Ladrones, magia e historia… ¿Nuevo libro favorito? – Reseña: The Gilded Wolves

(The English version can be found down below)

Título: The Gilded Wolves

Autora: Roshani Chokshi

Editorial: Wednesday Books

Género: Fantasía

Nº de páginas: 464

Idioma: Inglés

Puntuación: ★★★★☆ y ¼

¿Qué encontrarás en este libro?

Seis delincuentes, un robo
Fantasía en el París de 1889
Personajes inolvidables y complejos con dinámicas maravillosas
Historia, mitología, referencias bíblicas
Muchísima diversidad: protagonistas racializados y LGTBQ+, representación autista, relaciones poliamorosas…

Sinopsis:

Ambientado en un mundo oscuro y glamuroso, The Gilded Wolves está plagado de misterio, decadencia y aventuras peligrosas pero emocionantes.

París, 1889: El mundo se halla en la cúspide de la industria y el poder, y la Exposición Universal ha reavivado las calles y desenterrado antiguos secretos. En esta ciudad, nadie controla los secretos mejor que el cazatesoros y rico hostelero Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. Pero cuando la sociedad todopoderosa la Orden de Babel, necesita su ayuda, a Séverin le ofrecen un tesoro que nunca habría imaginado: su verdadera herencia.

Para encontrar el artefacto ancestral que la Orden busca, Séverin necesitará la ayuda de una banda de expertos: Una ingeniera con una deuda a pagar. Un historiador que todavía no puede regresar a su hogar. Una bailarina con un pasado siniestro. Y un hermano de todo menos de sangre al que quizás le preocupa demasiado.

Juntos, deberán usar su ingenio y conocimientos para buscar el artefacto en el oscuro y reluciente corazón de París. Lo que encuentren podría cambiar el mundo, pero solo si logran sobrevivir.

Opinión:

Gracias a NetGalley y Wednesday Books por enviarme una copia de este libro a cambio de mi más sincera opinión. Todas las citas que aparece en la reseña podrían cambiar de cara a la versión final del libro.

CAUSA DE LA MUERTE: ESTE LIBRO. A pesar de no haber sido una lectura de cinco estrellas para mí, ha sido sin duda una de mis favoritas del año. Hacía mucho que no me metía tanto en una historia. Tiene todas las cosas que me encantan en un libro: un grupo de individuos que son como una familia, personajes diversos y de moral ambigua, unos romances increíbles que no eclipsan la trama, una estética oscura, giros en la trama, magia chulísima, y una pluma preciosa. Pero, antes de entrar en detalles, un pequeño aviso: sí, recuerda a Seis de cuervos. Si os gustó el libro de Bardugo por la dinámica entre sus personajes, probablemente también os guste este; pero si estáis esperando otro Seis de cuervos, id a releer ese. La novela de Chokshi es su propia historia, una que no dejará indiferente a nadie.

Lo bueno:

Los personajes:

Séverin: Después de que la Orden de Babel le negara su título, se convirtió en el dueño de un hotel… y un ladrón. Es el ambicioso e inteligente líder de la banda, pero al contrario de lo que uno pueda pensar, también es su amigo y se preocupa mucho por todos y cada uno de ellos.

They might owe him their service. But he was the one bound to them. He was the one who would always be left behind.

Enrique: Es un historiador español-filipino bisexual, un ratón de biblioteca, pero también muy gracioso y adorable.

He might help Séverin steal, but the greatest thief of all was the Order of Babel, for they stole more than just objects… they stole histories, smuggled evidence of illustrious antiquity onto large ships and spirited them into indifferent lands.

Tristan: El hermano adoptivo de Séverin y un jardinero de lo más cuqui con una tarántula llamada Goliath por mascota.

Once she stepped into the gardens of L’Eden, she was inside Tristan’s imagination. Despite its name, the gardens were no paradise, but a labyrinth of sins. Seven, to be exact.

Hypnos: Un patriarca de la Casa Nyx, aunque las otras Casas no lo tienen en muy alta estima debido a que su madre era negra, y un icono gay cuyos talentos incluyen ser absurdamente extra y ligar. Hace un trato con Séverin para ayudarle a conseguir su título, pero en realidad, lo único que quiere es tener amigos.

