned home to look after her ailing sister. Laila left L'Eden, unable to be in the same room as Séverin while having no choice but to face her impending death. And Enrique has been busy trying to be more respected in the historical community. Séverin, consumed by what he learned of Tristan and unable to stop thinking about what happened, brings them all back for one final job. They are going to find the Divine Lyrics, and they're going to become gods.

While the first book took place in the opulence of Paris, this takes us to the icy fringes of Russia. I admit I was somewhat bummed by this new setting. Part of what made Wolves such fun was that the magic and aristocracy leanings of Paris. While intriguing, Russia isn't as lush or as influential on the story itself. Where Paris was bright with hope and possibility, here it was much gloomier. A dark and dull world that reflected the melancholy moods of the characters. This also felt less focused on a heist, and again, that comes with the lack of hope. Or rather, this job was done more out of desperation instead of proving a point. And that's okay. The magic of this world alone is fun, and the riddles felt more interesting to solve. Three cheers for no math going over my head this time.

I think what kept this from five stars was I couldn't quite connect to the characters the way I hoped. Something I noticed with the first book is that while there are four POVs, each with their own distinct backstory and personality, they still felt like pieces of the same person. With a few exceptions, too much of the banter seemed like one person talking to a mirror. Here again, they all had the same quips, so I wish there was a bit more variety between characters. I also just wanted more from them, especially Laila and Séverin. With the way the last book ended, the sheer tension between them, I expected there to be some real steam. However, it felt like the surface was barely scratched. There was too little angst for their climax to feel like it was worth the time, and I'm quite disappointed because I adore their dynamic and wanted them to really agonize over the other. Hypnos appears to have replaced Tristan as the fifth member of the team, but I found him annoyingly over-the-top in the first book, and that has not changed here.

I read the audiobook for this, and while it was excellently done, I vastly preferred the female POVs over the males. Laurie Catherine Winkel's voice was fabulous, but P.J. Ochlan's is rather blunt. Aggressive. It didn't do Roshani's lyrical prose any favours. And on that note, while her writing is beautiful, it was hard to follow at times when I wasn't going at my own pace. Because of that I zoned out and had to rewind a few times.

Well, folks! It looks like we're fleeing the ice and snow of Russia and heading to Venice for the finale, and I for one can't wait!

Students who love Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows, heist stories, and HBO mini series’ will devour this second installment. It’s smart. It has wonderful characters that you root for, It has puzzles and mystery that keep you thinking and turning the pages. Plus, that cover draws students in right away. A great novel that features a diverse cast of characters.

This book pulled me in right from the beginning! I would recommend this to any fans of Chokshi, as the author does not disappoint! The romance is the perfect amount of sweet and a little sexy but fraught with conflict. You see more character development in this book of the series, and I seriously can't wait to see what happens in the next!

The Silvered Serpents is a definitely a wonderful sequel to an amazing first book.

They are still having a harr time moving on coping after from the end of the first book and are looking to split up. The story did start off fairly slow but once it got rolling, I was hooked. This book had a much darker feel to it than The Gilded Wolves, which is to be expected. It was definitely a nail biter to the very end but I am extremely excited for the third book. Now I sit and wait.

Vivid is the word i am thinking of when i think of The Silvered Serpents and intense. Séverin and the rest of his team are intriguing and will draw you in like they did in book one The Gilded Wolves. Roshani Chokshi is an amazing writer that i want to read more books from.

Nothing compares to the first book in a series, but this is a solid sequel! It kept me interested and I loved the development of the characters.

This book hurts - I put it off for so long because I had heard so many people talking about the ending. Right from the beginning, I was already hurting because the tone of the book was already such a stark contrast with the first book. It really shows Roshani Chokshi's ability to create such a dynamic group of characters that are so memorable. Even with all the bad decisions, you can't keep but hold your breath for every single character. Truly an amazing sequel!

I’m starting to accept that I just don’t love this series as much as I had hoped to. It is a fun series and I’ll probably read the last book but it’s just not a favorite.

Like most 3 star books I don’t have a lot to say but here are the few notes I took while reading.

-The fact that this book is dedicated to Nicholas Cage will never not bring me joy.

- I feel like I would enjoy this series much more if it was adult and therefore most likely longer, giving more time to develop relationships and the world building.

- I wish there was more explanation on forging and the boundaries that exist for these powers.

- The heist section of this book happens rather quickly, and everything goes rather smoothly or is resolved quickly (felt the same for the first book).

The Silvered Serpents picks up after a devastating blow is dealt to what’s left of Séverin’s team. Whereas The Gilded Wolves had a hopeful, glamorous energy to it, its sequel is frenetic and icy. Steeped in distress and longing, this is not the book to read during a slump, because it is almost guaranteed to send its readers spiraling.

