Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

67 reviews

asuna1930's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was fantastic! An original, captivating story. My only detraction was that the male narrator sounded like a news anchor 😅

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thelittleoddling's review

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

While overall I found the diversity done quite well. Though as an autistic reader I was quite disappointed with how stereotypical the autistic representation felt. The best part was the way the others accommodated her needs but otherwise it fell flat. 

The magic system is very interesting and unique if a bit confusing, though being the first in a trilogy we have time to dig into it more later, loved the visuals for some of the puzzles, though I wish there were more. Some scenes I struggled to imagine layouts of rooms. 

I think this is a good book that is fun if you’re into found family and heist narratives. 

It also includes some YA age appropriate discussions of the racism found in 1800s Europe which I think are done well. 

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graceicle's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.5

Didn’t love it as much as I thought I might, not super keen to read the sequel but I might if I can at some point borrow it from the library! 
This book is often compared to six of crows, and honestly doesn’t have the same vibes. It’s got a lot of the same tropes, and a similar setting, but it didn’t give me the same feeling. While I like and find the characters interesting, the world building clever, the magic system interesting; the story itself was tricky to follow at times and I struggled to keep focus. I listened to the audible version and LOVED the narration, it was so fun to actually have what felt at least to me (Aussie) like legitimate attempts at French accents for the (largely) French characters-so often everything is delivered in a flat American accent regardless of the characters backgrounds, and I’m so used to that that I really noticed the effort out in here to make that not happen and I think it really helped with the immersion, and definitely made it much easier to tell when the characters are speaking rather than narration, which is sometimes hard to determine in audiobook form! 
Overall it’s a good and solid book with some really great elements, but it just didn’t grab me by the throat the way I was hoping.

I enjoyed how explicitly autistic Zofia was, and the way the characters -especially Laila - looked out for her needs and preferences, as well as not enforcing neurotypical responses onto her. 

Loved the chaotic love triangle vibes-that’s not usually my thing but that might actually be the thing that tips me over into reading the sequel-to see how they explore that.

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bergha1998's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

If you liked Six of Crows I would wager you would enjoy this book. I did, though Séverin pissed me the fuck off in the end. I loved the diversity of this book, plus all the LGBTQIA+ characters. A book where everyone felt bisexual. 

Found Family, LGBTQIA+, Romance Subplots

“He wished he didn’t know what he had lost. Maybe then every day wouldn’t feel like this. As if he had once known how to fly, but the skies had shaken him loose and left him with nothing but the memory of wings.”

“Fear grew in places unlit by knowledge.”

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leahcanread's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

3.75


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takarakei's review

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adventurous 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

4.25

  • 4 POVs, 6 main characters
  • Stolen treasures (imperialism)
  • late 19th century Paris
  • found family
  • autism rep (not explicitly stated)
  • bit of romance

Honestly didn't know what to expect from this and I really enjoyed this. The world building is fascinating, the magic and everyone's backstories were expertly crafted. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

The male audio narrator was not my fav but it didn't completely ruin it for me. There's a lot of visual puzzles that make more sense if you're reading the physical books (because there are diagrams etc)

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hannahs_library_'s review

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.5


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florecita_lectora's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.5


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girlgetsbook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative 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

