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aneges's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Sadly I did not like this book as much as the previous one. Partly this might be because of the mood I was in while I read this but most of the blame I think is because of the slower pacing and the character arc of Severin which I didn't love (it could have been interesting but I didn't agree fully with the execution).
The ending was abrupt but it made me very curious to know how it ends and I think I will try to pick it up soon.
The ending was abrupt but it made me very curious to know how it ends and I think I will try to pick it up soon.
jess_mango's review
4.0
The Silvered Serpents is the second book in The Gilded Wolves series. We return to the 19th century and the group of young adults we met in the first book. Each of the team members has their own special gift and are once again on a quest to find a long lost artifact. This quest is initiated by Severin who is looking to make amends after the death of one of their team members. This quest takes them to Russia in the middle of the winter (I mean, is their any other time to go to Russia?). While surrounded by snow and ice, the team follows a series of clues that lead them to old mansions that are filled with secrets and connected with unsolved disappearances and murders.
I haven't read many books in this particular corner of fantasy but this series does remind me in a way of the Indiana Jones movies. There team solves lots of puzzles and go on adventures to retrieve treasure. Of course, this has more of a fantasy element than the Indy movies do in that this group of characters each have a mystical talent. The read is a fun escapist frolic through mansions and forests of the 19th century.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
I haven't read many books in this particular corner of fantasy but this series does remind me in a way of the Indiana Jones movies. There team solves lots of puzzles and go on adventures to retrieve treasure. Of course, this has more of a fantasy element than the Indy movies do in that this group of characters each have a mystical talent. The read is a fun escapist frolic through mansions and forests of the 19th century.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
kayceh's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
kaceyjoy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
ineffablebob's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I thought this second book in the Gilded Wolves series was better than the first, partially because it felt less like several heist stories strung together, but mostly because of the character development. Enrique and Zofia in particular get a lot more depth in this book, and Lalia and Severin progress too, even if their cold-shoulder-romance is annoyingly juvenile.
amazingracerose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
- 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
The diversity of POVs within this ensemble is so well done and each characters understanding of the same situation is so distinct.
asreadbykat's review
4.0
True Rating: 4.5/5
I'm always worried and cautious when going into the second book in a series, especially when the first one was so good. It's difficult to live up to the success of a predecessor, as witnessed often enough in various media.
So I was gladly surprised to find that not only did I enjoy "Silvered Serpents" as much as the first book, I probably enjoyed it even more. The author continues blending her worldbuilding and the plot's mystery with a central focus on the characters and their thoughts and motivations. All of the characters grow and make mistakes, move forward and take a few steps back. Just as the central conflict isn't wrapped up, so the characters' personal conflicts continue to rage.
Appropriately enough, Severin was the least interesting to me in this novel. It makes sense because he himself, the mastermind of their group, is so focused on the others that of course the reader gets to know them more in order to really understand what's going on. While all of the characters are relatable, Severin's motivations are so much more because who doesn't want to protect the people they care about, and themselves, no matter what?
As with the first book, the only thing I could nitpick about in the story are the romances. The friendships are so strong in this that the romances just feel unnecessary to me. They're sweet, but the plot wouldn't really change if they were taken away. And, to be honest, it does get repetitive reading about pining after almost 400 pages.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I'm going to immediately read the last one!
TL;DR: On par with or better than the first one, characters are still fantastic but the romance may seem unnecessary and the thoughts/speeches on it repetitive to some.
I'm always worried and cautious when going into the second book in a series, especially when the first one was so good. It's difficult to live up to the success of a predecessor, as witnessed often enough in various media.
So I was gladly surprised to find that not only did I enjoy "Silvered Serpents" as much as the first book, I probably enjoyed it even more. The author continues blending her worldbuilding and the plot's mystery with a central focus on the characters and their thoughts and motivations. All of the characters grow and make mistakes, move forward and take a few steps back. Just as the central conflict isn't wrapped up, so the characters' personal conflicts continue to rage.
Appropriately enough, Severin was the least interesting to me in this novel. It makes sense because he himself, the mastermind of their group, is so focused on the others that of course the reader gets to know them more in order to really understand what's going on. While all of the characters are relatable, Severin's motivations are so much more because who doesn't want to protect the people they care about, and themselves, no matter what?
As with the first book, the only thing I could nitpick about in the story are the romances. The friendships are so strong in this that the romances just feel unnecessary to me. They're sweet, but the plot wouldn't really change if they were taken away. And, to be honest, it does get repetitive reading about pining after almost 400 pages.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I'm going to immediately read the last one!
