aseel_reads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm so disappointed in this book, I loved the first one, during the first read, and I still liked it during the second reread but this one made no sense. It got interested in the last 60 pages but even then, the last few chapters were meh. I don't like the arc of severin, it barely made any logical sense, and I just really didn't see the world unfolding like it did. It was also quite confusing at times, the sentences/action sequences didn't always follow each other. Only person I truly love is zofia
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, and Xenophobia
ddnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
What the actual fuxk I'm obsessed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and Grief
moonlightreads007's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I definitely needed some time to digest this one after that ending - oh god, that ending... 😭😭😭
Overall, I found this book to be much more action-packed compared with the previous one in the series - in the first book, the author was clearly providing background information and setting the stage for the events that would folllow. The beginning of this second book in the series was very engaging, and I found that the author was able to maintain suspense throughout. I love how the characters grow closer to one another, and their character development is readily observable (with the exception of Sévérin - I really didn't like his behaviour in this book tbh). The middle and ending parts were full of adventure, investigations, action and peril. The descriptions are exceptionally intricate and detailed; the story progression and plot are very well developed and organized. Be warned, the ending gets really dark (no spoilers this time though, I promise). Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who liked "The Gilded Wolves" and other similar books with themes of adventure, danger, friendships and mystery.
Overall, I found this book to be much more action-packed compared with the previous one in the series - in the first book, the author was clearly providing background information and setting the stage for the events that would folllow. The beginning of this second book in the series was very engaging, and I found that the author was able to maintain suspense throughout. I love how the characters grow closer to one another, and their character development is readily observable (with the exception of Sévérin - I really didn't like his behaviour in this book tbh). The middle and ending parts were full of adventure, investigations, action and peril. The descriptions are exceptionally intricate and detailed; the story progression and plot are very well developed and organized. Be warned, the ending gets really dark (no spoilers this time though, I promise). Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who liked "The Gilded Wolves" and other similar books with themes of adventure, danger, friendships and mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Antisemitism and Racism
Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage
freya_alex123's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Antisemitism, Grief, and Colonisation
Moderate: Car accident, Misogyny, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Drug use, and Xenophobia
hobbithopeful's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Mystery! Suspense! Watching one of my favorite characters spiral into obsession and alienate everyone around him for the greater good! (My poor Severin) The Silvered Serpent is the second book in the Gilded Wolves trilogy. The dynamic is so different from the last book, everyone is feeling the loss of This definitely had a more serious tone, the stakes are higher and cracks are widening between everyone. There were still lots of fun puzzles, history moments, and brilliant imagery. My worry that the group survives till the end increased with every page. I can't wait to read the next book, the ending had like: WHYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Spoiler
Tristan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Moderate: Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
jessicaludden's review
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I wish my love had been more beautiful.”
I continue to love this world, these characters, and Roshani’s writing. I loved getting to dive deeper into the magic and the backstories of these characters. Zofia really shined in this book. I love her so much and loved getting to see her build her confidence. I loved how intricate the heist/mystery of this book was. There were so many elaborate pieces that went into their search for The Divine Lyrics.
I do think it was a little slow at times and then suddenly picked up near the end, but I think it overall had a great build up even though it lagged a little bit in the middle. Now, I love these characters a lot, but man did some of them get on my nerves. Some of them being Séverin. I get it, he’s grieving and desperate to protect his loved ones, but jeez he was being so cold the whole book and hurting everyone (mostly Laila) in the process. I also expected so much more tension between Séverin and Laila and was left a little unsatisfied when that “tension” came to a breaking point. I did love getting more of Laila’s back story and learning more about her powers.
What I loved the most about this book was the overarching theme of powerlessness. It’s prevalent with every. single. character. Séverin’s desire to become a god to protect his loved ones, the expiration date on Laila’s life and the fact that she’s Forged, Zofia feeling like a burden for seeing the world differently than others, Enrique feeling like nobody sees him, and Hypnos feeling like an outsider within this group. I loved how feeling powerless motivated each character. It was also interesting to see each character’s perspective on love. This idea that love doesn’t always look the way you think it will. Overall, I love this series, I love these characters, and I loved the core ideas of this book in particular.
