Challenge Corner discussion

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.

I started this last night. I'm only at 11%. I don't have a lot to say yet except that I'm confused about the Houses' system and I hope we'll get more explanations later on.

I'm a little worried I'm not going to love this book. It's not grabbing my attention like I hoped it would but we'll see.

I haven't started it yet but oh no :( I hope it gets better - I have one ebook I want to finish before I dive into this. So, I might start tonight?

Ch. 10: (view spoiler)[wait a hot minute, is hypnos a man whore? (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 20: (view spoiler)[ugh hypnos, I really don't like this character. (hide spoiler)]
Ch. 30: (view spoiler)[oh shit, what the hell is going to happen next? an epic battle? I need to know!! (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[WAIT WHAT? THAT'S HOW YOU ARE GOING TO END THIS BOOK?? I need the next one like right now! (hide spoiler)]

*************** RESTARTING AUGUST 23RD 2019 ***************

Part one: So far it's kinda interesting but I am borrowing the audiobook from the library and I don't recommend it! The male narrator has a very dull voice and both narrators do accents that are more annoying than anything else. (view spoiler)[ I'm not really sure how I feel yet, none of the characters really stand out yet and but I do want to know more about the magic system and the babel fragments and more about Laila and what is different about her power. (hide spoiler)]

Melany wrote: "Part one: So far it's kinda interesting but I am borrowing the audiobook from the library and I don't recommend it! The male narrator has a very dull voice and both narrators do accents that are mo..."

(view spoiler)[I agree with you. Not only do the characters stand out but I feel like we haven't even able to get to know any of them properly. Like, I get the backgrounds and everything but not THEM as of now. I just finished part one, too! (hide spoiler)]

Ritika wrote: "Melany wrote: "Part one: .."
Yeah definitely not a strong start, I'm still holding out hope!

Same here. I'll start part two in some while. Hopefully, it will be better. *fingers crossed*

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I'm enjoying it a little more now, I like Hypnos. I like that he is over the top and silly while most likely hiding a secret pain, but the other characters still do nothing for me. I like the story and find it interesting. I want to see how the plan comes together. The audiobook is still bad (hide spoiler)]

Ritika wrote: "Same here. I'll start part two in some while. Hopefully, it will be better. *fingers crossed*"

I enjoyed part two more so hopefully you do too!

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ It's starting to lose me again, the book is almost done and I'm still not connecting with the characters. I feel that getting the eye was too easy and Séverin and gang don't feel like "master thieves" they are just bumbling through this job.
I wonder what the guy Roux-Joubert mean by revolution? (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[ the Bone clock riddle wasn't as clever as I think the author was hoping it would be, the riddle was about bones and it is literally called A Bone Clock (hide spoiler)]

Finished, in the end, I didn't like this the characters never grew on me (view spoiler)[ I didn't feel anything when Tristan died and I don't care for Séverin and Lalia's romance, it supposed to be "sexy" because they deny each other but it took up too much time. I didn't enjoy this. But I say Séverin not being the real heir and his life is a lie is an interesting twist (hide spoiler)]

I'm a little sick right now. A terrible fever. It might take me some time to continue.

That's fine take your time and I hope you get better soon

Thank you. :)

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 9TH, 2021

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20%

(view spoiler)[The world-building and magic system in this book is really interesting but still kind of a mystery to me. I get that there are two kinds of manipulation magic that people can have - to manipulate matter or the mind. But I am not sure to the extent the magic can change things. And not everyone has this magic, but it manifests when you turn thirteen if you have it. I'm intrigued, but I don't fully understand it at this point.

I am also not completely certain about the pieces of Babel and the Eye of Horus. So an Eye of Horus can lead someone to a piece of Babel? There is so much mythology woven onto this story too.

I wonder why Severin's inheritance was taken from him in the first place? Hypnos suggested that it was racist in nature, that they couldn't or wouldn't have two head of houses with color in their bloodline so they kept one, him, and then disbanded Severin's house. Since they both had mothers of color? It's horrid. But I guess that kind of thing is par for the course in their timeframe so I suppose I can applaud the historical authenticity of it.

It seems to me like Zofia is autistic. I don't remember the author saying anything along those lines publicly but I don't necessarily follow the author so it is something I could have missed. She cerainly displays characteristics of a neurodivergent person.

