History is a myth shaped by the tongues of conquerors.
The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Publication Date: 15 January 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Page Count: 400
Reading Method: Physical
Synopsis:
No one believes in them. But soon no one will forget them.
It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.
Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history–but only if they can stay alive.
Review:
I was so excited to pick up The Gilded Wolves as part of a buddy read I do monthly with my pal Kim (@novelhaus on Instagram). As you may recall, we’ve been on a mission to read through our backlogged Owlcrate books. This one must have been a book choice before I joined, but I had my own copy just chilling on my shelves for the longest time. The cover is so pretty – you know I love all things green – and I had only heard really great things about it!
Plot:
Severin and his crew are roped into a heist-like situation, tasked with finding The Eye of Horus – but each member has their own goals and ambitions as well. We get to follow along as they plan and scheme to achieve their mission. While I really enjoyed the theme of this book, I did find some of it difficult to understand and, at times, it was incredibly confusing. I think a large part of that is just because we are learning a new magic system and there is so much to be explained that some things got a little muddled for me. Once we get into the swing of things, I found it much easier to follow along. There’s so much history and mythology that it felt like my brain was going to explode – but it adds a richness to the story that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on. I just needed to slow down my reading a little bit to fully grasp it all.
I really enjoyed all the side plot points, with Severin trying to reclaim the house that was taken from him being my favorite. Though this plays a big role in him accepting the job, it isn’t fully discussed and I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds in the next book. The ending had me instantly reaching for The Silvered Serpents.
This one really gave me Six of Crows vibes and I am here for it! A group of outcasts on a dangerous heist – yes please!
Characters:
There are so many wonderfully complex characters in The Gilded Wolves. I love the diversity of the crew and that they don’t shy away from talking about their struggles. They each have their own backstory, their own distinct personalities, and individual goals they would like to achieve.
Severin, the leader of the group, has been wronged so many times by the Order of Babel and is on a mission to reclaim the house he was supposed to inherit. He’s a bit dark, moody, and reserved – which I definitely think can be attributed to his turbulent upbringing. There are several sections throughout the book where we get a glimpse into all the “fathers” he’s had growing up and it’s no wonder that he is the way he is. It kind of made my heart ache for him.
Laila is a force to be reckoned with. She’s fierce and caring, a professional dancer and pastry chef. She takes no shit from anyone, but it right there and willing to help her friends when they need her. She seemed to be able to really see each character and what they need, and I loved that about her. There were a few moments when she deals with Zofia that were so thoughtful and pure. But Laila has her history too – she’s trying to find an important book that might help her solve the mysteries of her past in India. If that wasn’t enough, she and Severin have got some major chemistry/ forbidden lovers vibes going on.
Zofia is the scientist of the group. She takes all the wild, impossible ideas the group comes up with and makes them a reality. She’s incredibly cool, and has her own quirks and struggles to work through. She has difficulty with human interactions (relatable) and navigating emotions (same), but it was nice to see how she grows throughout the story and I loved her interactions with the others. Zofia is brilliant, and one of my favorite characters.
Enrique adds some much needed comic relief. He’s witty, smart, and an all-around good guy. I thoroughly enjoyed his portions of the book. Enrique is right up there with Zofia in the intelligence department. He’s a history buff and does most of the mythological explanations.
Tristan is such a cinnamon roll. I have never used that term before, but I can think of no better way to describe him. He has a way with plants, a pet spider, and just seems impossibly sweet. He’s the one everyone else in the group goes out of their way to take care of. His character was absolutely vital to the story and I loved him ever so much.
Hypnos is the wildcard. He’s the leader of one of the houses and Severin’s childhood frenemy. He’s a little dark, a fashion icon, and adds that touch of sarcastic humor I’ve come to crave.
These characters work so well together and it was a real pleasure getting to know them better and seeing their interactions. There are some confusing group dynamics at times, which only adds to the story. I’m looking forward to more of these characters in the book(s) to follow.
Writing:
The writing was really hard for me to follow in the beginning. There is so much going on (which is a good thing!) but I feel like it all could have been explained just a little bit better, or divided into easier to digest portions. Just something to make everything flow a little easier. The writing of the characters and their interactions? Utter perfection. Each character felt like whole and unique. Sometimes when there are a lot of characters in a story, they all kind of muddle together or their voices get intertwined so they all become one big voice that’s difficult to differentiate. That was absolutely not the case in The Gilded Wolves. With so many characters, that’s not an easy task and I applaud Chokshi’s ability to give each of them their own voice.
Overall:
A heist, a diverse cast of characters, literally everything you could want from a story and more. Though I found it to be a bit of a slow start, it was definitely worth sticking with and I will be adding the second book to my TBR immediately.
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