Gilded Wolves

Description:

No one believes in them. But soon no one will forget them.

It's 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.

Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history--but only if they can stay alive.

My Thoughts:

This is a story of young thieves with different powers. If this were contemporary novel, the characters would have different 21st century tech skills. Together, under the leadership of their own ousted "prince," these young people have created their own extended family, working together to try and return their "prince" to his throne, or his House. What I like about this is the fact that in a way the characters are both loyal to each other and using each other at the same time. That lends a complexity to the relationships that draws me in. I also like that this is not a happy sappy. The best YA stories, in my opinion balance victory and tragedy, magic and mundane, disappointment and optimism. 

Ms. Chokshi is not known as a trilogy YA writer, however, although there is no hype about a second book, based on the end of the book, there will be at least one more story. If I am wrong about that, I am very confused because there are so many unanswered questions left hanging.