Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, book 1)

By Cassandra Clare

Blurb: 
Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Review: 
I was so hyped for this book since it was announced. A sequel series to my all time favourite series. But then as the release date was getting closer and after not loving The Dark Artifices as much as the other Shadowhunter series, I was starting to get worried the book wouldn’t live up to the hype. However, this book did not let me down. I struggled to let it down. 

If you haven’t read The Infernal Devices yet, I’d advise reading it before Chain of Gold. I just think the little things will make more sense and you’ll attach to things more emotionally. I will also say now that there will be Infernal Devices spoilers within this review. Then the spoilers section will contain Chain of Gold specific ones.

The book is based on the children of The Infernal Devices characters. There’s a lot of characters, leading to me making a family tree. The main kids are Lucie and James Herondale. Children of Tessa and Will Herondale. Then you’ve got Cordelia and Alistair Carstairs. They’re the cousins of Jem Carstairs. Matthew and Charles Fairchild are Henry and Charlotte's children. There is more such as the Lightwoods but I’d say those are the very main characters.

The main plot is that demons are targeting Shadowhunters, even in daylight and the book is trying to stop it and figure out why it is happening. It has a fairly finalised ending but plenty of room to continue with. Which I love.

Something a bit different about this book compared to previous Shadowhunter books is that there was a past chapter every now and then. This chapter was about one of the main characters. They just give a bit of background to the characters or the story in general. I quite liked them.

I think if I was to force out a negative I’d say that there were a lot more big words in this book. I’m just glad I read it on kindle, so I could look them up. I can’t complain really as they matched the setting of Edwardian England. But as a dsylexic, I was noticing a lot of harder to read words than I am used to with Cassandra Clare books.

This book was amazing. An easy 5 stars. It was great having little bits from the characters from The Infernal Devices but all grown up and mature. I’m also glad they weren’t in it too much to give the spot light to their children. Everything in this book clicked perfectly. This is definitely in my top 3 favourite books of all time.

*SPOILERS*

The book opens with a story from the past about 10 year old Lucie. She falls into a fairy trap and is rescued by an odd man believed to be a changeling. He leaves and she doesn’t see him again till later on in this book, where we discover he is Jesse Blackthorn as a ghost. This becomes a b plot of their odd friendship/loyalty to each other. Only she and other Blackthorns can see him. Herondales are known for seeing ghosts but it turns out Jesse is a special ghost and Lucie discovers she has control over ghosts. 

I enjoyed this little side story. It was nice to see how Lucie differs from James more. It’s also interesting because a family tree printed in The Dark Artifices shows Lucie marries Jesse Blackthorn, so does this mean he stops being a ghost at some point. It’s still very mysterious at this point. 

The main plot was more about James. Because of Tessa’s warlock blood, James was capable of seeing other dimensions. The one he saw he called the Shadow Land. This plot vibe was a lot like Stranger Things. As he could see things in it that the others couldn’t but they could still be attacked by it. It seemed like the Upside Down to me. I did like it and I still think it’s a fresh concept and not at all inspired because of how long Cassandra Clare has been writing these books. It was just a familiar vibe.

I loved the ball in the beginning of the book. We basically got introduced to all the characters in one go. The ball didn’t end particularly well but until that point it was lovely and so easy to picture. 

20% through the book and that's when the plot started to really begin. The young shadowhunters were attacked during daylight which is unheard of. This led to 3 shadowhunters to end up conscioused. It was so dramatic and it was funny to picture men and women dressed in Edwardian fashion fighting demons.

One character I purposely left out of the family tree explanation was Grace Blackthorn. The adopted sibling to Jesse Blackthorn and adopted child of Tatiana Blackthorn (formally Lightwood). I’ve hated a lot of characters in book history. But I don’t think I’ve hated any as much as I hate Grace Blackthorn. She is the absolute worst.  

First she tricks James into falling in love with her through a magic bracelet. Even though he clearly loves Cordelia. Then she tricks him again by testing him to see if he would become mundane with her and leave his family. He refused thankfully. Then she immediately gets engaged to Charles. We discover she never loved him or anyone. Then when James gets engaged to Cordelia, she puts the bracelet back on, so he’s clueless again. She is so selfish to manipulate someone’s feelings like that for her own gain. Also she is no longer engaged to Charles so she’s single and read to take James back. She makes me so mad.

