User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
✧
find this review & others on my blog ✧
When it came out a year ago, The Gilded Wolves was a fresh, welcome addition to the YA Fantasy yarn. I pleasurably devoured it, and was really looking forward to reading the sequel and folding myself once again between the characters and their tragedy, lose myself in the beauty of their voices—and have many of my questions answered. Unfortunately, the burst of excitement that flamed in my heart when I picked up this book was quickly swallowed up by disappointment.
(Spoilers for book 1)Séverin feels the loss of his brother like a limb torn away. Tristan’s death has left everyone with wounds, and Séverin chooses to tend to his by searching restlessly for the Divine Lyrics: the artifact that would make the world bend to meet his wish, that contains the secret for bridging the uncrossable gulf between mortal and divinity.
“
We could be gods,” says Séverin, the words spilling out reverence, pain, and power.
Grief is a magnificently blinding force, and from the outset of the novel, Séverin stands inside its scalding beam, unable to see past that light. But Séverin is not the only one with his heart hanging open on its hinges. Layla, Hypnos, Zofia and Enrique are all filled with sadness and secrets that they would not utter, all of them like eggs, each afraid to crack the other. But a quest is set in front of them, and they are determined to see it through.
Though it is soon beginning to feel less like a quest and more like the jaws of a trap waiting for them to walk right into it.
“If there were stairs to hell, would you venture down those?”
“It depends on what was inside hell, and if I needed it.”
The Silvered Serpents has a visible case of middle-book syndrome. The thin storyline, excruciatingly slow build, and lack of major plot movement does very little of expanding our understanding of how the magic that fuels the practice of Forging works, or give a clearer look into the corruption of the institutions trying to smother Séverin and his crew, or even rattle a few more skeletons out of the characters’ closets.
The novel is also drained of that air of urgency that I liked about its predecessor, the suggestion of a trapdoor waiting under every page that kept me awake until the early hours of the morning reading The Gilded Wolves, feeling like I was going to shatter out of my skin with nerves as I tried to squint the words into focus and chase away the drowsiness that threatens to fall on me like a boulder.
As The Silvered Serpents progresses, it quickly settles into a rut:
Séverin restlessly walks the edges of his flashfire ambition like a lion in its cage. Tristan’s death has tipped him into silence and grief, something gray and deathly cold hanging in his eyes. He is still himself, but girded, made more terrible, crueler. Séverin wanted to reach the place where grief wouldn’t find him, where he wouldn’t feel, but he might have passed it, and wandered somewhere worse.
Meanwhile, Layla, Hypnos, Enrique and Zofia still drift toward him, every one of them pulled into his orbit. Layla, who plays the role of his mistress, links her arm within his, though their hearts remain at war. To Enrique and Zofia, Séverin is the bulk that is the bulwark that defends them against life’s vicissitudes, and Hypnos still hangs on Séverin’s words, as though a mere acknowledgment from him is a victory, hard won, long sought-after, each time a prize.
And as this goes around and around, like an argument that always returns to its unassailable premise, the story quickly becomes mired in too much angst and drama. The characters are all hurting, and they’re struggling to move through that, which is a challenging feeling to portray. To me it frankly all seemed more miserable than was strictly necessary. It also seemed absurd to me why the characters did not just confess their faults and sorrows and be done. Communication is always key! Instead misunderstandings abound, the dialogue becomes stiff and dry, and the clichés fall like a torrent of rain (the girl-on-girl-hate trope annoyed me to no end and quickly soured my mood).
Still, the spell never entirely dissipates in The Silvered Serpents. Chokshi is, without a doubt, a brilliant writer, imbuing her novel with luxurious language and exquisite imagery that washes over the reader in waves. The setup is splendid: Chokshi sails the characters and the story to a wintry Russia where you feel the cold all through you, quick and sharp as a stab, and clouds of breath swirl in front of you like chummy ghosts. Many of the same themes and obsessions that intrigued me in The Gilded Wolves haunt this book as well: greed for one, loss (whether it’s stolen property, a person, or a sense of self), the peril of unbelonging, of being powerless and having no way to bargain with the world, and the agony of trying to reckon with and claim the clashing parts of one’s identity. Other new themes are introduced: how inside every myth there’s a kernel of truth, how stories can rise from slumber like restless ghosts, and how forgotten people can still speak. The author also makes a point about the cost of giving someone so much power over us, and how love “
[does] not always wear a face of beauty”. But not every theme winds up getting its due, and I think a bit more poison in the pen would have achieved more resonance.
The ultimate unveiling of the source of evil at the end felt unsatisfyingly hollow, and was obvious from the book’s earliest pages. Ultimately, what The Silvered Serpents unfortunately fails to do is give me enough of a reason to continue with the series. This is a very unpopular opinion though, so I wouldn’t discourage you from still picking up this book!
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Rating: really liked it
Ladies and gentlemen we have a big winner!!!! I proudly declare that I finished one of the best books of 2020 right now!
I cannot believe how much I loved this book, I gave four stars to the first one and but when I compare two of them, it’s only fair to give this one ten gazillion stars because this is so so so so sooooooooo much better. Can you hear I still slap my forehead for waiting too much to get this into my hands? BANG BANG BANG(Yes, my skull is too thick! Made by more woods than flesh!)
Our gang is back in business for another mission, both of them suffering from grief, toughened up, more serious and their bond got tightened. Severin is haunted the ghost of his great loss, building more walls around his heart not to show his feelings. He cares his teammates, especially one of them has the most special place in his heart but “love does not wear the face we wish” and he is about to learn it from the hardest way.
This book is darker and grimmer than the first one because the characters’ deep pain about their big loss following them behind like an ominous dark cloud and affecting their judgments, actions, mood swings. Of course witty dialogues and never ending sarcastic comments between Hypnos and Zofia thankfully save the most parts and makes us smile. I already admitted that I fell in love with those team members at the first book. Every one of them were developed realistically make you feel like you have friends with them in your real life and you want to hang up with them, drinking coffee, talking about last twitter trends (okay I shut my mouth before I wear straitjacket again. Did I say again? Ups! Okay I should get a drink and stop typing.)
