"Gilded Wings" by Emily Thiede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilded Wings and Iron Chains! "Gilded Wings" by Emily Thiede is an original YA fantasy set in the 19th century, in the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, with the exciting addition of dragons, a premise I couldn't resist. Told in the third person from the alternating perspectives of the two main protagonists, it follows Stella, a country girl, and Gentry, a newsie who delivers newspapers for a living.

Stella leaves home to avoid an arranged marriage. She joins her sister in the big city, much to her sister's dismay. The two are different in character and don't really get along. Maeve is the black sheep of the family, while Stella is the golden child. Stella feels invisible and inadequate and hopes to change that and improve her relationship with her sister. On her very first day, she is almost trampled to death by a passing carriage but is saved by the charming Gentry, who has secrets of his own and a past he hides from his friends.

When an object entrusted to him for safekeeping disappears, he suspects Stella of stealing it. He must find the it, as his life is on the line otherwise. When he is thrown out of his boarding house because of his age, he tries to find a place for himself and his fellow newsies while struggling to make it on the streets. Meanwhile, Stella works alongside her sister in a factory and is upset by the unjust working conditions. She grows close to an Infaerna, a bright miniature dragon, and comes to care for her. As dragon attacks escalate and the Infaerna start going missing, Stella and Gentry join forces to get to the root of the issue. Between dragon attacks, class conflict, political intrigue, and growing attraction, they have their hands full. There is danger in the city, and it isn't just the dragons.

The premise was great, but the execution fell a bit short for me. I had a hard time getting into the story at first because of the over-descriptive prose and the slow pacing. However, once I got into the spirit of things and got used to the writing, I couldn't stop reading. The book started well enough, dragged in the middle, and regained its momentum towards the end. There were a couple of sections where things were told rather than shown, but I was glad the author didn't stretch those sections.

The world-building was excellent, and I loved the concept of colors distinguishing between classes. I also loved the combination of the Industrial Revolution and dragons, and I only wish the latter had played a bigger role in the story. I admired the clever Infaerna and their quirks, as well as the colorful cast of side characters. I disliked Maeve, Stella's sister, at first because of her attitude toward her sister. However, as the plot unfolded, I changed my mind about her.

I liked Stella and rooted for her. She was an idealist, if a bit naive, and I loved her optimism, caring nature, kindness, and passion for justice and workers' rights. She was a fighter, and I admired her for it. In contrast, Gentry was cynical but charming and used his charm to his advantage. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, especially how they influenced each other and brought out the best in one another. He gave her confidence, while she gave him mettle.

Overall, I enjoyed the book despite its flaws, so after consideration, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. With tighter writing and pacing, it could have been even more engaging. There is no spice, which is refreshing to me, and I was very satisfied with the conclusion. I recommend it to fans of dragons, slow-burn romance, and found family.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Gilded Wings" by Emily Thiede