The Bronzed Beasts

By: Roshani Chokshi

Narrated by: Laurie Catherine Winkel, P. J. Ochlan

Returning to the dark and glamorous 19th-century world of her New York Times instant best seller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with the final riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever in The Bronzed Beasts.

After Séverin's seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos, and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy, to locate Séverin. Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass. With only 10 days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs, and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself...but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books

©2021 Roshani Chokshi (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Did Not Let The Side Down

How annoying it is to reach the last book of a series, exerting so much effort galvanising our fractured attention spans, only to be disappointed with a dud.

This last novel is NOT that. Finally, the full potential of this world comes together, its imaginative features and its philosophies. Sure, I think the thesis about history, in the end, was too simple. But the final chapters at the temple were so beautifully written. And the characters, in the end, were now beloved. Their emotional arcs were mature and thoughtfully wrought. I’m very glad I spent some time with this series.

Best of the three

The first book underwhelmed me. The second book was hard to grasp. The third book, framed by the quest theme, was the most satisfying. The series is an interesting mix: the 18th century (and earlier) reverence for past heritage, the absence of 19th century millennial exuberance about human progress, and an infusion of 21st century colonial guilt. Definitely not anglo-centric. And for all of that, a series that should be read, at least for what one can learn, especially if you don't know the words ziggurat and alembic.

Perfection

Nothing to say. Roshani Chokshi is one of the best YA writers. Her writing is so different from the rest; how does she manage to weave such a heartbreaking tale with historical commentary, the most diverse set of characters I’ve ever encountered, and such poetic prose? She is truly a witch. All the characters are deeply lovable, the setting is gorgeous and the story is this high stakes adventure-reality where history and social justice play alongside fantasy and the power of gods. One of the best trilogies I’ve read.