Synopsis (from Goodreads):

he town of Moon Ridge was founded 400 years ago and everyone born and raised there knows the legend of the young woman who perished at the stroke of twelve that very same night, losing the life she was set to embark on with her dearest love. Every century since, one day a year, the Lady of Moon Ridge descends from the stars to walk among the townsfolk, conjuring an aura upon those willing to follow their hearts’ desires.

“To summon joy and love in another’s soul
For a connection that makes two people whole
For laughter and a smile that one can never miss
Sealed before midnight with a truehearted kiss.”

This year at Moon Ridge High, a group of friends known as The Coven will weave art, science, and magic during a masquerade ball unlike any other. Onny, True, and Ash believe everything is in alignment to bring them the affection, acceptance, and healing that can only come from romance—with a little help from Onny’s grandmother’s love potion.

But nothing is as simple as it first seems. And as midnight approaches, The Coven learn that it will take more than a spell to recognize those who offer their love and to embrace all the magic that follows.

Review:

The authors of this book have written some of my favorite books.  Roshani Chokshi's book, The gilded Wolves, is full of complicated relationships and adventure.  Sandha Menon is the queen of YA romance with such novels as When Dimple Met Rishi.  And Evelyn Skye writes fantasy novels such as The Crown's Game, which has amazing fantasy elements.  These three wonderful authors teamed up to create a magical, romantic Halloween romp.  Three Wishes, One Midnight follows the story of three friends and their journey to true love on a very special Halloween.  I loved the festive Halloween atmosphere of the big party, the characters, and the stories of romance.  This is a perfect book to read in October, or anytime a reader wants to get in the Halloween spirit.

What I Liked:

Atmosphere:

I love books about small towns, and the little town in this book has lots of charm and local legends. Every one hundred years, the spirits of two lovers reunite on Halloween.  And Onny's parents have an annual party to celebrate.  But this is no ordinary party.  Onny's folks have serious money (I found it really wonderful that these parents were Filipino, and not your stereotypical white, entitled rich people).   And every year, they put on a midnight ball where the whole town is invited to participate.  

This create a magical party full of all sorts of different people, including the crushes of Onny and Ash, and True's semi-evil ex.  But Onny is on a mission to find true love through a love potion invented by Onny's deceased grandmother.  Will the trio use the love potions on their crushes?  Or will the romantic atmosphere of a masquerade ball be all that's needed to let romance blossom?

Characters:

Onny, Ash, and True are friends who will do anything for each other.  Onny is convinced that giving each of them a love potion is what is needed for each of them to find true love.  The friends know that Onny is rather dramatic, but they grudgingly go along.  I enjoyed that each of the three characters get their own POV story, and they all fit with each other.  Of course, the path to true love is never a straight one.  Each of them has a strange, and wonderful adventure on this magical night.

The supporting characters are also lots of fun.  While Onny is obsessing with her crush, her nemesis, Byron, keeps popping up during the party.  Why does he seem to be the one that Onny is attracted to?   Ash, a sensitive artist, is certainly less outgoing than Onny.  And the girl that he has a crush on was a really interesting person (and...the girl next door!).  Although she seems like an overachiever, there is a compelling reason that motivates her to excel.  And True's love interest is almost so perfect, she pushes him away.  But they keep bumping into each other.  Can True trust that this guy might actually be a perfect match?  

Onny's parents are an adorable couple, who show Onny what a loving marriage looks like.  And I really loved the town's mayor and his teacher husband.  They were complete opposites who somehow make sense together.  What a charming representation of healthy relationships!  Loved it.  

Story:

I loved that the book is split evenly into three parts, where each friend gets to have their own storyline.  This was a fun format that let the reader see some of the same events from different angles.  Make no mistake, this is a lighthearted story with plenty of meet-cutes, romantic moments, and a few mysteries, that keeps the reader intrigued.   I would love to live in a little town where everyone goes to a celebration like this one.  I also liked that each story has it's twists, having each of the main characters question their own biases about people they think they know.       

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 30th, 2022

Authors: Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, Evelyn Skye

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: YA Romance

Page Length:  288 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This was a fun, romantic Halloween book that I think I will read in succeeding Octobers to get into the Halloween spirit.  I highly recommend this book.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

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 the 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. 

Review:

This series has so many elements that I just adore.  It's set in the Gilded Age in Paris, there is magic, a group of misfits who become friends, and (at it's core) a heist.  Gilded Wolves, the first in the series, was fun, had an complex world of magic, and an exciting story.  The Silvered Serpents continues the adventure.  But this time, we get a more in-depth look at several of the supporting characters.  This was a highly entertaining page-turner!

What I Liked:

Recap:

One of the unfortunate aspects of reading a sequel is that I often can't remember who the characters are, or what happened in the first book.  The Silvered Serpents solves this problem by subtly recapping important events from the first book.  I really appreciated this as a reader. 

Characters:

While the first book was all about world-building, the second book is more character driven.  We really get to know Enrique and Zofia, and see why they are such valued members of the group.

Enrique, a young Filipino man in Paris, has a lot of bravado.  But this masks a deep unease as he navigates European society.  He is keenly aware of how he is treated by most people.  This affects his self-esteem and makes him question his worth to the group, and it's leader, Séverin.  He is also the book's conscience, noticing how the Europeans conquer and pillage from other cultures. 

Zofia is another character who we learn more about in this book.  While not saying it outright, Zofia exhibits characteristics of Autism and anxiety.  Zofia has very particular habits such as needing food to be bland (and not touching on the plate), and she soothes herself by counting objects.  She knows she is different and that her friends do small things to accommodate her.  While she uéderstands this is done out of love, she also doesn't want to be a burden.

Romances:

The love/hate relationship between Laila and Séverin is even more intense in this book.  While they are drawn to each other, they have many misunderstandings, which lead to intense anger.  I think both of them are confused by their feelings.  How can you be so attracted to someone who hurts you so much?

The relationship between Enrique and Hypnos is also complex and touching.  It's heartbreaking to see how Enrique wants a real relationship with Hypnos.  But the object of his affections just can't take Enrique seriously.  If this were a book set in modern times, Laila would be telling Enrique, "He's just not into you"!

Story:

The story is, again, filled with adventure, and puzzles.  It was a lot of fun to follow the gang as they look for The Divine Lyrics, which could be the key to saving Laila.  I really liked all the clues and puzzles they must sort through to find their prize. 

Who else is looking for The Divine Lyrics?  What will Séverin (or anyone) do with the prize once they get it?  Who can they trust?  So many questions...   I liked that most of these questions are answered.  Even though there was a cliff-hanger, the main plot points were resolved.  This makes for a satisfying ending, while leaving the reader eager for the next novel in the series.

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 22, 2020

Author:  Roshani Chokshi

Publisher:  Wednesday Books

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Page Length:  416 pages

Source:  Netgalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  An entertaining sequel to The Gilded Wolves.  I highly recommend this book.