The Last Hours: Chain of Gold
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.
Reviews (181)
I think Cassandra Clare has run out of ideas.
I hate to give this book 3 stars because I love the Shadowhunter world, but, in my mind this book deserves it. I have a litmus test for giving a book 5 stars. First of all it has to be written well. I can't deny CC's talent as a writer and that is why this sits at 3 stars. Secondly, I must not be able to predict important plot points and thirdly, the book must affect me emotionally. Chain of Gold failed the last two. Sorry kids, but I knew exactly why James was in love with Grace. It was very obvious. For a character who is so smart and clever, it should have been obvious to James Herondale, too. Alas, it wasn't and now the reader will have to suffer through the obstacle to the real love story in this series. Kinda like the reader suffered through Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn until it reached a totally contrived and starnge reconsilliation. I bet I can predict the tropes/story in the next two books of the series, too. I am so disappointed. I truly anticipated the release of this series. I'm not angry. I'm just sorely disappointed that after waiting a while, CC had to fall back on a formula instead of writing something new-ish. I found myself not caring. This is the death knell for fiction for me. The only emotional response I had, other than frustration, was evoked when parts of Will, Tessa and Jem's story were referenced. I still contend that The Infernal Devices is her best set of books. Those books had it all. By the end of the book, I just didn't feel strongly enough about James and Cordelia to want to subject myself to two more books' worth of frustration as they figure it out. I wish she had spent as much time on Lucie as she did on James. (By the way, Lucie is spelled Lucy in at least 2 places in the book. I'm sure those are typos.) Lucie has great potential, and like the other characters have overlooked her in the narrative, so, too, has Clare. I did like that in making Cordelia of Persian descent that Clare has been able to incorporate some of her native culture into the tale. I really found that part interesting. I'd like to see more about the Carstairs family, their origins and their singular brand of shadowhunter. What other traditions do the Carstairs family have? The parallel telling of the Persian tale of Laila and Majnun is a very nice touch. It reminded me of how Rick Riordan incorporates mythology in his books. My feelings about this book are not going to dissuade the die hard Shadowhunter fan. To them I say, please read it. I know you'll enjoy it. Truth be told, I will be reading the next two when they come out because I am a fan of the series and I can't leave a series unfinished once I've started it. I just hope that CC sees my review and maybe changes some things around in the subsequent volumes so that I am totally wrong about how I believe the story will play out.
Meh
I’d almost given up on Clare after her last book but I was always a bigger fan of the Infernal Devices series so I thought I’d give it a shot. It’s...fine. Compelling and easy enough to read that I got through it in just a few days but not something I’d reread or recommend to others who aren’t already fans of her work. There’s too many characters, so many that it’s difficult to even really work out who the main protagonist is supposed to be. So many characters also makes it difficult to distinguish personalities. In her other books the characters had clear personalities and you could imagine how different people would react to different things. There’s some of that here, some characters are well defined but others are kind of cookie cutter and very easy to mix up. The mystery of the plot was mediocre, I didn’t even realize there was supposed to be a mystery or a twist until it happened. The retconning is insane. Clare clearly did not plan to add more to the Infernal Devices and has changed a lot of things (including claiming that a family tree included in one of the Mortal Instruments books is a fake). If you know the other stories well it’s a little bizarre. My biggest pet peeve by far is how underused the LGBTQ characters are. There are 5 gay/bisexual characters in this story...set in England in 1903...and other than one or two asides from “bad” characters, nobody seems to care. Everyone shows a level of acceptance that doesn’t even exist today outside certain bubbles. I want to be clear: I don’t have a problem with the inclusion of the these characters. I have a problem with the fact that their sexuality and gender nonconformity is not explored within the text. It would be so fascinating to see a character struggle between their love for their gay brother and the societal norms they were raised in (Huck Finn anyone?). But no, every single “hero” character is open and accepting without any question, without even any shock. And I know that the Shadowhunter world is not more accepting that mundane because a gay character literally says that in her very first book, set in the 2000s! One of the charters is obsessed with Oscar Wilde, he’s referenced often...but nobody ever mentions that he was tried and imprisoned for sodomy, became ill in prison and died in exile. That’s the world they live in, it should be part of the narrative. And frankly, that would make for some much more interesting and complex plots than some of the love story nonsense in this book. It almost feels like Clare wants the credit for including these characters but is afraid that her readership will reject a hero character that struggles to accept someone else’s sexuality.