TL;DR: On par with or better than the first one, characters are still fantastic but the romance may seem unnecessary and the thoughts/speeches on it repetitive to some.
leafblade's review
3.0
Me aburren mucho mucho mucho las historias con desierto, mar o mucho hielo y acá nos metimos en un castillo congelado (en mi cabeza fue corte Frozen) y directamente éramos incompatibles. Los personajes nuevos me rompieron las pelotas más que otra cosa, me encariñé un toque capaz con Ruslan pero no les podría decir ni una característica física suya así que mucha pelota no le debo haber dado. Las relaciones entre los personajes que ya conocíamos están bien. Bien de calidad porque en realidad están todos del mismísimo orto, y me encanta que Roshani no haya tenido miedo de hacerlos sufrir, de lastimarlos, de torturarlos, de ponerlos en situaciones de las que no pueden salir con decisiones horribles que no quieren tomar. Laila y Séverin siguen en un tire y afloje, Enrique e Hypnos parecían en el libro anterior la parejita ideal y ahora mmmmm salga de ahí soldado, Zofia (párrafo aparte se lo merece)
Hice mi tesis en autismo en mujeres!! Me da por las pelotas entre un poco y mucho según el momento que en ningún momento se mencione que Zofia es autista. Sé que Roshani lo hace a propósito porque hay ciertas cosas que sin hacer research específico sobre el tema no hubieran salido como características de personaje quirky promedio que CAPAZ podría pasar por autista. Creo en el fondo de mi corazón que no hay excusa que valga para no nombrarlo. Pero sí siento que en este libro la trata con más respeto que en el libro anterior, ya no se queda nada más en lo estúpida/graciosa que queda cuando se toma algo muy literal o en que quiere que los platos estén ordenados de una determinada manera en la mesa. Se están acostumbrando Roshani a Zofia y Zofia a Roshani, y me está gustando para dónde va la cosa. Apruebo, avalo, disfruto, no sé si decir ME GUSTA todavía pero no le voy a saltar a la yugular a nadie. El libro que viene va a ser decisivo respecto al amor que le tenga a la trilogía porque parece que se vienen cositas ~nuevas~ en el ámbito social para Zofia y puede salir muy bien o puede mandarse la cagada de su vida. Sin presión Ro total ya lo escribiste y la desubicada que lee todo lento y tarde soy yo
Hice mi tesis en autismo en mujeres!! Me da por las pelotas entre un poco y mucho según el momento que en ningún momento se mencione que Zofia es autista. Sé que Roshani lo hace a propósito porque hay ciertas cosas que sin hacer research específico sobre el tema no hubieran salido como características de personaje quirky promedio que CAPAZ podría pasar por autista. Creo en el fondo de mi corazón que no hay excusa que valga para no nombrarlo. Pero sí siento que en este libro la trata con más respeto que en el libro anterior, ya no se queda nada más en lo estúpida/graciosa que queda cuando se toma algo muy literal o en que quiere que los platos estén ordenados de una determinada manera en la mesa. Se están acostumbrando Roshani a Zofia y Zofia a Roshani, y me está gustando para dónde va la cosa. Apruebo, avalo, disfruto, no sé si decir ME GUSTA todavía pero no le voy a saltar a la yugular a nadie. El libro que viene va a ser decisivo respecto al amor que le tenga a la trilogía porque parece que se vienen cositas ~nuevas~ en el ámbito social para Zofia y puede salir muy bien o puede mandarse la cagada de su vida. Sin presión Ro total ya lo escribiste y la desubicada que lee todo lento y tarde soy yo
chloelai12's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
All the way through this book, I had Haymitch in my head screaming "you could live a thousand lifetimes and never deserve that boy." But the boy is Laila, and Severin's cold heart is Katniss because I actively hated him for the majority of this book. I don't know if I was fully supposed to hate him so much as hold him in contempt. But it felt like a good, frustrated hate for him because it was obvious he and Laia are meant for each other but his words were so unnecessary that I can not fault a single thing that Laila did to him in this entire series.
On a lighter note, Zofia is one of my favourite blondes <3
still had no idea what was going on but I was relieved we shed off Tristan a bit
On a lighter note, Zofia is one of my favourite blondes <3
still had no idea what was going on but I was relieved we shed off Tristan a bit
msdominel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5