The Bronzed Beasts

The Gilded Wolves #3

by Roshani Chokshi

In love they breathed. In destiny they believed. In the end, will divinity be their demise?

After Séverin's seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy to locate Séverin.

Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass.

With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself... but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

Returning to the dark and glamorous 19th century world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with the final riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, LGBT

385 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Roshani Chokshi is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling series The Star-Touched Queen, The Gilded Wolves and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which Time Magazine named one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Her adult debut, The Last Tale of The Flower Bride, was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and often draw upon world mythology and folklore. Chokshi is a member of the National Leadership Board for the Michael C. Carlos Museum and lives in Georgia with her husband and their cat whose diabolical plans must regularly be thwarted.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

↠ 5 stars

What began in the streets of Paris concludes in a blazing glory over the winding canals of Venice. Still reeling after the betrayal of Séverin, the crew is irrevocably severed. Following a mere handful of clues, they manage to make their way to Venice, Italy, in an effort to track down Séverin and the Divine Lyre. Allied with Ruslan, the patriarch of the fallen house, Séverin plays a balancing act. He must manage unstable tempers while searching for the entrance to the temple beneath Plague Island, the one place where the Divine Lyre can be played and he can achieve godhood. With less than ten days until Laila succumbs, the gang will do whatever it takes, undergo any ordeal, in order to save her from her fate. Divinity may divide them, but in this glorious finale to The Gilded Wolves Trilogy, the crew will have to set aside their convictions in order to reach the steps of the golden temple and tempt the gates of godhood. Even if the powers within may enact a price that they are not at all prepared to pay.

The Bronzed Beasts is honestly one of the most satisfying heart-wrenchingly beautiful endings to a trilogy I have read in my entire life. It made me laugh, cry, rage, seethe, and agonize, only to redeem itself and do it all over again. Trademark to Roshani Chokshi's writing style, the opulent atmosphere and lush language flourishes in this third installment. Made even stronger by the setting of Venice, Italy, with lively masquerades and gondola rides. Tensions are undoubtedly high after the events that concluded The Silvered Serpents, and I adored reading about the fallout from Séverin's betrayal and how it affected everyone. It made for an intense emotional conflict between all of the characters, with trust needing to be re-established, but with little time to do so. Laila and Séverin have always been utter perfection and the added angst because of this only heightened that. Besides our main couple, there were so many little relational developments happening on top of the central conflict. Certain ones that I'm sure will make many readers very happy (vis a vis who ended up with who). Characteristic to the entire series, the plot dealt heavily on intricate puzzles, building upon those from the previous two books and tying in mind forging in an entirely new way. The added mystery shrouding the Divine Lyre and Laila's fate assembled with this to form quite the intense conclusion. One that I'm not sure I'll ever recover from. How Roshani Chokshi was able to embody National Treasure energy, with found family and an ending that ripped my heart out in this, is beyond me. Regardless, this series will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to returning to it time and time again. For the time being, you can find me in the corner crying over that epilogue. Add this to the list of books whose authors I'll be billing for emotional distress.

Trigger Warnings: blood, death, murder

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

im feeling a bit conflicted at the moment. i am so obsessed with this series, so maybe my expectations for this conclusion were too high? this could be the cause of the nagging feelings of disappointment that im currently having…

i just couldnt help thinking two thoughts whilst reading this:

1. this is all the same stuff that happened in the previous book, just a different location, and

2. i read this entire series for THAT ending!?! what the heck?!

i just felt unimpressed with the content. yes, theres mystery and adventure as the group continues to try to save laila. but its just more of the same. i wanted something new, something i hadnt read in the previous two books. and the ending is just so… uneventful? there was one attempt at a twist, that wasnt really a twist or shock. and everything happens so gently, that i was wondering what the previous installments were even building up towards. i dunno. like i said, maybe my expectations were too high and i was expecting too much from this.

i think i will just have to sit on this and see if im willing to round up after my feelings settle down, because i do feel sad giving this such an average rating. the characters are really quite remarkable and i have such fond feelings for this series as a whole, i dont want it to end with anything less than that. :/

↠ 3.5 stars

[Bhavya · Rating 2 out of 5]

“We can never escape ourselves, my boy. We are our own end and beginning, at the mercy of a past which cannot help but repeat itself. Which is why— we must take what we can before the world has its way with us.”

~ Rating- 2 stars ~

Content/ Trigger Warnings- Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Discussions on Colonialism, Grief, Murder, Racism, Self-harm, Suicide

Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.

-No mention of these in the review-

This review is spoiler free. My plot summary has mild spoilers for The Gilded Wolves and The Silvered Serpents. I also hit the character limit, so forgive me if the formatting is off.

The Bronzed Beasts, by Roshani Chokshi is the third and last book in The Gilded Wolves Trilogy. This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021, and sadly I was disappointed. While The Bronzed Beasts wasn't exactly bad, it wasn’t incredible either and my heart breaks to say this. I never thought the day would come where I would give a Chokshi book a low rating, but here we are. I started off by giving this book 4 stars, then I dropped it to 3.5, then 3 and now I will settle on 2, because a 2 star book for me means ‘Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed’ and this book fits exactly that. I will admit, after the masterpiece that was The Silvered Serpents, my expectations for this were very high, but despite that I hadn’t expected such a dissatisfying read.

“There was power in knowing not just how to move through the world, but how to make the world move around you.”

The crew is fractured after Séverin's seeming betrayal, and Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the waterways of Venice, Italy to locate Séverin with only a handful of hints.

“I will make us all gods,” Séverin vowed.

Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played. With only ten days until Laila’s death, the crew will face deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself...but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

“In your hands lies the gate of godhood—let none pass.”

The plot of The Bronzed Beasts… wasn’t the best. While it was undoubtedly interesting, nothing really happened. Sure, the characters went to places, solved puzzles, did things, but that’s all. It isn’t something we haven’t already seen in the other books of this series. I had hoped for more.

“Nothing is new, child,” said Lucien. “Everything repeats. The sooner you know that, the happier you’ll be.”

There aren’t any major ‘plot twists’ in The Bronzed Beasts. The only one even remotely close to a ‘plot twist’ was entirely predictable. The ending was not foreshadowed at all, it came out of nowhere, and it's frankly one of the worst endings I have read. I do not want to spoil anything, but I got the impression that the ending wasn’t thought of when the series began, or maybe this ending was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Either way, it wasn’t a great conclusion at all, and had too many loose ends.

“We are all machines, and you are no different. We have parts that break and need fixing, and they perform different functions and have different utilities. We will find that break and fix it.”

