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A review by a_strix_named_strix
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
2.0
I couldn't tell the characters apart much, unfortunately. Hypnos followed by Laila were probably my favorite characters (give us Hypnos's POV!).
Séverin was, unfortunately, pretty bland.
Zofia was autistic and Polish-Jewish, both of which I am. Unfortunately, her Jewishness never seemed to mean much. There weren't even any references to Shabbat (also called Sabbath/Shabbos depending on language), where for an entire day we are prohibited from working. No references to bar mitzvahs, or bat mitzvahs (which weren't ceremonially recognized with bat mitzvot ceremonies until fairly recently, AKA after the book's time period. What's her thoughts on that?). She prays at one point. WHICH ONE??? Sh'ma? It's only ever how she's Jewish that matters. She's not the norm! Russia doesn't like Jews. Okay? Jews are said to steal everything by the populace? Cool worldbuilding. Seems in line with real Jewish stereotypes. We never see how she feels about being Jewish in this political climate. Does she hate it and resent herself? Does she love it and never want to be Christian/"the norm" (then why doesn't she do anything Jewish?)? Is she mixed on it?
She also is someone who can Forge, but is Jewish in a predominantly Christian society. Both religions believe in the Tower of Babel, but how does she interact with the other religion's influence? She doesn't, because it is tacked on to be another difference.
There is only ONE (1) Jewish thing she deals with, or remembers, or interacts with. No tattoos in Jewish cemeteries? Cool! A real thing. That gave me hope, but no. Of course we can't have that!
Also, why isn't there any discussion of how Houses Kore and Nyx, despite believing in and their world being seemingly dependent on the idea of the Abrahamic idea of the Tower of Babel, use Greek imagery? It seems similar to medieval European attitudes toward Greco-Roman myth and other stories set in that era, like Troilus and Cresyde, but there's never any exploration there. It's small, but it kinda bugs me.
Shouldn't the aformentioned dependance on Babel produce a more hardline Christian attitude in the Order? Could've been interesting to explore with Zofia, but again, NO.
This felt like book 2. Everyone knows each other, everyone fits together, but I don't yet.
This book is fine, not good, but fine, with fine characters, fine prose, and fine worldbuilding. It's a labyrinth of interesting ideas and roads not taken, and this pains me. I was excited, but in the end it didn't pay off.
Séverin was, unfortunately, pretty bland.
Zofia was autistic and Polish-Jewish, both of which I am. Unfortunately, her Jewishness never seemed to mean much. There weren't even any references to Shabbat (also called Sabbath/Shabbos depending on language), where for an entire day we are prohibited from working. No references to bar mitzvahs, or bat mitzvahs (which weren't ceremonially recognized with bat mitzvot ceremonies until fairly recently, AKA after the book's time period. What's her thoughts on that?). She prays at one point. WHICH ONE??? Sh'ma? It's only ever how she's Jewish that matters. She's not the norm! Russia doesn't like Jews. Okay? Jews are said to steal everything by the populace? Cool worldbuilding. Seems in line with real Jewish stereotypes. We never see how she feels about being Jewish in this political climate. Does she hate it and resent herself? Does she love it and never want to be Christian/"the norm" (then why doesn't she do anything Jewish?)? Is she mixed on it?
She also is someone who can Forge, but is Jewish in a predominantly Christian society. Both religions believe in the Tower of Babel, but how does she interact with the other religion's influence? She doesn't, because it is tacked on to be another difference.
There is only ONE (1) Jewish thing she deals with, or remembers, or interacts with. No tattoos in Jewish cemeteries? Cool! A real thing. That gave me hope, but no. Of course we can't have that!
Also, why isn't there any discussion of how Houses Kore and Nyx, despite believing in and their world being seemingly dependent on the idea of the Abrahamic idea of the Tower of Babel, use Greek imagery? It seems similar to medieval European attitudes toward Greco-Roman myth and other stories set in that era, like Troilus and Cresyde, but there's never any exploration there. It's small, but it kinda bugs me.
Shouldn't the aformentioned dependance on Babel produce a more hardline Christian attitude in the Order? Could've been interesting to explore with Zofia, but again, NO.
This felt like book 2. Everyone knows each other, everyone fits together, but I don't yet.
This book is fine, not good, but fine, with fine characters, fine prose, and fine worldbuilding. It's a labyrinth of interesting ideas and roads not taken, and this pains me. I was excited, but in the end it didn't pay off.