Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Chain of Gold

(The Last Hours #1)

Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)

4.48 · Rating details · 51,489 ratings · 8,898 reviews

Chain of Gold, a Shadowhunters novel, is the first novel in a brand-new trilogy where evil hides in plain sight and love cuts deeper than any blade. .

Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin. Cordelia ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 592 pages

Published March 3rd 2020 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Chain of Gold, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

YA Novels of 2020

796 books — 2,956 voters

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Can't Wait Books of 2020

1,064 books — 2,875 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.48 ·

Rating details

· 51,489 ratings · 8,898 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Chain of Gold (The Last Hours, #1)

Nov 23, 2018 Melanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ghosts, demons, fantasy, romance, quarantine-reads, shifters, read-in-2020, read-in-2021, angels, lgbtqiap

1.) City of Bones ★★★
2.) City of Ashes ★★
3.) City of Glass ★★★
1.) Clockwork Angel ★★★
4.) City of Fallen Angels ★
2.) Clockwork Prince ★★★★
5.) City of Lost Souls ★★★★
3.) Clockwork Princess ★★★★★
6.) City of Heavenly Fire ★★★★★
*.) The Bane Chronicles ★★★
*.) Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy ★★★
1.) Lady Midnight ★★★★★
2.) Lord of Shadows ★★★★
*.) Ghosts of the Shadow Market ★★★★
3.) Queen of Air and Darkness ★★★★
1.) The Red Scrolls of Magic ★★★★★

I loved this reread so much. Let me reread this review a ...more

flag 809 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2013 gio rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-releases

2.5 stars

Oof this book. It’s objectively a hot mess. Objectively pretty bad, as it is:

- 50% drama
- 20% misunderstandings
- 20% escamotage from a beautiful episode
- 10% actual things happening

Like, my rational side (which is 90% of my own personality) would give this one 2 stars and the series a goodbye 👋
BUT. It was fun. DRAMATIC FUN BUT FUN. I was honestly the popcorn.gif the whole time or most of it. I rolled my eyes a couple of times, but lord, I was entertained.

If you want a break down of ...more

flag 1218 likes · Like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Khalia marked it as to-read

You know what this means?

MORE WILL HERONDALE!

Update: First review for this book. Claiming it! (27/03/13)

Edit 10/05/15 Since writing this review I've fallen out of love with Clare's novels, and in fact most novels I used to love (*shakes fist* "curse you, maturity!"), but I'm strangely proud that this semi-positive review is one of the top liked reviews amongst all these nasty reviewers... Seriously, why are you wasting your time with such redundant commentary? If I'd created a world as expan ...more

flag 641 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2020 Hannah rated it it was amazing

I am absolutely broken

flag 1628 likes · Like · see review

Mar 18, 2020 Regan rated it really liked it

WooooooooooWWWWWWW

How does she keep thinking of new and PAINFUL ways to keep people apart? Love it.

flag 1214 likes · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2018 NReads marked it as to-read

You can't imagine how long I have waited for this. Will and Tessa's story will live on. ...more

flag 501 likes · Like · see review

Dec 22, 2019 Chloe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-reads, 5-stars, cover-love, arc, favourite-books-of-all-time

My new favourite book in the Shadowhunter Chronicles? I think so.

I will never get over the fact that I got to read this early. What a dream come true. This was one of my most anticipated releases and it did NOT disappoint.

Wow I loved everything about this book. The characters (hello new favourite character Cordelia Carstairs <3), the angst, the QUOTES (so many good quotes), the setting (1900s London), the plot (super engaging and love the antagonist), EVERYTHING! It's also so satisfying having ...more

flag 505 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2020 Kai rated it liked it

Shelves: queer, owned

me: I'm never gonna read a Shadowhunter book again
me: NEVER
me: Mortal Instruments is a MESS
me: never
me: the Infernal Devices finale s u c k s
me: nope
me: the Bane chronicles are so bad I cried
me: n e v e r
me:
me: I'm so gonna read this book

Fellow reader, after giving up Shadowhunters for good...I fell victim to them once more. And surprisingly, I think I enjoyed myself?

Let's state the obvious, I really liked CC's writing style in CoG, her period Shadowhunter novels just have that romantic atmosphe ...more

flag 462 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2013 Nasty Lady MJ marked it as ca-ching

Recommends it for: Uber Fans

Note December 18, 2018: With much regret I requested that GR freezes the comments for this review. I am tired of constantly getting alerts and having to delete harassment. I really don't know why people can't get it into their thick heads that this is my review. They can disagree with it, but they don't have to come on here and attack me. God, just grow up already.

