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A review by mcayers316
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
4.0
4 1/2 stars. Set in 1889 Paris at the opening of the Exposition Universelle, a group of unconventional characters sets about pulling off a grand heist, with impossible odds, in an attempt to reclaim one man's inheritance and revive his family's house. Severin Montagnet-Alarie is the last descendant of the House of Vanth, one of four Order factions in France. Severin has been cheated of his inheritance, and has spent years working out a scheme to reclaim his birthright and bring House Vanth back to it's rightful place of power.
His crew includes Tristan (his younger brother, a skilled forger, much sought after for his landscape designs), Laila (true to her alter ego L'Engime, quite mysterious, but a master at uncovering secrets, and baker extraordinaire), Zofia (socially awkward, quite literal, and a brilliant forger and scientist), Enrique (historian, researcher, biracial, bisexual, and attempting to subvert Spanish colonialism in his native Philippines), and finally Hypnos, (added member of the group, something of a friend/rival from Severin's previous life, and current head of House Nyx).
I was quite entranced with this book. I read it in one day, and hated every time I had to set it down. I raced through the book, eager to find out what happened at the end of the heist. The Gilded Wolves had everything I love in it - a rich, thoroughly detailed world (and one based in a historical setting? Even better), memorable characters, and a compelling story line and plot. I love complicated heist stories, complete with dangerous endeavors, puzzles, and intrigue. As others have noted, parts of the story reminded me of Six of Crows, from the detailed planning and plotting, to the heist elements of the book, and the quirky crews, but The Gilded Wolves is less violent on the surface. It if often more brutal overall, since it is based on historical events - colonialism, racism, slavery, etc. It forces you to examine the darkness that lurks underneath the gilded surface of a "revolutionized" Paris.
Overall, a book I'd highly recommend at my library. I'm only sorry that the rest of the series isn't published, because I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
His crew includes Tristan (his younger brother, a skilled forger, much sought after for his landscape designs), Laila (true to her alter ego L'Engime, quite mysterious, but a master at uncovering secrets, and baker extraordinaire), Zofia (socially awkward, quite literal, and a brilliant forger and scientist), Enrique (historian, researcher, biracial, bisexual, and attempting to subvert Spanish colonialism in his native Philippines), and finally Hypnos, (added member of the group, something of a friend/rival from Severin's previous life, and current head of House Nyx).
I was quite entranced with this book. I read it in one day, and hated every time I had to set it down. I raced through the book, eager to find out what happened at the end of the heist. The Gilded Wolves had everything I love in it - a rich, thoroughly detailed world (and one based in a historical setting? Even better), memorable characters, and a compelling story line and plot. I love complicated heist stories, complete with dangerous endeavors, puzzles, and intrigue. As others have noted, parts of the story reminded me of Six of Crows, from the detailed planning and plotting, to the heist elements of the book, and the quirky crews, but The Gilded Wolves is less violent on the surface. It if often more brutal overall, since it is based on historical events - colonialism, racism, slavery, etc. It forces you to examine the darkness that lurks underneath the gilded surface of a "revolutionized" Paris.
Overall, a book I'd highly recommend at my library. I'm only sorry that the rest of the series isn't published, because I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.