The rising tension of the book can make you say goodbye to your nails, to your hands and maybe entire arms. Stop biting them and concentrate on the pages! And I have to say something about incredible writing of Roshani Chokshi : the first book is great start but this book gave me skyrocket effect with its fast pacing, incredible story progression, exciting development, all those twists made my head spin so much and I’m still dizzy and confused right now! With her perfectly written, magical, philosophical, intriguing book with its amazing political references, she is taking you to a journey around Russia. She definitely worked her skills to create magical journey and made her words twist and dance around the pages, captivating us with this well-crafted story that we wish it never ends.
And after last revelation, I splash a big ice bucket on my head but I am still in shock, talking nonsense. Yes, I didn’t see it coming and I cry out louder in the middle of the night. My husband is begging me to stop screaming. But I cannot! Because this is torture to wait for what’s gonna happen next.
I feel so lucky to have a chance to become one of the first readers of this book and I hope I will be also the one of first ones to read the upcoming work. (Last time I felt the same when I had to wait for two and half years for last season of GOT! Luckily I’m sure my waiting for this book will not result with full of frustration. This author is too gifted to write anything wrong.)
Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing masterpiece’s ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.
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Rating: really liked it
THIS is how a sequel deserves to be done.
it builds so effortlessly upon the first book and in a way that feels more developed, better paced, and has me falling in love with the characters all over again.
because thats honestly what i loved most about this - the characters. yes, there is a lot of historical mystery and secretive adventure and fast plots, but wow. these characters are something else. i feel so invested in each and every one of them, which rarely happens for me when theres a large cast.
and dont even get me started on that ending. i need book #3 right now, please and thank you!
↠ 4.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
5/5 ⭐
Full review on my Blog: The Dacian She-Wolf 🐺
“Life is cruel, and often without cake.” I swear, I will buy some fancy opera glasses only to look at this beautiful sequel *inserts heart eyes emoji*
Well, there you go, people! The action goes on and everything that we seemed to love in the first book is twisted AF in this one and nothing is what it once was and everything is a total riot and I think I’m into that more than I’d like to accept.
You know that feeling when you spend a couple of days locked up inside the house because there is winter outside and you hate it, but then you have to get out because you ran out of food and as soon as you open the door the cold air hits you in the face and cuts off your breath for 0.5 seconds?
Well, this is the exact feeling I had while reading this book.
The funny thing is that it was not unpleasant at all. Quite the contrary. It was
fresh. And it felt right. And I am so happy about that!
From the beginning, you can see that
The Silvered Serpents is different from
The Gilded Wolves . And I say that in a good way.
From the very beginning, I remembered how much I missed those
amazing characters. They were even smarter than I remembered, ready to served facts with a cherry on top and the level of #mood some of them (*ahem* Hypnos *ahem*) reached was so true I was almost positive I should’ve taken a DNA test because I was relating so hard.
“It’s before noon. I hardly exist before noon.” - Hypnos
In this book, we even get to witness how Iceberg Zofia slowly realises that she has feelings (*gasp*) and tries to make sense of them, showing us how much she cares for the ones that are always close to her.
…she loves them...! “Love did not always wear the face one wished it would. Sometimes it looked downright monstrous.” The feelings department is a bit of a storm though so don’t expect that the things we wanted answers for in the first book regarding certain characters’ relationship status to be explained in this one. Oh no-no.
They get even more confusing and uncertain, so don’t say you haven’t been warned. You want them to be together like, erm, now? Yeah, me too, but you’ll have to wait…in silence and frustration…
“Knowledge was coy. It liked to hide beneath the shroud of myth, place its heart in a fairy tale, as if it were a prize at the end of the quest.” Another big bonus about these books so far is that there is a great number of amazing facts and bits of information. Even if you want it or not, after finishing the books, you gain something precious to put into that cool, shiny box inside your brain labelled “General Knowledge”.
So good.
Something else good in there? Yes.
The writing style.The writing is so beautiful and so filled with metaphors and comparisons and all sorts of epithets that it makes the whole experience of the story one thousand times better. I simply love it when an author has such beautiful words to put on paper and let us enjoy them too. It makes my heart fly with joy.
“Gods put gold in the palm of the wicked and left that miserable currency of hope in the hearts of the good.” I still appreciate very much the concept of the world– it’s our world, but in the past, but filled with interesting, ‘forged’ inventions that are a nice mix between magic and technology.
The
world depicted seems darker and twistier than in the previous installment and as the story advances, it becomes even more so. The change of scenery is welcome too – where in the first book the action takes place in a Western society (of Paris, France), here the action mainly takes place in Russia (so, an Eastern settlement with another type of society).
The
diversity of the characters still thrills me. There is a compact group of culturally diverse characters that glue together perfectly. Here we have Indian, French-Algerian, Polish, Spanish-Filipino and French-Haitian descendants. And some of them have also different sexual orientations than – you know – the ‘standard’ one. Top that with the fact that they are all some sort of brainiacs in various fields pf action and there you go – an impressive work of art.
This installment was filled with action and heartbreak and gasps and plot twists…and I was so there for that.
And secrets, secrets, secrets! Also, the ending had me like:
What was that??I don’t even know what I read there at the ending, guys. But one thing is for sure – it was shocking and gasp-worthy and
I can’t wait for the next book! “Before you are born, you know all the secrets of the world. But an angel locked them up by pressing his thumb right above your lips.” (Book-styled)
Rating: really liked it
If
The Gilded Wolves was a gentleman pickpocket slipping through the luxurious aristocratic parties of Paris,
The Silvered Serpents is an anguished ghost dreaming of godhood, haunting the corridors of a palace of ice, hunting myths. “I wish my love was more beautiful.”
Sometimes you read books for page-turner, grand action and fast-paced, epic twists and turns, yes, but sometimes, you read them for carefully plotted brilliance and mystical mysteries; sometimes you pick them up for delicate sleights of hand, secret recluses, and immersive writing that unveils the need in your heart. Sometimes, you seek a book that is more adverb than action—as
Roshani Chokshi puts it.
