Is Chain of Gold Worth Reading?

Cassandra Clare has dominated the YA sphere for years with her shadowhunter novels. I, like many others, adored her Mortal Instruments as a teen. As she expanded the world into more and more additional series, doubt grew over me. Were there really more stories to tell or was this a cash-grab? With The Dark Artifices, I was sure she had more to say. The characters were new, the plot was intense, and her writing was better than ever. But do I still feel the same way after reading the newest installment and series, Chain of Gold? (P.S: this review is spoiler free for CoG but not for the other series).

what is it about?

Chain of Gold follows the generation of shadowhunters after Tessa and Will from The Infernal Devices. This includes their children and is still set in London during the Edwardian period. I love a good historically set novel and the era definitely impacts the story. The time period is not just a footnote. The main characters include: Tessa and Will's children (James and Lucie), the Carstairs (Cordelia and Alistair), Charlotte and Henry's children (Matthew and Charles), and the various Lightwood children, including the adopted daughter of Tatiana Blackthorn, Grace. 

James and Cordelia are the two front protagonists and love interests. London has been mysteriously demon-free for years until the arrival of strange and powerful monsters that can appear in the daylight. Soon, shadowhunters begin falling prone to the dangerous poison these demons spread. This event coincides with the arrival of Cordelia Carstairs and Grace Blackthorn in London as they aim to enter shadowhunter society. It soon becomes apparent that James and Lucie's ties to the shadow world through their demon grandfather have become pertinent, especially regarding their own strange powers. 

the verdict 

The Good:
As always, the world Cassandra Clare has created and built upon is explored masterfully. I have enjoyed the shadow world from day one and continue to love reading about it. Newer additions to the familiar London scene include downworlder pubs and secret clubs, which are both mysterious and fun. Furthermore, her writing has continued to improve with every release. Chain of Gold features an elegant and romantic tone of writing that fits the time period without being too "historical." The drama and tension spun will have your eyes glued to the page. Who will end up with who? How are these demons appearing in the sunlight? How many will die before a cure is found for their venom? 

Cassandra Clare has always been a master at crafting characters and webs of relationships. As usual, I like pretty much every single one. The main protagonists, James and Cordelia, are a little expected but still intriguing. I particularly enjoyed Cordelia's strength of will and morals. But other than them, Matthew, Alistair, and Anna held my attention due to the complexity of their motivations and personalities. Many readers will likely relate to Lucie, an enthusiastic writer and reader. 

The Bad:
No book can be perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this installment, as I have with all of its predecessors. However, it is not my favorite. My chief complaint is the rather large cast of characters. There were too many perspectives and too many "main" characters. I wish Cassandra Clare had limited the focus to a few rather than the many. This would have focused in the plot as well as reduce the amount of drag. Not every character can be in the spotlight. I often struggled to keep track of them all and who they were related to. 

Like I mentioned, the plot dragged in some places. I felt like the story fell victim to being overshadowed by the romantic relationships and related drama. Moreover, the relationships, while entertaining, seem to be repeating some of Cassandra Clare's previously used plots. I know she writes an intense forbidden love story, but it is becoming a bit stale and repetitive. There always has to be a reason the lovers cannot be together, often involving a curse of some kind or miscommunication. I want her to expand her plotting skills, not reuse old tropes. 

Overall:
The story is fun and engaging with some interesting twists and turns, as well as sweet cameos from old favorites. I enjoyed the Jesse/Lucie interactions and wished more of the plot explored his ghostly existence. Perhaps in the coming books. Also, I love the diversity in this novel. Cassandra Clare manages to include diverse characters without feeling preachy or as if they are "token" characters. But, in the end, I liked it, just not as much as some of her previous novels.

Have you read Chain of Gold? If so, what did you think?