I continue to love this world, these characters, and Roshani’s writing. I loved getting to dive deeper into the magic and the backstories of these characters. Zofia really shined in this book. I love her so much and loved getting to see her build her confidence. I loved how intricate the heist/mystery of this book was. There were so many elaborate pieces that went into their search for The Divine Lyrics.
I do think it was a little slow at times and then suddenly picked up near the end, but I think it overall had a great build up even though it lagged a little bit in the middle. Now, I love these characters a lot, but man did some of them get on my nerves. Some of them being Séverin. I get it, he’s grieving and desperate to protect his loved ones, but jeez he was being so cold the whole book and hurting everyone (mostly Laila) in the process. I also expected so much more tension between Séverin and Laila and was left a little unsatisfied when that “tension” came to a breaking point. I did love getting more of Laila’s back story and learning more about her powers.
What I loved the most about this book was the overarching theme of powerlessness. It’s prevalent with every. single. character. Séverin’s desire to become a god to protect his loved ones, the expiration date on Laila’s life and the fact that she’s Forged, Zofia feeling like a burden for seeing the world differently than others, Enrique feeling like nobody sees him, and Hypnos feeling like an outsider within this group. I loved how feeling powerless motivated each character. It was also interesting to see each character’s perspective on love. This idea that love doesn’t always look the way you think it will. Overall, I love this series, I love these characters, and I loved the core ideas of this book in particular.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Child death, Blood, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Child abuse
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Religious bigotry, Murder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Hate crime, Grief, Death, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Colonisation, Body horror, Antisemitism, Blood, Gore, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Genocide, and Sexual content
erin_mh362's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I love this series so much. The plot, the characters, just everything about it is so good.
I will say that this one was made me a little annoyed at times, because some of the characters were being insanely annoying (cough Séverin and Hypnos cough); I understand why they were acting the way they did but I still wanted to throw the book a few times.
Other than the annoying characters I really enjoyed this one, it was very twisty and fun when people weren’t dying/ having brushes with death
I don’t currently have the next book but I need it right now because that was one heck of a cliffhanger
I will say that this one was made me a little annoyed at times, because some of the characters were being insanely annoying (cough Séverin and Hypnos cough); I understand why they were acting the way they did but I still wanted to throw the book a few times.
Other than the annoying characters I really enjoyed this one, it was very twisty and fun when people weren’t dying/ having brushes with death
I don’t currently have the next book but I need it right now because that was one heck of a cliffhanger
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death and Antisemitism
Minor: Infertility
blueberry0531's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Antisemitism
thebakerbookworm's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"I wish my love was more beautiful."
This quote may not make sense out of context but it really got me at the end of this book... *cries*
This was a decent second book in this trilogy. It had a few slow parts but overall had me engaged and wanting to see what happens. I will say some of the plot still confused me and the world building didn't quite do what I'd hoped in this sequel, but I found myself forgiving all of that because these characters are just so good.
So yeah, I love the characters. We get four POVs again, each perfect. Each grieving in their own way. Each keeping secrets. Each showing their love for each other in different ways. I just want them all to be happy by the end of this trilogy, they deserve it!
Though I guessed the big *twist* at the end of this book, the ending was still a ride and had me reaching for book three immediately. (Thank you to my past self for getting the library book ahead of time!) Can't wait to see where it goes!
This quote may not make sense out of context but it really got me at the end of this book... *cries*
This was a decent second book in this trilogy. It had a few slow parts but overall had me engaged and wanting to see what happens. I will say some of the plot still confused me and the world building didn't quite do what I'd hoped in this sequel, but I found myself forgiving all of that because these characters are just so good.
So yeah, I love the characters. We get four POVs again, each perfect. Each grieving in their own way. Each keeping secrets. Each showing their love for each other in different ways. I just want them all to be happy by the end of this trilogy, they deserve it!
Though I guessed the big *twist* at the end of this book, the ending was still a ride and had me reaching for book three immediately. (Thank you to my past self for getting the library book ahead of time!) Can't wait to see where it goes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Antisemitism, and Death