But what no one tells you is that even when you decide which world you will live in, the world may not always see you as you would wish. Sometimes it demands that you be so outrageous as to transcend your very skin. You can change your name. Your eye color. Make yourself a myth and live within it, so that you belong to no one but yourself.

Zofia: Una científica polaca, judía y autista obsesionada con las matemáticas y el fuego y a la que adoro.

“You’re the only phoenix I’ve got,” he said with a small smile. “[redacted] couldn’t see that. Which is rather advantageous, wouldn’t you agree? He may not know now. But he will soon.”

Laila: Una carismática bailarina y pastelera india capaz de leer objetos y con un oscuro secreto. Ah, y también es la mejor amiga que alguien podría tener (y mi favorita junto con Zofia).

Her mother called her beloved. Her father labeled her blasphemous. Paris named her L’Enigme. “Laila?” breathed Tristan. Laila. She was Laila. The girl who made herself.

No exagero cuando digo que este es uno de mis grupos de personajes favoritos sobre los que he leído. Son complejos, interesantes y tridimensionales, pero mejor que ellos por individual es ellos como grupo. La mayoría de ellos ya eran amigos desde el principio, pero aun así se puede ver un gran desarrollo en sus relaciones, y a mí me ha gustado en especial la amistad entre Zofia y Laila. Son polos opuestos, pero se entienden, confían y aprenden la una de la otra, y las amistades fuertes entre personajes femeninos siempre me gustan.

Aparte de las maravillosas amistades, este libro también tiene algunos de los mejores romances que he leído últimamente. Por un lado, hay un triángulo amoroso/relación poliamorosa que incluye el tropo de rivales-a-amigos-a-amantes y un romance muy divertido y adorable. Por otro lado, hay un romance entre dos personajes con un pasado juntos que aún no han superado pero no quieren admitirlo y que, sinceramente, casi me mata.

Otras cosas que me han gustado de esta historia son:

Los temas que trata, como la colonización, el feminismo, la religión o el racismo (Hypnos, Enrique y Séverin son todos biraciales, pero todos lo viven de distinta forma, algo que no se suele ver mucho en ficción).
La ambientación: La historia desempeña un papel importante en la novela, y se nota que Roshani se documentó bien.
La pluma de la autora: Es atrapante, potente y no excesivamente recargada. Nunca había leído un libro de esta autora, pero estoy segura de que este no será el último.
¡¡¡EL FINAL!!!

Lo malo:

Por desgracia, por mucho que lo haya disfrutado, he de reconocer que el libro tiene sus pegas. Para empezar, el principio es más bien lento, pero una vez coge ritmo, no podía soltarlo. Además, y esto probablemente sea lo que más me haya molestado: aunque me haya encantado la forma en la que se incorporan historia, matemáticas y ciencias en la trama, a veces era algo difícil de entender. Lo mismo se podría decir sobre el sistema mágico: es complejo y está bien desarrollado, pero me ha costado comprender cómo funciona. A pesar de ser cosas que no me han impedido disfrutar del libro, sí que podía resultar confuso y, de hecho, tuve que volver a releer algunas frases, así que espero que se arreglen estas cosas de cara a la secuela.

En fin, si buscáis una nueva saga de fantasía diversa con personajes únicos y enigmáticos y una estética oscura, no lo penséis dos veces y leed The Gilded Wolves. Estoy convencida de que esta saga será una de mis favoritas y la nueva obsesión de mucha gente.

Trigger warnings:

Racismo, abandono, maltrato físico y psicológico, muerte.

Reseña por: Helena

Title: The Gilded Wolves

Author: Roshani Chokshi

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: Fantasy

Page count: 464

Language: English

Rating: ★★★★☆ and 1/4

What will you find in this book?

Six criminals, one theft
Fantasy in 1889 Paris
Unforgettable and complex characters with amazing dynamics
History, mythology, biblical references
Lots of diversity: PoC and LGBTQ+ protagonists, autism rep, polyamorous relationships…

Plot:

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.

Opinion:

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All quotes featured in the review are subject to change in the final copy.