I think something that took this book to the next level was a death so soon. Barabra Lightwood who was the first to be attacked in the park, tragically died. We didn’t know much about her but it was upsetting seeing her brother Thomas Lightwood so upset. It just goes to show that this series is no holds barred. 

There are a lot of LGBT+ relationships in this book. First you got the obvious one Anna Lightwood. She has such a Gentleman Jack vibe (if you know of that TV series/book). Anna does what she pleases, leaves on her own and seems to be very open and accepted for her sexuality. 

Then you got Matthew who is a bi-sexual but that one isn’t as big of a deal as he clearly likes Lucie and Cordelia. The main gay characters are Thomas, Alistair and Charles. Alistair loves Charles but also has a thing for Thomas. Charles wants political power so he doesn’t want his love for Alistair known. Thomas clearly has a thing for Alistair. I prefer Alistair and Thomas and hope they win the series. 

I find the LGBT+ relationships to be very fitting to the times. As those relationships still existed back then. Some people suppressed it like Alistair and made them come across as cruler just because of all the anger they hold in themselves. Whereas some flaunt it like Anna and Matthew as they don’t care what others say.

A very unexpected storyline is the alcoholism of Matthew Fairchild. Wasn’t expecting him to have such a dark background. It’s quite sad but certainly interesting. The book itself doesn’t tell us why he is a drunk but it hints that it has something to do with him murdering someone. A life he hadn’t met yet. 

I was unsure of what this meant. But then I watched PolandbananasBooks, a bookish youtuber do a review of the book. She explained that it was the child that Charlotte lost in pregnancy. We knew in the book that that much had happened. However in Ghosts of the Shadow Market which I haven’t read yet apparently it has a story that shows Matthew buying a truth potion to give to his mother. Which led to the child to die. So through that deduction it makes sense. Matthew is filled with guilt for killing his new sibling by accident. 

I think by the end of the series with his idol Magnus Bane help. He’ll overcome it and realise it was a mistake that he shouldn’t feel guilty about. 

Going on to something positive. I think one of my favourite scenes is James and Cordelia's first kiss. James and Cordelia are on a mission with Matthew and Anna to steal something from a warlock. So eventually the situation ends up with them two alone in the whisper room and they don’t want people coming in. So when someone opens the door they just start passionately making out. When they leave, they don’t stop. It just escalated further. Until eventually Matthew walks in on them. In that scene you can tell James feel the same way and he knows it but because of the bracelet he thinks differently. 

I can guarantee by the end of the series Cordelia and James will be happily married and in love. There is no doubt in my mind. It’s just gonna be an uphill battle until that point. 

My final thought on the book. Throughout the book it kept talking about a woman being ruined. This is done by them developing a reputation of not staying pure before they’re married. I didn’t think much of it until the end, when I realised it was foreshadowing the end of the book. Cordelia decided to sacrifice herself to be perceived as ruined so James could not be punished. She claimed James had been in her room all night when in reality he burned down the old Lightwood house. This is why they got engaged so she wouldn’t be ruined as much. It just shows you’ve got to pay attention to the detail in Cassandra Clare books.

 Quote: 

'"Someone should neutralize you, you mopstick"'

- Thomas Lightwood, Chain of Gold

Rating: 5 runes out of 5 

 written by Lauren

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, book 1)

By Cassandra Clare

Blurb: 
Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Review: 
I was so hyped for this book since it was announced. A sequel series to my all time favourite series. But then as the release date was getting closer and after not loving The Dark Artifices as much as the other Shadowhunter series, I was starting to get worried the book wouldn’t live up to the hype. However, this book did not let me down. I struggled to let it down. 

If you haven’t read The Infernal Devices yet, I’d advise reading it before Chain of Gold. I just think the little things will make more sense and you’ll attach to things more emotionally. I will also say now that there will be Infernal Devices spoilers within this review. Then the spoilers section will contain Chain of Gold specific ones.