Another one of my complaints with the plot was the lack of a ‘villain’ or an antagonist. I understand it's not always necessary in a book, especially if the characters are all morally-grey, but this book desperately needed someone on the ‘evil side’. The stakes are also just not high enough. One of the characters, Laila, is literally in a life-death situation, yet I never felt the fear and desperation that the other characters were facing. Quite a lot of it seemed to be told to us, but we don’t really experience it all. The lack of conflict is one more issue. The plot was so straightforward and to the point, which is not always a bad thing, but it falls flat compared to The Gilded Wolves and The Silvered Serpents. Yes, the plot was always one of the weaker elements of this series, but the other books always had something going on. That doesn't happen here. All this was quite disheartening.

Apart from this though, the plot did have its great moments. There were several intense action scenes which were a joy to read.

"It tasted of silver and ghosts, like the resurrection of an abandoned hope that was stirring, once more, to life."

The world building was confusing. I never properly understood the world in this series, but I thought things would be explained by the third book. That didn’t happen. If someone asked me to explain the world, I would say it has something to do with forging. If someone asked me what forging meant, I would give them a blank look. I don’t know anything about this world, which is ironic as one of the main characters is a historian. Of course, part of my lack of knowledge is my lack of comprehension, as I did not quite understand the world in The Gilded Wolves trilogy. But if I know nothing about the world after reading 3 books in this series, its a problem.

“The strange instrument passed between them, smuggled through portals that pinched time and space, whirling through the ages while empires fought their wars and hungry gods demanded blood and hungrier priests demanded sacrifice, and all the while, the sun fell and the moon rose, and the instrument lay wondrously silent.”

The world is a soft-magic system, which I don't mind, but I need some basic rules to follow along. I didn’t realise the fact that we never get an exact explanation to all the terms used and what is possible or not possible in the series, until I finished The Bronzed Beasts. People can become Gods, instruments like the lyre can exist. The ending worsens this problem, because we are never told that something like that can even happen. I do not want to spoil it, so I am keeping it vague. But how exactly is any of it possible? We are all left to wonder.

“History might be shaped by the tongues of conquerors, but it was not a fixed shape or story, and with every object they repatriated, it was like adding or recasting a sentence in a book whose pages were as wide and infinite as a horizon.”

The writing is one of the best parts of the book. I have always loved Chokshi’s writing, and fortunately this was no exception. However, the pacing for this book was entirely off. It also needed a lot more editing. I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something was missing… that this was incomplete. The writing was good otherwise.

“It was like physics, the study of working mechanisms and the interplay of light. Laila was a fulcrum, the point around which all things in their group seemed to pivot. Séverin was mass, the weight that changed their direction. Enrique gave them depth. Zofia hoped she offered light. She was not sure what Hypnos contributed to the group, but she could not imagine it without him. Perhaps that made him perspective.”

The characters all have my heart, but I am disappointed about the fact that they didn’t live up to their full potential. We still get some great moments, but with a cast as splendid as this one, it could have been so much more.

➼Séverin

“In his hand alone lay the gates of godhood. And in a matter of days, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie would be a god.”

What do I say about Séverin? My journey with Séverin started from being indifferent to him, to liking him, to disliking him, to warming up to him and finally it ended with me loving him. His character was perhaps the only one who's full potential was lived up to. We saw his struggles, learned his weaknesses, and saw him be consumed by grief. We saw him be maddened with an obsession to obtain Godhood, and saw him be desperate to obtain power. We saw the way his past affected his present and future. But we also saw him be soft with love- for Laila, Zofia, Hypnos and Enrique.

“By now, they would understand he’d manipulated them. They would be furious at his lies and all his cruelty until that moment … but they would forgive him, wouldn’t they? They would understand that all he had done, all the ugliness he had committed, it was all for them. Or had he gone too far?”

Séverin had one of the best character arcs I have read. I loved the way he was portrayed. I loved his journey. I loved the way he healed. I loved everything about him.

“Maybe Séverin was the same. Maybe there was some inexorable wrongness about him that drove away all the people he loved, no matter what he did.”

I am seriously getting emotional thinking that I will never see him again. I think the series didn’t end the best way for him, but I was still satisfied with his ending.

“Then perhaps you would do well to remember the tragedy of flying too high.”
“Is Icarus the tragedy?” asked Séverin. “Or is it Daedalus? Someone who had the power to do impossible things and still could not manage to protect the people he loved most?”

➼Laila

“She was born to carry more than herself. She could hold up, and cherish, the weight of others—their worries, their mistakes, their hopes of who they might be.”

Laila is the character who’s arc I am the most disappointed with. She is Indian like me, which made me instantly connect with her character when she was introduced. I liked her in The Silvered Serpents as well. However, in The Bronzed Beasts we barely get any page time with her. From my 11 pages of annotated notes, I have only 5 quotes under Laila’s name.

“But now, Laila was old enough to recognize pain for the miracle it was. Pain was a loud, angry line between the living and the dead. Days ago, Laila had kneeled on a floor of ice … her pain so great, she could not breathe through it. She imagined she would never see Hypnos wave around another glass of wine, Enrique open a book, Zofia reach for a match, or Séverin smile. For every piece lost to her—seconds and heartbeats and texture—each hope regained was a torch flaring to life, and it would hold back the dark.”

There are so many things about her past that we never get to see. We only know that she was from India, is a dancer, likes baking, and is forged. She also had a rough childhood. Anything else? NO. We don’t get many details on how exactly she was forged or how such a thing possible. We don't even know which part of India she's from. It is so disappointing. I'm clearly missing something, so if someone has answers please help me out! I wasn't happy with the way the series ended for Laila, it was not foreshadowed at all and came out of nowhere. Overall, I didn’t like the ending of her character arc.

“Laila knew some people could carry such things inside them. Some people could walk with galaxies tilting at their heart, planets grinding against their ribs, whole worlds dragging in their wake and never stealing their balance. Her mother used to say Laila was one of those people.”

➼Enrique

“Enrique Mercado-Lopez knew many things. He knew about history and languages, myths and legends. He knew how to kiss well, eat well, and dance well, and though he was uncertain about many situations at the moment, there was one thing he knew without a shadow of a doubt: This was not his place. And he was not the only one who knew it. (..) Zofia and Hypnos (...) expected him to know what to do next. They expected him to lead, to give commands, to plan the next steps … but that wasn’t Enrique. You wouldn’t belong, an old voice whispered in his skull. Know your place.”

