From #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare comes the first novel in a brand-new trilogy where evil hides in plain sight and love cuts deeper than any blade. Chain of Gold is a Shadowhunters novel. Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to … crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin. Cordelia’s mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride. Soon Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons, where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. All the while, she must hide her secret love for James, who is sworn to marry someone else.
But Cordelia’s new life is blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London. These monsters are nothing like those Shadowhunters have fought before–these demons walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia and her friends discover that their own connection to a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers–and forced a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.
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I loved the return to this part of the Shadowhunter world. Yes, things felt marginally less dramatic than they did in TDA, but I really like the mystery that’s being set up and I truly can’t guess how the relationships (platonic and romantic) are all going to shake out. I admit I was feeling frustrated after hearing snippets about these characters for literally years, since TID ended, but once the story got going I completely forgot about any irritation and now I’m completely on board.
It felt so good to be back in the Shadowhunters world. I always forget how much I love this world Cassie has created until we get another book to dive into.
Now, I will admit, it took me a minute to get into Chain of Gold. I love action and the beginning of COG doesn’t have a whole lot of it, in my opinion. But I love the characters and they more then made up for the lack of action in the beginning.
I obviously loved the story and the plot. Cassie always manages to throw me for a loop, and the way that she weaves her books and series together and connects them, still amazes me. She has said that you can read this book as a standalone, but I feel like the reading experience is much better if you have at least read the infernal devices and maybe some of the novella’s in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and Ghosts of the Shadow Market. Like getting to truly enjoy seeing Will and Tessa as parents. Especially Will.
“Do not let those who cannot see the truth tell you who you are. You are the flame that cannot be put out. You are the star that cannot be lost. You are who you have always been, and that is enough and more than enough. Anyone who looks at you and sees darkness is blind.”
I don’t usually enjoy multiple points of view, but somehow Cassie pulls it off perfectly. All of their pov’s lend something important to the story. Obviously James and Cordelia are our main characters in this book, and I love them so much. But getting some of the other characters pov, Mathew, Lucie, etc, really lent something to the story. I never wanted to skim. Which happens to me a lot when I read books that have more that two pov’s.
Cassie’s books are always a different kind of reading experience for me. I have loved this world from the beginning in The Mortal Instruments, and Chain of Gold was no different for me. Her writing only get’s better with each book. I love so much that I am able to completely disappear into her words and forget reality while reading. Not many books can accomplish that for me anymore.
“But at least we can always pick up a book and read it anew. Stories offer a thousand fresh starts.”
I pretty much loved every character in this book Except
Grace and Tatiana Blackthorne. They can promptly go away. Mann, these two got on my nerves so much in this book.
I really hope they both get what they deserve in Chain of Iron, though probably not because it’s Cassandra, but a girl can wish.
It took me so much longer to finish this book than I thought it would. I was savoring every page. I loved being back in this historical era as well. Cassandra does such a good job of describing this era, the fashion, and how life and society was in that time. It’s all so well described without being overly detailed.
This book was a lot less crushing than I was expecting it to be, so I have a feeling we’re in for it with the next two. But I’m always happy to let Cassandra rip my heart out of my chest.
“We do not get to choose when in our lives we feel pain,” Said Mathew. “It comes when it comes, and we try to remember, even though we cannot imagine a day when it will release its hold on us, that all pain fades. All misery passes. Humanity is drawn to light, not darkness.”
If you have loved her previous Shadowhunter books you are more than likely going to love Chain of Gold.
Five star read for me.
Chain of gold is the first book in the new Shadowhunters series The Last hours by Cassandra Clare. I really loved the Shadow world since City of Bones and this book was one of my most inticipated read from this year. And by the Angel I really wasn’t dissapointed.
This book is set years after The Infernal device trilogy. Will and Tessa childrens, James and Lucie have grown up knowing peace with family and friends. But it doesn’t last. Something dark and sinister will strike the Shadowhunters in London having the clave no choice but to put the Shadownunter of London in quarantine cause a demon is poisoning them and there is no cure for the moment.
