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adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“How much love people have denied themselves through the ages because they believed they didn't deserve it. As if the waste of love is not the greater tragedy.” (P. 195)
Too excited are two words that didn't even come close to how I felt about reading this book. A part of me refused to read it because I didn't want to finish this story. The first few chapters felt a bit slow compared to the previous two books, but as always with Clare I was hooked, so this wasn't a big problem when it came to reading. I loved the rest of the book so much, it's a perfect and beautiful ending to the story, the only thing that would change him is to know more about Matthew's life.
In short, the book felt pretty flat most of the time, or at least the first 400 pages, despite exciting or emotional situations happening, but I didn't feel that need to keep reading that happened to me with the two previous books. After half it became much more interesting, and I couldn't stop reading anymore; I really liked how everything developed, even the tragic parts. I was very happy with the outcome, although I feel that of the three books this was the one that was least up to scratch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Dementia, Kidnapping, Murder
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Chain of Thorns is the third and final book in The Last Hours trilogy by Cassandra Clare set in her Shadowhunter's world.
Oh this book is so bittersweet for me. I have been reading this series ever since the third book came in The Mortal Instrumentsand to see how far it's come is astounding. I absolutely loved this book even though it did rip my heart out (thanks Cassandra Clare).
First off, I just adored these characters. I thought they were so well rounded and interesting to read from. They are the children of characters in Cassandra Clare's series The Infernal Devices and it's so interesting to see how their a little like their parents. They are wholly their own persons of course but you can see traits that will pop up in other books in this world.
I just loved the characters so much. They all hold such a special place in my heart and it broke my heart seeing them go through so many trails and tribulations. Cassandra Clare doesn't hold her punches when it comes to these books and she really let them fly in this. i was so invested in this book that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the characters and the plot.
I though the plot was so interesting as it almost parallels another plot we see in another series in this world. I love how Cassandra Clare weaves these mysteries together and how we try to unravel them before the characters do. I was so invested in this story and wanted to know what was going to happen. I am so happy I got to read this book and this series as it truly owns my heart.
Overall, I loved this book and I can see this being one of those series I go back to time and again. I cannot recommend it enough.
Oh this book is so bittersweet for me. I have been reading this series ever since the third book came in The Mortal Instrumentsand to see how far it's come is astounding. I absolutely loved this book even though it did rip my heart out (thanks Cassandra Clare).
First off, I just adored these characters. I thought they were so well rounded and interesting to read from. They are the children of characters in Cassandra Clare's series The Infernal Devices and it's so interesting to see how their a little like their parents. They are wholly their own persons of course but you can see traits that will pop up in other books in this world.
I just loved the characters so much. They all hold such a special place in my heart and it broke my heart seeing them go through so many trails and tribulations. Cassandra Clare doesn't hold her punches when it comes to these books and she really let them fly in this. i was so invested in this book that when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the characters and the plot.
I though the plot was so interesting as it almost parallels another plot we see in another series in this world. I love how Cassandra Clare weaves these mysteries together and how we try to unravel them before the characters do. I was so invested in this story and wanted to know what was going to happen. I am so happy I got to read this book and this series as it truly owns my heart.
Overall, I loved this book and I can see this being one of those series I go back to time and again. I cannot recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was honestly such a joy to read I love the shadowhunters chronicles and cc really outdid herself with this book. The characters relationships really shined and the BANTER !! Loved the found family element as well.
However I really can’t give this book a full 5 stars as much as I wish.Christopher’s death first and foremost was a TRAGEDY. His death almost felt pointless, nothing had changed because of the fact that he left, it didn’t affect anything really which is wild considering he is one of the main cast of characters. It felt like killing someone for the purpose of killing someone, almost like a shock factor. We never even got to see his parents mourn and the only person that seamed that affected was Thomas.
Poor Thomas he suffered SO MUCH in this series without any comfort besides Alastair, I feel like cc did him so dirty. It felt as if he just kept taking hit after hit he lost SO MUCH, Alastair was literally the only comfort he had? I wish he was made to have a little more happiness because Thomastair literally carried this series. It was SO GOOD, literally sunshine and midnight and I loved loved thier growth throughout the books.
Alastair was so refreshing I loved having a grey character and I really wished cc showed more bonding with him and Mathew with Thomas as a third wheel, I feel like they make the best unlikely besties especially after the awkwardness with James and Cordelia. There was so much potential especially considering how they’re so similar and the whole issue with sobriety and how Alastair takes it so seriously.