Enrique is one of the best characters I had the pleasure of reading about. Everything about his arc was wonderful, from his self-doubt and insecurities to his acceptance of himself. I loved every moment in his perspective and I can’t think of a more perfect ending for him. Chokshi nailed his arc, without a doubt.

“History was all around him, and yet he had no idea where he belonged within it. He was lost. For all that he had dreamed of leaving a mark on the world, the world had marked him and kept moving.”

I don’t really have any complaints about the way his character was done. Enrique was always one of my favourites and I will really miss him.

"As a historian, he regarded the world in hindsight, but history was never dead. It was furiously alive even if it was lost, even if it existed only as phantoms haunting conquerors or woven into bedtime stories whispered to children. All his life, Enrique had traced the edge of truth in those tales and fiercely believed, but now he knew. The difference was more than night and day … it was like standing before the very first dawn and watching the world draw into focus."

➼Zofia

“Hope, Zofia realized, was the only protection she had left.”

(If I got to speak to Zofia, this is what I would say-) My sweet Zosia, your character brought me so much happiness! You were truly a light in this dark world, but more importantly a light in this series. It was your perspective that I looked forward to so much. I will miss you.

“Her friends called her Phoenix for a reason. Her mother had told her to be a light. Zofia would not fail them.”

Zofia was such a joy to read about. I loved every element of her arc. I loved the way she was a lot more confident in her abilities. She is another character that lived up to her full potential, which I am very happy about.

“She had found her way out of the unknown before. She had found ideas and solutions when there were none. She had saved her friends in the past, and hardly a week ago, she had freed herself from a prison of ice. All those things had been dark at one point, but she had found her way … on her own.”

I loved the way the series ended for her as well. It was a perfect ending.

“Even if the world were dark, Zofia knew she could be a light.”

➼Hypnos

“The boy who loved to sing, forced to keep his mouth shut. The boy who yearned for song and was surrounded by a thousand different kinds of silence—the silence of his mother’s race, the silence of his own desires, the silence of the luxuriously appointed rooms he haunted like a ghost.”

As much as I hate to admit this, Hypnos isn’t really a main character. He is a side character, and it's sadly wasted potential. There was so much that could have been done with his arc that just wasn’t explored at all. We only got his perspective 1 or 2 times in the entire series.

“Say nothing if you agree that I am the most handsome man alive,” said Hypnos quietly.
Enrique, who was preoccupied with his research notes, said nothing.
“Hurrah!” said Hypnos.

I think he was meant to be a comedic relief, which he was, but he was so much more than that. It's disheartening that his arc was not properly done. Still, I was fine with the way the series ended for him.

“All his life, Hypnos had felt like a wandering set of notes, desperate to be set into music, and he had found it in the friends who had become family. Even with them, he felt nervous, as if they might throw him out of their music at any moment …”

Character Dynamics

The crew of The Gilded Wolves is a league of its own, and every time I will read about ‘the found family’ trope, I'll compare it to this series. They have such a wholesome relationship, and nothing can beat it. I am in awe of their dynamic.

The romance (and who I ship)

➼Laila & Séverin

I did not ship Laila and Séverin in book 1, but book 2 made me adore their relationship.

“I am yours, Laila … and you can fight it or hide it as much as you want, but I think part of you belongs to me too.”

Thankfully I still liked them here, but I did not like their ending. I loved their relationship otherwise.

➼Zofia, Enrique & Hypnos

I have put them collectively, as I do not want to spoil anything about the 'love triangle'.

“For a while now, Zofia had unquieted something in him. They understood each other in a way he hadn’t experienced, in a way that made him feel safe and heard.”

I personally ship Enrique with Zofia. Enrique is a lot more compatible with Zofia than with Hypnos, and they would make a better couple.

“If you think what we’re doing is impossible, then let us rewrite what possibility means … together.”

In my opinion, The Bronzed Beasts is the weakest book of this trilogy. It’s only redeeming qualities are the writing and the characters. The plot isn’t strong due to the lack of an antagonist and the world isn’t explained properly. The pacing was off and it needed more editing. However, I still liked it a lot and even teared up writing this review as I'm not ready to say goodbye. But I don't have a choice. Goodbye to these characters. You will always live in my memories.

"You and I will always be connected,” she says. “As long as I live, so will you. I will always be with you."

My ratings and reviews for other books in this series-
The Gilded Wolves ★★★★
The Silvered Serpents ★★★★★

BR with Nash!❤
Review written on 30th Sept 2021.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

.................................................
FINISHED. Why is this series over?😭💔
I liked the ending but I also didn’t like it. It was bittersweet. 2 stars. Review to come soon.
…………………………………
I AM STARTING THIS TODAY. AAH SO EXCITED.
..........................................
I WANT THIS NOW. I CANNOT WAIT TILL SEPTEMBER. I HOPE MY BABIES ARE OK. I WILL CRY IF ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS DIE.🥺

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every great found family needs an arsonist, an intellectual, a clown, a mom friend, and someone who takes "I am God" jokes maybe too literally.

The Bronzed Beasts was stunning. The aesthetic, the dynamic between the characters, the breathtaking writing, the combination of steampunk and heist fantasy that is everything I have ever needed. I'm incredibly sad that this series is over. Goodbye to years of hugging the books as if that will bring the characters even closer to my heart. I will love my beautiful mismatched crew of messes for eternity.

I often feel like I'm repeating myself when I talk about this series because I always bring up one thing: the cast of characters. The way they interact, the subtle shifts in their relationships that leave everything feeling acutely disjointed and wrong until their world falls back together again and they collide once more in a blooming rainbow of fierce love and understanding and compassion. It's so beautiful. Everything about The Gilded Wolves is beautiful.

4 stars

(Our days and nights are perfumed with obsession - Lorde)

___

AT LAST, IT IS HERE 🙇🙇
It's really a crime that a copy isn't in my hands right now.

And we have a cover.
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL I'M CRYING




___


*sharp inhale* WHEREEEEE IS MY PRECIOUSSSSSS

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 2 out of 5]

zorique carried this whole book🥺
and it is a CRIME to talk abt zorique's death like that, how could you do this to me😭😭 most painful moment of the series

other than that, oh was this such a disappointment...

RTC

(2.5⭐)

______

WE ARE READY FOR ALL THE PAIN.🙃
buddy read with my demonic partner in crime lucy-chan <33

i will lose faith in humanity if im disappointed😭

_____

Update: Jan. 15, 2021

OHMYGOD
OHMYGOD
THE TITLE AND COVER ASDFGFDFSADFDHGDFSFADSGSF I AM DECEASED
IM CRYING THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL
AND THE BLURB
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SEPTEMBER 21 WHERE ARE YOU
and THAT EXCERPT *cries*

Dec. 31, 2020:

Not me stalking Roshani's Twitter/Instagram for the title, cover, and release date...

