Review: Chain of Thorns

Favourite Quote:

“We have been in the crucible, and come out as gold.” - Cassandra Clare.

Summary:

Cordelia Carstairs has endured tragedy and fled to Paris with Matthew Fairchild in an attempt to escape it. However, her demons persist, compelling her to return to London to confront Belial. When the Herondale family’s ancestral secret is revealed, they become suspects in making deals with demons. Cordelia and the Merry Thieves find themselves trapped in London, away from their families, and are the Shadowhunters' only hope of saving the world.

Analysis:

Character Development

In this installment, character development was more pronounced across the board, a welcome change from previous books in the series. However, just as we start to delve deeper into a particular character, they are unexpectedly killed off, which felt unnecessary and shocking. Cordelia's choices at the beginning seemed out of character, indicating a backwards development that might be attributed to her trauma. On the other hand, James's arc was brilliantly executed. He confronts his past and reaches a level of acceptance that is deeply satisfying.

Themes

Friendship is a dominant theme throughout this series, and it's heartwarming to witness the strong bonds, especially among the Merry Thieves. A memorable moment was Matthew's confession about his haunting past and his friends' unwavering acceptance. It was a truly beautiful scene.

Likes and Dislikes

Cordelia's decision to flee to Paris with Matthew was one of my least favourite aspects of the book. Matthew's self-torture was also hard to digest. Conversely, I was thrilled when Alastair and Tom finally got together. It took a while, but the payoff was heartwarming and rewarding.

Recommendation:

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a good slow-burn romance coupled with high stakes. It's also perfect for readers who appreciate strong friendships and the triumph of good over evil.