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readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I read the Gilded Wolves in 2019 and I deserve, quite frankly, to step on lego for not having read the sequel until THREE years later. Three years? For shame.
Anyway, I finally listened to it on audio and, although it was missing some of the panache and energy of the first book, I did enjoy it. I really liked the found family vibes of book one, so I was happy to the group back together for another quest, but it was sad to see Séverin so emotionally removed from everyone else.
Roshani Chokshi really said, I see you were invested in the romances from book one, well here's nothing but pain in book two. Laila and Enrique, my queen and my soft cinnamon roll, I'm so sorry you both deserved better. I also felt like the plot wasn't always clearly narrated, but this might just be because I was listening to the audiobook. Curious to see how book three ends the trilogy!
Content warnings for parental abandonment, grief and mentions of a past death, violence, internalised ableism, prejudice towards sex workers, mentions of antisemitism.
Anyway, I finally listened to it on audio and, although it was missing some of the panache and energy of the first book, I did enjoy it. I really liked the found family vibes of book one, so I was happy to the group back together for another quest, but it was sad to see Séverin so emotionally removed from everyone else.
Roshani Chokshi really said, I see you were invested in the romances from book one, well here's nothing but pain in book two. Laila and Enrique, my queen and my soft cinnamon roll, I'm so sorry you both deserved better. I also felt like the plot wasn't always clearly narrated, but this might just be because I was listening to the audiobook. Curious to see how book three ends the trilogy!
Content warnings for parental abandonment, grief and mentions of a past death, violence, internalised ableism, prejudice towards sex workers, mentions of antisemitism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Ableism, and Abandonment
Minor: Antisemitism, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"I wish my love was more beautiful."
This quote may not make sense out of context but it really got me at the end of this book... *cries*
This was a decent second book in this trilogy. It had a few slow parts but overall had me engaged and wanting to see what happens. I will say some of the plot still confused me and the world building didn't quite do what I'd hoped in this sequel, but I found myself forgiving all of that because these characters are just so good.
So yeah, I love the characters. We get four POVs again, each perfect. Each grieving in their own way. Each keeping secrets. Each showing their love for each other in different ways. I just want them all to be happy by the end of this trilogy, they deserve it!
Though I guessed the big *twist* at the end of this book, the ending was still a ride and had me reaching for book three immediately. (Thank you to my past self for getting the library book ahead of time!) Can't wait to see where it goes!
This quote may not make sense out of context but it really got me at the end of this book... *cries*
This was a decent second book in this trilogy. It had a few slow parts but overall had me engaged and wanting to see what happens. I will say some of the plot still confused me and the world building didn't quite do what I'd hoped in this sequel, but I found myself forgiving all of that because these characters are just so good.
So yeah, I love the characters. We get four POVs again, each perfect. Each grieving in their own way. Each keeping secrets. Each showing their love for each other in different ways. I just want them all to be happy by the end of this trilogy, they deserve it!
Though I guessed the big *twist* at the end of this book, the ending was still a ride and had me reaching for book three immediately. (Thank you to my past self for getting the library book ahead of time!) Can't wait to see where it goes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Antisemitism, and Death
karambit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Racism, Blood, Death, Violence, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, Confinement, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Infertility, Cultural appropriation, and Self harm
micheala's review against another edition
4.0
While I wouldn't say that this book is fundamentally different then the first book, the group dynamics are. In a way this book is about grief and how each person deals with it.
I didn't love how some of the characters, particularly Severin and Laila acted. I also thought that the group trusted new people way too quickly and was annoyed by this change in behaviour.
We have exactly the same set of POVs as we did in the first one, which made it feel like Hypnos wasn't actually a part of the group, even though he is (at least I think the narration was trying to make him seem like a member of the group). Overall, not including even a couple chapters from his POV felt like a missed opportunity.
You can't really talk about any specifics in this book without running the risk of spoilers. I will say that based on the head long rush of the final 5 or so chapters, reading the final book in the trilogy fairly soon after is advised. I know I'll be driving into the conclusion right away.
I didn't love how some of the characters, particularly Severin and Laila acted. I also thought that the group trusted new people way too quickly and was annoyed by this change in behaviour.
We have exactly the same set of POVs as we did in the first one, which made it feel like Hypnos wasn't actually a part of the group, even though he is (at least I think the narration was trying to make him seem like a member of the group). Overall, not including even a couple chapters from his POV felt like a missed opportunity.
You can't really talk about any specifics in this book without running the risk of spoilers. I will say that based on the head long rush of the final 5 or so chapters, reading the final book in the trilogy fairly soon after is advised. I know I'll be driving into the conclusion right away.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Torture, Antisemitism, Blood, and Violence
strange's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Definitely a strong case of middle book syndrome, but left me excited for the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, and Child death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Antisemitism
humanmosquito's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
it was decent, just underwhelming. Chokshi tends to write for a younger audience and that shows in the narrative.
I found the book less focused than The Gilded Wolves, and I can’t decide if that was intentional on the writer's part. Regardless made it hard to connect to the characters emotionally.
The plot was a good concept and had a near decent execution.
I didn’t like Laila and Séverin. It seems to be a common criticism but they just did nothing here. Laila on her own could have had a good storyline but Sèverin is a dead weight holding her back.
What I did like: Enrique and Zofia’s separate character arcs, as a couple they’re nearly as boring as Laila/séverin. Hypnos was just wasted potential. He shouldn’t have been there just to make Zofia/Enrique look better, it cheapened the whole bullshit love triangle.
I don’t think any of these characters like each other romantically.
I found the book less focused than The Gilded Wolves, and I can’t decide if that was intentional on the writer's part. Regardless made it hard to connect to the characters emotionally.
The plot was a good concept and had a near decent execution.
I didn’t like Laila and Séverin. It seems to be a common criticism but they just did nothing here. Laila on her own could have had a good storyline but Sèverin is a dead weight holding her back.
What I did like: Enrique and Zofia’s separate character arcs, as a couple they’re nearly as boring as Laila/séverin. Hypnos was just wasted potential. He shouldn’t have been there just to make Zofia/Enrique look better, it cheapened the whole bullshit love triangle.
I don’t think any of these characters like each other romantically.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Antisemitism, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
s3lin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Racism, and Violence
bookling_thoughts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book made my heart hurt. The ending is utterly gut wrenching. The writing in this book is incredible and the characters are extraordinary. Please read this book ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
stephaniefong's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
moonytoast's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
genuinely in love with this series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Grief
Minor: Violence, Sexual content, and Racism