SEND HELP💀

[Jananie (thisstoryaintover)]

brb SOBBING because of that ending 😭 love this series and these characters so much and sad to say goodbye 🥺💗

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ 4 stars ~

Pain was a loud, angry line between the living and the dead.

I cannot express how sad I am that this series is over and I must bid these lovely characters farewell.

I had such a fun time with this book. Though I will admit, the plot itself isn't exactly my favorite. Not to mention the lackluster villain(s). These aspects were never a strong suit of this series. I'm also not sure what to make of the ending. It was very bittersweet, and I can't tell if I love it, or if I hate it.

But other than that, I did really enjoy this book. For two reasons only: the characters and the character dynamics. I was going off of vibes only while judging this book, and the vibes were immaculate. I gained a certain appreciation for Laila that I don't think I had in the first two books. She is sweet, full of love, determined, and passionate. Hypnos is such a fun and complex character, and I was pretty disappointed that he didn't have a POV in this book. I feel like it would have helped us get to know him better, but I still do adore him. Enrique is intelligent, kind, and hilarious. He is definitely my favorite. He started to come into himself and step up. Zofia is sharp minded, kind hearted, and cunning. She is also one of my favorites. It's impossible to not love and want to root for her. Séverin on the other hand, is someone I have had a rocky relationship with. Sometimes I like him, sometimes I hate him. But wow, his character development was phenomenal. I really liked seeing him grow as a person over the span of this book.

My favorite dynamics from the group are Zofia-Hypnos-Enrique, Enrique-Séverin, and Laila-Zofia. Chokshi sure knows how to write well developed characters. And the banter between them was exquisite and heartwarming.

Overall, as much as I love this series, I would only recommend it to people that like or are okay with character driven stories. I wouldn't go into this expecting a strong and super developed plot. But I cannot wait to read more books by this author!

Séverin Montagent-Alarie was no god. As such, he could not change the past, but that didn't mean he could not break free of it.

art credit

Buddy read with lovely Yeganeh!

____

(pre-reading 9-21-21)

I finally have this beauty in my hands. I will now be abandoning all life responsibilities to read it. I already know this book is going to break my heart.

____

(pre-release 1-21-21)

I am in the pits of despair over The Silvered Serpents and to add to the pain, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER FOR THIS?? But the cover is beautiful per usual.

[Teodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title!!!
Cover!!!
Colours!!!
The life in me!!!


_____________________________________________

4/5 ⭐

Finally got to conclude this trilogy and even though this was my least favourite of the books, it was still enjoyable and I cam definitely say it was worth the read with kind of a bittersweet ending.

[Maryam Rz.]

Seriously, why do authors love cliffhangers.
No, WHYYY.

Companions: Playlist & Related Reviews

Book series playlist: Spotify URL

Books in series:
⤳ The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1) ★★★★✯
⤳ The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves, #2) ★★★★☆
⤳ The Bronzed Beasts (The Gilded Wolves, #3) ☆☆☆☆☆

[sam]

pre review update:
emotions are running high right now so it’ll probably be a week or two before i give this a rating and post a review but all i can say for now is - oh my god. this was definitely a strong conclusion to series. i honestly did not know what to expect going into this and i think that worked in my favour. my advice - grab a box of tissues or something you can throw against the wall. you’ll need both.

———•———•———

ARC RECEIVED !!

currently studying for 3 different exams but i’m starting this one right after🤞séverinlaila death trope here i come !!

[Rebecca Roanhorse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this YA trilogy that had some memorable characters and some lovely writing. Happy to see a diverse cast engaging in adventures and romance. Also appreciated the interrogation of empire and who writes history - a great intro to those heavier themes in a treasure-hunting magical world.

[Nash (all too unwell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I AM INDEED CRYING IN THE CLUB

Hypnos the gay god
Severin the Kaz who is more like Kaz himself
Laila our Indian goddess who dances and bakes
Enrique our Bi king <3
Zofia the silent killer

Ill really miss them😭😭💖💖

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gilded Wolves - ⭐⭐⭐.75 (See review)
The Silvered Serpents- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (See review)


Welcome to another episode of this series absolutely annihilating me, see first episode here
⚠️⚠️ Unmarked spoilers for the previous books ⚠️⚠️

"Sometimes those with too much power think they know best............they forget how to listen."

THAT ENDING WHAT WAS THAT? IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT STILL PAINS ME THINKING ABOUT THAT KILLER ENDING. WHY WOULD ANY AUTHOR DO THAT TO THEIR READERS??? JUST WHY???

Words can't describe the pain I felt while reading that...........
Well, setting aside all the pain, I wasn't a big fan of it. I think some things could have been better explained. Do I care a lot though you ask?? NO NO I do NOT care much about the plot in this, mainly because it was really confusing and because the characters were just super super fun to hang out with and I didn't NEED a clear plot, it didn't even reduce my enjoyment much but still I was a bit disappointed with how it all came together......

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Synopsis ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
So after the ending of The Silvered Serpents with Severin faking everyone's death and running away with Ruslan to Venice. He must find the way to the temple where the divine lyre can be played and get rid of Ruslan somehow to achieve the power of godhood it did not work, someone plz tell him that's now how it works . The team on the other hand is still in Russia, they need to find a way to Severin to save Laila who has like 5 days left to live.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Themes and Representations ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS!! Can we just take a moment to appreciate the themes and representation of grief, friendship, love, colonialism, LGBT, neurodiversity, and ethnic diversity?? YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF SOMEWHERE OR OTHER IN THIS SERIES. Severin's grief was written in such a heartbreaking and beautiful way. Most of them being biracial contributed so much to their identity. Zofia's autism felt so natural even though I barely know anything about autism It has amazing friendships. CAN I PLEASE HAVE A FRIEND GROUP LIKE THEM, YES THANK YOU.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Plot ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
The plot throughout this whole book is very blurry in my memory because I was paying most of my attention to the characters only. I feel like this series is going to be boring if you don't care much for the characters because the plot was so confusing. Although I absolutely adore the riddles, puzzles, myths, and stories that came together with the plot. The ending was a bit confusing, I didn't love how it ended but I'm ok with it because it did kind of made sense for everyone while I still have questions .

