AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
From New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi comes The Gilded Wolves, a novel set in Paris during a time of extraordinary change—one that is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous desires...
No one believes in them. But soon no one will forget them.
It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.
Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history—but only if they can stay alive.

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


Aaaaaalright, so before picking up this book I had no idea that was exactly something I needed in my life and now I’m left with a question of how I’m going to survive wait of yet ANOTHER sequel that is nowhere near finished. I decided to give this book a shot since I saw a lot of amazing reviews and recommendations, and it is SO WORTH IT. Reading it made me so genuinely happy and I was basically gliding through the chapters by the time I finished.

The pure adoration for The Gilded Wolves hit me as the book was coming to an end. The book was really good, but it takes its time to get there. For the first 30% or so I felt mostly indifferent towards plot and most of the characters – there just wasn’t anything special going on and characters were only starting to develop. The plot takes time to unfold and action to kick in, but when it does, it becomes a wild flipping pages and reading faster than I thought I ever could.

It takes place in the 19th century in Paris, during the Exposition Universelle. Among the grand balls, operas and shows combined with an extensive and detailed history of Paris, there is a world hidden from the public – magic, powers of Forging and a secret organization called The Order. The Order is in charge of protecting The Babel’s Fragment from the public’s attention, or rather, protecting the public from its immense and destructive power. Séverin is the rightful heir to the House Vanth – one of the four Houses leading the order, but his claim to the lineage has been denied ten years ago and he’s been trying a way to annul the results of the faked test ever since. The other three Houses are called Kore, Nyx and The Fallen House – the one that was destroyed after trying to unite all Rings and Fragment in order to bring down entire civilization of the time.

After stealing his valuable Chinese compass, Séverin gets an offer, or more a threat from House Nyx’s heir Hypnos. He is to take his team and acquire the Eye of Horus, an object that is rumored to have the power of locating the Fragment itself. Only that way will he be able to keep his friends safe and, maybe, getting back what is rightfully his.

As soon as I’ve gotten into the spirit of it, I was instantly pulled into a swirl of action, plot twists and amazing world building Chokshi so carefully laid out for us. There was just so many surprises and those plot twists and carefully planned course of events got me in a state of eternal euphoria.

This book is intertwined with elements from several different mythologies and histories of several different religions, conceptualized kind of like DaVinci’s Code. I felt a bit overwhelmed from time to time by that mix of facts from a lot of different sources, but all in all, it was an amazing combination of schemes, puzzles, mathematics, history and “acquisitions”. I’m in love, I think I might take up a job of digging out hieroglyphs.

The most beautiful, amazing part of this were characters – I had to instantly add more room in my heart for new fictional crushes. All of them were so thoroughly developed, their interactions and backstories connected creating tension and conflict, but also so much love and understanding. I can’t ever get enough of squad-family goals. I’m melting inside.

Laila- THE absolute queen of everything. Laila is an Indian girl who came to Paris with a group of dancers, in pursuit of an ancient book that has answers about her past. Also known as L’Engime, one of the Paris’s most popular dancers, she is desired by literally half of the city’s population but that fucking doesn’t matter because she has eyes only for our homeboy Séverin. She is so a strong badass and powerful, not to mention hot as hell – I mean she is literally *spoiler* sewn together in a foreign body and has a kickass mysterious power.
Séverin – He is the ultimate dad of L’Eden squad. I just loved reading about his past, obsession with recovering his family line and so-called “acquisitions” (let’s be honest he’s just thieving around hahaha). *spoiler for ending* I so needed that ending – I’m sorry for Tristan, but his death shaped Severin’s character and further development, and TENSION between him and Laila and I’m doneee

Zofia – none of the other characters made such a huge impression on me as Laila and Séverin, but crazy scientist with past chasing her isn’t far behind

Hypnos – little “you can’t sit with us” cinnamon roll, is lucky Séverin adopted him

Tristan and Enrique kind of annoyed me half of the book, the other half I just didn’t acknowledge them, idk I just didn’t see anything in them…




After THAT ending (which contained like 4 cliffhangers and brought me to tears!) I don’t know how do I move on ;(