The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1)
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: YA Historical/Fantasy
Release Date: January 15, 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Description:
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.
The Gilded Wolves is the first novel in a fantastic new young adult historical fantasy series that will have readers begging for more. I absolutely loved this book and even though I expected to liked it - I didn't think I'd adore it this much. I can't really think of any negatives for me, except for the fact that it took me a little bit to get into the story. I'm a huge francophile, so once I was inside this exceptional alternate Paris I didn't want to come back out. The world building was amazing with the author leaving no detail undone. Everything was perfectly described and the book had tons of vivid imagery, which brought this magical world to life right in front of my eyes.
We have a group of main characters for the novel: Severin, Tristan, Laila, Zofia, and Enrique. I loved getting to know each of them throughout the story. They each had unique personalities and traits to set them apart and I liked getting to know their backstories. They all played well off each other and worked great as a team and as individuals. One interesting thing was that the author chose to write the book from different character's viewpoints in alternating chapters. I thought this was a fantastic idea and fit well with the story line and feel of the novel. I liked getting to see the story through different eyes and figure out how each fit into the narrative. The plot wasn't anything hugely unique - but you can't really find anything that is anymore. The espionage, intrigue, and politics were all fascinating and kept you on your toes about what was going on in the story. The author put her own touches on the story and made it her own and something completely fresh and new. I'm so excited that this is the beginning to a series because I definitely need more time with these characters and inside their amazing world! Very highly recommended for fans of YA, historical, fantasy, and spy fiction.
Roshani Chokshi is the New
York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and A CROWN OF
WISHES. Her middle grade debut, ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME, released
April 3, 2018 from Disney/Rick Riordan Presents. The sequel, ARU SHAH
AND THE SONG OF DEATH is slated to release April 30, 2019. Her next
young adult novel, THE GILDED WOLVES, is slated for January 15, 2019.
Chokshi's work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Shimmer, and Book
Smugglers. She was a finalist in the 2016 Andre Norton Award and the
Locus Top Ten for Best First Novel. Her short story, "The Star Maiden,"
was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.
Author Links:
http://www.roshanichokshi.com/
http://www.twitter.com/Roshani_Chokshi
Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5)
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Description:
Three lush and adventurous stories in the Star-Touched world.
Death and Night
He
was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate,
destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps,
they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and
the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span
lifetimes.
Poison and Gold
Now that her wish for a
choice has come true, Aasha struggles to control her powers. But when
an opportunity to help Queen Gauri and King Vikram's new reign presents
itself, she is thrown into the path of the fearsome yet enchanting Spy
Mistress. To help her friends, Aasha will have to battle her
insecurities and perhaps, along the way, find love.
Rose and Sword
There
is a tale whispered in the dark of the Empire of Bharat-Jain. A tale of
a bride who loses her bridegroom on the eve of her wedding. But is it a
tale or a truth?
Praise:
"Deftly woven with fantastical elements and Indian mythology, the tales reflect and materialize the characters' internal struggles...Aasha's and Gauri's stories explore complex themes of identity, ambition, love, and loss. Chokshi marries sensuous storytelling with kick-ass protagonists in these feminist romances."—Kirkus Reviews
"Chokshi is in top form with the lush world-building and vivid language fans of the series have come to love. Each novella focuses on an ambitious heroine as she confronts not just her fears but her desires. A must-read for fans of the series and a charming introduction to the author and her works."—School Library Journal
"Whether read as a whole or in individual stories, this is a sure success that will leave any reader craving more of the fascinating and beguiling prose."—Booklist
“Lush and ornate ribbons of language... rich and dizzying.”—The New York Times Book Review on The Star-Touched Queen
"The sentence-level beauty of this book often stunned me: There's a smooth, understated loveliness to the writing that kept catching me off guard. In Chokshi's prose, voices have substance and texture while light has color and flavor; never have I wanted to munch on books so much as after reading...Solidly crafted and very engaging, this is a smooth, lovely and assured debut.”—NPR.org on The Star-Touched Queen
Praise for A Crown of Wishes:
Named “One of the Most Anticipated YA Novels of 2017” by
- Entertainment Weekly
- Teen Vogue
- Bustle
- BookRiot
- B&N Teen Blog
“Careful plotting, multiple viewpoints, high-stakes action, and a slow-burn relationship make this heady fantasy completely engrossing. A first pick for YA collections.”—School Library Journal, STARRED review
"Chokshi’s debut, The Star-Touched Queen (2016), was lush and gorgeously written, and Chokshi has only improved; this lovely companion tale boasts a stronger narrative structure in addition to the delightful prose.”—Booklist
“With a happily-ever-after reminiscent of beloved fairy tales, this is a great pick for voracious readers who like their bejeweled princesses to have hard edges.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Set against this vivid backdrop is a story with two skill- fully drawn protagonists...this gem will likely send those new to Alaka back to the companion story as its fans wait for another invitation to Chokshi’s luminous world."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“It's gorgeously written and exceptionally intriguing, and Chokshi's lush world is one you won't want to leave.”—Buzzfeed “Top 18 Books to Read this Spring”
“The tale is spellbinding, each character is well developed and interesting, and obvi we are so happy.”—Bustle “Best YA Books of March”
“Chokshi’s latest is a magical tale told through beautiful poetic storytelling... An intricately drawn, vibrant supporting cast and cleverly inventive plot help make this story a delightful read.”—Romantic Times, 4 1⁄2 stars “Top Pick!”