Disclaimer: Fanbots and trolls will be blocked. I don't care if you think I'm mean to Cassandra Clare. I really doubt she's read thi ...more

flag 445 likes · Like · see review

Nov 14, 2018 ✨ A ✨ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, romance, young-adult, cross-post, read-in-2020, four-and-half-stars, arcs, 2020-release, trope-friends-to-lovers, faves-ya-scifi-and-fantasy

Me: ahahaha I'm so over Cassie Clare. She's really just milking this series. Gosh when will she stop with the recycled tropes?!
Also me: I would die a thousand deaths for Will Herondale and his babies

[ a list of the short stories that feature the crew from Chain of Gold can be found at the end of this review ⤵️]

The Shadowhunters of the London Institute have had 10 years of peace. The younger generation have been raised surrounded by love and with little exposure to the hardships their parents fa ...more

flag 398 likes · Like · see review

Nov 08, 2020 chan ☆ added it

Shelves: 2020, ya-fantasy

my official review:

matthew is my king

james is an idiot

grace is probably the spawn of satan

cordelia is a baddie b

also cassandra really took the idea that "everyone is a lil gay" and RAN with it. i applaud her. ...more

flag 390 likes · Like · see review

May 12, 2016 Beth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, characters-i-loved, faves, buddy-reads, the-tears-are-real, lgbtqa, swoony-swoony, book-series, 2020-reads

By the Angel 5 Stars!

”We do not get to choose when in our lives we feel pain,” said Matthew "It comes when it comes, and we try to remember, even though we cannot imagine a day when it will release its hold on us, that all pain fades. All misery passes. Humanity is drawn to light, not darkness.”

I want to make this very, very clear that I am very much a Cassie Clare fan, The Infernal Devices is my favourite series and holds a very special place in my heart, so you can imagine my pure delight when ...more

flag 301 likes · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2018 ~Poppy~ rated it it was amazing

Wow! Cordelia Carstairs with Cortana. I love it!!!

James Herondale, son of William Herondale!!!!!

...more

flag 301 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2021 Sofia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: depressing, gary-stu, multiple-perspectives, intriguing-male-species, otp, guilty-pleasure, low-fantasy, shadowhunters, strong-female-protagonist, favorites

Let me tell you a funny story.

After this disaster and this dumpster fire, I was ready to distance myself from Cassandra Clare once and for all. But at least five people kept telling me to read Chain of Gold, that The Last Hours was better than TMI and TID, that even though I hated everything I’ve read by CC, I would love CoG.

I highly doubted it.

But I ended up reading this anyway, because it was free and available and what’s the worst that could happen? I had resigned myself to the loss of a few ...more

flag 276 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2020 Samantha rated it liked it

3.75 stars - This book is exactly what I wanted right now. I’ve only previously read The Infernal Devices, but I enjoyed this for the same reason I enjoyed that series: it’s follows a bunch of beautiful people in love and there’s barely any plot. The fantasy world is a fun but fairly unimportant backdrop to the angst and romance of the characters. And I couldn’t be happier! I go into these books with those expectations and I am not disappointed. These are the book equivalent of a CW tv show (and ...more

flag 211 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2018 Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy-series

JEEZ!!!
My heart stopped beating when I saw this cover.
It's so gorgeous I want to marry it. <333

___________________________

I've been dying to read more about James Herondale ever since I read "The Midnight Heir" in "The Bane Chronicles".

I love all those Herondales and Carstairs and Lightwoods and Blackthorns.
Gosh just give me all those awesome Shadowhunters!
I need them like I need air to breathe! <333

I genuinely hope Cassie Clare never stops to write those books because it certainly would be ...more

flag 205 likes · Like · see review

May 09, 2020 Katerina rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads, historical-fiction, paranormal

I was desperate to read this book.

I’ve been part of the world of the Shadowhunters for more than ten years, The Infernal Devices being my favorite saga. I clung to the memories of the London Institute, of holy water and blood, of crushed hearts and clockwork angels and faded parabatai runes through happy times and difficult times, ever since I finished Clockwork Princess. When my hands touched Chain of Gold, when I breathed in its pages and sank into the familiar lives of the Nephilim, it felt l ...more

flag 215 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2020 Whitney Atkinson rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtqiap, read-in-2020

If you're a Cassie Clare fan, ignore this review because you're gonna love the book. But if you're like me, with not enough brain cells to fathom rereading every Shadowhunter book and every little novella in between, you should probably read this book with the Shadowhunters wiki page pulled up in another tab.

I'll give this book its credit where it's due: I think Chain of Gold features my favorite cast of characters yet. Usually in Cassandra Clare worlds, I'll only be able to locate two or three If you're a Cassie Clare fan, ignore this review because you're gonna love the book. But if you're like me, with not enough brain cells to fathom rereading every Shadowhunter book and every little novella in between, you should probably read this book with the Shadowhunters wiki page pulled up in another tab.