This series is of the latter kind.
“Sometimes ghost stories are all that is left of history,” he said. “History is full of ghosts because it’s full of myth, all of it woven together depending on who survived to do the telling.”
With this second installment,
Roshani takes a step further than science and magic forged as art, history and fiction entwined in puzzles. With The Silvered Serpents, she walks beyond history and into myth—
the truths covered in cobwebs whispered and twisted and hidden behind forgotten doors, the truths that horrify and intrigue—embracing stories of all corners of the world, from Greek goddesses to Middle Eastern origins of Rapunzel. And more than myths, Roshani tells the tale of humanity, of belonging and being scorned, of murdered girls and stolen women, denied motherhood and gripped power, of malice cultivated between girls who were not allowed to dream, and of dead girls forced to guard treasure in invisible palaces.
The Silvered Serpents is in many ways the opposite of its predecessor; where TGW was light, TSS is gloomy, grief and guilt and transfixing agony bordering its edges. So it can also be said that
this a tale of pain, unflinching in its foray into darkness, of found families falling apart and loss tearing bonds into pieces, of love that does not always wear the face you want, of love that is not beautiful and wounds with its cruelty. This is a tale that plays with your heartstrings. Maybe for girls made of snow, love was worth the melt. But she was made of stolen bones and sleek fur, grave dirt and strange blood—her heart wasn’t even hers to give. Her soul was all she had, and no love was worth losing it.
So put your shields up around your heart, because goodbyes are in order. For now, there is one more acquisition and five people headed their own ways who come back, each for different reasons, to complete one last treasure hunt. But “
In debating the merits of pursuing hidden treasure, one must weigh the risk of whether it was never meant to be found and if so, why?” Because someone...someone wants to play god.
❆
First, Let’s Get the Criticism Out of the Way ❆
“I saw what I wanted to see,” he said, hoarse. “Only a desperate man trusts a mirage in the desert.”
In the spirit of honesty and even though I hate complaining, I will have to admit that, while I loved TSS, the writer and critic in me can’t stop thinking of all the ways this gem of anguished longing and impossible dreams could have been more than just a fave—it could have been an all-time fave! Sigh, me and my obsession with books being the best versions of themselves will one day kill me but, for now, on the matter of equally cutting the book into three to rate and proceeding to address the elephant in the room:
First ⅓ ⤑ ★★★★✯
Second ⅓ ⤑ ★★★☆☆
Third ⅓ ⤑ ★★★★✯
Here’s the thing: one reason why
The Gilded Wolves had me enchanted from page one to page I-don’t-remember-how-many-pages-it-was-and-I’m-too-lazy-to-check-just-assume-I-wrote-the-number-of-the-last-page, was
the lush and aristocratic, atmospheric setting which caught and trapped me in 1889 Paris so thoroughly I all but became a willing prisoner and fell in love with my captive (Stockholm syndrome right there)—the setting and the wonder and artistry of L’Eden that The Silvered Serpents does not have. What he felt now was a different kind of incredulity. The kind where one has released a dream into the world, only to rediscover it on the ground, trampled and stained.
Don’t me wrong, Roshani’s writing is still breathtakingly immersive and I walked every path alongside my tragic gang of mischiefs, absorbed every landscape, breathed in every smell. And even as I was aware that the Parisian atmosphere would be missing in this sequel, I expected it to be replaced with a chillingly Russian one. It was not—well, it was, but for only a few chapters. What’s more, the characters spent a long time wandering around an abandoned ice palace trying to solve mysteries and taking too long to figure out what’s right in front of them.
I am not saying the puzzles and clues were not clever, they always are with Roshani, what I’m saying is that so are the characters. Knowledge was coy. It liked to hide beneath the shroud of myth, place its heart in a fairy tale, as if it were a prize at the end of the quest. Perhaps whatever knowledge was here was similar. Perhaps it wished to be wooed and coaxed forth.
What I’d have loved is for the plotting to have been entirely different, with plot points moved earlier/later in the book to bring out the full potential of this tale. What I’d have loved is for the Winter Conclave to have been a weeks-long event and for the cast to take residence in Russia (
letting me drown in my requested setting vibes) and attempt to crack the mystery even as they have to navigate the politics of European Houses and soak in intrigue because oh the lost opportunity for politicking, world expansion, and dive into the dirty laundry of the greedy, imperialist Order! What I’d have loved is for the gang to then slip away with their supporters to the discovered location, the other Houses on their tail, and explore the haunted palace faster with less unnecessary procrastination. What I’d have loved is a confrontation upon the Order’s arrival and
then everything that happened at the end.
I did not get what I’d have loved. I loved what I got (mostly) but while everyone declared book one to be confusing in plot (I did not) I found book two to be too simple in plot (no one else did).❆
Now Allow Me to Fall Apart for the Characters ❆
“We need to separate Vasiliev from his bodyguards,” said Séverin. “Something that can pull men apart—”
“Money?” asked Enrique.
“Love!” said Hypnos.
“Magnets,” said Zofia.
Laila, Enrique, and Hypnos turned to stare at her.
“Powerful magnets,” Zofia amended.
Credit: Diana Dworak
✦
Séverin: Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, Paris’s most influential investor and owner of the grandest hotel in France, is an idiot. My emotions swung between wanting to hug him, punch him, kiss him, scream at him, and do more confusing things to him—I settled for Laila making him squirm.
“You always see so clearly into the darkness of men’s hearts, Monsieur Montagnet-Alarie,” she said, before adding in a softer voice, “But I remember when you used to see wonder.”
Séverin reached for his water goblet. “And now I see truth.”