The book is based on the children of The Infernal Devices characters. There’s a lot of characters, leading to me making a family tree. The main kids are Lucie and James Herondale. Children of Tessa and Will Herondale. Then you’ve got Cordelia and Alistair Carstairs. They’re the cousins of Jem Carstairs. Matthew and Charles Fairchild are Henry and Charlotte's children. There is more such as the Lightwoods but I’d say those are the very main characters.

The main plot is that demons are targeting Shadowhunters, even in daylight and the book is trying to stop it and figure out why it is happening. It has a fairly finalised ending but plenty of room to continue with. Which I love.

Something a bit different about this book compared to previous Shadowhunter books is that there was a past chapter every now and then. This chapter was about one of the main characters. They just give a bit of background to the characters or the story in general. I quite liked them.

I think if I was to force out a negative I’d say that there were a lot more big words in this book. I’m just glad I read it on kindle, so I could look them up. I can’t complain really as they matched the setting of Edwardian England. But as a dsylexic, I was noticing a lot of harder to read words than I am used to with Cassandra Clare books.

This book was amazing. An easy 5 stars. It was great having little bits from the characters from The Infernal Devices but all grown up and mature. I’m also glad they weren’t in it too much to give the spot light to their children. Everything in this book clicked perfectly. This is definitely in my top 3 favourite books of all time.

*SPOILERS*

The book opens with a story from the past about 10 year old Lucie. She falls into a fairy trap and is rescued by an odd man believed to be a changeling. He leaves and she doesn’t see him again till later on in this book, where we discover he is Jesse Blackthorn as a ghost. This becomes a b plot of their odd friendship/loyalty to each other. Only she and other Blackthorns can see him. Herondales are known for seeing ghosts but it turns out Jesse is a special ghost and Lucie discovers she has control over ghosts. 

I enjoyed this little side story. It was nice to see how Lucie differs from James more. It’s also interesting because a family tree printed in The Dark Artifices shows Lucie marries Jesse Blackthorn, so does this mean he stops being a ghost at some point. It’s still very mysterious at this point. 

The main plot was more about James. Because of Tessa’s warlock blood, James was capable of seeing other dimensions. The one he saw he called the Shadow Land. This plot vibe was a lot like Stranger Things. As he could see things in it that the others couldn’t but they could still be attacked by it. It seemed like the Upside Down to me. I did like it and I still think it’s a fresh concept and not at all inspired because of how long Cassandra Clare has been writing these books. It was just a familiar vibe.

I loved the ball in the beginning of the book. We basically got introduced to all the characters in one go. The ball didn’t end particularly well but until that point it was lovely and so easy to picture. 

20% through the book and that's when the plot started to really begin. The young shadowhunters were attacked during daylight which is unheard of. This led to 3 shadowhunters to end up conscioused. It was so dramatic and it was funny to picture men and women dressed in Edwardian fashion fighting demons.

One character I purposely left out of the family tree explanation was Grace Blackthorn. The adopted sibling to Jesse Blackthorn and adopted child of Tatiana Blackthorn (formally Lightwood). I’ve hated a lot of characters in book history. But I don’t think I’ve hated any as much as I hate Grace Blackthorn. She is the absolute worst.  

First she tricks James into falling in love with her through a magic bracelet. Even though he clearly loves Cordelia. Then she tricks him again by testing him to see if he would become mundane with her and leave his family. He refused thankfully. Then she immediately gets engaged to Charles. We discover she never loved him or anyone. Then when James gets engaged to Cordelia, she puts the bracelet back on, so he’s clueless again. She is so selfish to manipulate someone’s feelings like that for her own gain. Also she is no longer engaged to Charles so she’s single and read to take James back. She makes me so mad.

I think something that took this book to the next level was a death so soon. Barabra Lightwood who was the first to be attacked in the park, tragically died. We didn’t know much about her but it was upsetting seeing her brother Thomas Lightwood so upset. It just goes to show that this series is no holds barred. 