James, Cordelia and all their friends will be plunge in an adventure to stop that demon and find who’s behing this.
Cassandra Clare does it again with taking you back in time to Edwardian London. The new and old characters are fantastic and keep you entertained.The ending leaves you wanting more as usual. Must read for anyone who enjoyed Clare’s other works. Can’t wait for the next book!
Wonderful characters. Interesting story. A great addition to the shadow hunter world.
I’ve read most of the shadow hunter series books and I really liked this one compared to others! I like Tessa, I really liked the clockwork books not sure if it was the time area or that I liked the characters more or that it was the first books I read but im looking forward to the rest of this series out so I can reread them both together!
There was times in this book when I found myself bored but not much compared to the last one I read, but I also always end up putting off reading these books until I have to finish them quickly lol so that may be it
This is a book I really do want to reread with the clockwork series though, since I feel its been awhile since Ive read them and don’t remember all the characters as well a I would if I did and would probably get more out of this book!
Gorgeous cover and a beautiful, intriguing story of Cordelia, a Shadowhunter, who would rather go into battle than get married. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, Cordelia and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin.
New to author for me, love the writing style and fantasy elements. Cordelia is a strong female lead with the help of her brother and friends they encounter all sorts of creatures and supernatural events.
There’s a bit of romance too, Cordelia secretly loves James but James loves Grace. Things take a turn when demons attacks London, with nowhere to go Cordelia and her friends must save and protect the city.
This is the first book of The Last Hours series. Can’t wait for book number 2!
Rating:
immensely beautiful shining STARS!!!!!
Thoughts/comments:
The Merry thieves owe my whole entire freakin heart:’)
I would gladly punsh Grace in the face.
James herondale breaking my heart *repetitively* and being a god damn idiot.
Cordelia baring Cortana!!!!
Tessa and Will!!! Need I say more?
& last but not least, Mathew freaking Fairchild.
~
Why you should most definitely read this gem?
-A kicking heroine? CHECK
-Captivating characters? Check check check
-Love polygon? CHECK
-Forbidden love? check
-Angst Angst and even more Angst? CHECKKK.
I learned that 2 characters have cool gifts. I never dream that one of the good characters would make a really bad decision. Looking forward to the last book and hope things work out for everyone in the end
Meh, it was ok. As a die-hard Shadowhunter/Cassandra Clare fan, at this point, I will read pretty much anything she writes. While I do admit that I like some plot and storylines better than others, I still enjoy all the historical background stories on fave characters. Was this the best Shadowhunter story I’ve ever read? Absolutely not!!! Did I enjoy it enough to continue the series? Absolutely!!! If I could give it 3.5stars, I would.
4.5 stars
This book is about the next generation of shadowhunters after the infernal devices trilogy.
James Herondale is a broken hero with a more broken parabatai, and it breaks my heart because I really want Mathew to have his happy ending… But this is Cassandra’s book so there must be a lot of drama.
On the other hand, Cordelia is a brave girl but she finds herself loving someone that can’t love her back.
There’s action….
I’ll also would like to read more about Alastair.
Can’t wait for the next installment.
One thing I’ve been noticing about books where authors say it can be read as a standalone and is a complete new series, it’s actually not. From what I read on the blurb, I know it’s in the same world as Shadow Hunters, which I admit I have not read. With it being a “new” series, I thought I would get a taste of this world and maybe fall in love with it to go ahead and read the previous series.
But now that I read this, there are so many characters I do not know about that I should have known, as the main characters are the children of characters from the previous series. So I am at a loss of who is who and why I should know this and that of certain characters. Also, too many characters that I lost track of who is who and the plot.
Overall, I believe the writing is great, the world building is awesome, but I could just not get into the story. I may try giving the first book of the very first series a try and see how I feel, but sadly, this one was not for me. But I do believe others who have read the previous series and love it may also love this, especially since it seems some characters make appearances here and these are someone’s kids’ story. The cover is beautiful, by the way.
*ARC received through BookishFirst for my honest review. Thank you!*