This stubborn, irrational, beautiful boy filled with so much longing, this commanding, imaginative, observant boy who once saw wonder where he now sees pain, lets his grief and self hate drown him in the skeletons in Tristan’s closets and the demons beneath his bed, and refuses everyone’s hand, shunning his closest friends who have to step back lest the drowning man take them down as well. I can relate to his fear of being powerless, shutting himself away at the first sign of vulnerability. But what he does to escape his pain is seeking to escape humanity, practicing the cold, cruel tyranny of indifference because, “
for the sake of what he needed to do, he had to be apart, not a part,” for the sake of gaining invincibility, he looks to leave mortality behind. “
Ah, Majnun. The madman who lost himself to an impossible dream.”
He was like a cursed prince, trapped in the worst version of himself. And nothing she possessed—not her kiss freely given, nor her heart shyly offered—could break the thrall that held him because he had done it to himself.
✦
Laila: I was going to write a ballad for this empowering Indian gem of existence who would not let her death be in service to another’s character, her pain what he’d feed on to find his strength, this utter queen without a crown who reminds me of Nina Zenik after her glorious character development...but I’m too lazy so watch me pluck sentences out of the book and put them together because, truly, Roshani says it better than I ever could. “
Laila was like a fairy tale plucked from the pages of a book—a girl with a curse woven into her heartbeat. A mirage glimpsed through smoke. A temptation in the desert that lulls the soul into thinking of false promises. The essence of her was walking into a room, and all eyes pinned to her, as if she were the performance of a lifetime. The essence of her was a smile full of forgiveness, the warmth in her hands, sugar in her hair.”
Laila was salvaged bones, and the snow maiden was only gathered snow. Love didn’t deserve to thaw their wits and turn their hearts to dust.
✦
Zofia: There are not many people who make me proud of my Gryffindor side, yet Zofia with her sympathies for a broken machine is one of them. She is my dangerously flammable Phoenix and favourite of the cast (
next to Laila) not because of her autism (
which is perfectly portrayed in her different way of processing the world, such as when the subtleties of language and art are lost on her) but because she strives to be brave even with fear of the unknown, to be independent and helpful even as she feels like a burden and knows that she needs others’ help. Zofia is a unique type of empowering female character and I relished seeing her shine in this sequel.
“If there were stairs to hell, would you venture down those?”
“It depends on what was inside hell, and if I needed it.”
✦
Enrique: This charming, adorable, biracial boy is longing incarnate. He is the longing for a home to call your own and a place to belong when both sides of who you are shun you. He is the longing to be heard and and seen for all you have done and can do when no one holds you worthy for your truth. He is
longing, and how can one not relate to him, not feel for him?
“When a man cannot see a person as a person, then the devil has slipped into him and is peering out of his eyes.”
✦
Hypnos: You know that friend who wants to help but does more unintentional harm than good because he is so
clueless and
lonely and has no idea how to
have friends? Yes, this is him. The reason him and Enrique bonded so easily was because Hypnos, too, is a biracial vision of reaching hands, wanting to belong and prove his worth. But the difference is that, in many things, Hypnos is more casual and fun-seeking and, to be honest, I cannot stop thinking of how great a drag queen he could have been. My heart bled in glee every time he contributed to the group and was recognised.
“Why isn’t he going in?” muttered Hypnos.
“Fear of dismemberment,” said Zofia. “If I were designing thief-catching mechanisms, I would have a device rigged to attack the first three people who entered.”
Hypnos stepped behind Zofia. “Ladies first.”
❆
And Then There Is the Curse That is the Relationships ❆
That was how friendship felt to her, an illumination too vast for her senses to capture. Yet she did not doubt its presence. And she held that light close to her as step by step, she ventured down the stairs.
The relationships in TSS were probably the best part for me. Because what this book gave me was layered friendships falling apart at the seams and being stitched back together. What it gave me was lovers parting peacefully with mutual understanding soaked in pain, and bonds blooming in opposites, two halves of a whole, completing one another and showing each other the side they could not see on their own. Oh what it gave me was
two hearts drenched in rage-filled anguish (which I’ve found to be my fave emotion) playing at cat and mouse. He first glimpsed her through the mirror, like a fairy tale where the hero crept upon the monster, risking only a glance at her reflection lest she turn his heart to stone. Only this was its inversion. Now the monster glanced upon the maiden, risking only a glimpse of her reflection lest she turn his stone to heart.
Credit: Gabriella Bujdoso
I ask you, is this not the most beautiful declaration of love you’ve ever read? “
Perhaps, all goddesses are just beliefs draped on the scaffolding of ideas. I can’t touch what’s not real. But I can worship it all the same.” Yup, I died too. Until my next session of gushing, goodbye and try not to die.
Thank you to my superhero for providing me with an eARC through Edelweiss!❆
Oh and the Playlist and Reviews and Whatnot ❆
Book series playlist: Spotify URL
Books in series: ⤳ The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1) ★★★★✯
⤳ The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves, #2) ★★★★☆
⤳ The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves, #3) ☆☆☆☆☆
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars
I didn’t love this quite as much as The Gilded Wolves but it still came very close. This is ANGSTY! We learn so much more about some of the other characters and I’m so attached to all of them. Some of the villain stuff in this one felt a bit predictable, but that was the only flaw. I’m definitely looking forward to the finale.
Review and discussion to come on my channel.
Rating: really liked it
I'm okay.
She could not see her hope for what it was, nothing more than a silvered serpent.
I-I'm okay.
Love did not always wear the face one wished it would.
I-
Sometimes it looked downright monstrous.
I AM NOT OKAY.
Thank you Roshani for giving me a heart attack.
What a beautiful way to end 2020.😃
════▣◎▣════
“You might not be a true muse, but you will live on as inspiration to me.”
I don't know how to write this review without breaking into sobs and screaming at the world. I saw so many friends saying how much this book destroyed them and I believed it...but I also couldn't believe it to be
that bad.
Oh how wrong I was.ROSHANI DID EXACTLY WHAT I BEGGED HER NOT TO DO AFDSFHJDSHDASJ I WILL
NEVER FORGIVE HER FOR MAKING
MY HEART STOP LIKE THAT—FOR BREAKING
ME IN A WAY I DIDN'T EVEN THINK WAS POSSIBLE.
so much for no screamingI swear, it's like December 2020, was the month of heartbreaking books.
sam *sobs* Like "Oh, 2020 wasn't bad enough, so let's make Lia suffer this last month." Yes, torture. How I love torture.
ik, ik im being overdramatic BUT I WONT STOP
“When the devil waged war in the heavens, even angels had to fall.”
Everything is not okay. After the events in
The Gilded Wolves ,
everything has changed.In grief,
Severin has closed off all feelings and wants to play...god.
In grief,
Laila has stopped baking, dancing, and withdrawn from the others.
In grief,
Enrique has busied himself with work and wants to be heard.
In grief,
Zofia has left to Poland, and away from memories.
In grief,
Hypnos has attempted to be someone he isn't.
════▣◎▣════
“When a man cannot see a person as a person, then the devil has slipped into him and is peering out of his eyes.”
They're all affected by death, but it is
Severin whose been hit hardest. The pain he feels and the way he acts . . . I wanted to
sob over the cruelty, I wanted to
strangle him...with love of course, but most of all,
I just wanted him to see past the darkness he holed himself up in. 
As much as I despise Roshani for causing me
unrelenting pain, I must applaud her for the way she wrote
Severin's grief. It's so beautifully heartbreaking and
realistic . Everyone deals with the death of someone they love differently, and I have to say that this is the first YA novel I've seen that's handled grief this way.
Sure, there's the typical revenge and depression, but how Roshani did it is
so much more complex and I am just left in awe
and pain. Thank you for doing this to me, Roshani.😭👍
════▣◎▣════
"If surviving meant cutting out her heart, then at least she could do it by her own hand."
While Severin is acting cold and cruel,
Laila must struggle to deal with her
mortality and
savor what time she has left. And with her deal with Severin—to pretend to be his mistress on their mission to retrieve
The Divine Lyrics in Russia—it broke my heart watching those two. It broke me even more every time I saw Laila
lose hope and the
cruel, painful words Severin would say to her . . . ohmygod I wanted to
slap him senseless, but knowing the reason behind it also made me want to
break down.
So as you can see...
T O O M A N Y F E E L S .
════▣◎▣════
"The light the world perceived belonged to the visible spectrum, which meant there was light humans could not see.
But Zofia wondered if they could feel it all the same, the way she could sense sunshine against her closed eyelids. Because that was how friendship felt to her, an illumination too vast for her senses to capture."
I am very much in love with
Zofia. Our engineer here goes through
so much growth in this book, I feel like crying
not surprising. She learns to be
brave even while feeling fear, she learns to go
beyond her comfort zone, and the result of that is just spectacular.
Picture this—
Zofia riding an ice stag while holding a flaming sword...I don't know about you, but that has got to be one of the
coolest scenes I've ever read and I will
never get that out of my head.🥺 asdfghfdsafsgh thinking about Zofia, brings unwanted memories of the ending I CANT-
════▣◎▣════
“He wanted someone who would enter a room and look for him first, to behold him as though the secrets of the world lay somewhere in his gaze, to finish his sentences. Someone to share cake with.”
Enriqueeee, my love.😭 So much hurt and it kills me. He just wants others to listen to him, and there's
only one person who truly does. I was on the fence before, but now after this, I'm soooo shipping
Zorique. I see way more chemistry between the two, than Hypnos/Enrique.
Enrique has always been my favourite and here he still is. The way he grew to finally see what he truly wants . . . this
charming and adorable cinnamon has my heart, and
deserves the world. And those last few chapters *sobs* I will never recover.
════▣◎▣════
“I wanted to be a person I saw only in my dreams, and I named myself for that realm.”
Lastly, there's
Hypnos. I have conflicted feelings towards Hypnos. He tried so hard to be
someone Severin could rely on, and really wanted to
fit in with the rest of the group...so watching that made my heart go out for him.
But then other things made me
really dislike him like in how he used certain people. I don't forgive him for that, so it is with much regret that I say that
I didn't like Hypnos in this book.😕
════▣◎▣════
In terms of the setting, I absolutely
LOVED how it was set in Russia but, like how
krista pointed out, we really didn't get to see much of it since of the story took place in
The Sleeping Palace and them searching for clues within that area.
Still it wasn't that much of a big deal, other than it taking awhile for me to get into the story in the beginning, but after that it was so
tense and amazing. Also, thankfully the plot wasn't as confusing as the first book, so that made this much more enjoyable.
OH and I'm happy to say that
I actually guessed who was the villain. And I
NEVER guess right so THIS IS
HUGE!! So either I'm getting better, if slowly, at guessing who the culprits are,
orrr it was meant to be easily guessed
probably the latter...shhhhh
let me bask in my glory.
Now excuse me while I go back to dying until Fall 2021.(4.5⭐)════▣◎▣════
Pre-read Review: Buddy read with my buddies krista ☽✧ and LuminescentFirefly <3Ready to suffer together :' )
Rating: really liked it
↠ 5 starsI am once again asking you to read a book that destroyed me emotionally. Seriously, what did I just read? I think I need to go lie down in a dark room for a few hours to contemplate it in its entirety. Maybe by then I will have processed the five stages of grief and have accepted everything that happened from start to finish.
The Silvered Serpents is the captivating follow up to first book in the series, The Gilded Wolves. In it, Roshani Chokshi builds off of the concluding events from the last book, broadening the scope of their importance in connection to more serious developments. Returning to the world of The Gilded Wolves, I was delighted to see the continued camaraderie between the group, in light of how things had left off previously. Yes, there was angst, sadness, and lines that tore my heart out, but there was also friendship and love there to maintain balance. The characters themselves were explored much more thoroughly in relation to the past and how that tied in with the development of the plot. Chokshi provides such a stark contrast between the alliances we hold and the secrets we keep inside. There are unforeseen consequences to these secrets, that can impact the very people someone had every intention to protect. It's a compelling idea that holds significant weight over every aspect of the story, and there was a kind of tragic beauty in watching it all play out from start to finish. Now I'm not sure I am ever going to emotionally recover from this, but if you need me, I'll be thinking of the line "I wish my love was more beautiful" for the rest of eternity.