There are a lot of LGBT+ relationships in this book. First you got the obvious one Anna Lightwood. She has such a Gentleman Jack vibe (if you know of that TV series/book). Anna does what she pleases, leaves on her own and seems to be very open and accepted for her sexuality. 

Then you got Matthew who is a bi-sexual but that one isn’t as big of a deal as he clearly likes Lucie and Cordelia. The main gay characters are Thomas, Alistair and Charles. Alistair loves Charles but also has a thing for Thomas. Charles wants political power so he doesn’t want his love for Alistair known. Thomas clearly has a thing for Alistair. I prefer Alistair and Thomas and hope they win the series. 

I find the LGBT+ relationships to be very fitting to the times. As those relationships still existed back then. Some people suppressed it like Alistair and made them come across as cruler just because of all the anger they hold in themselves. Whereas some flaunt it like Anna and Matthew as they don’t care what others say.

A very unexpected storyline is the alcoholism of Matthew Fairchild. Wasn’t expecting him to have such a dark background. It’s quite sad but certainly interesting. The book itself doesn’t tell us why he is a drunk but it hints that it has something to do with him murdering someone. A life he hadn’t met yet. 

I was unsure of what this meant. But then I watched PolandbananasBooks, a bookish youtuber do a review of the book. She explained that it was the child that Charlotte lost in pregnancy. We knew in the book that that much had happened. However in Ghosts of the Shadow Market which I haven’t read yet apparently it has a story that shows Matthew buying a truth potion to give to his mother. Which led to the child to die. So through that deduction it makes sense. Matthew is filled with guilt for killing his new sibling by accident. 

I think by the end of the series with his idol Magnus Bane help. He’ll overcome it and realise it was a mistake that he shouldn’t feel guilty about. 

Going on to something positive. I think one of my favourite scenes is James and Cordelia's first kiss. James and Cordelia are on a mission with Matthew and Anna to steal something from a warlock. So eventually the situation ends up with them two alone in the whisper room and they don’t want people coming in. So when someone opens the door they just start passionately making out. When they leave, they don’t stop. It just escalated further. Until eventually Matthew walks in on them. In that scene you can tell James feel the same way and he knows it but because of the bracelet he thinks differently. 

I can guarantee by the end of the series Cordelia and James will be happily married and in love. There is no doubt in my mind. It’s just gonna be an uphill battle until that point. 

My final thought on the book. Throughout the book it kept talking about a woman being ruined. This is done by them developing a reputation of not staying pure before they’re married. I didn’t think much of it until the end, when I realised it was foreshadowing the end of the book. Cordelia decided to sacrifice herself to be perceived as ruined so James could not be punished. She claimed James had been in her room all night when in reality he burned down the old Lightwood house. This is why they got engaged so she wouldn’t be ruined as much. It just shows you’ve got to pay attention to the detail in Cassandra Clare books.

 Quote: 

'"Someone should neutralize you, you mopstick"'

- Thomas Lightwood, Chain of Gold

Rating: 5 runes out of 5 

 written by Lauren

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, book 1)

By Cassandra Clare

Blurb: 
Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Review: 
I think this was possibly one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and it has definitely exceeded expectations. I didn't really enjoy The Red Scrolls of Magic or The Dark Artifices Series as much as Cassandra Clare's other works, so I was worried I wouldn't like this one as much. But you know what, it is definitely up there with The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments. It was perfect from start to finish.

In this story we meet the children of Henry and Charlotte, Gabriel and Cecily, Gideon and Sophie, Tessa and Will, Elias and Sona, and Tatiana. There is quite a lot of children and new characters brought into this, so for a good chunk of the start you will get muddled up and forget who is who and how they relate. I know me and Lauren sure did and Lauren ended up creating a family tree so it was easier to get our heads around.

The main characters within this book are Cordelia Carstairs, James Herondale and Grace Blackthorn. Obviously we have the other side characters which are quite frequent throughout the whole book but I feel that these are the main ones and who have the most input to the book.

