sarag19's review against another edition
5.0
First, can we talk about that cover? The cover was what initially drew me to picking up The Last Magician in the library and this cover blows the other one away. The snakes coming apart, the flowers in the flames.
Harte and Esta have escaped the brink and are on the hunt for the stones Harte sent out. The book switches between what is happening in St. Louis and the chaos in New York now that power vacuum has been created with the death of Dolph in the previous book. It continues to follow Viola and Jianyu in New York as they work to find their place and keep themselves alive. Viola and Jianyu present a very interesting perspective on what the world was like for a young woman and a man from China in a world that does not like them. Lisa Maxwell does a great job with many of her characters in building a world that expands much further than just a magical struggle. The Mageus struggle is the primary driving point of the plot but the way the world treats them weighs heavy on their actions. There is a scene with Esta that truly illustrates this point, the downtrodden hating on their fellow downtrodden just because they look different or are recent migrants to the country. To ignore this would have done a great disservices to the overall plot.
There are a lot of characters in this story, not just secondary characters but those that are given chapters from their own points of view. These characters are both in New York and St. Louis. Normally, the more characters you add the more muddled the world seems to get. I never felt this way with The Devil's Thief. The characters are constantly interacting with each other so no one feels like they just show up only to disappear a few chapters later. I loved all the new characters, even when you may find yourself disagreeing with their approach Lisa Maxwell makes them feel real. You understand why they do what they do, how they may have come to have the viewpoint they do. Such as I may find myself disagreeing with Ruth and her approach but I still like her as a characters.
One of my biggest complains (but hey, this is pretty normal for me) is characters just not able to have a conversation. Esta and Harte could have solved so many of their problems if they could just sit down and talk.
Overall, I loved this book almost as much as I loved The Last Magician. The world is big but never feels overwhelming, the characters are vast but don't feel like someone gets lost in the amount. The ending is just enough of a "Oooh!" moment that I anxiously await the next book.
Harte and Esta have escaped the brink and are on the hunt for the stones Harte sent out. The book switches between what is happening in St. Louis and the chaos in New York now that power vacuum has been created with the death of Dolph in the previous book. It continues to follow Viola and Jianyu in New York as they work to find their place and keep themselves alive. Viola and Jianyu present a very interesting perspective on what the world was like for a young woman and a man from China in a world that does not like them. Lisa Maxwell does a great job with many of her characters in building a world that expands much further than just a magical struggle. The Mageus struggle is the primary driving point of the plot but the way the world treats them weighs heavy on their actions. There is a scene with Esta that truly illustrates this point, the downtrodden hating on their fellow downtrodden just because they look different or are recent migrants to the country. To ignore this would have done a great disservices to the overall plot.
There are a lot of characters in this story, not just secondary characters but those that are given chapters from their own points of view. These characters are both in New York and St. Louis. Normally, the more characters you add the more muddled the world seems to get. I never felt this way with The Devil's Thief. The characters are constantly interacting with each other so no one feels like they just show up only to disappear a few chapters later. I loved all the new characters, even when you may find yourself disagreeing with their approach Lisa Maxwell makes them feel real. You understand why they do what they do, how they may have come to have the viewpoint they do. Such as I may find myself disagreeing with Ruth and her approach but I still like her as a characters.
One of my biggest complains (but hey, this is pretty normal for me) is characters just not able to have a conversation. Esta and Harte could have solved so many of their problems if they could just sit down and talk.
Spoiler
Harte is struggling with Seshat, who I can't wait to learn more about, and her obsession with Esta. The closer they get, the harder Seshat fights for control and I just wished the two could have sat down and had an honest conversation about a very powerful entity that was probably going to destroy both of them. Yes, there is something big going on around them with the Antistasi but Seshat is going to destroy everything if she gets free, that seems pretty big in the grand scheme of things.Overall, I loved this book almost as much as I loved The Last Magician. The world is big but never feels overwhelming, the characters are vast but don't feel like someone gets lost in the amount. The ending is just enough of a "Oooh!" moment that I anxiously await the next book.
mapmurph's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Can't wait to read the conclusion and see how it all ends.
My only complaint is that all of these pages were dedicated only to one artifact. I'm hoping the third book won't feel too rushed.
My only complaint is that all of these pages were dedicated only to one artifact. I'm hoping the third book won't feel too rushed.
sri_savita's review against another edition
5.0
Maxwell says a lot can change in two years, and believe me, I know that's the truth.
Look, I'm going to be honest here, this is definitely a PATIENT read; the audiobook is 22 hrs after all. But it is well-worth it, and thoroughly researched, so seeing all the plot lines slowly converge was rewarding for me. I felt like I LIVED in this world for the days I spent reading both books.
Again, I recommend listening to this because there's at least 5 major plot lines and several other sub-plots that weave a story between 1902 and 1904. No complaints here though, I loved it all!
Maxwell's author's note at the end had me nodding through the whole thing in agreement. You can tell she put a lot of work into creating a rich fantasy world that depicts the plights of immigrants and the working class so thoroughly, and in a way that is remarkably realistic - and not a caricature.