3.5

It took me a while to read this book, because even though the premise is amazing and well executed, I think the pacing and the writing were a bit off and I struggled to find my way to the book again, even though it absolutely got my attention once I picked it up.
I loved the idea behind this book, I had no idea it was going to tackle these kind of issues and was pleasantly surprised by that. I love when the fantasy element of a book serves as a tool to further enhance the themes the author wants to portray, and it's done beautifully and tragically here with the Order representing the hold Europe has on other continents it invaded and the magical artifacts being symbols of pieces of culture, history and lives stolen from said places, and the representation of the real-life racism, xenophobia and exploration that people of color suffered at the time, especially, as the author mentioned represented by the gross Exhibition that is the scenary for a big part of the plot, that is inspired by events that actually happened. 
The magic system was very ingenious, a mix of mythology, religion and science and the worldbuilding was incredible even if it took a while to be fully explained which dragged the pacing a little bit. I think the action scenes and the heists should've been planned out better because a lot of it was told and not shown and some things came super easily to the characters and some aspects of the mission were never fully explored to create a better rhythm to the action.
I love that most characters were BIPOC and I loved the discussion around the biracial characters and the angst some of them feel for being a mixture between invader and invaded, I relate to that as a white latina myself. In this aspect the characters really stood on their own, their history, their struggles and how this systemically racist and unfair society impacted their lives and their goals for the future, it was all really important and full of impact to read about. The characters were amazing and their representation well done but I think the problem for me was when they came together, especially during the action. Some of them, really had their places and were able to shine during key moments, like Zophia and Enrique. I LOVED Zophia and I loved the neurodivergent representation, I absolutely relate to her struggles fitting in and one scene in particular hurt me personally because of how real it was, besides that she was brilliant and basically did most of the work, I want her to be happy forever. Enrique also shines amongst the others, I feel like more than anyone else we get to understand who he is, where he's been, his stregnths and weaknesses, for me he was the main character of this book, and I'm not complaining, I love my queer historian to pieces. Now to the others: Séverin was the leader, yes, but sometimes I felt something was missing, it didn't feel like there were any stakes for him when it came to his goals until much later in the story, he had his revenge plot but nothing felt precisely urgent, driving him to his goal at that precise time (what I meant to say was that he was successful and financially stable enough to continue not having what he wanted for a long time, maybe if something financial drove him, his plot would be more engaging to follow). Aside from Séverin, there was Laila, I loved her, and like I said she stands on her own, to the point where I would read a book about her adventures chasing what she wants and her haunting background and interesting magic, however I felt like the author herself didn't know her, when it came to interacting with other characters she felt like a caregiver most of the time, never really living for herself, and during the action it never felt like she was in synch with the rest of the characters, like the author just used her because she needed someone to do something, she has amazing powers but it was mostly used before the action. Tristan and Hypnos were very much supporting characters in this book so I don't have a lot to say about them, except that I like Hypnos and am confused by Tristan, nothing was really well explained about him. 
When it came to the characters' dynamics I also felt like they were a bit weird, and after thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it just feels like they already know each other for too long, there isn't for most of the time any conflict of interest or anything for them to discover about one another that is important for the plot, I feel like their relationships are book three level and we didn't see most of the developments between them. The ones that do have conflict are exactly the ones I'm the most invested in, like Séverin and Hypnos and Enrique and Zophia, all these characters feel like they have something to learn from one another and that makes for more interesting dynamics, aside from them, though I appreciate the warmth that surrounds the group, it just didn't feel earned enough, with one character in particular retreating to a worse version of himself by the end of the book. 
Because of how everything happened off-page I also struggled to root for Séverin and Laila, it felt like they already had resolved this a long time ago but somehow they still acted like hormonal teenagers around each other, it felt like they were only physically attracted to each other because the author wanted to create that tension every time, which gave less space for me to believe in their partnership as thieves and even as friends really. 
The love triangle was unnecessary, I think the author had the idea for the first relationship and as she wrote the book realized the chemistry of the other couple but decided to maintain both anyway, I don't want to see any of them suffer. 
The villain paled in comparison to the actual threat of the systems surrounding the country and the systemically racist and invader institutions running the country, it felt very villain of the week and not an actual problem to be faced, the villain was very mustache-twirling to my liking.
Overall this was an okay book with an interesting worldbuilding and premise but that lacked a bit in terms of plotting and pacing. I will continue reading the series and maybe my opinion will change. 
About the end
what the fuck was that? I'm not even talking about Tristan's death, it was kind of obvious he was going to either die or be used somehow by the Fallen House again, what I don't get is the bird scene? What does that prove or represent? Why was it just thrown in there when he isn't even alive to defend himself (which makes me think he might come back again but evil maybe? Which is worse than death honestly, but I'm thinking he might be the true heir for the house so yeah maybe he will be back). Séverin was gross, I understand pushing someone away but then being offensive while at it? He just was mean for no reason, really hard to ship this couple rn. 


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resterenvie's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Actually 4.9/5✩

“Wolves were everywhere. In politics, on thrones, in beds. They cut their teeth on history and grew fat on war.”

Have you ever imagined a fantasy book featured with a cool mix of ancient histories, puzzles, mythology, symbology, heists, magic system (the Babel Fragments, the Houses, Forged items) and ofc MATH? This book is for you.

Seriously, the characters are what makes this whole book come together so beautifully, every character is well developed and has interesting backstory, purposes, desires and personalities. I love how Roshani gave so many different races, cultures and backgrounds in one set of these characters. They have this complexity that makes them feel so real and human, so much relatable on some level. ‹𝟹

  • Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, the half French-Algerian fallen heir to House Vanth, owner of Hotel L'Eden.
  • Laila, the Tamil (South Indian) baker and a dancer aka L’Énigme, she is the mom friend. A QUEEN INDEED. Her backstory was probably my favorite to read. ”MAJNUN”
  • Enrique Mercado-Lopez, a Filipino-Spanish, bisexual, a historian nerd and book worm. FUNNY. 
  • Zofia, a Polish, Jewish, and autistic (actually this is never explicitly stated) scientist, math and chemistry genius, very socially awkward.
  • Hypnos, black French-Haitian aristocrat, the young head of House Nyx, dramatic and sarcastic. 
  • Tristan Maréchal, he adored natures and animals, a botanist, obsessed with his pet—tarantula. Needs to be protected at all costs.

I like the writing style as well, the banter, sass (I don’t have any idea how many times I laughed out loud because of them, especially conversation between Enrique-Hypnos-Zofia), tension, and romance through the story were just so much fun and heart wrenching (especially Séverin and Laila) to read. Also the world-building, especially the puzzles and the mysteries surrounding the artifacts.

What’s more facsinating is the fact that Rohsani wrote Order of Babel; their history that has a connection to the Tower of Babel, how they were divided into four different Houses that led by their own matriarch/patriarch, and their unique custom. I also love the setting of this book and think the historical and fantasy aspects blended really well together, while also follows strong themes of colonialism and racism that existed at that time.

There were three moments at the end that had me screaming like bruh—Séverin is a total mess, and if you thought love triangles were dead, YOU’RE SO WRONG.


“Nothing but a symbol? People die for symbols. People have hope because of symbols. They're not just lines. They're histories, cultures, traditions, given shape.”

IT WAS SO GOOD, SO PRECIOUS, AMAZING CHARACTERS AND DIVERSITY, I LOVE FOUND FAMILY TROPE, THE ANGST, THE DRAMA. THIS BOOK BROKE ME AND I LOVED IT. Thanks to Rohsani Chokshi. ‹𝟹

Ps. Please read the author notes.

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