In the wake of the death which must not be named, the team is left drifting away and apart, pursuing their own ends until Séverin brings them together for one last mission that could save them or be their final downfall, but their aims are not the same. Zofia’s sister is dying, Laila’s unmaking is nye, Enrique’s career aspirations have taken a downturn, and Séverin has been destroyed by loss and shame, but he will save them all, even if he must leave his humanity behind to do it.

Although they’re meant to be a team, they never seem to be on the same wavelength. They’re always hiding things from each other and have disparate motivations. It’s actually a refreshing take on a heist novel, as it can be frustrating when characters seem to know each other’s every move though they’ve only worked together for a couple of years. While their dysfunctionality contributes to the gloominess that saturates these pages, it’s also endearing, and a natural obstacle that teams and friends face. Their interactions with each other are what gives this series life, above all else.

The plot of the book is engaging, but it is certainly bogged down by the aforementioned gloominess. Even the parts that drag lend insights into the characters, being much more character-driven as heist novels often seem to be. After all, it isn’t about the heist itself, but what it represents to each member of the team, and how they come together to make it a reality.

Séverin is a dull shell in this book, to be frank, and perhaps that’s just his character. However, from what I remember, he was actually a rather enjoyable perspective to read from in The Gilded Wolves. In this book, that is not so, but considering what he’s dealing with, it works in a sense. His ruthlessness in pursuing godhood is at first understandable, if a bit sad, but soon becomes trite in the repetition. Rather than anger, all his chapters radiate is cold detachment, which is difficult to get through, and his mistreatment of his friends doesn’t help the matter.

Similarly, Laila’s predicament, while devastating, seems to consume her identity, likely due to the repetition of certain phrases, which might be more of an issue with the writing style than an actual character flaw. Still, her perspective is certainly more enjoyable than Séverin’s, likely because she interacts more with the other team members, which has always been the best part of the books to me. Their banter, though spare, is what got me through the more tedious chapters.

Zofia is a standout in this book. The exploration of her character in relation to the others and her sexuality (or lack thereof- still not sure about that) at once engage and affirm. Viewing her through the eyes of other characters is just as much of a delight. She is a very unique character and one I’ve grown to love dearly. I’d love to see more of her in action, doing her science-y thing in the third novel.

Enrique, a relatable and lovable character, is further fleshed out in this book, especially his love of history. If seeing characters nerd out about dusty books and relics is your thing, Enrique is your guy. His chapters are a joy, as are his relationships with Hypnos and Zofia, which is a wild ride that I will not get into because of spoilers, but wow. Very realistic, I imagine, and the drama is high quality, so I approve.

Hypnos is just a sweet boy who wants friends. He’s so funny and well not nice, exactly. But he’s funny, and he really is trying. Please be his friend.

Almost all the characters seem to struggle with race and sexuality in The Silvered Serpents, which is quickly becoming the norm in YA fiction (or at least in my self-selected echo chamber), and it adds a level of realness that grounds its more fantastical elements, as do the historical facts sprinkled throughout. I will admit, having rehashed my biracial identity over and over again over the past few years, I found some of the scenes on that to be a bit tiring, but for folks who don’t share that experience or are coming to terms with that aspect of their identity now, I think this is a great way to begin that journey.

The Silvered Serpents is a fantastic book for anyone who likes their novels character-driven and doesn’t mind waiting for the third novel in the series to get that redemption arc we so desperately need.

I’m looking at you, Séverin. Come on, man. Get it together.

This book was so much better than the first one. While I enjoyed the first book, I loved the plot twists with this one and the high-action events that occurred between our group of characters. You truly come to understand Severin through this story and appreciate the team that is Severin, Laila, Enrique, Zofia, and (yes) Hypnos.

I genuinely don't know what to say about this book, mainly because I have no idea what happened. What was the plot? Why are they doing what they're doing? What's going on?

There is so much description and exposition. It feels like this story is trying to be too much, and personally, I wish it would have focused on the characters more because the world-building just didn't do it for me but the characters show potential. It also felt, I'm not sure the best way to describe it, chunky to me? Like the plot just clomped along and, of course, someone always knew the answer or story or key to that task. Let's just get from point A to point B.

I hate to say it, but the whole time it just felt like the characters were explaining things so we as the reader would understand; and either it wasn't necessary and would be better if it was shown, or it doesn't help us at all and still nothing makes sense. The story could have used a lot more focus and editing down. I had really hoped after the first book that this one would tighten up the story and be better, but that doesn't feel like the case.

However, much like the first book, it ended strong! Ultimately I just don't think this series is for me as much as I really wanted to love it.