Trigger warnings: antisemitism, blood, body mutilation, child abuse, poisoning, racism, violence, suicide (mentioned), kidnapping (mentioned), infertility (mentioned)
Rating: really liked it
I’m on BookTube! =)
So
THIS is finally going to happen! After procrastinating for months (maybe even years?!) I put
"The Silvered Serpents" on My March TBR 2022 and I have every intention to follow through with it! I've been dying to read this ever since I read "The Gilded Wolves" and by now I even have "The Bronzed Beasts" at home!
Nothing is going to stop me to read the hell out of this series! *lol* YAY!!!
I. AM. READY!!! (or at least as ready as I'll ever be... XD)
__________________________
Update: After 3 weeks of waiting my request on NetGalley has been declined and I'm devastated! T_T
Looks like I'll just have to wait until the book hits our stores. *sighs*
__________________________
The new year barely started but for me September can't come soon enough!!
How am I supposed to survive this long wait?!!
Alright, I'll just continue to live in denial!
The ending of
"The Gilded Wolves" never happened!
Everything is going to be fine!
*takes a deep breath*
*takes another deep breath*
Damn. I'm screwed! T_T
Rating: really liked it
"Two hours later, Severin poured sealing wax onto several envelopes-one to be sent out immediately, the others to be sent out in two days. A small part of him hesitated, but he steeled himself. He was doing this for them. For his friends. The more he cared about their feelings, the harder his task became. And so he endeavored to feel nothing at all."After reading The Gilded Wolves last year and adoring it, I discovered a new favorite series to follow obsessively. When I turned the final page, I was full of general questions, feelings on whether a certain ship would take off, and wondering where Chokshi would take us next. The Silvered Serpents is an excellent follow-up to TGW, and this installment is much darker than the first, which will appeal to YA fantasy readers who appreciate characters grappling with their morality and sanity.
In an attempt to keep this review spoiler free, I'll be vague on the plot, but we pick up right where we left off in TGW. The cast is dealing with the loss from the previous book, along with the bombshell dropped at the end, and Severin has decided to get the gang together for one more heist, the one that will give him everything he thinks his heart desires. The main thread of the book focuses on Severin and his internal turmoil, while also furthering one of the romance plots that was set up in the end of book one. I'll be honest, my ship didn't take off, but that's ok. What matters is that we get to see one of the main characters delve into full on villain mode, which I am ALWAYS here for.
If you enjoyed The Gilded Wolves, I can't imagine you not taking a shine to The Silvered Serpents as well, and I think I speak for a few other people when I say that we'll be twiddling our thumbs wondering how to pass the time until book 3 is published. I highly recommend this series to fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, as it gives you a new setting with some of the same feels.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Rating: really liked it
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY MENTAL AND I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. It wasn’t as confusing as the first instalment. The plot was faster with even higher stakes, leaving me so very worried for my precious babies. I was left an absolute mess and know I’ll have a torturous wait for the third book to release. *cries*
This was a sequel
DONE RIGHT.
Rating: really liked it
It's been so long since a book has touched me this deeply.
This is a story of grief. Severin locks his sorrow inside and hardens his face. Laila distances herself from her friends. Enrique throws himself into his work. Zofia leaves L'Eden and its tainted halls. Hypnos tries to fill a role never meant for him.
The Silvered Serpents is a recovery story. The crew comes together for one last job, but nothing is the same. It's a weak imitation of the camaraderie of
before, and they all know it. Relationships are shattered and glued together. Hearts break and are mended. It's a beautiful novel, lacking the mindless fun of
The Gilded Wolves, but infused with a deep feeling of melancholy and hopelessness.
I cried and laughed and cried some more. I could physically feel my heart breaking at that ending.
5 stars
And now, a Gilded Wolves character quiz. Keep track of the letters you pick.
1) On your best days, you are...A. Patient
B. Dedicated
C. Caring
D. Charismatic
E. Clever
2) On your worst days, you are...A. Antisocial
B. Quick-tempered
C. Stubborn
D. Shallow
E. Cold
3) Favorite subject?A. Math
B. History
C. Music
D. I don't really pay attention in school
E. Economics
4) You hear your best friend spreading rumors about you behind your back. What do you do?A. Stop talking to them
B. Talk to them in private
C. Continue being their friend. People make mistakes sometimes
D. Call them out in public
E. Come up with the most passive-aggressive way possible to bring them down
5) A friend of yours starts to ramble on and on about a subject you have no interest in. What do you do?A. Listen patiently, remembering everything just in case
B. Listen eagerly, interrupting occasionally to contribute a bit of your own knowledge
C. Listen at first, but zone out eventually
D. Tell them you're not interested
E. Cleverly turn the conversation around so you're the one talking instead
6) What's your favorite food out of these choices?A. Cookies
B. Cake
C. Pastries
D. The most luxurious option available
E. Raspberry jam
7) Are you self-conscious?A. Awkward is a better word for me
B. Extremely
C. Not at all
D. Why should I care about what the peasants think of me?
E. Around certain people, yes
RESULTS: If you picked mostly As, you're Zofia! You're very intelligent, but socially awkward. Sometimes you're not able to read between the lines like others do. You're logical and sweet, and everyone loves you.
If you picked mostly Bs, you're Enrique!You're witty and dedicated. If you start a task, your attention will be fully devoted to it. Your coping mechanism is humor. You're that person who knows a fun fact about everything.
If you picked mostly Cs, you're Laila!You're kind to everyone, no matter how they treat you. You're graceful and poised. You sometimes crave sugar. Scratch that - you
always crave sugar.
If you picked mostly Ds, you're Hypnos!You're very charismatic and live a luxurious life. You sometimes use your riches to cover up inner insecurities. The only thing you want in life is to belong.