Severin just gives up being with Laila and doesn't blame himself AT ALL that she's gone. Like dude, if you took better care of Ruslan, maybe Laila would still be human and here. I mean I'm not blaming him AT ALL but the fact that he won't think that even once is kind of surprising. But I think I'll just call it character development and call it a day.
Also, what was that last line??? Does she come back to him or what?? What was "Hello, Majnun" YOU CANNNOT AND WILL NOT LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THAT MISS CHOKSHI.
Also, the crew living together at L'eden and SEVERIN ADOPTING KIDS WAS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN. I was smiling despite all the pain because of that 😭😭.
Now about all the Babel fragments, I AM SPEECHLESS SEVERIN REALLY DID THAT. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE WITHOUT THE MAGIC??? OH MY GOD PLEASE NO. I didn't love it but it was still something grand and I gotta appreciate how it was written. But still, the magic is simply gone 😢

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Characters⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
The best-found family trope EVER. Name a better-written found-family story, I'll wait..........
Also, I got inspired by this Crooked kingdom review by Layla to do a "what your fav character says about you. So LMK if it's accurate or not it probably isn't because my observation skills suck

☆彡Severin☆ミ

"Even without sleeping, [Severin] dreamt of [Laila's] face and the faces of Tristan, Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos. By now, they would understand he’d manipulated them. They would be furious at his lies and all his cruelty until that moment … but they would forgive him, wouldn’t they? They would understand that all he had done, all the ugliness he had committed, it was all for them."

Mr. Severin Montagnet Alarie is the planner of the group, the one who's always leading them, the one who the group trust to fix everything. He is morally grey, a bit cruel when he has to and just a broken, lonely boy from the inside aka my favorite character in this series. He was pretty bland and boring in the first book but the second and the third book made me adore him. How his grief and his love were explored SO.FREAKING.WONDERFULLY

I LOVE HIM I LOVED SEEING HIM GROW I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM NOW I WANNA CRYYY

If Severin is your favorite character then you are a logical person, you care about your loved ones more than the entire world and you probably want to date Severin.

☆彡Laila☆ミ

"I consider [death] a dear friend," said Laila through her teeth. "Practically family."

Laila is the mom of the group, she keeps everyone in check, she bakes Let's not even talk about Severin baking cake and putting salt instead of sugar after she was gone because boy that was painful is super kind and reminds me a lot of one of my friends.

If Laila is your favorite character then you are really mature, you probably call everyone out if they're wrong, you wanna fight for the underprivileged but you also love yourself. You're like almost perfect

☆彡Zofia☆ミ

"[Laila] will not die, death depends on variables that we will change"

While every character was busy being underdeveloped, my autistic engineer queen was delivering and carrying the entire book on her back. (looking at you, the first book) SHE WAS GREAT FROM DAY ZERO.

If Zofia is your favorite character, you're unintentionally funny and you probably are really good at science.

☆彡Enrique☆ミ

"Zofia and Hypnos walked in weighted silence. They expected him to know what to do next. They expected him to lead, to give commands, to plan the next steps … but that wasn’t Enrique. You wouldn’t belong, an old voice whispered in his skull. Know your place. His place. Enrique could never seem to figure it out."

Enrique the historian, the smarty pants, the one who's most insecure. I grew to love him a lot more in this book than I did previously. His insecurities were so well written, I have nothing bad to say about him but also nothing really extraordinary

If Enrique is your favorite character, believe it or not, people gain brain cells (or lose them depending on whether you confuse them with your info dumps or not) while talking to you. You don't speak much but when you do, it's the probably most valuable word anyone in that room ever said that day.

☆彡Hypnos☆ミ
Hypnos could have done better with a POV. We didn't get his thoughts so I don't connect with him and sometimes he even felt like a side character. He had a ton of potential but the lack of a POV kinda ruined it.

If Hypnos is your favorite, PLEASE SHOW YOURSELF TO ME, I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF YOU BEFORE. Anyway, you try hard to make everyone laugh. You hate crying in front of others and you're good with people.... and you'd sell your entire family for a Hypnos POV
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Romance ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

☆彡Severin and Laila☆ミ
Admirable, adorable, alluring, angelic, appealing, beauteous, bewitching, captivating, charming, classy, comely, cute, dazzling, delicate, delightful, divine, elegant, enthralling, enticing, excellent, exquisite, fair, fascinating, fetching, fine, foxy, good-looking, gorgeous, graceful, grand, ideal and so much more.............

☆彡Enrique, Zofia and Hypnos love triangle☆ミ
I can't say much without giving away spoilers except one thing. Best love triangle conclusion I've ever seen (I know these are huge claims but trust me) I feel like most people will be very satisfied with where this went.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Conclusion (for the entire trilogy)⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
I binge-read all the books in 15 days and those 15 days were a ride, I probably would have gone insane due to exams if it wasn't for these books. The first book felt a bit bland because the plot was confusing, the romance felt a bit too angsty and the characters weren't too developed but the second book DELIVERED. The endings of each and every book were so intense and so amazing you can't help but want the second one immediately. I love the way all three books were set in three beautiful locations and the way it was described made me feel like I was there sometimes. I love the mythological and puzzle elements of the plot though I do wish I had an idea of what exactly was going on more. The romance and friendships aspects made me so excited klaksjksksksiwoejasjdlkal. Best found family trope I've ever read and this series will always have a special place in my heart <3333

[may ➹]

oh no I am going to DIE reading this

(cover + title reveal!)

[lisa (lh44's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Séverin was at their side for the rest of their lives, and he continued to be there for their descendants long after Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos had passed from this world into the next"

I can only feel pain

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win a physical arc of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author and publishing company!
I cannot believe that this series is over! To quote myself when I finished book one: “I write this review with a shattered heart.” The excellently written characters continued to carry the story, and remain my favorite part of the trilogy. Add this incredible series to your reading lists!

NO SPOILERS Review:
I often joke about sending authors bills for emotional damage, but this time I am dead serious. Expect an envelope in 3 to 5 business days Roshani Chokshi! I finished this book last night, sobbing and crying my eyes out. But before we get to everything I loved, I would like to start with cons.

Negatives:
- My biggest criticism is not really liking the villain. I understand the conflict and high stakes, but the villain never truly felt like a real threat.

