Chain of Gold Book Review
Well hello there and Happy Saturday! I gotta say its been a while. Finally time for an actual book review! I was going to do the Bell Jar but its been such a long time since I’ve read it so I’m doing Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare. I’m testing out this format, but I may change it up later. Hope you enjoy!
Summary: “Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague. James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.” (via Goodreads)
Likes:
Fuels My Obsession with the Shadowhunter World: The original Mortal Instruments is one of my all time, ride or die favorite series! I love that the rich fantasy world of Shadowhunters, Demons, and Downworlders has made its way into even more books. It’s uniqueness continues to be unforgettable.
Love the Characters: Clare’s new heroine Cordelia is smart, loyal, caring, and kind of a badass. She is extremely likable and relatable. The primary friend group of the novel (Cordelia Carstairs, James Herondale, Lucie Herondale, Matthew Fairchild, Christopher Lightwood, Thomas Lightwood) have such a close and special bond that I am seriously invested in every single one of them and need them to succeed. They all have interesting backgrounds, fascinating personalities, and made me wish I could be friends with them.
Dislikes:
Lightwood’s, Herondale’s, and Blackthorn’s -- oh my: I’m pretty good at keeping track of names, but I was constantly having to flip back to the beginning to remember who was who! Family names matter in this world, so knowing who is a Herondale and who is a Carstairs tells a lot about them. A mild annoyance yet a valid one.
Slow Beginning: Not gonna lie, the first half of the novel was pretty boring and confusing with the myriad of characters being introduced. Not very interesting at all. But to be fair, once the plot gets going, watch out because things are about to get wild.
Worth the Read?: Absolutely! Although the beginning drags, the plot is fascinating full of mystery, love triangles, and black magic. Even if you haven’t read any of Clare’s previous books, the novel is still easy to understand and a great way to be introduced to the wild world of Shadowhunters. The story ends on a surprising and intriguing revelation so I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. Highly recommend for your next quarantine binge read!
Current Reads: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins