The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) - Roshani Choksi
My Review - 5 Stars
This is Six Of Crows meets Ocean’s Eleven meets The Librarians, with a dash of Indiana Jones. If that doesn’t reel you in, I don’t know what will.
The Gilded Wolves is a historical fantasy set in 1899 Paris centered around a crew of friends. In this world, the Order of Babel rules. Some people are divinely gifted with Forging affinities, allowing them to change or enhance creation. But as you might suspect, not all is well in this world. There’s the Fallen House, which no one will talk about. There’s a House without an heir. And, oh, there’s the way the Order doesn’t always act in everyone’s best interests.
Enter Séverin, the denied heir of House Vanth, who delights in reclaiming the items sold off from his House and tracking down Order items for those who will pay him. He’s assisted by Zofia, Laila, Tristan, and Enrique, each of whom bring a great deal to the table.
Séverin believes the Order falsified his inheritance test because he’s biracial (Algerian-French) and there was already a mixed race patriarch (Hypnos of House Nyx, who had a Black mother and French father.) Séverin wants nothing more for House Vanth to be restored.
This leads to a treasure hunt for items which will allow him to blackmail the Order but his quest for a compass leads him in an entirely different direction. The rest of the novel is part treasure hunt, part heist and I could not get enough of it. I don’t want to say much more about the plot but suffice it to say, you’re going to want to talk about it.
The real star is the group of friends. All of the details and interactions show how well they know each other and care for one another. The different dynamics, such as who was closer to who, was fascinating to watch, as well as see what love stories might emerge, if any. (I was especially here for the unrequited but maybe requited longing.) I also loved how badly Hypnos wanted to be part of their group and how this aspect of the plot developed.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out how seamlessly diverse the cast of characters is. Laila is Indian and bakes by day and dances as L’Enigme by night. Enrique is Spanish-Filipino and likely bisexual—I fully geeked out on his character because he’s a historian and symbolist and I can’t get enough of symbolism. Zofia is a neurodiverse, Polish, and Jewish math whiz. Tristan is white and has anxiety and has somewhat of a codependent relationship with his tarantula Goliath but can do amazing things with plants. Laila and Zofia were especially strong female characters, which was refreshing to see when it comes to a heist plot.
While Séverin’s obsession with getting his House restored is what gets them into a pickle, each person has a vested interest in the plan succeeding. They test themselves and each other and this made for some wonderful character development. I cared so deeply about each one of them.
There’s such a great sense of humor throughout, no matter the stakes. This was a suspenseful read, to be sure, but more than anything else it was fun. The ending makes for an incredible set up for book two and I cannot wait to see where Chokshi takes us next.
CW: racism, colonialism, death of a loved one, grief, references to past bullying, past child abuse (neglect, mental, emotional), anxiety attacks
Synopsis
Set in a darkly glamorous world, The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous but thrilling adventure.
Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can't yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.
Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.
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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.
