Excellent audiobook from a YA series that rivals Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone world. Chokshi continues to impress with her rich characters and descriptive writing.

This was such a fantastic end to the series! It was a bit heartbreaking as well, but oh, was it wonderful! After where these characters were left after the end of The Bronzed Beasts, well, I had to see how things would conclude, and oh, it was such a ride!

Just a note, that I did listen to this as an ARC audiobook through NetGalley. I am new to audiobooks, mainly because I have trouble understanding what people are saying. So with this book, some of these characters are French, so there are accents, which between me being a newbie audiobook listener and my listening problem, sometimes it was hard to understand. But if you've been listening to this series from audiobook from the beginning, it should be no problem for you!

I didn't know where this book would go. They were all in such precarious situations, with Séverin infiltrating the Fallen House, Laila, Enrique, and Zofia (and secretly Hypnos) left behind in the cavern, supposedly dead, well, I had to know where things were going to go from there!

While the main plotline of this book is about getting to the temple with the lyre, there's also the fact that most of the gang have complicated feelings for Séverin, because of what he did, and what he has done throughout this series. And on the one hand, he's remorseful for it, but on the other, he still wants to become a god, and very much keeping the blinders on, focused on the goal.

Oh, but that ending! Though it did work out, that did hurt. I'm glad that they were all together, and could support each other, that was really great. But still, that ending was just a little bittersweet right up until the very end.

I have since read that since the response to this series has been cruel because it uses the same tropes as Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, that we won't continue in this world any time soon. Which frustrates me and makes me sad. Found family and heist stories are tropes, they are not a one and done sort of thing, more than one person can use them, Leigh Bardugo didn't create them-not books, but Oceans 11 anyone? Some people can really just ruin it for the rest of us, and treat authors this poorly, and it really sucks!

Loved reading this book so much, it was a fantastic read!

In The Bronzed Beasts we are returning to the 19th century. This is the final book in The Gilded Wolves series and I'm sad to see these characters go, but loved they way they left. I am emotional here.

The gang is left reeling after Severin's betrayal and have mixed feelings as they try to locate him while traveling through the dark waterways of Venice, Italy. Severin was dealing with the Patriarch of the Fallen House in the meantime and trying to find the Divine Lyre. Time is ticking by fast as Layla only has days until she expires and the gang of course finds all kind of trouble as they are racing against time. I went through a whole range of emotions as our characters moved throughout this book and I loved the ending. It broke my heart and healed it all at once. I really did love this series and am sad to say goodbye to the gang.

Roshani does not get enough credit for how incredible this series is, and boy, did it finish with a BANG!

The gang has broken up, so to speak, after Séverin's betrayal in Russia, even if he doesn't see it that way. He's left them behind with clues to go with the patriarch of the Fallen House to Italy. Only one more acquisition lies ahead: to find where the Divine Lyre can be played and obtain godhood.

As with every time before, Roshani's writing blows my mind. Some people may find it too flowery, but I aspire to have her brain and ease with which she seems to draw out the most beautiful metaphors and descriptions. Too many stunning lines or concepts that had me gasping or taking notes on how to level up my own craft. I love that Italy was the final setting for this book. There's a lot of magic and beauty to be found in the opulence of Venice and its canals, and I think she did it justice.

This book really finds the characters at their lowest, doesn't it? Séverin has no friends, Enrique has one ear, Zofia can't bring herself to learn if her sister has died, and Layla has ten days left to live. But for all that drama in-store for the reader, the ending of this trilogy is really good. I find myself thinking about it a day later and not only did I not predict it, but I find myself quite satisfied, if somewhat sad. Brace yourself for a taste of bittersweet. Laila and Séverin have always been my favourite couple in the book, and I have mixed feelings about how it all went down between them. But I'm satisfied still. Enrique, Hypnos and Zofia surprised me the most with where/how they ended up. I didn't really see it coming but I can see it working out well.