For me, this is what I wanted The Gilded Wolves to achieve, but unfortunately, the characters didn't feel as real for me because I don't think Chokshi dove as deep and got as gritty with the social issues and backstories as she could have in my opinion - but everyone's taste is different, and I'm not trying to draw comparisons between different books, just stating this as a point of reference for folks who read that book and may want to read something in a similar vein.
Maxwell's characters are much more diverse and representative of a wider range of identities, and I think her world is believable because the magic system is so seamlessly woven into the background; it's effortless, and natural. Every character's unique affinity is fascinating and makes perfect sense for who they are as a character; you can see how naturally it is a part of them and their backstories.
I love love love that we got more of Jianyu and Viola in this book; I'm happy they get to share the center stage (yes I'm making a theater reference because of the story world haha) they are two of my most favorite characters.
And of course, there's plenty of Esta and Harte again, who I'm happy to report I still love - because usually I'm worn out on the protagonists by this point in a series if recent reads are any indication lol.
I did not really care for Ruby and Theo - they seemed more 2D to me. Ruby reminded me of the protagonist in Dangerous Alliance and I'm just over that precocious plucky debutante energy.
One of the most powerful storylines for me was Maxwell's discussion on extremists and zealots, two sides of the same coin in the fight for magic - every character must decide where they stand, do they want to control magic, or free it, or thrust it upon everyone. And what of the individual's choice in the matter? Should all people be without magic, or with it?
So many questions. I'm interested to see where the third installment goes.
Now I just need to decide if I want to buy the first two books now, or wait until I can get my hands on the whole trilogy/series at once...
Look, I'm going to be honest here, this is definitely a PATIENT read; the audiobook is 22 hrs after all. But it is well-worth it, and thoroughly researched, so seeing all the plot lines slowly converge was rewarding for me. I felt like I LIVED in this world for the days I spent reading both books.
Again, I recommend listening to this because there's at least 5 major plot lines and several other sub-plots that weave a story between 1902 and 1904. No complaints here though, I loved it all!
Maxwell's author's note at the end had me nodding through the whole thing in agreement. You can tell she put a lot of work into creating a rich fantasy world that depicts the plights of immigrants and the working class so thoroughly, and in a way that is remarkably realistic - and not a caricature.
For me, this is what I wanted The Gilded Wolves to achieve, but unfortunately, the characters didn't feel as real for me because I don't think Chokshi dove as deep and got as gritty with the social issues and backstories as she could have in my opinion - but everyone's taste is different, and I'm not trying to draw comparisons between different books, just stating this as a point of reference for folks who read that book and may want to read something in a similar vein.
Maxwell's characters are much more diverse and representative of a wider range of identities, and I think her world is believable because the magic system is so seamlessly woven into the background; it's effortless, and natural. Every character's unique affinity is fascinating and makes perfect sense for who they are as a character; you can see how naturally it is a part of them and their backstories.
I love love love that we got more of Jianyu and Viola in this book; I'm happy they get to share the center stage (yes I'm making a theater reference because of the story world haha) they are two of my most favorite characters.
And of course, there's plenty of Esta and Harte again, who I'm happy to report I still love - because usually I'm worn out on the protagonists by this point in a series if recent reads are any indication lol.
I did not really care for Ruby and Theo - they seemed more 2D to me. Ruby reminded me of the protagonist in Dangerous Alliance and I'm just over that precocious plucky debutante energy.
Spoiler
Of course she's also a reporter in this book. Eyeroll. Since Maxwell is precise in her crafting of characters, I have to believe this was a deliberate choice to make Ruby very naive, and perhaps she'll improve in the next book.One of the most powerful storylines for me was Maxwell's discussion on extremists and zealots, two sides of the same coin in the fight for magic - every character must decide where they stand, do they want to control magic, or free it, or thrust it upon everyone. And what of the individual's choice in the matter? Should all people be without magic, or with it?
So many questions. I'm interested to see where the third installment goes.
Spoiler
I wasn't quite sure whether to give this 4.75 stars only because I don't really know if I'll like the whole demigod direction of the series now, but we shall see. It just seemed kinda gimmicky to me because it was addressed in such a rush at the end. Perhaps it'll seem more natural in the next book.Now I just need to decide if I want to buy the first two books now, or wait until I can get my hands on the whole trilogy/series at once...
juliterario's review against another edition
4.0
¡Y FINALMENTE CONSEGUÍ LEER THE DEVIL'S THIEF, la secuela de El Último Mago de Lisa Maxwell! No lo había leído antes porque quería comprarlo en físico ya que MI NOMBRE ESTÁ EN LOS AGRADECIMIENTOS de algunos ejemplares, pero no pude resistirme, así que lo leí en ebook. The Devil's Thief es de mis novelas más esperadas del año, y no me ha decepcionado para nada.
