Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
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 Severin Montagne-Alerie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Severin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Severin 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 Severin 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.
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Gilded Wolves is a book that I’ve heard so much about and there’s an obvious reason why. It’s one of the most intricate, immersive fantasy YA novels set in our world I’ve ever read. Using lore from Classical mythology, Egyptian mythology, Biblical origins, and historical world events to tie together a fascinating world within our own of magic and the power of art, creation, and deception. Featuring a band of outcasts and rebels set to embark on an impossible heist during the Exposition Universelle in Paris in the 1800s what more for excitement could one ask for in an novel?! I absolutely loved it and this book deserves all the praise that it’s gotten thus far. It was diverse, it was historical, it was fantastical, it was exciting, it was thrilling, and the characters were the most loveable parts (Tristan was my fav btw) and the best part? There’s TWO MORE BOOKS IN THE SERIES! I didn’t realize it wasn’t a stand alone when I picked it up so when the ending was left a bit open ended as if potentially for another novel and I found out the second one is already out, I may have squealed with excitement. Hands down, best summer read thus far.
This book starts action packed and does not slow down one bit. Given that it’s an entirely new fantasy world (even if it’s set within our own) there was a LOT to learn in those first few chapters so it was pretty heavy but so fast-paced that it was easy to catch on quick. We start with a precious heirloom being stolen, and right from the start you know there’s other powers at work that our characters are going to have to race against. Then we move onto Severin, our leader of this band of misfits and his backstory of losing his inheritance. Throughout the novel we get glimpses of his childhood and how he came to be the treasure hunter and thief that we know in this novel. As we move along, a request from the secretive Order of Babel (yes, of Tower of Babel fame) throws Severin and his friends into a dangerous plot in order to win back his inheritance by pleasing the Order (or, you know, blackmailing them with the thing they want most).
There were so many strengths in this book. The writing was phenomenal and so immersive, the characters were so eclectic and full of life, and the plot was intricate and amazing. Let’s start with the plot shall we? Everything is based in the 1800s in Paris during the World Expo. Of course, it’s an exciting time, the Eiffel Tower, innovation, a whole new world at humanities fingertips. The author states in a note in the back that the reason for this setting was based not only in the glamour of the time (literally it’s described as the most beautiful era) but also the ugliness that festers underneath. Mainly: the human zoo attractions at the Exposition in Paris (yes it was real) and other fairs that followed suit. This book delves into the gilded edges of that world and the dark oily underbelly hiding within. I loved that it didn’t highly romanticize the era without acknowledging the truths of the time as well. Racism was high, anti-semitism was growing, and white men all over the place patted themselves on the back for a job well-down in creating a perfect world. Moving away from the historical part of the novel we get more into the world shaped by biblical origins (how some of our wold wonders were formed by the “forging” powers from the destroyed Tower of Babel), Greek mythology (4 houses of Paris named after aspects of the Underworld built to protect the legacy of the Order of Babels power), and Egyptian mythology (a legit The Mummy themed treasure hunt with hieroglyphs and ancient secrets galore). I can’t get enough of this world, truly unique!
The characters drove this novel. Yes it was plot heavy, but the characters were the most important part (as they should be). Severin, the leader, was so multi-dimensional. He comes off as greedy and entitled in wanting to win back what he deems as “his” (even though he’s already filthy rich) but we get insights into his history that show us he’s had a rough past, a terrible childhood, and now, in adulthood, being half Egyptian earns him scorn and pity just because of his “exotic” features in a sea of “proper” Parisians. Laila, a dancer from India faces a lot of the same scorn. She is praised as an exotic dancer at the highest-class cabaret venues in the city but outside of it she’s seen as nothing more than “the help”. Her character was so interesting and mysterious and although we got a lot of her point of view, she’s still an enigma. Enrique, a historian from the Philippines, has always been considered an outsider in his field. With nothing to lose, he joins Severin on his most dangerous of quests. He’s hilarious and loveable and truly the brain of the group (or half of it at least). And then we have Zofia, a genius math-whiz/engineer. Having been kicked out of a school that didn’t want her (not necessarily stated because she was Jewish but… it was because she was Jewish), she becomes the other half of the brains behind the groups success. She’s brilliant but struggles with social interactions and quickly became one of my favourite of the group. I think she’ll end up being one of the most important/powerful characters of the five. And then there’s Tristan, my favourite character. He’s the youngest of the group, smart as a whip, great with beauty and has a mean green-thumb (also a terrifying pet tarantula). There is one more character that I think stole the show, but ….. spoilers, so I won’t say a word. In summary, I NEED to read more about this band of misfits. Found family is quickly becoming one of my favourite book tropes.
I absolutely loved this book. It totally destroyed me (I recommend buying the second one immediately so you don’t have to sit in anticipation for a week like me after finishing the first). I cannot wait to read more of this world and discover more from this author. Truly an amazing story. 5 million stars.