Unfortunately, the problems that plagued me with the first two books struck again. In each book there have been at least two scenes where I cannot for the life of me follow along. I don't know if it's because there's too many people involved, the writing isn't as smooth as it could be, the scene itself is confusing, or I just can't connect in that moment, but it always takes me right out of the story. Worse, it takes a while for me settle back in and enjoy the book once more. Usually it tends to involve a major action scene or a riddle and it just ... goes right over my head.

As before, I remain a huge Roshani Chokshi fan and cannot wait for what comes out of her head next!

Incredible wrap-up for a fantastic series. I will miss these characters terribly! Definitely one of my favorite trilogies because it has epic romance, witty banter, heists, nonstop action and intrigue, along with characters that are multi-faceted with humor and depth of feeling. Bravo!

I'm really hoping that there is another book after this....The whole series was beautifully written with A LOT of thought put into building and creating a world set in the 19th century. What I LOVED about this series was that it was a combination of fantasy and historical fiction which hooked me from the start. With this third book, it was a perfect building and ending to the triology. All the characters were so well developed and had so much depth.

This is a good end to a series I've enjoyed from the start but unfortunately never loved. It took a reread of the first book for me to enjoy it more, so i'll probably reread the series back to back. I love the POV switches and the timing of them was perfect.

There's a lot going on in the story but it felt long, like the pacing wasn't quite right for me. I really enjoyed the character growth among everyone.

Overall, The Bronzed Beasts is a satisfying ending. 3.5 stars. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a well written YA fantasy.

What a sequel!
While I would understand criticisms about book 1 being a tad convoluted and maybe lacking some action (it took me two tries to love it), book 2 was wall-to-wall great, and book 3 broke my heart, only to heal it, and break it again. The POV switches were PERFECTLY timed and Roshani Chokshi’s writing is A+.
As a Classics student, I am always excited when books include myth (especially monsters) meaningfully and not just because of the romanticization of ancient history. Of the main characters, I’m definitely Enrique: history nerd, bothers everyone with their knowledge of Latin, queer and attention-starved.
This series is a beautiful historical treasure hunt and I would recommend it to all readers regardless of whether they usually read YA or fantasy.

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is the last book in an entertaining YA Fantasy series. Séverin and the team are separated by Séverin's apparent betrayal. All he can hope is that they got his message and are racing through Venice to help implement his plan to find the temple where the Divine Lyre can be played and his dreams finally achieved. But first Séverin must deal with the deranged head of the Fallen House and the team must deal with a laundry list of obstacles, including those within themselves. Oh, and Laila only has 10 days to live...

I really enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy. I listened to the last book on an audiobook and feel like it hindered my enjoyment of the book. I did not like the narrators and found myself zoning out as they talked. The book is only 400 pages but seemed to last an eternity. The book was unevenly paced and I felt like the story was drawn out about 100 pages too much. A bit more editing would have tightened up the pace and the tension of the story. Overall, I enjoyed the book and series and recommend you read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio. All opinions are my own.

This was such a bittersweet ending that I am not even sure what to rate it but Chokshi is definitely a master of twists and turns and character development! Such a fun read but also I am very sad that the series ended. I did enjoy the audiobook narration and it helped me visualize the setting better and it felt like I was with the rest of the characters on their missions.

I tried to read this multiple times but I don’t know if it is because of the fact that it is audio when the other books I read in hardcopy, but I am just struggling to get into this book.

It's time. The Bronzed Beasts is the third and final novel in Roshani Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves series. I've loved every moment of this series and will be sad to let it go. Yet, I'm far too curious to see how it all ends. Aren't you?

Last we saw, Severin had seemingly betrayed his friends, all in the hopes of setting them up for success, of course. But that would require Laila, Enrique, Hypnos, and Zofia to see through the ruse he's put in play. It would require them to, once again, trust him. Will they?

