The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi

Rating -
Part of a series - The Gilded Wolves #3
Release - September 21, 2021
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - kisses and allusions to more
Source - library ebook
Length - 383 pages

The Previous Books in the Trilogy:

Picking up where The Silvered Serpents left off, this book concluded a trilogy full of fun, hope, madness, friendship, and love. I'm going to miss these characters (some more than most) so much!

Everything centered around the lyre, Séverin's determination to play it, Ruslan's plans for godhood, the teams hope of healing Laila, and all of the chaos in between.

Séverin — still my favourite. He had just seemingly betrayed his friends and his greatest wish was that they would see beyond his machinations. That they would still view him as a loved one, remain on his side, and together they'd be able to achieve their shared goals. His thoughts, feelings and actions virtually permeated the pages of this book, even when it wasn't his perspective taking centre stage.

Laila — her days were numbered and I was still trying to summon some sort of sympathy. I found none. I didn't like the way she treated or thought about Séverin for 99% of this book. However, I did enjoy what she represented... she was part human and part forged and their goal would play a huge part in her future. Her cultural references were much appreciated as well.

Enrique — our scholarly historian had bouts of doubt and indecision, but I loved how it was all depicted. From his anger and intolerance to Séverin, his confusion about his place in the world and in the group, and even his elusive aspirations for an unknown future, all of it made this character so appealing. Good thing I liked him so much already.

Zofia — mechanical engineer genius extraordinaire, who was trying to be a light in the dark. She was worried about so many things and I loved how she fit with the group.

Hypnos — absolutely ridiculous and a real gem. He had many moments of trying to bring our characters together and he was the first (and only one) to not lose faith in Séverin. I love him in all of his absurdity.

Ruslan definitely got what he deserved and what a disgusting person(?) he was. The ending wasn't the greatest, considering the buildup. I expected more, especially when it came to actual details, but I'm content with where this story left me.


Roshani Chokshi is the author of commercial and critically acclaimed books for middle grade and young adult readers that transport audiences to fantastical worlds heavily inspired by world mythology and folklore. Her work has been nominated for the Locus and Nebula awards, and has frequently appeared on Best of The Year lists from Barnes and Noble, Buzzfeed and more. Her New York Times bestselling series includes The Star-Touched Queen duology, The Gilded Wolves, and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which was recently optioned for film by Paramount Pictures.

Visit http://www.roshanichokshi.com for more information.

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Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Find your copy of Every Last Breath here:

Goodreads * Amazon

I am so glad I stuck with this trilogy!

Every Last Breath gave me everything I was looking for from the beginning. Not only was there a bump in action (mannnnnn that Lilin ain't a joke), but Layla did a lot of growing up. Not once did she aggravate me. NOT ONCE!

After that cliffhanger in Stone Cold Touch, I had no clue how the story would resolve itself. Who lives? Who dies? No one is safe! And JLA kept me on the edge of my toes for all of it!

Roth was just as delicious as always. Actually, I think he was more scrumptious in this book. When a demon finds his heart...


As much as I learned to appreciate Layla and as much as I loved Zayne (he's an amazing guy and I hope he finds true happiness), Roth was the true showstopper of this series. He permeated every bit of this story, even the scenes he wasn't a part of.

I'm here at the end and my mind is full of questions, such as:

1. Will Zayne find his mate? And who will it be? Is it Stacey?

2. What is Cayman? I know there's more to this demon. And will he appear again?

3. Will all of the gargoyles get a story?

4. Seriously... who or what is Morris?

5. And... will Layla and Roth show up somewhere?

I definitely recommend these books, if for nothing else, so you can fall in love with Roth too!




# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

──────　♔　──────

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Find your copy of Stone Cold Touch here:

Goodreads * Amazon

If you read my review of White Hot Kiss, you're probably wondering if I feel the same way.

I do.

I went in thinking to myself that I needed to be more patient. More tolerant.
She's a teenager and teenagers can be ridiculous. Remember you were one once.
The problem is... I grew up.
And I don't mean in years.
I mean, when things happened, I learned from them.
I evolved.
Sadly, Layla did not!

Our heroes won the battle, but not the war in the last book. Stone Cold Touch deals with the repercussions of all that happened before. Although Layla lacked self-awareness, it was easy to see what and who and where and why and everything else. All I had to do was observe and I understood. That doesn't mean the ending didn't still leave me shook, because it did. And again, despite how much I can't stand Layla... I'll be reading the next book.

I know, I know. I'm not making sense.

The author writes in a way that no matter how I feel about one character, there's still so much to enjoy. Like the hotness of Roth. Or the sweetness of Zayne. I believe both men deserve far more than they've gotten. And I'm not enjoying the love triangle that is going on here. One, it lacks real chemistry. Actually, the chemistry is all one-sided. The guys are giving and Layla isn't cutting it. I'm telling you, the endless blushing needs to stop. GROW UP!! And two... Well, these guys would be the perfect friends IMO. The only thing stopping them (aside from being natural born enemies) is Layla and what they believe they feel for her.

I honestly wish this wasn't categorized as any kind of romance. If it was just about a girl who is coming into her own, who happens to have powerful friends who are men, I'd be happier lol. Or maybe not. Maybe I would always find Layla to be terrible.

Okay, I'm off to read the next book. Wish me luck!


# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

──────　♔　──────

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Layla just wants to fit in at school and go on a date with Zayne, whom she's crushed on since forever. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister--and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla's kiss will kill anything with a soul--including him.

Then she meets Roth--a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it's tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she's the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

Find your copy of White Hot Kiss here:

Goodreads * Amazon

After being bombarded by so many five star reviews for this book, I expected to be blown away by how fantastic and irresistible and unputdownable it would be.

I wasn't.

I was less than thrilled by the heroine and found that the story suffered by being told solely from her point of view.

I know, I'm the worst. Heroines don't stand a chance with me. I'm so picky. Blah, blah-di-blah.

It's just that Layla was pretty much everything I don't like about teenagers. Whiney. Pathetic. Defiant (without cause). Ridiculous. Immature. I really could go on here.

And I swear, if she blushed one more time over a guy looking at her, asking her questions, casually touching her, or almost kissing her... I honestly don't know what I would do.

She was completely lackluster until the one scene at the end. Finally... finally she contributed something.

Why did everything center around her when she was absolutely no help to herself or others?

And why did she constantly do the one thing a heroine should never do? This chick was constantly calling out a man's name when he's trying to keep the demon's from killing her. Ummm... do you know anything about not distracting a hero when he's got his hands full?

All three stars go to Roth (who was utterly scrumptious), Zayne (who was magically delicious), and the plot and characters that filled up this story. They gave me enough to keep on going.

Yes, you read that right. I plan to read the next book.

We'll see how I feel about Layla then. I'm all for a redemption arc.



# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45044785-the-silvered-serpents

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost ― one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.

“What did you bring me today? Delusional mutterings with a side of crazy?”

“Captain,” she murmured.
“I think I’m in love with you.”
An eyebrow shot up. She counted six beats of his heart before, suddenly, he laughed.
“Don’t tell me it took you two whole days to realize that. I must be losing my touch.”

“A captain always knows where his ship is. It's like a psychic bond.”
“If only we had a captain here.”

“I am not human.
I am a cyborg.
I am a mechanic.
That's all I am... right?”

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