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adhdru's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
ember_eyes_are_for_tigers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Cordelia’s is one of the best main characters I have ever read about. She has such depth and feels so real and tangible, in her wants and desires and personality traits. Her driving force is her love, I feel like, her strong connection to her family and heritage, to her friends and to James. It’s something I really admire of her character.
- I loved the pacing, although many would disagree. I enjoyed the slow pacing of the book in the beginning, describing the domesticity of the life between Cordelia and James and setting up the tension about the murders.
- Talking about the murders I really enjoyed discovering who it was, as I was certain it was Tatiana. Instead, I really enjoyed the reveal and the ending. With the reveal of Cordelia being sworn as a Paladin to Lilith (and perhaps it’s just me) but, at the moment, I do not see how troubling it must be.
Perhaps it was not emphasised enough or perhaps I simply think that Cordelia shouldn’t shy away from the power Lilith is offering, and embrace it for the time being. But, I can see how being sworn to a demon can be bad- although, I’m certain there will be a resolution so I’m not quite worried.
- Instead I’m worried about Lucie and Jesse, and Mathew and Cordelia in Paris:
On one hand I know that Paris will be a disaster and I’m certain that both Cordelia and Mathew will realise so. Mathew’s promise to remain sober will not last and I’m actually really excited to see the fallout of that and Cordelia having to realise that Mathew is far more similar to her father than she wants to believe.
On the other hand, there’s Lucie. Her arc throughout the book was so fascinating, I really enjoyed how it’s subtly shown how, as she becomes more infatuated with Jesse and more time went by, the more her morals skewed. From being against necromancy she revived her ghost boyfriend and I really enjoyed that.
I can’t wait to see the fallout of her having to face what she did and having her family and friends having to come to terms with it.
However, I will also admit that while I enjoyed the book there were certain details I wish would be different. Mostly with Anna and Ariadne/Kamala, and Filomena.
With the latter I was really excited about her character, but, she ended up dying rather soon and not really having a time to shine. Nevertheless I really enjoyed every scene she was in, although there was the scene where Cordelia and Lucie where in the training room and Filomena interrupted and later made a comment about James’ shoulders, I believe, that had me quite uncomfortable.
Another character that I was really disappointed from was Anna.
She was my favourite character in Chain of Gold, and I related so much to her in Every Exquisite Thing, as a nonbinary lesbian, but her character felt incredibly unrealistic throughout the book. The detail that most threw me off was not how she reacted to Ariadne/Kamala wanting to return into her life, but how she doesn’t acknowledge her privilege as a queer presenting white woman.
There were so many small details about her that made me furious, even the instance where she keeps the names of her “conquests” in a small book- that was such an unnecessary detail.
I hope, however, that in Chain of Thorns she will have an actual character arc. But, for the moment, I believe that Ariadne/Kamala deserves better.
I also really hope to get more scene with Alastair, he’s a really fascinating character and I’m really rooting for him (and to have some friends).
- Talking about the murders I really enjoyed discovering who it was, as I was certain it was Tatiana. Instead, I really enjoyed the reveal and the ending. With the reveal of Cordelia being sworn as a Paladin to Lilith (and perhaps it’s just me) but, at the moment, I do not see how troubling it must be.
Perhaps it was not emphasised enough or perhaps I simply think that Cordelia shouldn’t shy away from the power Lilith is offering, and embrace it for the time being. But, I can see how being sworn to a demon can be bad- although, I’m certain there will be a resolution so I’m not quite worried.
- Instead I’m worried about Lucie and Jesse, and Mathew and Cordelia in Paris:
On one hand I know that Paris will be a disaster and I’m certain that both Cordelia and Mathew will realise so. Mathew’s promise to remain sober will not last and I’m actually really excited to see the fallout of that and Cordelia having to realise that Mathew is far more similar to her father than she wants to believe.
On the other hand, there’s Lucie. Her arc throughout the book was so fascinating, I really enjoyed how it’s subtly shown how, as she becomes more infatuated with Jesse and more time went by, the more her morals skewed. From being against necromancy she revived her ghost boyfriend and I really enjoyed that.
I can’t wait to see the fallout of her having to face what she did and having her family and friends having to come to terms with it.
However, I will also admit that while I enjoyed the book there were certain details I wish would be different. Mostly with Anna and Ariadne/Kamala, and Filomena.
With the latter I was really excited about her character, but, she ended up dying rather soon and not really having a time to shine. Nevertheless I really enjoyed every scene she was in, although there was the scene where Cordelia and Lucie where in the training room and Filomena interrupted and later made a comment about James’ shoulders, I believe, that had me quite uncomfortable.
Another character that I was really disappointed from was Anna.
She was my favourite character in Chain of Gold, and I related so much to her in Every Exquisite Thing, as a nonbinary lesbian, but her character felt incredibly unrealistic throughout the book. The detail that most threw me off was not how she reacted to Ariadne/Kamala wanting to return into her life, but how she doesn’t acknowledge her privilege as a queer presenting white woman.
There were so many small details about her that made me furious, even the instance where she keeps the names of her “conquests” in a small book- that was such an unnecessary detail.
I hope, however, that in Chain of Thorns she will have an actual character arc. But, for the moment, I believe that Ariadne/Kamala deserves better.
I also really hope to get more scene with Alastair, he’s a really fascinating character and I’m really rooting for him (and to have some friends).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Alcoholism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Self harm
katloupet's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.5
Was overall a good read and I thought it was a good addition to the shadowhunter universe. The plot was interesting, connects well to the previous book and sets up well for the next book. I love the characters and their relationships with each other. The main thing I didn’t like was that there was a lot of miscommunication/dramatic irony where I felt like I was always waiting for the characters to discover something or tell each other something. It’s so thing I think is common and Cassandra Clare books but it drives me a little crazy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
sunsetcity's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
So... I will be the first to admit that this book is probably way too long. This book focuses a lot on character development and feelings so there is not a lot of forward movement in the actual plot until the last third of the book. But I really love the characters in this book and I was invested in their struggles and strife, so I didn't mind the slower pace. I still love Matthew and I am so excited to see how this wraps up in the next book with the new developments and the places our characters left off at the end of this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
danaleelin's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
I loved this book! I love the character development so much. There was a particular plot line that I thought would have ended a little sooner, but most of it was great. I love the continuation with the Demon Prince's of Hell and everything that the gang has to do. I like that there are multiple storylines. There are so many secrets in this book, and it can be so frustrating when you just want the characters to get help!!!!
I can't wait for Chain of Thorns.
I can't wait for Chain of Thorns.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Violence
theoceaneyedgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Murder, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Blood
laurraa1996's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship
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