An Excellent Addition to the Shadowhunter World!
Chain of Gold is the first book in the new Shadowhunters series, The Last Hours, and if you like fantasy, you need to read it. I absolutely loved it! There has been a Shadowhunters family tree going around for years that say that a certain couple were the ancestors of Jace Herondale. Then if you read "The Midnight Heir" (and some of Cassandra Clare's comments) you might wonder how this will all come about. And I have to answer... very well. The ships in this book are complicated, but that shouldn't be a surprise, as Clare is also the author that wrote about Tessa/Will/Jem and Cristina/Mark/Kieren. I'm left at the end of CoG wanting Chain of Iron just to find out about the ships alone! Then you have the characters. The main characters are the children of all the characters in The Infernal Devices. You don't have to read TID to enjoy CoG, but as the worlds are so interconnected, I think you'd appreciate them more if you do read them. I have a little trouble remembering which parent belongs to which kid (at least where the Lightwoods are concerned) but that doesn't matter because the parents are in the background. I especially love Cordelia. She's kind and brave. The plot is excellent and I was wondering for the longest time who was behind all the evil-doing. You don't find out until the very end what the true source of evil is, however. The book sets itself up very nicely for Chain of Iron, the next book in the series, but not with a Lord of Shadows moment where you're so frustrated that you have to wait a whole year to read the next book. I loved this book and highly recommend it, along with all the other Shadowhunters books. Clare builds such intricate and complex worlds, it always impresses me. Read it!
Captivating Story
Chain of Gold takes place in Edwardian London after the events of Clare's previously released trilogy The Infernal Devices. Cordelia Carstairs has just arrived to London with her mother and brother. Though it seems she has arrived to begin her training with her future parabtai, Lucie Herondale, her true mission is to establish relationships with influential shadowhunters. It's the only way she knows to save her father from persecution or to protect herself from the embarrassment of his impending failure if she doesn't save him. The dilemma is she has already fallen in love with James Herondale, son of Will and Tessa Herondale and Lucie's older brother. James it seems has already promised his heart and his life to someone else. Will Cordelia fight for her love or simply look away and seek another partner? Does it even matter when there are much darker, more dangerous happenings in London? Review: I loved this book so much!! It was the first shadowhunters book I've actually read, and I'm already planning out reads of the other series. Cassandra Clare KNOWS how to write. I was immediately sucked into the plot of this book. With every single page she left me wanting more, wondering what was going to happen next and who was deceiving whom. The story took so many twists and turns. I simply couldn't put it down! She did a wonderful job describing scenery, words, actions, etc. that were first introduced in her previous novels. So it's definitely easy to drop right into the shadowhunters' timeline with this book. I 10/10 recommend it to everyone! Pros: -very descriptive -easy to read -constantly evolving story line (it kept me intrigued until the very end) -plenty of loose ends for the next novel (though it might be frustrating to not have all the answers!!) Cons: -occasional repetitiveness -over explaining settings (I don't need to know every single decoration Tessa Herondale has changed or not changed since Will took over the Insitute)
Not as good as other Cassandra Clare books
I normally absolutely love Cassandra Clare and can’t say enough good things about her writing, however this book is so over worked trying to be a period piece set in the 17th or 18th century using words that are so absolutely unfamiliar it became difficult to understand. I spent much of my time using my Kindle to look up what words meant just to have some idea what she was talking about and I have a college degree. If I had been reading this in book format, I would have put it down and not finished it. Sadly, it didn’t hold the same level of excitement the other Mortal Instrument books did, and the characters didn’t have as much flare. Honestly, these are sold in the young adult genre, but I’m 49 and if I am lost reading .....well....someone’s writing over their audiences head!