Positives:
- The best part about this book, and series, is the characters! I fell so in love with their found family (shout out to my favorites: Zofia and Enrique). As the final book, The Bronzed Beasts does an excellent job at continuing their individual and joint journeys.
- I really like the author's writing. I love how the story is told in 4 POVs that balance each other out very well. This allowed for readers to follow the thoughts of that character and also opened up the way for some great banter and funny scenes.
- One of my favorite things about Chokshi's work in this trilogy is her endings! All three books have phenomenal endings that kept me hooked up to the very last page.
- Have I mentioned how much PAIN this book put me in?! If there's one thing you take away from this review, know that you are not ready for that ending.
- And (because it's one of my favorite tropes) I have to rave about the found family again! Relationships - be it romantically or platonically - are developed very well. Through triumph, grief, and all that lies in between, the love these characters had for one another was so tangible and beautiful.

The Gilded Wolves Trilogy
Overall rating: 4 stars

I would love to give a special shout out to the author, Roshani Chokshi. Thank you for crafting these beautiful books and chatting with me! (In our conversation she shared that the ending destroyed her soul as well, so good luck everyone!)

For a more detailed review and five quotes from the book, check out my bookstagram @emilyjoybooks!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRE_e8-rTdb/

[zia · Rating 3 out of 5]

will be needing two to three business days to find my will to live again

[Yeganeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with dear Layla! thank you for finishing this series with me.

~3.5 stars~

was that the end????
why do i feel nothing and everything??
i still have questions , and feelings and emotions left out.how can this be the end?

~I should have known from the beginning I was going to be emotionally destroyed. But I’m writing you from the beyond. Being back with my favorites, Chokshi swept me away in a whirlwind of dangerous action, glimmering betrayal, and sentences that enchanted me. The Bronzed Beasts is a true testament to the love of archaeological mysteries, found family which test you in a way only family can, and questions about what we would do with power and potential. I'm still processing what to feel about that ending. It is such an unforgettable finale that is masterful and expansive. it was bittersweet and good but not good .

FOR YEARS, HE has lived not as a god or as a man, but as a ghost, and in two words, he finds himself gloriously resurrected. Two words, which make him almost believe in magic, because time, so still to him for so long, now lifts its head eagerly at the sound and begins to move forward once more.
“Hello, Majnun.”

i see you roshani chokshi , and i will hunt you down for this👀👀

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎]

Edit January 15: THE COVER OMG THAT CAME OUT OF NO WHERE WHAT IT’S STUNNING GIVE IT TO ME PLEASE
Ma’am for personal health reasons I require this ASAP
The Gilded Wolves ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Silvered Serpents ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[Brittany Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read all that many series anymore but The Bronzed Beasts was one book I was immensely looking forward to. I NEEDED to know what would happen to Severin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos and how it all ended.

The Bronzed Beasts picks up immediately where The Silvered Serpents ended, Severin going to Venice with Ruslan and the harp, and Laila picking up the pieces in the ice palace in Russia. The plot follows Ruslan’s insane desire for achieving godhood through Severin and Severin acting as his ally in an attempt to save his friends, with the rest of the gang trying to figure out a way to continue on and save Laila, whose time is swiftly running out, with or without Severin’s help.

Roshani Chokshi’s iconic lush atmosphere continues in TBB, settling us into a Venice on the brink of Carnevale, full of masks and revelry and gondolas in canals and Forged objects and abandoned plague islands. Mind Forging is more specifically explored in this final novel, with potions revealing memories used as maps and more.

The heist element this series is known for is still prevalent despite this being the final book, as is its adventure element, which was a happy surprise because it always seems to me the final book of a series usually loses the elements of prior books in exchange for big battles and such.

As stated prior, I was super excited to read this ARC. I dropped everything to be able to read it immediately. I took my time with it, though, perhaps because I was scared and didn’t want it to end, but I wouldn’t call it unputdownable, but it certainly wasn’t boring. It was exciting and nerve-racking in turns, with many “omg” “just kiss!” exclamations coming from me.

I think the climax and resolution were fitting, as was where the story ended with our beloved characters (and who ended up with who romantically *wink*) and the ending actually made me cry (but in a good way)

I only had one complaint with the ending, that I cannot divulge as it’s a massive spoiler, which I realize is just a personal preference. It fit and made sense with the story Roshani was telling, so I can’t say I hated it or that it was BAD, but it’s not something I ever LIKE to read about in fantasy books, if that makes sense. Sorry this has to be super vague but when it comes out and you read it, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Maybe I will add it to my review with a spoiler tag at a later date.

All in all a very solid ending to an amazing trilogy, The Gilded Wolves and The Bronzed Beasts completely raised the bar and set new high standards for young adult heist novels, with endearing characters, lush atmosphere, complex heists, and ever-evolving plots, the likes of which cannot be compared.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the end of this series is here and maybe, after loving book two so much, I should've tempered my expectations -- after all, book one just wasn't quite it for me -- but honestly I've come out the end of this one just.. not knowing really how to feel.

This National Treasure-esque fantasy historical series has always leaned into "too smart for me" territory but I've enjoyed, even if I struggled to comprehend, the historical tie-ins, the history, the nuance, and thankfully this one maybe feel less stupid. But my intelligence or lack thereof aside, the series has always been balanced out by the delightful dynamic of the cast of characters (we love an ensemble, she continues to say, ad nauseum!) and after the events of book two, the dynamic sours and takes a turn. I wasn't mad about it, and it was still enjoyable in its new configuration, but.. I don't know, something was missing.

Likewise, the big conflict, the thing we've been leading towards, the main event if you will.. did I even really understand it? Nope. Could I visualize it? A little. Is that partially my problem? Probably! I plan to read some reviews and see if this just went wrong for everyone or, more likely, it was just me.

Additionally, the ending. How to describe it. Unexpected? Bittersweet? Lovely? It definitely went in a direction I didn't see coming (hence the unexpectedness) and was a nice resolution to one of the other romances (hence the loveliness), but.. for how it finally did end, that last line, after all the time, all the loss..? Well, yeah, hence the bittersweetness. I also just wonder why. I don't quite understand. Another thing I'll be looking for clarity on in some reviews.

So, overall, this was a strange reading experience. But I'm not mad about pushing on to keep reading because the richness of this world, the diversity of the characters, the mystery of it all, the delightful ensemble banter.. there was a lot to enjoy. Would that I had ended up a higher note with it all but at least it's not a low note! I'll take the win.

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[✨ Helena ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

now THAT’S how you write a finale!!! 🙌🏻

This and the Great Library series by Rachel Caine are my favourite alternate historical fantasies. Plus, there’s so much adventure interwoven into the plot that I can’t help but love it. Anyone who loves Indiana Jones, the DaVinci Code, the Mummy, etc will probably enjoy this, too.