Speaking of matthew I CANT BELEIVE the way this book handled him. He was an alcoholic which James -his PARABATI- mostly ignored in the last book and furthermore gave him hope (even after lucie) that he doesn’t like Cordelia. Then Cordelia goes around and gives him hope and leads him on KNOWING that she loves James and not TELLING HIM THAT?! Messy messy messy. He couldn’t even be angry at them because conveniently, it’s non of their faults which is sooooo dumb. He suffered so much and faced betrayals on both sides so I genuinely could care less for Cordelia and James relationship after what they did to him, he deserved so much better. Idk it never felt right that he forgave them so fast after what happened, I wish he spent more time with Thomas Alastair and Anna instead just to give him time to brood more idk their whole making him up felt like it was forced because of belial.
Also why was Cordelia somehow never wrong? The only person that ever held her accountable was Alastair for like 5 seconds even though she was the cause of 60% of the book drama??
Also the plot itself was a little goofy? Why would the prince of hell care so much about mortal validation and raise the archbishop of Canterbury to crown him as king? Wild. Felt like a fever dream.
Overall really loved the book, almost a 5 starts. Honorable mentions to Oscar, Jesse, Will and Jem who were my favorites in this book.
However I really can’t give this book a full 5 stars as much as I wish.
Poor Thomas he suffered SO MUCH in this series without any comfort besides Alastair, I feel like cc did him so dirty. It felt as if he just kept taking hit after hit he lost SO MUCH, Alastair was literally the only comfort he had? I wish he was made to have a little more happiness because Thomastair literally carried this series. It was SO GOOD, literally sunshine and midnight and I loved loved thier growth throughout the books.
Alastair was so refreshing I loved having a grey character and I really wished cc showed more bonding with him and Mathew with Thomas as a third wheel, I feel like they make the best unlikely besties especially after the awkwardness with James and Cordelia. There was so much potential especially considering how they’re so similar and the whole issue with sobriety and how Alastair takes it so seriously.
Speaking of matthew I CANT BELEIVE the way this book handled him. He was an alcoholic which James -his PARABATI- mostly ignored in the last book and furthermore gave him hope (even after lucie) that he doesn’t like Cordelia. Then Cordelia goes around and gives him hope and leads him on KNOWING that she loves James and not TELLING HIM THAT?! Messy messy messy. He couldn’t even be angry at them because conveniently, it’s non of their faults which is sooooo dumb. He suffered so much and faced betrayals on both sides so I genuinely could care less for Cordelia and James relationship after what they did to him, he deserved so much better. Idk it never felt right that he forgave them so fast after what happened, I wish he spent more time with Thomas Alastair and Anna instead just to give him time to brood more idk their whole making him up felt like it was forced because of belial.
Also why was Cordelia somehow never wrong? The only person that ever held her accountable was Alastair for like 5 seconds even though she was the cause of 60% of the book drama??
Also the plot itself was a little goofy? Why would the prince of hell care so much about mortal validation and raise the archbishop of Canterbury to crown him as king? Wild. Felt like a fever dream.
Overall really loved the book, almost a 5 starts. Honorable mentions to Oscar, Jesse, Will and Jem who were my favorites in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
slow-paced
Overall: 3/5
Plots and Themes: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Attention Grabbing: 2/5
Chain of Thorns is the third and final book in the Last Hours, covering too many characters to list out succinctly. It's the children of the characters in the Infernal Devices, and as their children they're just obligated to get into twice as much trouble. We have demons, we have necromancy, and we have a lot of unlawfulness in a society where the law is hard but it's the law.
Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with this book as a finale. At this point in her career, Cassandra Clare isn't just ending a trilogy summarizing 3-4 years of work, she's ending a trilogy that closes a chapter for our favorite characters from TID and leads into the drama that is TMI, TDA, and ultimately TWP. But it was a major let down. If we put all the continuity issues aside- because I will cut her some slack that it's been like 15+ years since TMI and we're living in a very different world than how it was then- the pacing of the series beyond book one has just been way off. I loved book one, I thought it was one of her best ever because it balanced the sort of plot-heavy vibes of TDA with the sedate yet action-packed rhythm of TDA. But she couldn't hold it together, she started threading in all sorts of things that just felt like they weren't really as relevant to the plot as they should have been. She couldn't mess with the TID parents because she had already written the Clockwork Princess epilogue and guaranteed their survival so she couldn't figure out how to write well-rounded characters where their parents were loving and supporting - since she also couldn't traumatize them by making their parents mean because it would destroy the integrity of TMI. And it felt like she realized with 50 pages left that she had about a million loose plot threads and so she decided to slam them all shut as quickly as she could with just about zero exposition or closure. I liked how we dealt with some of the characters trauma, but I think she committed to so many separate plots that she wasn't really able to do any of them justice.