Cordelia is quite a shy but an upfront character at the same time. I was very fond her her to start off with and the end of the book I still really liked her. So I was actually quite surprised with that she reminded me of Emma from The Dark Artifices series, and I really didn't like her. But Cordelia's actions were what made me like her and knowing what she truly wanted in life and how good-natured her heart was. I felt like throughout the book she developed a lot as she was making more rash and suitable decisions to protect her friends and the ones she loved. She also lied quite a lot to stop others from getting in trouble, but at the start of the book, I really thought she was too much of a goody two shoes, how quickly my opinion changed.

James 100% follows after his father in my opinion, but i also feel that he has Jace vibes when we discover more about him. He seems like he is a true player with his love relationships just like Jace was. But then I also seemed to get Alec vibes because he'd put on a brave mask at certain times and events. I did really like his character though and I felt that he was necessary in the book because it really wouldn't have been the same without him.

Grace is just 100% a bitch. I hate her so much. At the start of the book, I felt sort of sorry for her and I felt like I should maybe give her a bit of a chance as she was quite mysterious and I felt that the details about her and her personality were hidden from us. But then as events developed my hatred began for her and what she did to her lovers and friends is just appalling, she really annoyed me. I won't mention a certain event but what she did in that test was just damn right wrong and I would love for her to die.

Within this book there is a lot of LGBT+ relationships, which I find is a constant thing within Cassandra Clare books. I do really enjoy the relationships and triangles because it adds that bit of mystery and fun to the book, trying to guess which character will choose who.

We meet some old time favourites which I love, because me met them quite late into the book, I didn't really expect to meet any old characters, so when they turned up it was a nice surprise. To know they haven't changed within this series also makes me extremely happy because it's just 100% them no matter the circumstances.

There are a few characters that I really felt sorry for because they must have been through something truly horrible for them to act the way they do. Which we do discover within the book, so I was happy about that because I got closure.

The actual story of this book was just perfect being truthful. There has been no demons for a while, all the young Shadowhunters are out of practice for fighting demons. But one day they are attacked by demons in daylight which starts this whole mystery and whole new discovery of different types of family secrets and true friendships. I don't feel like the actual plot could have been any better, there was no faults within it. It was truly fast-paced and at times I really didn't want to put the book down because it was that great.

If you enjoyed The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments then this series is 100% for you. This is one of her best works and I really wish that I didn't have to wait a whole year for book 2, it's so upsetting. But hopefully time will fly with the amount of books I have to read.

Favourite Character: James

Read: 06/03/20 - 14/03/20

5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, book 1)

By Cassandra Clare

Blurb: 
Welcome to Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows, the celebration of artistic beauty and the wild pursuit of pleasure, with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale, children of the famous Will and Tessa, have grown up in an idyll with their loving friends and family, listening to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London…and so does a remorseless and inescapable plague.

James Herondale longs for a great love, and thinks he has found it in the beautiful, mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes the Shadowhunters, James, Cordelia and their friends are plunged into a wild adventure which will reveal dark and incredible powers, and the true cruel price of being a hero…and falling in love.

Review: 
I think this was possibly one of my most anticipated reads for this year, and it has definitely exceeded expectations. I didn't really enjoy The Red Scrolls of Magic or The Dark Artifices Series as much as Cassandra Clare's other works, so I was worried I wouldn't like this one as much. But you know what, it is definitely up there with The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments. It was perfect from start to finish.

In this story we meet the children of Henry and Charlotte, Gabriel and Cecily, Gideon and Sophie, Tessa and Will, Elias and Sona, and Tatiana. There is quite a lot of children and new characters brought into this, so for a good chunk of the start you will get muddled up and forget who is who and how they relate. I know me and Lauren sure did and Lauren ended up creating a family tree so it was easier to get our heads around.

The main characters within this book are Cordelia Carstairs, James Herondale and Grace Blackthorn. Obviously we have the other side characters which are quite frequent throughout the whole book but I feel that these are the main ones and who have the most input to the book.

