4.25
I've read quite a few Roshani novels, but The Gilded Wolves took the first prize trophy as well as a place in my 2019 favorite reads.
My favorite character was instantly Zofia. In many ways I found myself drawn to her even though my personality does not match with hers at all. Maybe I'm another version of Enrique because the two had some TENSION. Maybe I'm a pyromaniac myself (she's not really one haha)? I just adored her character, and it spoke to my shy self.
Laila followed close behind in the favorites list. I loved her chapters because of the question via her unique abilities, but her flashbacks were also so imperative and interesting. She's such an amazingly compassionate character in this world (she's basically the mom to the group), and you'd expect her less than favorable childhood to affect her mood. She still sees good in people (most of the time because there's those bad impression moments), and it's such a wonderful representation racially and mental health-wise. Laila is not governed by her bad childhood. She's stayed true to herself and become the women she wants to be.
Now Séverin.. he is still an enigma to me, and I'm wondering how he's going to handle the events at the end of the novel. I went back and forth sometimes with my opinion of him. I'm honestly super curious for Silvered Serpents.
RANDOM SIDE NOTE: I knew that *EVENT* was coming for *THAT* character.
Lastly, I think Roshani displays her growth as a writer in this novel. I can definitely see she put so much hard work and research into the historical accuracy, and it pays off. Like The Diviners series authors do not need to give all white casts because they THINK that's all society had in the European past. Roshani halts that stereotype, and I love it.
P.S. I'm sooooo tired of people comparing this novel to Six of Crows (SOC) because they're completely different besides a group committing a heist. This book is so much more than a comparison novel to the other. Both are good in their own UNIQUE ways.