Praise for The Star-Touched Queen:
- New York Times Bestseller
- #9 on the Summer 2016 Kids' Indie Next List
- An Amazon Best Book of the Month
- A Goodreads Best Book of the Month
“Lush and ornate ribbons of language... rich and dizzying.”—The New York Times Book Review
"The sentence-level beauty of this book often stunned me: There's a smooth, understated loveliness to the writing that kept catching me off guard. In Chokshi's prose, voices have substance and texture while light has color and flavor; never have I wanted to munch on books so much as after reading...Solidly crafted and very engaging, this is a smooth, lovely and assured debut.”—NPR.org
“Chokshi's prose is captivating, and the pages come alive .... Maya is a strong heroine, and while there is romance, an emphasis on familial love adds another level of richness to a folkloric fantasy about sacrifice, self-discovery, and making your own destiny."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
“A setting drawn from ancient India, romance with feminist sensibilities, and a unique magic system reminiscent of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone make this a novel sure to appeal to fans of Renée Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn. A stunning debut filled with lush writing, smart characters, and a mysterious plot that provides as many twists as it does swoons.”—School Library Journal, STARRED review
“Chokshi's rich, descriptive writing weaves a lush web...a swoony romance, betrayal, and a journey to power and self-affirmation, with a slightly wicked, slightly funny animal sidekick in the best tradition (think Garth Nix's Mogget as a crimson-eyed horse), work together to create a spell that many readers will willingly succumb to. Richly imagined, deeply mythic, filled with lovely language with violet overtones: this is an author to watch.”—Kirkus Reviews
“This gorgeous debut promises big things to come from Chokshi, who at barely 25 has decades ahead to dazzle us.”—Cosmopolitan.com on “8 Life-Changing Novels by Twentysomething Women”
“Chokshi’s first novel is filled to the brim with gorgeous, scintillating writing that easily draws readers into its new take on traditional tales. A unique fantasy that is epic myth and beautiful fairy tale combined.”—Booklist
“The Star-Touched Queen is the YA Fantasy Must-Read of 2016” -Bustle
“A heady blend of mythology and metaphor, THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN is sure to appeal to fans of Laini Taylor and Leigh Bardugo. Maya is a great character, full of promise and patience, even as the odds are stacked against her.”—Romantic Times Book Reviews
“Magic is woven into every word of The Star-Touched Queen. Vibrantly imaginative and gracefully written, I was spellbound from the first line. A dazzling, sensuous feast of world-building, romance, and mythology.”—Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author of The Throne of Glass series
“A richly detailed world and a story filled with twists and turns, The Star-Touched Queen had me breathless right up until the final, stunning conclusion. It is a bewitching tale with a setting so vivid and unique, I wished I could step right through the pages.” —Amy Ewing, New York Times bestselling author of The Jewel
“Gorgeously poetic writing gives vibrant, sensuous life to the worlds of The Star-Touched Queen. Chokshi never shies away from forcing her characters to make hard choices, and I was captivated by Princess Maya’s cleverness and determination as she struggles against fate and betrayal.”—Kate Elliot, New York Times bestselling author of the Court of Five series
Star-Touched Stories is a collection of three short stories all set in the Star-Touched world. I'm not usually a fan of short stories in general because they never seem to have enough time to create the vital aspects I want - world building, plot, realistic characters. These stories were the complete opposite and in such wonderful ways. Somehow the author managed to create characters that I could connect within these short pages. She also told fantastic stories that had substance and an actual plot. The major thing that got me was the amazing world building that was done in each story despite their lengths. The author used incredibly detailed descriptions with lush vivid imagery that brought everything in each story to life in front of my eyes. I felt like I was right there inside this wondrous world alongside the characters as their stories were told. To me, these things are hard to find when it comes to short stories - or even some full length novels - and the fact that the author nailed all of the main aspects is amazing to me. I very highly recommend this book to fans of the author's other works as well as readers who enjoy YA fantasy, mythology, and short stories.
ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, and Aru Shah and the End of Time. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Shimmer, and Book Smugglers. Her short story, "The Star Maiden," was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.