Cordelia is quite a shy but an upfront character at the same time. I was very fond her her to start off with and the end of the book I still really liked her. So I was actually quite surprised with that she reminded me of Emma from The Dark Artifices series, and I really didn't like her. But Cordelia's actions were what made me like her and knowing what she truly wanted in life and how good-natured her heart was. I felt like throughout the book she developed a lot as she was making more rash and suitable decisions to protect her friends and the ones she loved. She also lied quite a lot to stop others from getting in trouble, but at the start of the book, I really thought she was too much of a goody two shoes, how quickly my opinion changed.

James 100% follows after his father in my opinion, but i also feel that he has Jace vibes when we discover more about him. He seems like he is a true player with his love relationships just like Jace was. But then I also seemed to get Alec vibes because he'd put on a brave mask at certain times and events. I did really like his character though and I felt that he was necessary in the book because it really wouldn't have been the same without him.

Grace is just 100% a bitch. I hate her so much. At the start of the book, I felt sort of sorry for her and I felt like I should maybe give her a bit of a chance as she was quite mysterious and I felt that the details about her and her personality were hidden from us. But then as events developed my hatred began for her and what she did to her lovers and friends is just appalling, she really annoyed me. I won't mention a certain event but what she did in that test was just damn right wrong and I would love for her to die.

Within this book there is a lot of LGBT+ relationships, which I find is a constant thing within Cassandra Clare books. I do really enjoy the relationships and triangles because it adds that bit of mystery and fun to the book, trying to guess which character will choose who.

We meet some old time favourites which I love, because me met them quite late into the book, I didn't really expect to meet any old characters, so when they turned up it was a nice surprise. To know they haven't changed within this series also makes me extremely happy because it's just 100% them no matter the circumstances.

There are a few characters that I really felt sorry for because they must have been through something truly horrible for them to act the way they do. Which we do discover within the book, so I was happy about that because I got closure.

The actual story of this book was just perfect being truthful. There has been no demons for a while, all the young Shadowhunters are out of practice for fighting demons. But one day they are attacked by demons in daylight which starts this whole mystery and whole new discovery of different types of family secrets and true friendships. I don't feel like the actual plot could have been any better, there was no faults within it. It was truly fast-paced and at times I really didn't want to put the book down because it was that great.

If you enjoyed The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments then this series is 100% for you. This is one of her best works and I really wish that I didn't have to wait a whole year for book 2, it's so upsetting. But hopefully time will fly with the amount of books I have to read.

Favourite Character: James

Read: 06/03/20 - 14/03/20

5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

The Shadowhunter's Codex

By Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

Blurb: 
The Clave is pleased to announce the newest edition of the Nephilim’s oldest and most famous training manual: the Shadowhunter’s Codex. Since the thirteenth century, the Codex has been the young Shadowhunter’s best friend. When you’re being swarmed by demons it can be easy to forget the finer points of obscure demon languages or the fastest way to stop an attack of Raum demons. With the Codex by your side, you never have to worry. 

Now in its twenty-seventh edition, the Codex covers it all: the history and the laws of our world; how to identify, interact with, and if necessary, kill that world’s many colorful denizens; which end of the stele is the end you write with. No more will your attempt to fight off rogue vampires and warlocks be slowed by the need to answer endless questions from your new recruits: What is a Pyxis? Why don’t we use guns? If I can’t see a warlock’s mark, is there a polite way to ask him where it is? Where do we get all our holy water? Geography, History, Magic, and Zoology textbook all rolled into one, the Codex is here to help new Shadowhunters navigate the beautiful, often brutal world that we inhabit. 

Do not let it be said that the Clave is outdated or, as the younger Shadowhunters say, “uncool”: this new edition of the Codex will be available not only in the usual magically-sealed demonskin binding, but also in a smart, modern edition using all of today’s most exciting printing techniques, including such new features as a sturdy clothbound cover, a protective dust jacket, and information about title, author, publisher, and so on conveniently available right on the cover. You’ll be pleased to know that it fits neatly into most satchels, and unlike previous editions, it rarely sets off alarm wards. 