To be fair, I didn't particularly enjoy the first book, but I went into this book cautiously optimistic. I felt confused reading the last book due to the, in my opinion, confusing world building/ magic system in the last book, and I hoped that it would be explained more in this one. However, I finished this book still confused as to what exactly was happening. I really didn't like the characterization of Sevrin in this book, and at the point in the end where I was supposed to sympathize with him, I just felt detached instead. The ending of this book was also not my favourite, and overall I just was left with a bitter taste in my mouth upon finishing.

Just as I was recovering from The Gilded Wolves, Chokshi came and ripped my heart from my chest again.

A stunningly gorgeous book packed full of heart, darkness and it’s just the perfect sequel. Bring on whatever lies ahead.

I unfortunately felt apathetic for a large part of The Silvered Serpents and ended up liking The Gilded Wolves more than this one, but the last 20% of this book is something I truly will never forget. While not the best sequel I’ve read, The Silvered Serpents is still a solid addition to this series with excellent character work and an exciting end that promises to deliver more in the final book.

First of all, Roshani Chokshi’s writing is absolutely gorgeous. I have so many quotes highlighted, and reading back on them now makes me gasp. It really does fit the tone and time period of the book so well, written with all the decadence of the era that hides more sinister, corrupt forces at play.

I didn’t have a favorite character when reading The Gilded Wolves, because they were all such strong characters that I found myself loving each of them when I was reading their POVs, but I did find myself more drawn towards Laila and Severin. And this sequel confirmed that, unfortunately, my favorite is Severin. And boy did The Silvered Serpents give me all the Severin content I could ask for! His love for everyone is so deeply twisted and manifests itself in all the wrong ways that I was sickeningly fascinated with, and the idea of gods vs humans and the temptation of attaining godhood explored through his character were some of my favorite parts of the book.

The other characters are no less interesting than Severin, though (but probably a lot less messed up). All of their individual arcs were strong and explored well—I especially loved Laila’s struggle with having to accept her inevitable death creeping up on her, and Enrique’s desire for approval. But this series is notable especially for its found family and the relationships the characters have with one another, and I enjoyed these as well!

This book, like The Gilded Wolves, was more character-focused than the typical YA fantasy. I think my being in a slight reading slump definitely affected how I felt reading this book, because I felt detached from the story most of the time. I usually appreciate character growth and a focus on characters more than action, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me this time because my short attention span was begging for more tangible action. (I also think that most of the deeply intriguing character scenes happened near the end, and I wish it had been interspersed throughout the story.)

For a majority of the book, I felt like I was just reading for the sake of reading, and not because I felt particularly inclined to know what would happen next. The last 20% of the book, though, was unforgettable. I absolutely adored it, and if the whole book had given me as much of an adrenaline rush as the end did, my opinions of the book would be all the more positive. The end is packed with anticipation and tension, as the binds of their time remaining become tighter and tighter, and I was equally stressed out and captivated by it.

While it sadly did not fully live up to my expectations, The Silvered Serpents is certainly a book I will not be forgetting any time soon, and I love these characters and the exciting, though extremely panic-inducing, adventures they go on. I am undoubtedly excited to pick up the next book and see how it all ends!

Gilded WOlves was only a 3 star for me, but I overall liked the characters and had hoped that the pacing and plt issues I had with t would be improved in Silvered serpents, but in the end I think it falls a bit victim to the middle book syndrome. The world building and the writing are good, but the story gets repetative and lacks energy. I'm also not a fan of girl on girl hate, and I only have so much patience for lack of communication between characters, I think the characters get bogged down in all of the misunderstandings, and it slows the pacing of the story too much. That being said I think it's still a good story and I hope that the next book is able to really bring it all together.

I had put off finishing and reviewing this title because of the huge difference in publication dates across the world.
So, while many places have had it for a few months, down here in Australia, we barely got it in time to fit into Christmas stockings.

While I had thought, to start with, that SIlvered Serpents was the conclusion of a duology, I am more than happy to have been left with a cliffhanger. The character growth has been beautiful, and delicate. The secrets and lies between everyone have been exquisitely painful. and the writing has remained as lush and full of glamour and abandon. Chokshi has woven her tapestry of writing with cleverness., Especially with the multiple points of view, and narrations from the different characters, the many cultural backgrounds, and the representation of Zofia as neuro-atypical. And, Oh, the misunderstandingsand missed chances., Chokshi has succeeded in giving the reader just enough to be hungry for more (Plus, the beautiful description of food makes the reader plain hungry).

I often find myself harder on the middle book of a series than the beginning or ending, 4.5 because of the cliff-hanger ending, but I'll up it to 5 because of how much it made my heart hurt.

Roshani Chokshi is one of my favorite authors, and she did not fail to sweep me off my feet with this book. Some of the plot was a bit predictable, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I love these characters and this world.