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A review by sarainfantasyland
Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
"I don't think I realized... how much I would need someone in my life who would see the truth of me and offer me kindness, even though I did not ask for it. Even when I felt I didn't deserve it. And when I travel the seas... every time I set eyes upon a new land, I will think of you and of that kindness. I will always carry it with me, and the knowledge that it is the gifts we did not have the strength to ask for that matter the most."
It is always difficult to write an unbiased review or gather thoughts the first time reading a book that you have an emotional attachment to. Because, for me at least, it is often never about craft or how good the writing is or how unpredictable the twists were. Its about the kind of journey the book took you on and getting a chance to live with the characters you already adore.
The Last Hours and The Infernal Devices speak to me on a deeper level than of the Shadowhunter books. They are apart of a handful of books where they have become a part of me and my soul. So talking about whose arc was better or if the book had too many tropes, doesn't particularly apply for this kind of read.
I loved the experience of reading this book. I felt all of it, perhaps too much. This doesn't always happen with Cassie's books, particularly her final ones where I find she struggles the most. And I was nervous this would feel like too much, too outrageous like Queen of Air and Darkness, or something about the story would pull me out of that <i>feeling</i> every read knows but cannot actually put into words. But it didn't because these books are so focused on characters.
Yes, a demon prince of hell is trying to take over the world but he's trying to do it by possessing one of your main characters, the love interest, the best friend, the son of your favorite character in this franchise. You don't really care if Belial takes over the world as your first instinct, its bad but livable. You care about him taking over <i>James</i>. It's all about these characters and their emotional ties to you and to the characters around them. And perhaps thats why the London Shadowhunters speak to me because this is more prevalent in these books than any of her others.
I may have guessed every major plot point but I wanted to toss the book across the room on page 127when James was in that Paris hotel room , wanted to scream at James to tell Cordelia the truth, begged Matthew to love himself and the way everyone else did, wept when Christopher died in his sister's arms , and giggled like a little girl when James and Cordelia were finally honest with each other.
<i>That</i> is why I read. Books like this are why I read. Why stories are so much apart of my soul. I am incredibly sad to be leaving these characters behind. I have no idea what to do with myself.
And perhaps with time will come more critique. The ability to think beyond my initial emotional reaction. But right now all I feel is grateful stories like this exist.
Now beyond the emotional, sappy, intelligent stuff... Here are my favorite scenes:
- Will in Cornwall. Any extended time I get to spend with Will Herondale is automatically preferred. Will having emotional, honest talks with James makes me want to die.
- Cordelia sending the Merry Thieves to look after Matthew when he was trying to go sober. First time I cried during the book. Incredibly sweet and heart-wrenching, esp considering what happens later.
- Cordelia and James finally, <i>finally</i> admitting how much love each other and having sex not once but THREE TIMES in the span of one chapter. Jame is the sexiest shadowhunter love interest, idk how to tell you otherwise. Cassandra has been reading romance and it shows. I truly lost my sanity here.
- Both James and Matthew and Lucie and Cordelia is Edom respectively. Matthew finally telling James about what he did to his mother was so incredibly emotional. And see Lucie and Cordelia be honest with one another about the secrets they kept.
- The epilogue. Something to leave behind in Jesse's coffin. Thomas telling his parents about him being gay (Eugenia, what an ally.) Matthew telling his parents his mistake and then finding out he's going to have TWO brothers or sisters. And Cordelia's final talk with Matthew. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with Matthew but clearly, I did.
- Esme Hardcastle's attempt to create a London Shadowhunter history and family tree. I think Cassie is trolling me for believing in that family tree on the back of Clockwork Princess.
- Christopher Lightwood. The sweet, kindest, most insightful boy. You did not deserve what happened to you. She truly said, I'm going to make you adore him and then take him away from you.
It is always difficult to write an unbiased review or gather thoughts the first time reading a book that you have an emotional attachment to. Because, for me at least, it is often never about craft or how good the writing is or how unpredictable the twists were. Its about the kind of journey the book took you on and getting a chance to live with the characters you already adore.
The Last Hours and The Infernal Devices speak to me on a deeper level than of the Shadowhunter books. They are apart of a handful of books where they have become a part of me and my soul. So talking about whose arc was better or if the book had too many tropes, doesn't particularly apply for this kind of read.
I loved the experience of reading this book. I felt all of it, perhaps too much. This doesn't always happen with Cassie's books, particularly her final ones where I find she struggles the most. And I was nervous this would feel like too much, too outrageous like Queen of Air and Darkness, or something about the story would pull me out of that <i>feeling</i> every read knows but cannot actually put into words. But it didn't because these books are so focused on characters.
Yes, a demon prince of hell is trying to take over the world but he's trying to do it by possessing one of your main characters, the love interest, the best friend, the son of your favorite character in this franchise. You don't really care if Belial takes over the world as your first instinct, its bad but livable. You care about him taking over <i>James</i>. It's all about these characters and their emotional ties to you and to the characters around them. And perhaps thats why the London Shadowhunters speak to me because this is more prevalent in these books than any of her others.
I may have guessed every major plot point but I wanted to toss the book across the room on page 127
<i>That</i> is why I read. Books like this are why I read. Why stories are so much apart of my soul. I am incredibly sad to be leaving these characters behind. I have no idea what to do with myself.
And perhaps with time will come more critique. The ability to think beyond my initial emotional reaction. But right now all I feel is grateful stories like this exist.
Now beyond the emotional, sappy, intelligent stuff... Here are my favorite scenes:
- Cordelia sending the Merry Thieves to look after Matthew when he was trying to go sober. First time I cried during the book. Incredibly sweet and heart-wrenching, esp considering what happens later.
- Cordelia and James finally, <i>finally</i> admitting how much love each other and having sex not once but THREE TIMES in the span of one chapter. Jame is the sexiest shadowhunter love interest, idk how to tell you otherwise. Cassandra has been reading romance and it shows. I truly lost my sanity here.
- Both James and Matthew and Lucie and Cordelia is Edom respectively. Matthew finally telling James about what he did to his mother was so incredibly emotional. And see Lucie and Cordelia be honest with one another about the secrets they kept.
- The epilogue. Something to leave behind in Jesse's coffin. Thomas telling his parents about him being gay (Eugenia, what an ally.) Matthew telling his parents his mistake and then finding out he's going to have TWO brothers or sisters. And Cordelia's final talk with Matthew. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with Matthew but clearly, I did.
- Esme Hardcastle's attempt to create a London Shadowhunter history and family tree. I think Cassie is trolling me for believing in that family tree on the back of Clockwork Princess.
- Christopher Lightwood. The sweet, kindest, most insightful boy. You did not deserve what happened to you. She truly said, I'm going to make you adore him and then take him away from you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Torture