The old woodcuts and engravings have been replaced as well: instead, you’ll find lavish modern illustrations by some of the brightest luminaries of the fantastic. Creatures, weapons, people, and places have been carefully and accurately rendered by the likes of Rebecca Guay, Charles Vess, Jim Nelson, Theo Black, Elisabeth Alba, and Cassandra Jean. Chapters are beautifully introduced by the drawings of Michael Kaluta, and along with our condensation of the classic 2,450-page tome, A History of the Nephilim, you will find a selection of the best of the lovely illustrations of that volume by John Dollar. 

This edition of the Codex will be available in Institute libraries and what mundanes sometimes call “book stores” in October 2013.

Review: 
This book was just amazing. As always, it lived up to my expectations for Cassandra Clare. It was really nice to get back into her usual stuff compared to The Red Scrolls of Magic.

This book was very informative about the Shadowhunter world, you learn all sorts of different things and read about several things that we are already aware of from reading her main series. 

There was quite a few drawings to go along with a few things so that we don't have to imagine them ourselves and that we could actually see how Cassandra Clare imagined them. This made things a lot more interesting because everyone's imagination is different so it's nice to see the authors interpretation compared to ours.

Throughout this book; Simon, Clary and Jace have written notations and reading some of these are actually really funny. You can tell their different personalities from each other and some of the stuff they say just makes you remember the good times within The Mortal Instruments.

There isn't really much to say about this book apart from that it is wrote in the same style as The Mortal Instruments, with the same humour and it's very informative. It is fast paced and really enjoyable, I'd definitely recommend reading it if you like her other work. I'm really disappointed that it has taken me so long to get round to reading it.

Favourite Character: Simon

Read: 25/07/19 - 26/07/19

5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

The Shadowhunter's Codex

By Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

Blurb: 
The Clave is pleased to announce the newest edition of the Nephilim’s oldest and most famous training manual: the Shadowhunter’s Codex. Since the thirteenth century, the Codex has been the young Shadowhunter’s best friend. When you’re being swarmed by demons it can be easy to forget the finer points of obscure demon languages or the fastest way to stop an attack of Raum demons. With the Codex by your side, you never have to worry. 

Now in its twenty-seventh edition, the Codex covers it all: the history and the laws of our world; how to identify, interact with, and if necessary, kill that world’s many colorful denizens; which end of the stele is the end you write with. No more will your attempt to fight off rogue vampires and warlocks be slowed by the need to answer endless questions from your new recruits: What is a Pyxis? Why don’t we use guns? If I can’t see a warlock’s mark, is there a polite way to ask him where it is? Where do we get all our holy water? Geography, History, Magic, and Zoology textbook all rolled into one, the Codex is here to help new Shadowhunters navigate the beautiful, often brutal world that we inhabit. 

Do not let it be said that the Clave is outdated or, as the younger Shadowhunters say, “uncool”: this new edition of the Codex will be available not only in the usual magically-sealed demonskin binding, but also in a smart, modern edition using all of today’s most exciting printing techniques, including such new features as a sturdy clothbound cover, a protective dust jacket, and information about title, author, publisher, and so on conveniently available right on the cover. You’ll be pleased to know that it fits neatly into most satchels, and unlike previous editions, it rarely sets off alarm wards. 

The old woodcuts and engravings have been replaced as well: instead, you’ll find lavish modern illustrations by some of the brightest luminaries of the fantastic. Creatures, weapons, people, and places have been carefully and accurately rendered by the likes of Rebecca Guay, Charles Vess, Jim Nelson, Theo Black, Elisabeth Alba, and Cassandra Jean. Chapters are beautifully introduced by the drawings of Michael Kaluta, and along with our condensation of the classic 2,450-page tome, A History of the Nephilim, you will find a selection of the best of the lovely illustrations of that volume by John Dollar. 

This edition of the Codex will be available in Institute libraries and what mundanes sometimes call “book stores” in October 2013.

Review: 
This book was just amazing. As always, it lived up to my expectations for Cassandra Clare. It was really nice to get back into her usual stuff compared to The Red Scrolls of Magic.

This book was very informative about the Shadowhunter world, you learn all sorts of different things and read about several things that we are already aware of from reading her main series. 

There was quite a few drawings to go along with a few things so that we don't have to imagine them ourselves and that we could actually see how Cassandra Clare imagined them. This made things a lot more interesting because everyone's imagination is different so it's nice to see the authors interpretation compared to ours.

