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cakrolik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
humanmosquito's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
It got worse folks! I’m genuinely speechless and angry something this bad was published.
There’s absolutely no consistency in characterisation and every character in this book moves through the plot like it’s a rubber duck race.
The cherry atop this horrible cake is Clare’s ‘strong female protagonist’ being reduced to tits on a stick.
Edit:
A third of each chapter’s first page is taken up with an epigraph that never has any relevance with the content of the chapter. It’s not even the case of [love poem quote] [kiss scene] [end chapter].
The writing style of the book is bogged down with the usual Cassandra Clare hallmarks: comma splices, images that interrupt the flow of the text and awkward word choices and repetition.
To be fair, although the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, it is still miles better than in ‘Queen of Air and Darkness’.
‘Tits on a stick’ is no joke, Cordelia’s hopes and aspirations take a backseat to her role as love interest, so much so that the climax of the Cursed Bracelet/love spell Plot line is James fondling Cordelia’s breasts for over eight pages. (In fact many long term <i>Shadowhunters</i> fans admit to skipping this part, as it makes them so uncomfortable.)
There’s absolutely no consistency in characterisation and every character in this book moves through the plot like it’s a rubber duck race.
The cherry atop this horrible cake is Clare’s ‘strong female protagonist’ being reduced to tits on a stick.
Edit:
A third of each chapter’s first page is taken up with an epigraph that never has any relevance with the content of the chapter. It’s not even the case of [love poem quote] [kiss scene] [end chapter].
The writing style of the book is bogged down with the usual Cassandra Clare hallmarks: comma splices, images that interrupt the flow of the text and awkward word choices and repetition.
To be fair, although the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, it is still miles better than in ‘Queen of Air and Darkness’.
‘Tits on a stick’ is no joke, Cordelia’s hopes and aspirations take a backseat to her role as love interest, so much so that the climax of the Cursed Bracelet/love spell Plot line is James fondling Cordelia’s breasts for over eight pages. (In fact many long term <i>Shadowhunters</i> fans admit to skipping this part, as it makes them so uncomfortable.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism
notsasharacket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
Fantastic book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
Just like Lord of Shadows this one ripped my heart out.
Rep: Biracial (Persian and white) heterosexual female MC, white half-Welsh heterosexual female MC, white half-Welsh heterosexual male MC, white bisexual male MC, biracial (Persian and white) gay male side character, two white gay male side characters, lesbian genderqueer side character, Malaysian bisexual male warlock, biracial (Chinese and white) male side character, adopted Indian lesbian female side character, Persian female side character.
CW: Alcohol consumption, alcoholism, blood, death, death of parent, emotional abuse/mind control, gun violence, infidelity, injury/injury detail, murder, violence. Moderate: Pregnancy of major side character.
Rep: Biracial (Persian and white) heterosexual female MC, white half-Welsh heterosexual female MC, white half-Welsh heterosexual male MC, white bisexual male MC, biracial (Persian and white) gay male side character, two white gay male side characters, lesbian genderqueer side character, Malaysian bisexual male warlock, biracial (Chinese and white) male side character, adopted Indian lesbian female side character, Persian female side character.
CW: Alcohol consumption, alcoholism, blood, death, death of parent, emotional abuse/mind control, gun violence, infidelity, injury/injury detail, murder, violence. Moderate: Pregnancy of major side character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy
hannahwriightt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship and Gun violence
charlottesomewhere's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
Another brilliant book in the Shadowhunter series. I loved James and Cordelia and the adventures the young Shadowhunters have in this book. I am desperate to find out what happens next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Grief
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
alibader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Wow this was long. I quite literally take back everything I said in my review of Chain of Gold (except for the Matthew bit I still love him). The writing was as good as ever and the characters were really solid and were easily the best part of the book I also really liked learning more about Grace and her background; she deserved better.
However:
I take back everything I said about James Herondale , he is the most exceptionally boring and frustrating characters in the shadowhunter chronicles. Apart from that... literally nothing happened in this book. absolutely nothing. also it was SO slow.
However:
I take back everything I said about James Herondale , he is the most exceptionally boring and frustrating characters in the shadowhunter chronicles. Apart from that... literally nothing happened in this book. absolutely nothing. also it was SO slow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking
bookflix's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Sexism
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
It’s been about a year since I read Chain of Gold , so I’ll be honest: I did have some trouble remembering who some of the characters were. This series and Clare’s The Dark Artifices trilogy have too many characters to keep track of, and sometimes I’d get halfway through a scene (or all the way through) and realize that it was about a different person than I’d originally thought. Other than that, though, I really do love most of the characters in this book, and they are definitely the reason I'm still reading the series, because it’s certainly not for the plot.
I love the Merry Thieves (even though—or actually probably because—they are basically a Marauders/Raven Boys dupe). What I don’t love is the love triangle. In general, it’s not a trope I like (with the rare exception of Tessa, Will, and Jem from Clare’s The Infernal Devices because it actually works out for everyone), and I especially don’t like it when a) it breaks up important friendships and b) will ultimately break the heart of a character I care about. I need James and Cordelia to end up together… but I also need Matthew to find a true love too! If Clare can manage that in the next book (and I’m pretty sure she will), I’ll be okay, but until then…
The other romantic relationships were frustrating as well; Alistair and Thomas are great, but the back and forth and drama from their history together makes it hard to see a happy ending for them. As much as I liked Lucie and Jesse’s storyline in Chain of Gold, it definitely dropped off in this book, and I’m honestly way more interested in seeing her develop her powers than her relationship at this point.
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): This very much depends on which characters you like, but I wouldn’t call it happy. Definitely a bit of a cliffhanger, and now I have to wait another year or so for the next book. Ugh.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence