Date of Completion: 16/07/2020
What a fun read! Roshani Chokshi masterfully weaves a gilded web of heists, puzzles, and politics; all of which is set in a thin layer of true 1889 Paris history.
Given that there are five main characters, I think Roshani does a great job of slowly introducing them. Her use of multiple points of view also really helps to define each character as they have their own unique traits, personality, and backstory. As readers, we also get to see the strengths and insecurities of each character and this makes them very real. Their joy is elating and their pain cuts deep because we can understand where it comes from.
Scars sculpted people into who they were. They were scuffs left by sorrow’s fists, and to him, at least, proof of being thoroughly human.
The diversity of this band of merry thieves is definitely worth celebrating! Séverin, our main lead, is half French and half Algerian. Laila is Indian, Hypnos is French/Haitian, Zofia is Polish and Enrique is Filipino/Spanish.
In spite of their differences, the deep love and respect these characters have for each other is very heart-warming. However, they also do regular and relatable things like bickering and teasing one another. These moments made the dialogues very entertaining and I found myself smiling or laughing out loud as I read.
Tristan, my love,” said Laila with dangerous calm. “If you get in the way of a woman’s battle, you’ll get in the way of her sword.
In parallel with the characters, the world-building in this book is absolutely mind-blowing. So many novel concepts like ‘forging’ and the ‘Order of Babel’ are introduced. In addition, there are so many cool gadgets and abilities in the story. Personally, my favourite concept is the floating champagne and food that glides down to a lifted hand – I need this now!
Whilst this complex world-building does mean that there is a lot of information to take in, Roshani does a great job of breaking down the information into bite-sized chunks. I remember feeling utterly confused initially but the full picture is gradually revealed with each chapter.
I also love the ease at which sensitive topics such as race and colonialism are discussed in this book. Roshani did not shy away from mentioning the “Negro village” in Paris at that time, but she also calls it out for what it was – a horrible atrocity.
Now, cue the spy music – let’s talk about the heists!
These scenes were very thrilling to read and well fleshed out. Roshani skilfully plays readers by dropping some unexpected twists or hinting at oncoming danger right before ending the chapter and switching to another scene. This left me eager to find out how the situation turned out and made it hard to put this book down. Even at the end, she drops one final twist which makes me eager to see how the story unfolds in the next book.
For all the romance addicts reading this review, you will be happy to know that there is some romance in this book. However, unlike most YA fantasy series, the romance is kept on the low for most of the book. I found this to be very refreshing as it shows that the core storyline is strong enough to thrive without unnecessary romantic angst and misunderstandings. In fact, things don’t really pick up until the end when it seems like Roshani finally decides to get on the romance bus in time for the next book.
Her mother’s voice rang in her ears: ‘Don’t capture their hearts. Steal their imagination. It’s far more useful.
Sadly, I do have one main issue with this book – I did not find the “problem-solving” parts particularly interesting. These scenes typically involve the characters simply talking in a hotel room where a coincidental word or action leads to a breakthrough. Instead, I wish the characters performed more ‘field work’ to discover/earn important clues. Thankfully, the constant banter between characters was enough to get me through these scenes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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[…] constant twists, betrayals and action once it got going. Those who enjoyed this should check out The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi for another action-packed story with heists and a diverse […]
[…] heist stories I have read. It is action-packed with a fascinating world and exceptional characters. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi is another fantasy heist story, perfect for those who love this […]