It's okay
I waited an eternity for Clare's next book...big sigh..The book is nice and thick... I love the books!!... however it's plot is rather predictable - but perhaps she intended to focus on the less sophisticated of readers?That having been said I did enjoy the book. But to not have any idea when the next installment is to come out is quite frustrating!!!! I re- read all the books- yes all of them... before I read this one in preparation... When it arrived from amazon the cover was a little bit bent,And the spine of the book isn't as beautiful as a should be nor is the cardboard cover, there are many typos in this book which is too bad ... proofreader should feel shame... it is an enjoyable series of books... this I believe is like the 12th of the shadowhunters..not counting the Magnus Bane books ..who by the way Is the most delightful of all the charactetrs. Yes... Magnus is the best character of them all! I will say this book did not move me emotionally as some of the others, and it's far to contrived..Sigh... so hopefully the next two installments will come out quickly and be an improvement. Meantime I anxiously await the next installment of our darling Magnus Bane's Adventures! And I would remind the publisher that quality printing and quality binding are expected in any fist edition! I would not say that that was a Achieved here..
Loved it! Another great addition to the Shadowhunters world, with more amazing characters.
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 Blackthorn. 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 (The Last Hours) - Book One in a new series
I acquired "Chain of Gold" from Amazon just yesterday, so I've yet to read it. I ordered the Hard Cover edition, and it's a BIG book! (Number of pages not identified, as the book has no page numbers printed). But It has a beautiful colored drawing of all the principle "actors" in the drama inside the front cover. Wonderful! Also, the book cover is beautiful--a full color painting of the heroine standing before a misty gate, her back to the reader, and she has a full mane of red hair filled with colorful fall leaves. She's holding a sword in her right hand. Quite a provocative scene. Cassandra Clare has, of course, been a prolific writer, and she has three completed sagas - The Mortal Instruments, the Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices. I'm somewhat surprised to see this new collection piece, but I'm certain it will be exciting and a captivating story, as all her stories are.
Who’s writing now?
It feels to me like someone has been ghostwriting the Shadowhunter books since the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices ended. I’m sure the writing schedule is punishing and fan interest is full of pressure, but it’s obvious that Clare is no longer writing the books with her name on them. There is a distinct lack of humor and the writing is far too polished.
Great start to the series!
Chain of Gold kicks off the latest Shadowhunters series, The Last Hours, with a new generation of Shadowhunters, devastating love stories, and the next evil demon threatening the world as we know it. Set in Edwardian London, Chain of Gold centers around the offspring of our heroes from the Infernal Devices series. In the years following the Clockwork War, the London Shadowhunters have enjoyed a period of peace free from demon attacks. However, strange, unfamiliar demons suddenly start attacking Shadowhunters in broad daylight, leaving the victims dying from a demon poison without an antidote. Although the new generation of Shadowhunters have been raised in a period of peace, they will have to trust their training and each other and band together to defeat this new demon threat. While Chain of Gold didn’t quite capture the same magic that made the Infernal Devices series so wonderful, it seems that writing historical fantasy is Clare’s true calling over the modern fantasy in the Mortal Instruments series. I love the way she weaves the culture of historical London into the Shadowhunter narrative. Like the other Shadowhunter series, Chain of Gold also has its own powerful, heart-wrenching love stories, in addition to plenty of action and adventure. Although the number of new characters and the ways in which they’re all related is a little overwhelming (the book really needs a family tree!), I was delighted meeting the new set of characters as well as seeing favorite characters from the Infernal Devices. I especially loved the strong female characters introduced - Cordelia, Lucie, Anna, and others. I can’t wait to see where the next book leads!
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