They're closer than ever to getting control over the Divine Lyre and the gifts that it promises. While the rest are concerned about the costs, Severin is lost in a world of possibility. He's lost to the danger. How will this last adventure play out?

"I don't think you're lost. You're just searching for the thing that fills you with light."

Wow. I can't believe it's here. I can't believe it's over. The Gilded Wolves have been a part of my life these past few years, and they've been an enchanting presence. To say goodbye was rough. Yet that ending...it made it worth it.

The Bronzed Beasts is a whirlwind read, and I do mean it. Once again, every character gets their chance to have a say via the swapping perspectives. Yet there's so much going on; it's almost difficult to take it all in.

There were perspectives and moments I loved more than others. For example, Zofia is such a gem, so naturally, I loved every chapter that focused on her and her ventures. However, I'll admit that what Severin's doing had some of the biggest impact on the main plot (obviously).

On that note – holy cow! I knew that the odds were good that the ante would be upped before it was all said and done...but I was not expecting this! The pace picks up, as does the threat level. All while Chokshi's writing style continues to paint pictures for the readers.

It's so much to process, and yet it's also impossible to look away from. It was interesting to see what choices the characters made, especially right towards the end. Speaking of – I know we were all curious to see how their choices would play out. Some decisions may have been more surprising than others. But honestly? It all felt so right. That's what matters the most, at least to me.

The writing is good and the narration was great but I just couldn't get into the story. It's just not my thing as much as I would like it to be.

This book was an amazing ending to the trilogy. The narrators were absolutely phenomenal; from the accents and the emotions of the characters, to the visualizations from the book that they helped portray. This series was probably my favorite set of audiobooks I have listened to. The world building and character drama created an amazing finale to a book series. I love the found family in this series as well as the representation of the various types of relationships and cultures. At times the series broke my heart and other times I want to cry with joy. It is not often that I feel so emotionally invested in the characters. The narrators only added to this with their wonderful storytelling abilities. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review this audiobook.

Roshani Chokshi picks up exactly where we left off in The Silvered Serpents. Severin's friends are reeling from the sting of betray while Severin, under the tight watch of Ruslan, Patriarch of the Fallen House, hopes his friends will see through the ruse and find the clues that will allow them to stop Ruslan from achieving godhood and damning Laila in the process. Their journey takes them to Venice where they attempt to overthrow Ruslan and join together again in the process, refocusing on their goal of saving Laila that is almost thwarted in the end. A fast paced adventure with a beautiful epilogue, Chokshi leaves you feeling hopeful towards the very end. Narration only enhances this work by giving it layers to the characters we've all grown to love.

Fans of the Gilded Wolves trilogy will enjoy this conclusion to the story, which manages to have massive, world-changing, high stakes consequences that really matter, and be utterly satisfying. The ending was, for me, the best aspect of it; I haven't been the biggest fan of the series, though enough of one to read all three books, clearly, but some of my issues with the first book were resolved here. I've gotten to know this crew, this family of characters, enough to be invested in what happens to them and believe in their relationships (and I'm definitely happy with certain choices made on that front). I still find the puzzles laughably simple, but I can just roll my eyes and move on from those; the pacing of the plot, too, is a little weak, with a beginning that drags languorously before we're suddenly in the endgame. The real strength of the series, I find, is Roshani Chokshi's descriptive writing - she has a definite way with words, and even when I'm feeling less than enthralled by her characters or plotting, she crafts a gorgeous world for them to exist in.

As for the audio element, I seem to be in the minority in absolutely hating one of the two narrators. The second narrator was perfectly good, but unfortunately I couldn't stand the first, who utilized a badly done faux French accent so strong I literally couldn't follow the dialogue...for characters who would be speaking French to one another. I hated that choice, and couldn't even get through the book in audio. (I finished it after I could get my hands on a print copy, instead.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Way better than book two. Severin has made mistakes & deals with devils, and now they're coming to collect. I honestly can't believe how attached I am to all six of these miscreants after all this time. [CHOKSHI REALLY SAID, "GIVE ENRIQUE EVERYTHING HE WANTS" AND I AM LIVING FOR IT. Thank you so much for giving the trio a paired ending instead of forcing Enrique to choose!!! It means the world. (hide spoiler)] I found the conclusion to the trilogy to be way more entertaining and coherent than The Silvered Serpents. I think that most people are going to enjoy it, too.

Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The audio of this was actually painful to listen to because there was some sort of weird echo or delay in the audio. I'm not sure if it was just a problem with my download or app, but I could not finish it. That said, I love the audio of the other books. The narrators are FANTASTIC and I have no doubt that they are fantastic again in this.

As far as the story goes, it ruined me <3

Since this is also an audiobook review, I will start by saying this:

Let The Gilded Wolves trilogy set the bar in your standards for audiobook listening and entertainment. These narrators are 10/10 would recommend. BEYOND excellent.! They are engaging. They are diverse in their voice acting. They are easy to follow (even if you bump it up to 2x speed like I do). That is 100% what I want to experience in my audiobooks. So, snaps to them for producing such an incredible performance and bringing the beautifully written words of Roshani Chokshi to life!

After the riveting ending to The Silvered Serpents, the gang finds themselves tiptoeing between the fragments of broken trust due to the betrayal of one of their own. The biggest question on my mind is, "How will this all be repaired?" I have formed such a deep bond to these characters that even I feel the effects of the betrayal, yet I am hopeful for reconciliation. Thankfully, by the end of this book, we achieved that.

However, I am conflicted by resolve of this story. To be honest, it wasn't as satisfactory as I had hoped it to be. I wish the story delivered some bigger consequences due to certain circumstances, and yeah, those consequences would've hurt like heck, but they would've felt real, right, and deserved.

Something that was very satisfactory was the National Treasure and Tomb Raider vibes I got from this book (and really the series overall). I love history and the element of solving ancient riddles and puzzles to discover something otherworldly...*chef's kiss*...it's what I live for.

Overall, even though I have conflicting feelings about this book, I'm sad to see this series conclude! It will definitely be added to my list of Series to Re-Read.

Rating:
Audiobook Performance: 5 Stars
Story: 3.5 Stars

The Gilded Wolves series concludes with "The Bronzed Beasts", which if described in video game terms would be described as an adventure-puzzle novel. Severin and the usual suspects -- Laila, Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos -- are back on their quest to use the Divine Lyre to change the world, and more specifically save their friend's life.

I was happy to return to these characters, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the will-they-won't-they relationship of Severin and Laila (and Enrique-Hypnos-Zofia?). The most successful part of this series, and continued in this book, is the character development. I genuinely enjoyed reading the conclusion of each characters' story, and most characters were well-developed and complex. Unlike other reviews I've read, I actually was okay with the ending. It definitely had its faults, but for a conclusion to a trilogy, it was satisfying enough to allow me to put these characters aside for now.

However, I did find the overall story a bit slow and lacking in content. The first half is a resolution to the events in the second book which were needed, but was drawn out for too long. The main conflict in this series is a bit tricky to pinpoint, which was clear in the labeling of the antagonist in book three. While I was able to identify what needed to happen by the end of the book, I'm not sure it worked to carry the plot of the whole novel. I listened to the audio version of this, so I could definitely feel myself drifting off in parts because some sections felt too drawn out or unconnected to a believable, or even clear, central conflict. The only other major issue for me was some of the repetitive prose to describe characters and situations. It's a shame because most of this book was well written with great prose, but even if these descriptions are motifs, sometimes they are over-relied on to the point where it felt cliche. This may have been even more drawn out with the audio format.

Overall, I enjoyed this series, and definitely fell in love with the characters as they grew throughout all three books. The writing is solid, and I'd read future novels by this author for sure.