CAUSE OF DEATH: THIS BOOK. Even if this wasn’t a 5 star read for me, it was definitely one of my favourite reads of the year. It’s been so long since I was this invested in a story. It has all the things I love in a book: found families, morally grey and diverse characters, amazing romance that doesn’t overshadow the plot, a dark aesthetic, plot twists, cool magic, and some beautiful prose. But, before I go into detail, a little disclaimer: yes, this does remind of Six of Crows. If you liked Bardugo’s book for its character dynamics, you’ll probably like this one too – but if you’re expecting another Six of Crows, just go reread that one. Chokshi’s novel is its own thing – a fascinating one that won’t leave anyone indifferent.

The good:

The characters:

Séverin: After being denied his title by the Order of Babel, he became the owner of a hotel… and a thief. He’s the ambitious and clever leader of the crew, but contrary to what one might think, he’s also their friend and cares deeply about each and every one of them.

They might owe him their service. But he was the one bound to them. He was the one who would always be left behind.

Enrique: He’s a bisexual Spanish-Filipino historian who’s a big nerd, but also really funny and sweet.

He might help Séverin steal, but the greatest thief of all was the Order of Babel, for they stole more than just objects… they stole histories, smuggled evidence of illustrious antiquity onto large ships and spirited them into indifferent lands.

Tristan: Séverin’s adopted brother and an adorable gardener with a pet tarantula named Goliath.

Once she stepped into the gardens of L’Eden, she was inside Tristan’s imagination. Despite its name, the gardens were no paradise, but a labyrinth of sins. Seven, to be exact.

Hypnos: A Patriarch of House Nyx, though the other Houses don’t like him much since his mother was black, and a gay icon whose talents include being ridiculously extra and flirting. He makes a deal with Séverin to help him get his title, but in reality, all he wants is to have some friends.

But what no one tells you is that even when you decide which world you will live in, the world may not always see you as you would wish. Sometimes it demands that you be so outrageous as to transcend your very skin. You can change your name. Your eye color. Make yourself a myth and live within it, so that you belong to no one but yourself.

Zofia: An autistic Jewish Polish scientist obsessed with math and fire that I’m personally in love with.

“You’re the only phoenix I’ve got,” he said with a small smile. “[redacted] couldn’t see that. Which is rather advantageous, wouldn’t you agree? He may not know now. But he will soon.”

Laila: A charismatic Indian dancer and baker who can read objects and has a dark secret. Oh, and she’s also the best friend one could ever have (and my favourite along with Zofia).

Her mother called her beloved. Her father labeled her blasphemous. Paris named her L’Enigme. “Laila?” breathed Tristan. Laila. She was Laila. The girl who made herself.

I don’t exaggerate when I say this is one of my favourite cast of characters I’ve ever read about. They are all complex, interesting and three-dimensional, but even better than them individually is them as a group. Although pretty much all of them are friends from the beginning, you can still see a lot of development in their relationships, and I particularly loved Zofia and Laila’s friendship. They’re complete opposites, but they understand, trust and learn from each other, and I’m always a fan of strong female friendships.

Besides the amazing friendships, this book also managed to have some of the best romance I’ve read in a while. On the one hand, there’s a love triangle/polyamorous relationship that features the rivals-to-friends-to-lovers trope and a very fun and cute romance. On the other hand, there’s a romance between two people with a past together who still haven’t gotten over each other but won’t admit it and that, to be honest, almost killed me.

Other things I really appreciated about this story are:

The themes it touched upon, like colonisation, feminism, religion, or racism (Hypnos, Enrique and Séverin are all biracial, but they all experience it differently, something we don’t see enough of in media).
The setting. History played a big part in the story, and you can tell Roshani did her research.
The writing. It was gripping, powerful and not overly flowery. I had never read a book by this author, but I’m sure this won’t be last.
THE ENDING!!!

The bad:

Sadly, as much as I enjoyed this, I have to admit it has its flaws. First, it’s a bit on the slow side at the beginning, though once it picked up the pace I couldn’t put it down. Then, and this is probably what bothered me the most: while I loved how it incorporates history, math or science into the story, it was a bit complicated to follow sometimes. The same could be said for the magic system – while it is complex and well-developed, it did take me a while to understand how it works. Even though these are things that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the book, it could be confusing and I actually had to go back and reread some sentences, so I hope this issues will be fixed in the sequel.

Anyways, if you’re looking for a new diverse fantasy with unique and enigmatic characters and a dark aesthetic, don’t think twice and go read The Gilded Wolves. I’m confident this series will be a new favourite of mine, and a new obsession for many others too.