To get to the spoilers: she should not have killed Kit. It was cheap and it was lazy. She paired off all the other characters (aside from Matthew, Charles, and Grace) and decided Kit was the one who could die. And the fact that there was absolutely no reaction, that everyone was more upset about Matthew and James being in Edom, was pretty cruel. And we didn't get to see the reactions of his parents, she could have easily banked a few points by giving us some heartfelt mourning especially since most people reading have already bonded with the parents and the aunts and uncles. But no, she used him as a throwaway character. And she let James and Lucie get away with everything way too easily. James in the treating Cordelia poorly for the past two books and Lucie in the committing literal crimes but not even having to testify. Cassandra Clare just decided you know what, I'm going to make him Jesse again and the notoriously brutally lawful shadowhunter society will just deal with it. It honestly was inconsiderate to us as readers who spent years trying to figure out how this series would end (and I mean literal years my friend and I have been tossing theories back and forth since we were in middle school ten years ago) to try and just sweep everything under the rug at the last second. And the absolute cherry on top was James and Lucie losing their powers, which makes no sense to me and is also another cheap tactic. Like, we know that Tessa retains her powers through TDA so how do her kids lose that of which is threaded into their genetic composition when Tessa doesn't? Her father should've just stayed a faceless eidolon demon.
This isn't really a review anymore more of just a rant, but I felt a little wronged as a reader. There were still good parts, I don't regret reading the series or staying up-to-date with it, but I think that Cassandra Clare should put in a bit more if she wants people to stick with something that has gotten as lengthy as the shadowhunter universe has. Sad that we're closing the story but happy to have seen more into their lives and into the lives of the TID characters (barely).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism
Minor: Kidnapping
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i’m so tired of love triangles, and a certain character deserved better, but other than that i’m actually satisfied with this ending to TLH.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 easily. I simply did not dislike a single thing in this book (except maybe Maurice Bridgestock), and honestly, Cassandra Clare has proven once again why she’s my favorite author.
The rest of this review contains MAJOR spoilers for bit this series, but also spoilers for the other series in The Shadowhunter Chronicles. Do NOT read it if you don’t want things spoiled!!!!
First of all. CASSIE HOW COULD YOU! Of all the people, why Christopher? My sweet angel boy.
Anyways now that’s out of the way. What. A. Blast! Chain of Thorns is as stunning as the other shadowhunters a books, and especially the way the relationships between characters unfold is just amazing.
I loved the entire morale of being honest and forgiveness. Forgiving Grace, but also forgiving yourselves (I’m looking at you Matthew), as well as facing your mistakes or things you are ashamed of. The way it is handled is beautiful (as always, it is Cassandra Clare who has written it after all), and I loved every moment.
I loved how every character had a huge development over not just this book but the entire series.
Speaking of, Ari’s character and her name-change was so well-written. No drama, just a person taking a new name and people respecting it.
Now some personal opinions and fangirl-moments, because I may be 22 now, but the 13 year old girl who picked up the mortal instruments in 2014 is SCREAMING about the relationships in this.
First of, Lucie and Jesse!!! I loved everything about these two, and their story! Holy hell. A love story between a girl and a ghost, it was beautiful. The was they fell in love was beautiful and I just really love Jesse Blackthorn okay?
James and Cordelia might have had the most FRUSTRATING love story, but man was it rewarding when Cordelia finally learned the truth after all that LONGING (side note, the fact that Grace told her and Christopher helped? I loved it!)
I also liked how the drama between Matthew, James and Cordelia played out, but honestly, my favorite thing with Matthew in this book was him forgiving himself! The scene where Thomas goes to him and Matthes says, he should stop drinking so much? I CRIED!
Thomas and Alastair are also amazing, and honestly the most chaotically in love people out there. That fire-Message was amazing!
I already spoke about Ari and her development and honestly, the way she and Anna just completed each other and were the reason for each other’s growth was just gorgeous!
