Chain of Gold (1) (The Last Hours)
#1 New York Times bestseller
“A pure distillation of fantasy’s enchanting mirror held up to our own truths.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Richly imagined…rife with action, intrigue, and smoldering romance.” —Publishers Weekly
From #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare comes the first novel in The Lost Hours 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 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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Community Reviews
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.
2nd read: I appreciated Chain of Gold so much more on the second read! I was a bit distracted during the first reading... with my first pandemic and all. By now I'm an old pro. ;) All of Clare's books are better on the subsequent readings--the world is familiar, the characters are old friends. I'll be changing my rating to 5 stars.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #40a - reread)
1st read: 4.5 stars. It took me so much longer to finish Chain of Gold than I'd planned. But life became a bit distracting while I was reading it. But, I'm already looking forward to a reread sometime down the road when I can devote the attention it deserves.
“There is no better distraction in this world than losing oneself in books for awhile.” -Cassandra Clare, Chain of Gold
While I was reading the latest Shadowhunter novel, a pandemic spread across the world, and for the first time in my lifetime, I truly felt like I was living in a fantasy novel. Especially when the characters in the book were under quarantine and suddenly we were being told to practice social distancing. I'm not sure I can recall another time when fiction mirrored reality so much for me.
But on to my review of the book! Thankfully before I started CoG, I read every short story and novella that included the characters leading up to CoG. I even reread The Infernal Devices. (Here's my Chain of Gold TBR! http://abookwanderer.com/what-to-reread-before-starting-cassandra-clares-chain-of-gold/) So, when I started CoG I knew the characters and a bit of their back story. It was so nice to return to the Shadowhunter world, but instead of Victorian London, this time we get to experience Edwardian London. The Infernal Devices will always be my favorite Shadowhunter series, and The Last Hours, which focuses on their offspring, will probably become my second favorite.
For me, Cassandra Clare's books are about the characters more than anything. She creates such a unique and memorable cast, and she's done it again with CoG. I'm still not sure which ones are my favorites. It usually takes the second book to cement them for me. But, Cordelia was such a pleasant surprise. She was exceptionally brave, confident, and her fearlessness even surprised herself. Every time I think Clare will not be able to create another completely different and special character, she does it again. Now the long wait begins.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #31)
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #40a - reread)
1st read: 4.5 stars. It took me so much longer to finish Chain of Gold than I'd planned. But life became a bit distracting while I was reading it. But, I'm already looking forward to a reread sometime down the road when I can devote the attention it deserves.
“There is no better distraction in this world than losing oneself in books for awhile.” -Cassandra Clare, Chain of Gold
While I was reading the latest Shadowhunter novel, a pandemic spread across the world, and for the first time in my lifetime, I truly felt like I was living in a fantasy novel. Especially when the characters in the book were under quarantine and suddenly we were being told to practice social distancing. I'm not sure I can recall another time when fiction mirrored reality so much for me.
But on to my review of the book! Thankfully before I started CoG, I read every short story and novella that included the characters leading up to CoG. I even reread The Infernal Devices. (Here's my Chain of Gold TBR! http://abookwanderer.com/what-to-reread-before-starting-cassandra-clares-chain-of-gold/) So, when I started CoG I knew the characters and a bit of their back story. It was so nice to return to the Shadowhunter world, but instead of Victorian London, this time we get to experience Edwardian London. The Infernal Devices will always be my favorite Shadowhunter series, and The Last Hours, which focuses on their offspring, will probably become my second favorite.
For me, Cassandra Clare's books are about the characters more than anything. She creates such a unique and memorable cast, and she's done it again with CoG. I'm still not sure which ones are my favorites. It usually takes the second book to cement them for me. But, Cordelia was such a pleasant surprise. She was exceptionally brave, confident, and her fearlessness even surprised herself. Every time I think Clare will not be able to create another completely different and special character, she does it again. Now the long wait begins.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #31)
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Chain of Gold follows a range of casts, beginning with the children of Will and Tessa Herondale, exploring new characters and new magic.
Excellent Storytelling
I absolutely loved this book. One of the things I can say is that Clare’s writing has grown since City of Bones. Her storytelling has improved and flows effortlessly from the beginning.
In the Victorian Era, in the early 1900s, we follow the ever-brilliant Cordelia Carstairs and the famed blade Cortana as she navigates London. Her family is on the brink of ruins, her brother is a bit of a prick, and her love for James Herondale goes unrequited.
Or so she thinks.
Many masterful elements are at play here, layers to the story that keeps the reader guessing. Who is the villain? What is the magic behind Lucie and James’s individual gifts? One can turn to shadow and enter another realm, while the other can communicate and control ghosts? And what exactly is Grace Blackthorn up to? Is she a victim of circumstance or a villain?
The way Clare builds up the story’s momentum while keeping the reader guessing makes Chain of Gold so interesting.
Love the Characters
But, of course, the characters are unforgettable.
Each character is flawed so perfectly. They all have to contend with different secrets that they don’t share with anyone else. For example, Cordelia is of Persian descent, so her darker skin makes her a bit of an outcast in Victorian Society. The same with her brother. The way the LGBTQ characters are built up is done so wonderfully. They have to challenge society or live in the shadows. But what good is love if it’s hidden?
They deal with grief, anger, alcoholism, and many other elements that give the characters so much depth.
Then there are those romance scenes.
Those scenes, the tension, the steamy aspect of them, because the characters are so realistic and multifaceted, the reader becomes invested, even a little frustrated when things don’t go according to plan.
Final Thoughts
Chain of Gold is captivating from beginning to end, full of action, romance, and strong character development. This book is a star.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Cassandra Claire does it again with Chain of Gold, delivering a diverse cast, action-packed sequences, and budding romances that capture the reader’s heart.
Chain of Gold follows a range of casts, beginning with the children of Will and Tessa Herondale, exploring new characters and new magic.
Excellent Storytelling
I absolutely loved this book. One of the things I can say is that Clare’s writing has grown since City of Bones. Her storytelling has improved and flows effortlessly from the beginning.
In the Victorian Era, in the early 1900s, we follow the ever-brilliant Cordelia Carstairs and the famed blade Cortana as she navigates London. Her family is on the brink of ruins, her brother is a bit of a prick, and her love for James Herondale goes unrequited.
Or so she thinks.
Many masterful elements are at play here, layers to the story that keeps the reader guessing. Who is the villain? What is the magic behind Lucie and James’s individual gifts? One can turn to shadow and enter another realm, while the other can communicate and control ghosts? And what exactly is Grace Blackthorn up to? Is she a victim of circumstance or a villain?
The way Clare builds up the story’s momentum while keeping the reader guessing makes Chain of Gold so interesting.
Love the Characters
But, of course, the characters are unforgettable.
Each character is flawed so perfectly. They all have to contend with different secrets that they don’t share with anyone else. For example, Cordelia is of Persian descent, so her darker skin makes her a bit of an outcast in Victorian Society. The same with her brother. The way the LGBTQ characters are built up is done so wonderfully. They have to challenge society or live in the shadows. But what good is love if it’s hidden?
They deal with grief, anger, alcoholism, and many other elements that give the characters so much depth.
Then there are those romance scenes.
Those scenes, the tension, the steamy aspect of them, because the characters are so realistic and multifaceted, the reader becomes invested, even a little frustrated when things don’t go according to plan.
Final Thoughts
Chain of Gold is captivating from beginning to end, full of action, romance, and strong character development. This book is a star.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn