⁵⁄₅ stars
*****
Chain of Gold is the first book of a to-be fantasy trilogy by Cassandra Clare, taking place in her iconic "Shadowhunter" world that you might have heard of from her other series. For us, this is definitely a personal favorite and a must-read if you enjoy fantasy.
“'How much is love meant to hurt?' he had asked his father once.
'Oh, terribly,' his father had said with a smile. 'But we suffer for love because love is worth it.'"
The first book in the fantasy series follows the children of the main characters in Cassie Clare's popular series "The Infernal Devices," which is set in a world that all of her Shadowhunter books are in. When Cordelia Carstairs and her family returns to London in hopes of saving their family's ruined reputation and finding her a groom, she reunites with her dear friends, Lucie and James Herondale, along with many other lovable swhadowhunters. It isn't long before she is drawn into their fantastical world that turns upside down when demon attacks begin to sprout up, all while she's in the presence of the boy she loves, James.
Even though Chain of Gold is Cassie's most recent series, it chronologically comes second after The Infernal Devices and takes place in 1903 London. If you decide to read the Infernal Devices first, it will definitely leave you wanting more, which you can definitely find in this book. We especially loved getting to have extra moments of Will and Jem.
While you are able to read Chain of Gold without reading any other Shadowhunter books, we strongly recommend at least reading The Infernal Devices. A lot of the charm comes from knowing the character's parents, their stories, and just having context to make it a much more enjoyable experience.
One thing Cassie excels at is her characters. Her worldbuilding is obviously strong after 19 books in the Shadowhunter world, but what really makes her writing shine are her characters- and Chain of Gold is full of them. If you're looking for a very simple, straightforward cast this book might not be for you. The chapters follow the third-person POVs of James Herondale, Lucie Herondale, and Cordelia Carstairs, but there are easily over ten prominent characters who are essentially all descendants of their Infernal Device parents.
James, the Herondale's only son, is quiet, kind and caring, while his best friend and parabatai Matthew Fairchild is flamboyant, charming and extroverted- but both have dark pasts that are difficult for them to confront. Easily one of my favorite parts of the book is their friendship and watching their undying care for each other that I saw in Will and Jem (The Infernal Devices). Lucie, an imaginative writer, has a similar relationship with the brave, smart, cortana-wielding Cordelia.
The chemistry and tension built up throughout the book is amazing. Somehow, Cassie made it incredibly easy to read this 624 page book in one sitting! All of the protagonists are just so likable, (even if they make questionable decisions at times) and it would be hard not to root for them. If you read The Infernal Devices, you know her relationship building is excellent. It's emotional and tear-jerking, but also adventurous and funny. Her characters are diverse, fun, and so charming. They just come to life on page. You might find yourself reading more for them over everything else, but the plot is also very compelling, and I personally think it to be more strong and hooking than its predecessor.
There are some great tropes in Chain of Gold that are signature Cassie writing: unrequited love, formidable enemies, heartwarming friendships, miscommunication, the list goes on. I instantly fell in love with the story, and this is one of those books on my shelf that I keep going back to. It's very likely at points you'll find yourself wanting to scream at the some of the characters (particularly James), but you can't help but love them all the same- and that's what I adore most about Cassandra Clare's writing.
This book is one of our comfort fantasy books and definitely 5 stars.
our rating system~
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