Which brings me, at last, to Grace and Christopher. I won’t lie, I wanted them to end up together. I wanted the redemption for Grace (which she got), and Christopher was a huge part of that. Before they could really get far in their relationship, however, Christopher died and I was soooo close to throwing the book across the room. (I didn’t. I retained myself).
The scene in Henry’s lab where Grace finally figures out the fire messages had me balling my eyes out.
And of course, Will Herondale and Magnus Bane, though not main characters in the book, had made me laugh at page 18. And I laughed at many other times reading this book. I also cried, and cursed at the characters and smiled for them and just… Cassandra Clare is an amazing author, which she has proved once again.
How do I then rank this series in the TSC-universe? High, definitely, but TID is still my ultimate favorite. Idk, I do love the Edom-storyline (or Thule in TDA, just generally the other dimensions), but I just find the climax at/in Cadair Idris in TID more satisfying.
All in all, a beautiful book as always, but damn Cassie, did you really have to kill Christopher?
Also side note, I loved the entire ‘wrong family tree thing’ being a canon part of the book. Made me burst out laughing more than once.
The rest of this review contains MAJOR spoilers for bit this series, but also spoilers for the other series in The Shadowhunter Chronicles. Do NOT read it if you don’t want things spoiled!!!!
First of all. CASSIE HOW COULD YOU! Of all the people, why Christopher? My sweet angel boy.
Anyways now that’s out of the way. What. A. Blast! Chain of Thorns is as stunning as the other shadowhunters a books, and especially the way the relationships between characters unfold is just amazing.
I loved the entire morale of being honest and forgiveness. Forgiving Grace, but also forgiving yourselves (I’m looking at you Matthew), as well as facing your mistakes or things you are ashamed of. The way it is handled is beautiful (as always, it is Cassandra Clare who has written it after all), and I loved every moment.
I loved how every character had a huge development over not just this book but the entire series.
Speaking of, Ari’s character and her name-change was so well-written. No drama, just a person taking a new name and people respecting it.
Now some personal opinions and fangirl-moments, because I may be 22 now, but the 13 year old girl who picked up the mortal instruments in 2014 is SCREAMING about the relationships in this.
First of, Lucie and Jesse!!! I loved everything about these two, and their story! Holy hell. A love story between a girl and a ghost, it was beautiful. The was they fell in love was beautiful and I just really love Jesse Blackthorn okay?
James and Cordelia might have had the most FRUSTRATING love story, but man was it rewarding when Cordelia finally learned the truth after all that LONGING (side note, the fact that Grace told her and Christopher helped? I loved it!)
I also liked how the drama between Matthew, James and Cordelia played out, but honestly, my favorite thing with Matthew in this book was him forgiving himself! The scene where Thomas goes to him and Matthes says, he should stop drinking so much? I CRIED!
Thomas and Alastair are also amazing, and honestly the most chaotically in love people out there. That fire-Message was amazing!
I already spoke about Ari and her development and honestly, the way she and Anna just completed each other and were the reason for each other’s growth was just gorgeous!
Which brings me, at last, to Grace and Christopher. I won’t lie, I wanted them to end up together. I wanted the redemption for Grace (which she got), and Christopher was a huge part of that. Before they could really get far in their relationship, however, Christopher died and I was soooo close to throwing the book across the room. (I didn’t. I retained myself).
The scene in Henry’s lab where Grace finally figures out the fire messages had me balling my eyes out.
And of course, Will Herondale and Magnus Bane, though not main characters in the book, had made me laugh at page 18. And I laughed at many other times reading this book. I also cried, and cursed at the characters and smiled for them and just… Cassandra Clare is an amazing author, which she has proved once again.
How do I then rank this series in the TSC-universe? High, definitely, but TID is still my ultimate favorite. Idk, I do love the Edom-storyline (or Thule in TDA, just generally the other dimensions), but I just find the climax at/in Cadair Idris in TID more satisfying.
All in all, a beautiful book as always, but damn Cassie, did you really have to kill Christopher?
Also side note, I loved the entire ‘wrong family tree thing’ being a canon part of the book. Made me burst out laughing more than once.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, War
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’m conflicted. I don’t know if this is a 4.5 or a 5⭐️ but I do know that I am mentally drained and immensely upset that this is the last book we get to see the last hours crew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, War
Minor: Addiction, Sexual content, Blood