I am a little skeptical that the Order of Babel would simply give Severin his inheritance back even if he blackmailed them. And I wonder why he would even want to be a part of their organization after what they did to his family. They have mentioned the horrible way they steal artifacts and sweep things under the rug and he and his team have even been thwarting their efforts but Severin still wants to be a part of their organization? I can see him wanting his childhood home back for sentimental reason, but otherwise I just can't figure it out.

I wonder what Hypnos wants with the Eye of Horus? To find a piece of Babel, surely, but for what purpose? Power? There has to be a specific reason he wants or needs this and is willing to blackmail Severin into stealing it for him. I know that Hypnis and Severin were childhood rivals/friends but I wonder if Hypnos can be trusted? (hide spoiler)]

♛Vanessa♛ wrote: "20%

[Spoilers removed]."

(view spoiler)[I love all the mythology of this foreign world. It's super interesting to read even though I don't understand everything (yet).

I also think that Zofia is autistic or has autistic tendencies at least.

That's something I also didn't understand. Why does he want to be in that Order? He was treated badly and even if he gets his inheritance I doubt they would treat him like an equal. He seems to be doing fine with the Hotet. (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 (view spoiler)[I like Paris as a setting. They are all very interesting characters, but so far I like Zofia and Laila the most. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 (view spoiler)[This feels less and less like Six of Crows and I enjoy this book more now. The puzzles are great. I don't know what to make of Hypnos, if he's really friend or foe. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 (view spoiler)[Oh my god, poor Tristan. I hope they are able to save him. I didn't think someone besides Hypnos would betray them.

Speaking of Hypnos, I don't fully trust him (obviously) but I think Severin treats him unfair. It always makes me a little sad to see him getting turned down by Severin and the others. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[I really start to like Hypnos... I don't really understand Severins plan, only that he intends to use Hypnos as bait. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5 (view spoiler)[I think Lailas backstory is super interesting and I hope we learn more about her in the future.

They were able to save Tristan! And everyone believed Hypnos would betray them... but they are all so happy now, I fear that something bad is about to happen. (hide spoiler)]

Part 6 (view spoiler)[All I put in my notes is: WHAT. THE. HELL. :D I was really shocked after Tristan died. (hide spoiler)]

The End (view spoiler)[The thing with the birds that Laila discovered was so messed up! It makes Tristans death doesn't seem so bad.

Severin was really mean to Laila. I know he's hurt after Tristans death and he misses his brother and wants to hurt everyone around him, but telling Laila that she isn't real was a low blow.

And then the twist on the last page, that Severin isn't the real blood heir to House Vanth! (hide spoiler)]

I really enjoyed this book and hope to continue soon. Luckily I have the next one on my TBR already. :D

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RESTARTING MAY 13TH, 2023

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Starting

I do not like the guy narrator, but the girl is way better, so it might make up for him.

I just started this today as well. What are your thoughts so far?

I really like the world building and details. It's detailed to where I can easily envision the read

Yeah, I agree. I'm not very far into it, so not much to comment on yet. But the author is very descriptive and paints a picture of what everything looks like.

Chapters 1-7 (view spoiler)[I know we already talked about the world building and I feel like that's well done, but I'm not really connecting with the characters very much. I dislike the audio so much, so I might just switch to the ebook. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8-16 (view spoiler)[Wow this is hard to get through. The ebook is so much better than the audiobook though. Especially with the puzzles and stuff. I feel like that would have been way too confusing to listen to. Still not loving this one yet. Hopefully it gets better. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[Im bored. Also i would never be able to solve all these puzzles and riddles. Even the easier ones (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[Finally!! I will not be reading the second book in this series. This just seemed to drag. But then again, I might just be in a fantasy book slump ever since I read Fourth Wing. Even the twist at the end wasn't convincing me to read the next book. (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[Is it just me or what but i think the intro is quite confusing. Though the plot is interesting. Its just that its a lot of povs and characters. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ I like how each characters is diverse and each has a specific expertise. And its amazing how they connect each historical stuff. Though I'm not really amaze on severin as much as the others. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[ I'm with tristan, I'm also having second thoughts with Hypnos. What do you think? Their inventions and power is crazy and the way their minds work. Just wow. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ Finished! Its an okay book for me. The ending is quite cliffhanger so I might jump on the next book one of this days. Is severin an important character? If his not the heir to house vanth then wbo is he? Hmmmm (hide spoiler)]