My rating: 5 of 5 stars
summary from GoodReads
Set in a darkly glamorous world, The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous but thrilling adventure.
Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can't yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.
Together, they'll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.
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REVIEW
I remember seeing the cover and the blurb of this book and thinking: "oh, History, magic and romance! Yesss"
Well, this book surpassed my expectations and made me CARVE FOR THE SEQUEL! Not to mention that the dynamics of this group were amazing!
Set in the dazzling Paris in the end of 19th century, the story follows Severin, Laila, Zofia, Enrique, Tristan and Hypnos all with their own stories, fears, and loves will try and stop a mysterious power from seizing the source which gives the humans of this alternative world the power of Forging. While I did get vibes of Six of Crows in this one, the plot was quite different, filled with lush descriptions, gorgeous costumes, masks and clothes and above all, diversity. Laila is Indian, Enrique in half Philippino, half Spanish, Zofia is Jew, Hypnos is also half white half black from the New Orleans and each and every one of them suffers through discrimination and even racism.
Severin though, he was the one who had to shoulder everything; driven from his desire to restore his birthright and become rich, hoping that through this way he could help his friends, he truly lost his true love and way to happiness. He constantly fears that he will remain alone by the end of the book and always remembers one night with Laila that haunts him. Seriously, the slow-burning romance here is agonizing!
And the ending? I was left in a husk of sadness, aching and fear for what is coming in the second book, because not only we have quite the revelation but also...the clock is ticking fast...especially for Laila.
Highly recommended!
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