If you picked mostly Es, you're Séverin!You're quick-witted and clever, but you can sometimes be cold. You're a misunderstood genius. But you care deeply for everyone around you.
Rating: really liked it
~ 4.5 stars ~Okay, now that I have done my grieving, it's about time I get started with this review. But keep in mind, this was written by a distressed person who got too emotionally attached.
**WARNING: unmarked spoilers for both this book and The Gilded Wolves will be present in this review**This book follows Séverin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos. They are dealing with the events from the book before, including revelations like that of the Fallen Houses and the things they are after, but also grieving Tristan's death in different ways.
Séverin shuts himself off to everyone, and beocmes cold. Having turned down an opportunity to regain his "rightful" title, as Patriarch for the House of Vanth, his sole purpose is now to find The Divine Lyrics, which could give him the power of a god.
Laila, also seeks the Divine Lyrics but for a different reason. She is dying. She is forged, and her maker has told her that she won't live past 19, but the answers to surviving part that are held in the book. With mere days left, her hope is almost lost. She has left L'Eden after a dispute with Séverin, and holds an unknown future.
Zofia is in Poland, to take care of her ill sister who is near death, but has run out of money to pay for her treatments.
Enrique is trying to make a name for himself as a historian with a bit of difficulty, and is in a relationship with Hypnos, who is finding it difficult to fit in and his place amongst the others.
Séverin who has just gotten a major lead to the whereabouts of this book, reunits the gang for a journey to Russia.
I've seen that a lot of people prefer the first book, but I personally think this one is much better than The Gilded Wolves. Maybe it's because I now have a better understanding of the world and the plot, or it's because I read this one in 2 days and Gilded Wolves in 15 days (I have no idea why this is so). But my only critique for this book is that I felt once again, the villian was lackluster and predictable, and the confusion at times was great, hence the redacted .5 stars.
all the things I loved:•
~ the characters ~Séverin is not a character I necessarily love. He is a dumb smart person, and while I identify greatly with that, it frustrates me with him. How dare he even think of hurting my precious cinnamon rolls Zofia and Enrique? Much less kill them?? I don't care what the reason is, all I know is that I am ready to fist fight him. But regardless of his unnecessary angst, I do find his story interesting and I look forward to seeing what he does to amend his supposed betrayal.
Laila is a great character. She's fierce, determined, and really cares for those close to her. I thought her friendships with the others were so precious, and quite frankly, Séverin doesn't deserve her. But, I just want her to be happy, however that may be.
Enrique is a historian and you will probably earn braincells by listening to him talk. His struggles and just personality in general is one I love and he's tied for my favorite. He is hands down the most relatable character in this series.
Zofia, an engineer and forger, is the second contender for my favorite character. She's so precious, but very intelligent, and determined to do what is right and help her friends, while also navigating to understand things she cannot, like certain humor. She deserves the world and so much more.
Hypnos, the Patriarch for House Nyx, is still warming up to me, but his manner and just the way he carries himself is quite intruiging to say the least. I think he has a lot of depth to be explored, and I wish for a few chapters in his POV next book. I feel as if getting that would help us understand him more.
•
~ the relationships ~The friendships and the sorta family dynamic they have is *chefs kiss*. What do I have to do to be a part of this? The banter...top tier really.
The romantic relationships aren't exactly my favorite but they aren't so focused on that it is anything that would potentially hurt his book. The Laila x Séverin thing is a bit exhausting, and Hypnos and Enrique are not really it. I don't mind it, but it isn't something I'm completely on board with, as it seems the love and deep adoration is one sided. Their breakup came to no surprise. The only relationship I am holding out for is Zofia and Enrique, but if it remains a friendship, I am also okay with that too.
•
~ the plot ~ I thought it was really fun! I had an easier time keeping up with it here, and I liked the way it connected everything and left you wanting more. I'm really curious of what is to come.
•
~ the world-building ~ It actually makes sense now, so thank goodness. Being immersed in this world and setting is something I have very much enjoyed with my read. I can tell a lot of thought and reaserch has gone into making this.
•
~the writing ~I quite like it. I think it gives a good amount of descriptions and doesn't overdue it with the fancy. It's not too overbearing, but special in it's own way. There isn't really anything I have to say negatively about it. I really need to read more of Chokshi's works.
• The diversity and representation is great!
• It did one thing a lot of books cannot do to me. Which is feel intense feelings of sadness. My heart by the end was heavy and I just wanted to cry. I don't remember signing up for emotional torture, but that is what I got, and I don't mind it.
Final thoughts: I am...very sad. I need the next book now, which makes me both appreciate the cliffhanger and detest it. I don't know what I will do in the meantime, but I thought this book was lovely, and well done. I don't know how many books are supposed to be in the series, but however it may end, I require that the characters be happy, content, and thriving. End of story. Now excuse me while I attempt to compose myself and find the source of whoever is cutting onions in my vicinity.
Rating: really liked it
Tristan!
I loved this book and hated it. I really enjoyed the Gilded Wolves and Tristan was my favorite character. I just loved how he was quiet and seemed to be the one that grounded Séverin. I enjoyed how Séverin kept thinking back on his and Tristans times with the seven different foster fathers they had. It gave a lot of insight into both of their characters and how their psyche’s were formed.
Tristan definitely had the most comical scenes, since he had Goliath as a pet. I mean how can a tarantula the size of a cat not be humorous? So the fact that Tristan was missing from this book and from our characters lives was depressing. I felt like I was missing him as much as they were. I really felt for Séverin since he was struggling with everything that happened in the last book and the things he found out about Tristan in this book.
So I didn’t like that much of the book was a bit depressing. I liked the camaraderie between Séverin’s group so much in the Gilded Wolves and that was missing in this book. There was strife between Séverin and Laila, between Hypnos and Enrique and with Zophia her struggles were within herself. However, despite the depressing overtones, I did really enjoy this book.