The Gilded Wolves trilogy has less emphasis on heists, and more focus on locating lost artefacts and solving difficult puzzles. While the plot in this finale isn’t necessarily as unexpected as the previous instalments were, I was so invested in the outcome of my favourite characters (spoiler alert: the entire crew 😅) that I didn’t really mind. The author also gives us closure for everyone, which I’m really appreciative for.

I can’t wait to re-read this trilogy over and over again in the future, as I seem to have a habit of compulsively bingeing these books in a mere sitting. They’re so addictive!!! As always, I highly, highly recommend this trilogy and … I do hope she’ll somehow expand it one day. I doubt she will, but I’d love it if she did.

[ahaana ☎️ (semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am not ready for the pain

edit 17/03/21
i was not ready but i endured it anyway

my least favourite of the series but i loved it anyway. i think i would've expected more out of the finale especially with the last two books being the absolute showstoppers that they were, but aside from my expectations being too high, the bronzed beasts also took my breath away <3

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do I review this??!?!
Did I enjoy the story? Yes!
Was I glued to the pages? Yes!
Am I satisifed with the ending of this trilogy? I am 100% conflicted about the ending . . . it's so bittersweet.

I'm so glad that Laila lived, but she stayed behind at the temple to what? Heal the world? So is she human now? Immortal?

And YAY that Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos found their calling in life and are happy. And I'm so glad that Zofia's sister lived! So are Zofia, Enrique, and Hypnos a throuple? Nothing was ever confirmed except that Zofia and Enrique were a couple, but then all three lived together for the rest of their lives. I think they would be so great all together, but a little clarity would have been nice.

And WTF is up with Severin having immortality while waiting for Laila to come back to him? This is really what bothers me about the ending. She visited everyone else in their dreams but not really him that much?

He lived decades without aging, adopting children and raising them alone, being a part of Hypnos, Enrique, and Zofia's lives only to outlive them and watch over their children and grandchildren . . . and then finally her work is done and she comes to him. DECADES LATER. And you're telling me that NOW they get to be together?

Laila said as long as she lives, so will he . . . so are they both immortal? Or does the clock start ticking now that they're together finally? Their friends are dead. The world is completely different (we went from 1890 to 1990 during the epilogue). And they never got to be together while their friends were alive. Seems like a shitty outcome.

For years, he has lived not as a god or as a man, but as a ghost, and in two words, he finds himself gloriously resurrected. Two words, which make him almost believe in magic, because time, so still to him for so long, now lifts its head eagerly at the sound and begins to move forward once more.

“Hello, Majnun.”

That's it. Those are the last lines. Severin spends the whole epilogue watching others live their lives, pursue their dreams, find and have love, and to some extent he does too (being surrounded with friends, running L'Eden, raising his sons), but the book ends with Laila FINALLY coming to Severin . . . after everything and everyone is long gone.

I mean, I'm happy that everyone got the happiness they wished for, but it just sucks that it didn't happen all at the same time.

So, you see, that epilogue made me equal parts happy and sad.

************************************

I knew there would have to be groveling here, but OMG THIS LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Name any penance, and I will pay it kneeling."

FAVORITE QUOTES:

Thinking of Tristan had begun to feel like an old bruise rather than a fresh wound. With every passing day, his memory became less tender to touch.

**************************************
LOVE this lesson!

"The flower asked for sunshine, and the king declared that he had something better than sunlight - he offered the flower golden coins rinsed in milk and honey. The flower cried out, for the hard, gold coins bruised its petals. The flower then asked for water, and the king declared that he had something better than water, and he poured upon the flower all the rarest wines from the corners of his kingdom. The flower cried out, for the wine was sour and its roots shriveled at its touch. Slowly, it began to die. The king was furious, and he demanded an explanation. 'I have given you all the best things in the world,' he said. 'You must flourish!' But the flower declared, 'That was never what I needed," and then defied the king by dying."

*************************************

But he was so much more dangerous than something from the pages of a fairy tale.

He was someone who believed them.

Someone who thought magic and wonder had made an exception for him.

*************************************

"We've got hope, a flimsy plan, and a great deal of explosives. We've gotten by on less."

*************************************

Zofia noticed that it was Laila he looked at last. It was a familiar pattern. In L'Eden, whenever Severin made plans, he always looked at Laila. To see him do it again made Zofia think of all their former patterns. It was like physics, the study of working mechanisms and the interplay of light. Laila was a fulcrum, the point around which all things in their group seemed to pivot. Severin was mass, the weight that changed their direction. Enrique gave them depth. Zofia hoped she offered light. She was not sure what Hypnos contributed to the group, but she could not imagine it without him. Perhaps that made him perspective.

************************************

"Are you even capable of ordinary love?"

He felt slapped. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that when I go to sleep, I dream of someone who knows which side of the bed I favor, who sits across from me in happy silence, who argues over which dishes belong in which cabinet. Someone whose love feels like home . . . not some insurmountable quest ripped from a myth. Someone whose love is safe . . . Do you understand that?"

He did.

Because that was how she made him feel.

Safe.

He wanted to make her feel safe.

"I can be that person."

************************************

"If you think what we're doing is impossible, then let us rewrite what possibility means . . . together."

***********************************

"Growth and remorse are rather like stars: the surrounding dark makes them vivid enough to notice."

***********************************

Enrique turned to Hypnos. "Why did you bring a fan?"

"I get hot easily," said Hypnos defensively.

"It's February."

"I remain hot year round, mon cher."

************************************

"Shall I beg for you to make me feel alive?" she asked, a harsh laugh leaving her throat.

Severin was quiet for a moment, and then his voice found her in the shadows. He had moved closer. "There's no need to beg for something I'd give without question. Is that what you want from me, Laila?"

*************************************

He was powerless. He was losing her - not her love, not her attraction to him - but HER. If Laila needed to kiss him until his heart broke to feel alive, he would offer it up on the spot; if she needed his hope for kindling to feel warmth, he would watch himself go up in flames.

*************************************

Perhaps Laila really was just grave dirt and borrowed blood, and yet . . . she lived.

And she felt, deep in her stolen bones, that miracles were not yet finished with her.

*************************************

For the first time since Ruslan had appeared, Zofia did not need to count the objects around her to quiet her mind's panic. The unknowns had not disappeared, but their size had diminished. Or perhaps, her perspective had outgrown it. The unknown would come and go, but Zofia could always be a light. She had found her way out of the dark once.

And she could do it again.

**************************************

Always throw away golden keys to golden doors, habibi. Such knowledge is a hungry creature, and it will swallow you whole. It will dine on your hopes, slurp out your heart, tear away bits and pieces of your imagination until you are nothing but a tough, chewy hide of obsession.

