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cait's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Murder, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity
__rasberry__'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The book has A LOT of miss understandings and miss communications and if you’re into that and the suspense it brings it would be great but it just tired me out. I just felt like I lost interest after awhile because it was too much of it. Also a lot of reusing of tropes that cassandra has used a lot and they feel done.
But don’t get me wrong, I liked a lot of it. I liked getting to know Grace some more, and if not starting to like her, at least starting to understand why she is the way she is. I think she is the character that developed the most during the book, in my eyes. And i liked the mystery element and i think it was wonderfully done. I didn’t suspect a think, and that could just be me not using a lot of critical thinking while reading, but still. And i liked the realtionships, i loved the Merry Thieves. They are found family in the best way and every moment at the Devil Tavern just warmed my heart. How they accept and fight for each other no matter what and how they deeply do care about everyone, even newbies Lucie and Cordelia.
Also special tribute to all the queer characters and the surprisingly good representation. There’re a handful of them and i love all of their stories and that they are all unique and not stereotypical. They are not only their queerness, they are fully fleshed put characters with millions of problems, their queerness never being the biggest one. And lastly i love how they are accepted, even though that was rarely the in those times, and it is not a big deal to those around them. Kiss on the forehead to Anna from me.
But don’t get me wrong, I liked a lot of it. I liked getting to know Grace some more, and if not starting to like her, at least starting to understand why she is the way she is. I think she is the character that developed the most during the book, in my eyes. And i liked the mystery element and i think it was wonderfully done. I didn’t suspect a think, and that could just be me not using a lot of critical thinking while reading, but still. And i liked the realtionships, i loved the Merry Thieves. They are found family in the best way and every moment at the Devil Tavern just warmed my heart. How they accept and fight for each other no matter what and how they deeply do care about everyone, even newbies Lucie and Cordelia.
Also special tribute to all the queer characters and the surprisingly good representation. There’re a handful of them and i love all of their stories and that they are all unique and not stereotypical. They are not only their queerness, they are fully fleshed put characters with millions of problems, their queerness never being the biggest one. And lastly i love how they are accepted, even though that was rarely the in those times, and it is not a big deal to those around them. Kiss on the forehead to Anna from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Gore and Blood
andrikkk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Stalking, Violence, Addiction, Deadnaming, Grief, Infidelity, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and War
Minor: Incest and Sexual content
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gore, Gun violence, Death of parent, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder
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
just_an_avocado's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
5.0
I had what I believed to be insurmountable expectations for Chain of Iron, but this book surpassed them in every way! I don’t know how it’s possible, but this was the perfect sequel!
There is A LOT going on in Chain of Iron, let’s break it down:
James and Cordelia are married now (?!), Lucie is getting tied up in necromancy to resurrect Jesse Blackthorn with the help of Wicked Witch of the West Grace Blackthorn, James is having nightmares of killing people, Cortana might be cursed, and also there’s a murderer killing Shadowhunters.
How someone can say these books are merely angsty romances disguised as fantasy is beyond me.
It turns out, these events are all connected to Belial (and Lilith). How Cassie tied everything together is absolute genius! You have to read it, if you haven’t yet.
Plus, there are so many amazing James and Cordelia moments, I just couldn’t handle it. Watching James gradually realize his true feelings was such a treat and was executed so precisely. It was everything I wanted and more. Their love was so powerful it broke the bracelet! Isn’t that amazing? That evil bracelet could not have been removed any other way and have the same impact! It was glorious!
But, of course. The tragedy could not be vanquished yet. We still have another whole book left. James and Daisy cannot yet find their happily ever after. Witnessing James stand on the train station platform and watch Cordelia and Matthew chug away, knowing Cordelia believed James did not and would never love her, was the most pain I’ve felt in a long time. I believe my exact reaction was “Ohhh... The pain! The anguish! The agony! Make it stop!” I actually said this, by the way. My sister was very concerned.
Next item: Jesse is resurrected. It is my understanding that Lucie is now dead. A life for a life. She fainted when she summoned the dead to rescue Cordelia. But raising someone from the dead requires a far greater price. In this case, that price (I’m pretty sure) was Lucie’s life. It seems likely that, if Lucie is, in fact, dead or in a coma or is otherwise indisposed, Jesse will attempt to reverse this state. Lucie has risen him from the dead. He will feel indebted to her, in addition to the fact that he is in love with her. So, it seems likely that Jesse may take Lucie’s place as a main character, his plot line being the resurrection of Lucie Herondale. Unfortunately, these two are apparently trapped in one big cycle of life and death and how they intend to escape it is a mystery to me.
In conclusion, this book broke me in every way and all I have to say is “Thank you.”
Also, I need Chain of Thorns ASAP.
There is A LOT going on in Chain of Iron, let’s break it down:
How someone can say these books are merely angsty romances disguised as fantasy is beyond me.
It turns out, these events are all connected to Belial (and Lilith). How Cassie tied everything together is absolute genius! You have to read it, if you haven’t yet.
Plus, there are so many amazing James and Cordelia moments, I just couldn’t handle it. Watching James gradually realize his true feelings was such a treat and was executed so precisely. It was everything I wanted and more. Their love was so powerful it broke the bracelet! Isn’t that amazing? That evil bracelet could not have been removed any other way and have the same impact! It was glorious!
But, of course. The tragedy could not be vanquished yet. We still have another whole book left. James and Daisy cannot yet find their happily ever after. Witnessing James stand on the train station platform and watch Cordelia and Matthew chug away, knowing Cordelia believed James did not and would never love her, was the most pain I’ve felt in a long time. I believe my exact reaction was “Ohhh... The pain! The anguish! The agony! Make it stop!” I actually said this, by the way. My sister was very concerned.
Next item: Jesse is resurrected. It is my understanding that Lucie is now dead. A life for a life. She fainted when she summoned the dead to rescue Cordelia. But raising someone from the dead requires a far greater price. In this case, that price (I’m pretty sure) was Lucie’s life. It seems likely that, if Lucie is, in fact, dead or in a coma or is otherwise indisposed, Jesse will attempt to reverse this state. Lucie has risen him from the dead. He will feel indebted to her, in addition to the fact that he is in love with her. So, it seems likely that Jesse may take Lucie’s place as a main character, his plot line being the resurrection of Lucie Herondale. Unfortunately, these two are apparently trapped in one big cycle of life and death and how they intend to escape it is a mystery to me.
In conclusion, this book broke me in every way and all I have to say is “Thank you.”
Also, I need Chain of Thorns ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
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
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