The Silvered Serpents: The Gilded Wolves, Book 2

Even with a less likeable main character and a darker premise, this magic treasure hunting sequel still excites. Severin, the head of his crew of treasure hunters, continues to be clever, but is so obsessed with a particular artifact -- The Divine Lyrics -- and the power that it can bring him, that he neglects the people he wants to protect and is even cruel to them. It weighs on everyone he works with, and potentially the reader as well. Still, with an ice palace teaming with secret rooms and the gruesome clues of handless "statues" everywhere (awfully lifelike statues), there's much to draw you in even if you're not rooting for Severin.

Another draw of The Silvered Serpents is the shifting perspectives every chapter. Zofia, Laila, Hypnos, and Enrique each get a turn as narrator. Laila's worries are the greatest. She thinks her forged body will fail on her birthday in a few weeks' time and she will die. She's also the only one who knows the exact tragic history of those "statues." Hypnos' and Enrique's worries are ones most can relate to: they're both outsiders who just wants to belong. Zofia, an autistic character, worries that she is a burden to others even though the reader can see how valuable she is to the team. They are all vital to the story and the mission, and Severin's obsessive drive to protect his friends culminates in a seriously intense cliffhanger. Get ready for a thrilling Book 3.