“When you are who they expect you to be, they never look too closely. If you’re furious, let it be fuel.”

                   Photo Credit: @stephaniebookish

I would like to preface this review by telling you I had been in a reading slump for the last three months, if not a bit longer. I basically tried to black it out of my mind. Suffice it to say, the moment I picked up The Gilded Wolves I was wholly immersed and happily so.

The Gilded Wolves is a multi-perspective book, following four different characters, set in 1889 Paris, France. It is delicious and dark and chock-full of historical and political intrigue. Though, I will admit the beginning of the book is complex and at times convoluted (meaning I found myself rereading passages in order to fully understand the magic system) I don’t feel it is completely off-putting or pulls you out of the story if anything it made the book richer.

In my opinion, I felt the best thing Chokshi did with this book is made subtle, but important commentary on Imperialism, racism/bigotry, and assimilation. Each of the four characters we follow throughout the story are all dealing with deeply rooted ideas about themselves and the world around them based on the color of their skin or the beliefs they hold. And honestly, this made them so much more real and relatable to me than most books I have read in the YA and Fantasy world. Plus, the banter between this unlikely group of friends is hilarious. I think you could find a piece of yourself in one, if not multiple characters.

Overall, I gave The Gilded Wolves a 4.5/5 and I highly recommend it for those who loved the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, or readers who enjoy magic systems with a dab of historical fiction.

–Stephanie, Teen LTA