I like the fact that the group was searching for The Divine Lyrics which both Laila and Séverin need for their own purposes. I liked the new characters and the fact that the Matriarch, Delphine wanted to connect with Séverin so badly. Hypnos also wanted to reconnect with him and he wanted Séverin to trust him again. Hypnos is such a great character, after growing up basically alone, all he wants is to be a part of Séverin’s group because he sees Séverin as his only family.
The world building in this book was truly awesome. The ice palace (a.k.a Sleeping Palace) in Siberia especially. Everything in it was so clearly defined that I can picture it all, especially the Menagerie of animals made of ice and David (the metal Leviathan). I though Ava was a good addition to bring some jealousy into the relationship of Séverin and Laila. This book didn’t have them pining for each other so much and giving each other those looks of longing. I also enjoyed the fact that two other people were giving each other those looks in this book. I hope they get together in the next one.
Lastly I also really liked the character of Ruslan, the Patriarch of the Russian sector. I think once he got in the picture more, he sort of took Tristans place. Instead of laughs at the huge tarantula, it was his obsession with hair. I thought some of those scenes were pretty funny. All in all, this is certainly a book worth reading and I will continue to read this series to find out what happens next!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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Rating: really liked it
“When the devil waged war in the heavens, even angels had to fall.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars!!
Buddy Read with Bhavya💖
This book was painful. And beautiful.
Especially painful.
I was really scared that this book would be disappointing. Especially bcz most of the sequels are so. But this was even better than the previous one. Immense character development, a solid book, heartbreaking plot twists
PERFECTION😭💖
~i am now going to try to stop crying a write a review~
Plot "They are each other's fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope."
Silvered serpents picks off after the ending of Gilded Wolves. Now scarred by the previous events, the group is determined to get their revenge. And finally, reach their goal
But they know nothing is the same anymore. One last job. And then they'll be free to grieve on their own.
Driven by their own motives and greed and want, their search leads them to the Sleeping palace to find the Divine Lyrics which can grant them their wishes.
For Severin, it is to become god
For Laila, to finally lead her life without fear
For Zofia, it is to save her family
For Enriqueit is to achieve his goal
And for Hypnos, it is to finally belong.
History is full of ghosts because it’s full of myth. All of it woven together depending on who survived to do the telling.But things are not simple. Old wounds reopen, new enemies are determined to stop them. They knew the cost would be high. But will the cost be their own lives and sanity?
The Plot of this book was stunning. While TGW was a tad boring in some places, TSS pulled me in from the start. I had to think for a while before i rated TGW 5 stars. But even before i was done 50% i knew it was a 5 star.
The character development, the writing = perfection
Writing
“Then again, the names we are born with can end up meaning so little. The names we give ourselves, well, perhaps that’s the truth of us.”
One word. Beautiful
I loved loved the writing in this book. It was magical and painful and relatable at the same time I haven't read anything by her before, but I'm sure this is definitely one of her best works.
The cute banter between the characters, the painful ending everything was crafted perfectly
“I’ll perish left to my own devices. Life is cruel, and often without cake.”
Cake. I love cake.
WorldI lovee the world-building! It was awesomeee
Sure, I was confused af for the first part, but when I understood what was going on, I loved it even more. The concept of forging, divine lyrics.
We stan
ALSO, HOW DARE YOU
That shocking plot twists regarding the world and all that, I'm shooketh
I'm also in love
CharactersMissing : Nashita's heart
If found please return to : Anyone of the below listed characters
Severin “Séverin Montagnet-Alarie knew there was only one difference between monsters and gods. Both inspired fear. Only one inspired worship.”
Séverin is a person you should be scared of. He will do anything to get what he wants. But inside the armour and trauma, he is just a boy who is depressed bcz of his brother's death.
Sure, im kinda angry at him for being extremely rude through the book, I kinda understand where its coming from. And the ending, I feel really bad for Severin. Because I know or rather I read how much it hurt him to do so.
I can't wait to see more of him in the next one 😭
Laila "She was made of stolen bones and sleek fur, grave dirt and strange blood—her heart wasn’t even hers to give. Her soul was all she had, and no love was worth losing it"
I love love love Laila. She is perfection. She is clever, smart, brave and determined. She knows there is no one who will save her and she knows that she had to save herself. Living her entire life in fear, she finally wants to be free to do what she wants.
She is the kind of person you wish was real. She is such a good friend and a very loyal person.
I love her💖🤧
Zofia “She didn’t shiver as she walked. If anything, she seemed to luxuriate in the cold, as if it ran through her blood.”
Zofia is a chemist. She is also a precious cinnamon roll.
Zofia is very clever. And socially awkward. In here, we see her making an effort to socialize more and be more friendly. What we get is her being adorable.
She is determined to do anything for the ones she loves. We also see her fighting for Laila throughout.
I loved her character😭💖
Enrique “I’ll perish left to my own devices. Life is cruel, and often without cake.”
Enrique is a historian. He is the kinda person you might fall asleep while listening to. But if you don't, you might just become clever.
He like the others is very brave, clever and lovable. while the others have a bad side, he doesn't. I love him! HE is also very relatable
I liked this relationship with Hypnos. But I ship him and Zofia. Butt ahh whatever makes him happy, will make me tooooo ahh 💖💖
Hypnos “I envy you, too, for enjoying such trust. For being so”—he circled his glass, frowning—“wanted.”
Hypnos. I literally have no words to describe how much I love him. Not only is he cute and adorable, he is kind and brave and clever. Being alone almost all his life, he is desperately trying to fit in with them. I felt very bad for especially bcz of Severin :|
I want lots of chps from his perspective! 💖💖
He always reminded me of this:
One other thing i loved about this book was the rep!
*Bisexual Spanish Character
*Indian Character
*Queer biracial French character
*Jewish character
*Biracial half french half algerian character
I can't wait for the next book.
Until September, Ill be internally screamingggg. So will Bhavya💖
Peace out🤞
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My rating system:
5⭐ - I loved it soo much! New favorite
4⭐ - It was really good! But something was missing
3⭐ - It was nice..but had more potential
2⭐ - I did not like it at all!... It could have been soo much better
1⭐ - Nope. Just No. I hate