**************************************

. . . Hypnos poked his head inside.

"I'm lonely," he announced. "I am joining you."

Enrique rolled his eyes. "What if I told you that you were interrupting."

"Please mon cher, I never interrupt. I only complement or enhance . . . "

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I begin to collect my thoughts about a trilogy that has completely altered my life? I first picked up The Gilded Wolves in September of 2020, just a few weeks before the release of The Silvered Serpents. The characters of L'Eden--with their unique dynamics and witty dialogue--immediately stole my heart and Roshani’s vivid storytelling captivated me from page 1. I’ve talked on this page before about what Laila’s character means to me and how I immediately connected to her relationship with her Indian heritage as a classical dancer. Seeing her arc in this trilogy, as well as the arcs of Séverin, Enrique, Zofia, and Hypnos was truly so beautiful and I would give anything to relive this series again.

The Bronzed Beasts was the perfect finale to this trilogy. We pick up right where we left off in The Silvered Serpents, with the gang reeling from Séverin’s apparent betrayal. Watching these two parties find their way back to each other made me so anxious for their reunion because I know no one would take Séverin’s actions in the end of The Silvered Serpents lightly. And no matter how mad I was myself at Séverin at the end of The Silvered Serpents, it was really hard to stay upset with him after seeing him painstakingly pay his penance. All the moments in which he tries so hard to get everyone to like him again were so sweet. I tabbed so many scenes because of how adorable and funny they were. Not to mention the other moments in which I squealed in excitement (I’m looking at you Chapter 15).

The final act, of course, had me on the edge of my seat. Knowing Roshani, I had no idea where the story would go and who would survive the journey. Seeing the gang work so hard to ensure Laila’s safety (as she’s literally the glue that holds them all together) made my heart melt. And, of course, the ending and epilogue completely destroyed me. I was a sobbing mess reading the last few pages of the epilogue (it really threw me back to reading the epilogue of The Clockwork Princess omg). As bittersweet as it was, I refuse to accept it as the ending and am going to re-write my own ending in which the L’Eden gang is all living happily ever after together.

All in all, you have to read this finale if you were a fan of the first two books, and read this trilogy, period. These characters will forever remain in my heart and I truly don’t know if I can ever move on from this series. I’m going to miss Séverin’s suave demeanor and cunning personality, Enrique’s sarcasm and random historical facts, Zofia’s genius mind and sweet thoughts, Laila’s motherly tendencies and badass moments, and Hypnos’s fashion sense and funny quips so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Roshani for writing these characters and for writing this story.

[elhyza · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆ — this broke me into pieces, all i know it pain. yet this somewhat healed me, putting my heart back together all the same. i'm in awe, this final installment was just a quintessential type of beautiful so personal to me because of the space in my heart these five characters fill. yet another breathtaking adventure chokshi wrote so atmospheric with being able to feel exactly where they were and the exhilaration in those definite moments. ever since the first installment, seeing the character developments in this one was incredible with enrique finding his ground in what he wants in life and laila taking control in perspective of her feelings on life and the people around her. those last few chapters were just stunning, rendered me speechless i don't know how i'll recover. thank you roshani, but also i will go and draft my therapy bills now.

[merve · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was unlike anything i expected. my emotions are a mess right now, so i'm not sure if i can write a coherent review, but i absolutely loved the finale to this trilogy. roshani chokshi created these excellent characters who have my whole heart, and i'm really glad that i got to experience their journey and growth. their bond and the love they have for each other is so precious and they will always have a special place in my heart. chokshi's writing is stunning as always, and the way she implemented history and myth into the story gave me chills. i think there's a fairytale-like quality to her writing, and the way the story was wrapped reflects this as well.

séverin, laila, enrique, zofia, and hypnos, you will always be my beloveds.

[gauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars *may change

i am left as an emotional mess over here........ rtc when i have collected my thoughts

[Farheen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The bronzed beasts is the final book in the gilded wolves trilogy, it takes place right after the events of the silvered serpents. After reading tss I was really excited to see how this series would end and maybe my expectations were too high.

It was good to be back in the world of the gilded wolves and to see the characters again. Zofia, Enrique, Laila and Séverin are incredibly interesting characters and I was looking forward to seeing them again. One of my favorite things in this series are the platonic relationships and I'm glad we got many heart-warming moments. The ending though was not something that I could've seen coming for the characters. And no one is emotionally ready for the epilogue.

Now onto what I wasn't a fan of, the pacing of the book was messed up. The plot was confusing at times but that was the case for the other two books too yet it didn't stop me from enjoying them. It felt like something was missing and I can't exactly figure what that was. The ending was kind of rushed and were a lot of things weren't explained and I was pretty confused at the end. It felt like the ending was decided at the last minute and the author tried hard to be unpredictable because nothing made sense or was explained. Or maybe my expectations were just too high. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the other books. It was still good to see the characters just expected a better series finale.



Edit: So, I didn't want to be completely negative before the book came out and some of the things I wanted to talk about were spoilers so here we are. Major spoilers ahead!



First of all, can anyone explain what happened in the last 70 pages or so because I reread it a few times and still couldn't understand what was going on. There was barely anything happening in the book so I don't understand why the author didn't just explain the temple thing in more detail instead.

Secondly, I feel like Laila’s character didn't get enough attention (?) we know the backstory of how the others joined Séverin but nothing about Laila, all we know is she's a girl from India. We didn't even find out what her real name is. And then she dies in the end returns after thousands of years for who knows what reason.

Lastly, Enrique ending up with both Zofia and Hypnos? I feel like their relationship wasn't developed enough and it came out of nowhere. We've seen Enrique with Zofia and Enrique with Hypnos but what about Zofia and Hypnos? When did they develope feelings like that? To me it seemed like it was heading towards a zofiaenrique endgame but the author decided at the last moment to make it zofiaenriquehypnos. I guess, this is the relationship that according to the author had a surprising end. Or maybe it was compensation for Hypnos not getting enough screen time even though he supposedly is the author's favorite and not a side character.

Overall, it was a pretty mediocre book and it could've been done a lot better. I personally feel like the author tried hard to give it an unpredictable ending and ruined. Even the characters couldn't save it for me.

[Fanna]

The Gilded Wolves (#1) ★★★★★
The Silvered Serpents (#2) ★★★★☆

23.09.2021 starting the conclusion to one of my favourite trilogies ever — a buddy read with gargee!
15.01.2021 i hope i can say bye to severin in this book. AND NO, I AM NOT READY FOR THIS TRILOGY TO END.