I'll give this book its credit where it's due: I think Chain of Gold features my favorite cast of characters yet. Usually in Cassandra Clare worlds, I'll only be able to locate two or three characters I care deeply for and I skip the chapters of the rest. In Chain of Gold, however, I loved every character. You get the perfect balance of being reunited with old characters (ahhem, jem step on my neck) whilst falling in love with new ones (matthew and anna, stomp on me). The writing is great, this book is transporting, all is well.

But Cassie Clare books have ceased to be books that you can read with little effort. Because this book follows characters who have novellas about them already, you're expected to go into this with a lot of background knowledge. I had none. And I was baffled for nearly 300 pages before I finally stopped to Google everything. I hope the final copy has a family tree or a character guide to spare y'all the time. There are easily 10-15 moments in this book where the characters are like "hahaha remember when this happened??" in reference to the events of a previous novella, meanwhile I'm just chillin' with crickets in the background because I wasn't told there was an entire prequel to this new trilogy. I'm not sure if I'd go as far as to call it lazy storytelling to require so much extra reading on top of the 600 pages of development in this book, but it was definitely annoying that I felt I was witnessing the middle of a character arc rather than the beginning of it.

Even though I grew to love the characters (after I was finally able to distinguish who was who), not much happened in this book. If I were going to spoil you, there's probably only two or three major events to describe. Although this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, I found myself procrastinating picking it back up to read because it just isn't that exciting. I'm giving it a bit of credit because it's the first book in a series setting up the plot, but for a 600-page book, it was still a bit excruciating at times.

Another disappointment was the romance. It felt like there was none except one or two scenes, even though the synopsis almost revolves around Cordelia's crush on James. (Side note: It's a stretch to consider Cordelia the main character of this book. It follows the entire cast of characters almost equally.) This book lacked the angst of Cassie's previous books, though likely because a majority of the build-up and action occurred in previous novellas. Also, the time period makes sexuality and lust a lot more taboo, so that might have played a factor in why there was so little action I craved.

All I've said sounds super negative, but once I got into the groove of this book, I really did adore it. There's lots of nods to previous series with Will and Tessa and Magnus and Cortana and certain little Easter eggs that were so fun to find. Part of the reason this book wasn't 5 stars for me is entirely user error since I didn't read the prequel novellas, but I'm also just disappointed that Cassie Clare books from now on are going to be so difficult to read because they'll have required you to read her 20+ book series arc just to understand the basic premise and characters. So although this book took a sec to get through, I'm really looking forward to the sequel and I would like to thank not only God but Jesus that we've been spared too much of a cliffhanger. ...more

flag 215 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2020 Lucy Tonks rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-reread, books-i-will-reread-until-i-die, favourites, 2020-favourites, i-love-that-cover, cassandra-clare, buddy-reads

Chain of Gold: ☆☆☆☆☆
Chain of Iron: ☆☆☆☆☆

“There is no better distraction in this world than losing oneself in books for awhile.”

I WANT THE NEXT BOOK

this kids have such a complicated love life, and i didn't really expected some of those, let's say complications...

I just want these teens to be happy.

cassie, you really are a devil playing with our hearts...

but this has to be my favourite shadowhunters' book so far.

First read: March 9th 2020 - March 11th 2020
Second read: July 30th 2020 - August 2 ...more

flag 186 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2019 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it liked it

Shelves: own, young-adult, machalo-tbr-cleaning-2020, hardback-own

UPDATE: $3.99 on Kindle US 12/30/20

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

flag 175 likes · Like · see review

May 15, 2020 Beenish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

reread#1 — 5★ forgot to mention. I read it with @Viki and @Hafsa this time and I loved it! So, thank you, you guys :)
Perhaps life was not like books. Perhaps life was never going to be like that.

Last year, I rated it 5 because I loved it so much and because I'm usually biased when it comes to Cassie's books. Last year I thought this book was a bit too slow, and despite loving it so so much, I felt a bit disappointed too.

This time, however, everything seemed perfect. Maybe because I've become ...more

flag 168 likes · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it it was amazing

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I waited too long to start this one! And as you can guess, I’m slapping at my face for three hours for my illogical delaying decision!
This is brilliant, unique, captivating!

I’m not gonna give so much away! But that cliffhanger broke my heart into millions of pieces! I’m still screaming and I am literally craving more! The characterization, balanced pacing, writing style, world building are fantastic!
My favorite books of the author are Clockwork Princess and Lady Midnig ...more

flag 162 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2013 Jude marked it as to-read

Shelves: 00-ugh

photo tumblr_mdd3z9ctRH1r5jxm3_zpsdd90539f.gif

Here We Go Again.

First, I want to make clear to everyone that I Looooove TMI and TID, Loved them. But there's already The Dark Artifices coming and now this?