Todavía no me decido entre el primer libro o el segundo, pero creo que El Último Mago me gustó más debido a cuál es la trama y el conflicto allí en comparación a en The Devil's Thief. Y tampoco puedo decidirme entre cuántas estrellas darle a esta lectura, si 4 o 5. ¡NO SÉ! ¡Es mucho que procesar! La he pasado de maravilla en este libro y no tengo nada que reprocharle. En serio que no se me ocurre nada que comentar salvo que en momentos me sentí abrumada por los muchos personajes que hay. Son bastantes... Y no sé si Maxwell supo controlarlos o hacer uso de todos ellos ya que tal vez algunos están de más y otros no se desarrollaron lo suficiente. No sé, hubieron algunos momentos lentos, pero nada de lo que diga en realidad tuvo un gran peso.
The Devil's Thief es una secuela increíble, llena de acción y que sin duda te deja con ganas de más. No sé qué más decirles para que lean estos libros tan asombrosos. ¡ESTA HISTORIA ES BUENÍSIMA! Viajes en el tiempo, una ladrona, un mago... Ay, sigo pensando que hay tanto que amé en el primer libro que no tuve en esta novela, pero aún así me encantó The Devil's Thief. ¡NO TENGO PALABRAS! ¡QUÉ PEDAZO DE LIBRO! Sólo puedo resumir las cosas en: LEAN ESTA TRILOGÍA. Lisa Maxwell sabe lo que hace y ha creado una historia asombrosa y afsdyghjiyok tiene todo lo que quiero leer.
annestef1a's review against another edition
4.0
Listening to the Audiobook saved me from this book.
It's very hard to commit to this not just because it's lengthy, but also because of the multiple switching povs.
Surprisingly, that doesn't make it any less worthy to read. (Especially when it's Cela/Jianyu's POV, they're my new fave)
I wish for a miracle that the 3rd book will be released this 2020. if not, may the excitement and memories I have for this book stay with me, cuz I usually don't after a year.
Note: also I love how some Hamilton songs were subtly added as chapter titles...
It's very hard to commit to this not just because it's lengthy, but also because of the multiple switching povs.
Surprisingly, that doesn't make it any less worthy to read. (Especially when it's Cela/Jianyu's POV, they're my new fave)
I wish for a miracle that the 3rd book will be released this 2020. if not, may the excitement and memories I have for this book stay with me, cuz I usually don't after a year.
Note: also I love how some Hamilton songs were subtly added as chapter titles...
karla_readss's review against another edition
5.0
OH. MY. GOD. WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? 
I loved a lot of things about this book, especially the relationship development between Esta and Harte, as well as their own character development, like on the first book, both of them had trust issues and even in the writing they both denied it, but in this book-- wow, the tension that I felt-- and Harte feeling jealous everytime someone looked at Esta, it was EVERYTHING; and that scene on the hotel-- MY ASTHMA INHALER WAS THIS )( CLOSE TO GET USED.
Can we also talk about Viola's and Jianyu's POVS? My babies shined on this book, and both of them deserved better. Viola and Ruby had the best chemistry ever and Theo was the actual cutest, my queer heart was floating all over the place, and Cela? SHE WAS AMAZING! I loved her so much and her personality was *chef's kiss*, what got me a lil bit confused was Abel's dissapereance, like ???, he was gone and then he was not I mean... it was weird and also kind of upsetting after everything Cela had to go through.
What people may find confusing it's the amount of POVs that we had, they were twice the amount of the first book and I had to go back a couple of times to remember where the story was left, but it's totally worth it, I promise.
This is an appreciation paragraph to Julian and Harte's friendship because the way that he sticked to all of their plans is worth mentioning.
I need to vent about the ending because I was SO CONFUSED, the only thing that I'm praying to Sankta Alina is that Viola and Jianyu are alive and safe and that Esta doesn't kill Harte after he left god knows where without telling her. But in general, it was GREAT and I can't wait to The Serpent's Curse paperbacks to get released so I can buy it.
I loved a lot of things about this book, especially the relationship development between Esta and Harte, as well as their own character development, like on the first book, both of them had trust issues and even in the writing they both denied it, but in this book-- wow, the tension that I felt-- and Harte feeling jealous everytime someone looked at Esta, it was EVERYTHING; and that scene on the hotel-- MY ASTHMA INHALER WAS THIS )( CLOSE TO GET USED.
Can we also talk about Viola's and Jianyu's POVS? My babies shined on this book, and both of them deserved better. Viola and Ruby had the best chemistry ever and Theo was the actual cutest, my queer heart was floating all over the place, and Cela? SHE WAS AMAZING! I loved her so much and her personality was *chef's kiss*, what got me a lil bit confused was Abel's dissapereance, like ???, he was gone and then he was not I mean... it was weird and also kind of upsetting after everything Cela had to go through.
What people may find confusing it's the amount of POVs that we had, they were twice the amount of the first book and I had to go back a couple of times to remember where the story was left, but it's totally worth it, I promise.
This is an appreciation paragraph to Julian and Harte's friendship because the way that he sticked to all of their plans is worth mentioning.
I need to vent about the ending because I was SO CONFUSED, the only thing that I'm praying to Sankta Alina is that Viola and Jianyu are alive and safe and that Esta doesn't kill Harte after he left god knows where without telling her. But in general, it was GREAT and I can't wait to The Serpent's Curse paperbacks to get released so I can buy it.
prajakta_16's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cailynem_k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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