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A review by clarrlinn
Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare
4.0
4 stars
Honestly, after reading this book, I have high hopes for the final installation in the trilogy, which kind of scares me. I really hope it doesn't let me down.
I didn't expect Chain of Iron to be much better than its predecessor, but surprisingly, I liked this better. I think it's because it's not as overcrowded as the previous book. The drama is still there, but it's on a tolerable range. I even enjoyed reading the drama, although the early ones were a bit unnecessary.
I was at first a bit disappointed with the fewer appearances of the characters from The Infernal Devices . The main trio from that series is mostly away during the book, but surprisingly, I was okay overall with the decision. It really fleshes out the actual main characters of this book. Although at times, Will still stole the scenes during this book and provided tons of hilarious scenes throughout this series. (The scene where he whooped and chased a demon around the Wentworths' residence? What a gold.) I still can't believe Chain of Thorns would be the last time we see him alive. I'm still hurting, okay? Ouch.
What a golden and Will Herondale moment.
The main protagonists and ship of the story, James and Cordelia, surprisingly interested me in this book. I have mentioned that they are so bland in the first book, but since now I feel that Cassie Clare is finally focusing the plot on their story instead of a scatterbrained story, I can get the gist of their relationship better. I actually liked James in this book, and his personality seems clear to me now, and I can sympathize with Cordelia and I have to say, oh boy, oh boy, her current situation isn't good.
Lucie and Jesse are the characters that stole the show for me. (I just realized that I said the same thing in the previous book's review but I'll say this again.) I think that I relate to Lucie a lot, being the writer and the chatty one in the group. I absolutely adore her and her romance with Jesse is actually really cute. (Yes, I know Jesse is a ghost and is technically seven years older than her, but seriously, their chemistry is top-notch.) I was scared for them in the climax, and I am low-key frightened of what comes next for them. Also, Lucie and Jessamine's scenes are so underrated. They are hilarious. (My favorite moment would be when Jessamine talks about Nate and Lucie just burns him to the ground. I love them.) And I just feel bad for Jesse the whole time. His mom sucks, and my, oh my, that revelation. I might have made a shocked squeak at that.
Matthew actually got a bit sidelined here, so I kind of miss his quips. I hope he can open up to his mom about his secret. Anna and Ariadne are great. Thomas and Alastair... I have to admit they came out of nowhere, but I am fine with them. I also came to like Alastair in this book, though. (Just a bit.) Christopher and Grace have something between them — I just know it. I actually can sympathize with Grace here, although I don't exactly like her. I hate Tatiana, though. Seriously, I can't follow her logic.
As a villain, Belial seems pretty okay. He is a good villain, although not a particularly striking or scary one, but very dangerous. I don't like him, obviously, but he fills that villain role pretty well here.
Honestly, I would have probably rated this 3.5 stars because I feel that although the book is enjoyable, there is nothing striking that can upgrade this book until we got to the climax scene. I feel that Clare wrote the climax really well, and it really struck me. I really liked the ending of the book and thought the story was well-crafted. That's why I upgraded this into a four-star read. I definitely recommend this for the Edwardian feels and the dramatic parts if you like those kinds of things. For now, I am going to leave the Victorian Shadowhunters and jump into other books.
Honestly, after reading this book, I have high hopes for the final installation in the trilogy, which kind of scares me. I really hope it doesn't let me down.
I didn't expect Chain of Iron to be much better than its predecessor, but surprisingly, I liked this better. I think it's because it's not as overcrowded as the previous book. The drama is still there, but it's on a tolerable range. I even enjoyed reading the drama, although the early ones were a bit unnecessary.
I was at first a bit disappointed with the fewer appearances of the characters from The Infernal Devices . The main trio from that series is mostly away during the book, but surprisingly, I was okay overall with the decision. It really fleshes out the actual main characters of this book. Although at times, Will still stole the scenes during this book and provided tons of hilarious scenes throughout this series. (The scene where he whooped and chased a demon around the Wentworths' residence? What a gold.) I still can't believe Chain of Thorns would be the last time we see him alive. I'm still hurting, okay? Ouch.
"Is Gideon aware that he still owes me twenty pounds?"
"Yes," said Thomas, without being able to stop himself, "but he is pretending not to remember."
"I knew it!" cried Will.
What a golden and Will Herondale moment.
Cortana. A golden seam across his vision, widening. Images rose up to nearly blind him—he could see the skyline of London, the blaze of sunlight on ice, Thomas bound to a chair, the fiery baubles at the Shadow Market, green grass and Matthew throwing a stick for Oscar, the room above the Devil Tavern, Lucie and his parents turning toward him, Jem in the shadows. And there were hands on his shoulders, and they were hers, Cordelia’s, and she said, in a voice of absolute determination:
“He is not yours. He is mine. He is mine.”
The main protagonists and ship of the story, James and Cordelia, surprisingly interested me in this book. I have mentioned that they are so bland in the first book, but since now I feel that Cassie Clare is finally focusing the plot on their story instead of a scatterbrained story, I can get the gist of their relationship better. I actually liked James in this book, and his personality seems clear to me now, and I can sympathize with Cordelia and I have to say, oh boy, oh boy, her current situation isn't good.
“Dance with me, Jesse Blackthorn,” she said. “I command you.”
Lucie and Jesse are the characters that stole the show for me. (I just realized that I said the same thing in the previous book's review but I'll say this again.) I think that I relate to Lucie a lot, being the writer and the chatty one in the group. I absolutely adore her and her romance with Jesse is actually really cute. (Yes, I know Jesse is a ghost and is technically seven years older than her, but seriously, their chemistry is top-notch.) I was scared for them in the climax, and I am low-key frightened of what comes next for them. Also, Lucie and Jessamine's scenes are so underrated. They are hilarious. (My favorite moment would be when Jessamine talks about Nate and Lucie just burns him to the ground. I love them.) And I just feel bad for Jesse the whole time. His mom sucks, and my, oh my, that revelation. I might have made a shocked squeak at that.
Matthew actually got a bit sidelined here, so I kind of miss his quips. I hope he can open up to his mom about his secret. Anna and Ariadne are great. Thomas and Alastair... I have to admit they came out of nowhere, but I am fine with them. I also came to like Alastair in this book, though. (Just a bit.) Christopher and Grace have something between them — I just know it. I actually can sympathize with Grace here, although I don't exactly like her. I hate Tatiana, though. Seriously, I can't follow her logic.
As a villain, Belial seems pretty okay. He is a good villain, although not a particularly striking or scary one, but very dangerous. I don't like him, obviously, but he fills that villain role pretty well here.
Honestly, I would have probably rated this 3.5 stars because I feel that although the book is enjoyable, there is nothing striking that can upgrade this book until we got to the climax scene. I feel that Clare wrote the climax really well, and it really struck me. I really liked the ending of the book and thought the story was well-crafted. That's why I upgraded this into a four-star read. I definitely recommend this for the Edwardian feels and the dramatic parts if you like those kinds of things. For now, I am going to leave the Victorian Shadowhunters and jump into other books.