Throughout this book; Simon, Clary and Jace have written notations and reading some of these are actually really funny. You can tell their different personalities from each other and some of the stuff they say just makes you remember the good times within The Mortal Instruments.

There isn't really much to say about this book apart from that it is wrote in the same style as The Mortal Instruments, with the same humour and it's very informative. It is fast paced and really enjoyable, I'd definitely recommend reading it if you like her other work. I'm really disappointed that it has taken me so long to get round to reading it.

Favourite Character: Simon

Read: 25/07/19 - 26/07/19

5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie

Ghosts of the Shadow Market

By Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees Brennan and Robin Wasserman

Blurb: 
The Shadow Market is a meeting point for faeries, werewolves, warlocks and vampires. There the Downworlders buy and sell magical objects, make dark bargains, and whisper secrets they do not want the Nephilim to know. Through two centuries, however, there has been a frequent visitor to the Shadow Market from the City of Bones, the very heart of the Shadowhunters. As a Silent Brother, Brother Zachariah is sworn keeper of the laws and lore of the Nephilim. But once he was a Shadowhunter called Jem Carstairs, and his love, then and always, is the warlock Tessa Gray.

Follow Brother Zachariah and see, against the backdrop of the Shadow Market’s dark dealings and festive celebrations, Anna Lightwood’s first romance, Matthew Fairchild’s great sin and Tessa Gray plunged into a world war. Valentine Morgenstern buys a soul at the Market and a young Jace Wayland’s soul finds safe harbor. In the Market is hidden a lost heir and a beloved ghost, and no one can save you once you have traded away your heart. Not even Brother Zachariah...

Review: 
I feel like I needed this book, and it's sort of helped me get out of my reading slump. I found this book a lot better than The Red Scrolls of Magic and nearly up to her usual standard of writing, I wouldn't say it's fully her usual writing standard but it's close. It's way better than The Red Scrolls of Magic, The Bane Chronicles and slightly better than The Dark Artifices series but not as good as The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments.

Now on to the actual review. So this book is made up of several different stories which are wrote by Cassandra Clare and other authors. They are based on Jem who is on the front cover when he is a silent brother and when he is no longer a silent brother. It's been a while since I read these books so I can't remember how or why Jem is no longer a silent brother so for someone who is really good at remembering may enjoy these books a lot more.

Out of all the books my favourite one is Learn About Loss and my least favourite one is possibly the second one, Every Exquisite Thing.

I'll talk about the whole book rather than the individual books as that is how I've rated it.

So this book was wrote really well, the pace was really good and kept you wanting to read. The only thing was at certain points in certain books not much was happening so it did get slow but it was still a really good read.

There was a lot of details reading through the book that I'd totally forgotten about and it was pretty awesome how you got to read the different point of view of how events occurred. It was also really sweet to read things from Jem's point of view and getting to know more of his personality. I found him a really nice character in the other books and was one of my favourites, but now reading things from his point of view shows you how he actually cares for the other people that he meets. 

This book was really good because each individual story was about a set of characters sometimes these characters appeared in other stories but it was a different event happening so it was really nice to read. I also liked how sometimes they were set at different times within the shadowhunter world when different characters are alive and stuff, which I found really nice. I also liked reading about Jem's struggles that he has had to face.

I love reading about Kit's life when Ty goes to the Scholomance and the problems their friendship face. I thought it was quite realistic and I enjoyed all the adventures within these books.

Being truthful I just loved the whole thing, it was 100% worth the read at every minute of the day. It was just perfect reading about several characters interactions all within one book, all the different adventures and problems that were faced. It was just so lovely that they were all tied under one book. The only thing that put me off was that there was no chapters within the smaller books, and I'm not a fan of big chapters as it is.

If you are a fan of Cassandra Clare's books then I would definitely recommend that you read this big book there's only 10 small books within it.

Favourite Character: Obviously Jem, it's about him 

Read: 10/06/19 - 05/07/19

5 stars out of 5

Written by Sammie