The thing about lots of books in a series is that, for them to work well, the author has to built this whole excellent world that is just so well written and so thought of that you can't help but want continue to be in it - for example Harry Potter. The Nephilim world is amazing and I've loved learning more and more about it and I can't ...more

flag 158 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2019 Eliza ☽ rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, monsters-and-demons, unfinished-series, fantasy

Me reading this book was just like: *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV* *waiting for Matthew POV*

*****************

Three whole books starring Will Herondale as a DILF? Sign me tf up 👀 👀 👀

flag 152 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2017 Eliza marked it as to-read

Shelves: reviewed, owned

See's William Herondale in the synopsis. *Screams* ...more

flag 114 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2014 Booknut marked it as to-read

Shelves: can-t-wait-to-read

By the Angel. She's done it again.

Like the proverbial 'rabbit-out-of-a-hat' trick, Cassandra Clare has whipped out another series based in the Shadowhunter world...this time, taking us on an ~~unnecessary~~ journey through the married life of Will and Tessa.

At the end of Clockwork Princess I was like:

But nope. Cassandra Clare decided that our fanfiction and daydreams weren't good enough - so she concocted a way to ~~drag out~~ continue the stories of two of our favourite characters.

...more

flag 140 likes · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2020 Miranda Reads rated it it was ok

Shelves: grchoice_round1, worstof2020, published2020

Just released my Worst 2020 Books Video - now that you know this one made the list, click the link to find the rest!

The Written Review

So...it was alright.

I feel like I'm missing a lot, since it's in the world of Shadow Hunters and I'm literally at book 2 of the main series.

But at the end of the day, it was an interesting story.

But probably not as interesting as it would be to someone who knows the background and can follow who was who.

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Sna ...more

flag 135 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2021 Cait (Caitsbooks) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-releases, paranormal, favorites, young-adult, i-love-these-ships, fantasy, to-be-reviewed, historical, cute-romance

Check out this review (and more) over on my blog!

Quick Stats:
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: I knew I would love Chain of Gold. I put off reading it because I knew I wasn’t emotionally prepared. I was right.

"Haven't you heard? All the stories are true.”

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Grief, Gore, Sexism, Alcoholism //

“We don’t always love people who deserve it.”

Release Date: 3/3/2020
Publisher: Margaret ...more

flag 189 likes · Like · see review

Mar 22, 2020 April (Aprilius Maximus) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, buzzwordathon-2021, favourites, 2021

1.) City of Bones ★★★★
2.) City of Ashes ★★★★
3.) City of Glass ★★★★
4.) City of Fallen Angels ★★★
5.) City of Lost Souls ★★★.5
6.) City of Heavenly Fire ★★★★

1.) Clockwork Angel ★★★★★
2.) Clockwork Prince ★★★★★
3.) Clockwork Princess ★★★★★

1.) Lady Midnight [TBA]
2.) Lord of Shadows [TBA]
3.) Queen of Air and Darkness [TBA]

1.) The Red Scrolls of Magic ★★★★.5

1.) Chain of Gold ★★★★★

*.) The Bane Chronicles ★★★★
*.) Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy [TBA]
*.) Ghosts of the Shadow Market ★★★★

------------------ ...more

flag 129 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2021 krista ☽✧ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: tbr-2021

“We do not get to choose when in our lives we feel pain," said Matthew. "It comes when it comes, and we try to remember, even though we cannot imagine a day when it will release its hold on us, that all pain fades. All misery passes. Humanity is drawn to light, not darkness.” - Matthew fairchild aka smol bean , protect at all cost.

3.75 stars - this revieuw is spoiler free , spoilers are marked with tagss

buddy read with the amazing Lucy , Mash and Evie
What too read before starting Chain of ...more

flag 127 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Bookworm Soci...: The Last Hours Trilogy	3	8	Apr 06, 2021 06:48AM
Anyone wanna buddy read chains of Gold??	2	11	Mar 19, 2021 01:50AM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Chain of Gold (The Last Hours #1) by Cassandra Clare - Restarting March 2nd 2021	56	92	Mar 14, 2021 11:57PM
Favorite Characters	4	35	Feb 08, 2021 11:12PM
The Midnight Readers: Chain of Gold (May, Lorelei, Mia & Lucy)	95	46	Feb 06, 2021 11:24PM
The Midnight Readers: Chain of Gold - Cassandra Clare	6	44	Jan 07, 2021 01:43PM
Addicted to YA: Chain of Gold	44	290	Dec 07, 2020 11:30AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

2,239 users

Young Adult

954 users

Romance

455 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

389 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

283 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

283 users

Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

242 users

Historical

192 users

Fiction

169 users

LGBT

135 users

See top shelves…

About Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare

241,122 followers

Hello Goodreadsers. Here's my official bio:

"Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilo ...more