Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) by Cassandra Clare —Restarting September 19th 2022

[Eesh]

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

[Eesh]

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[The reverse mermaid was the funniest thing lol.
And I can't believe the wedding in happening already. Though I don't know if it'll actually end up happening. Plus the Lucy working with Grace thing... I don't like it. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

So glad I saw this buddy read was happening!! I'll hopefully start tomorrow!

[Tayla]

yaayy, i actually stayed up until 8:30am finishing this book. Im so excited to chat about it still tho. I felt so much emotion with every page

[Tayla]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 2"

(view spoiler)[ Omg I was not expecting the reverse mermaid ahhaha, so funny! And yeah this book through us right into this wedding, but I guess they needed to go quickly to save her reputation haha. since the other women who were engaged before her arent married yet. Luce and Grace working together makes me sooo mad. How she can work with her after all the torment on james (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[Liking the book so far. Though I'm not the biggest fan of all the little side quests. I wish we could focus more on the killer. And that Lucie would stop working with Grace, who I still don't like.
As for Elias's death, I'm not upset. I feel bad for his family, but he sucked. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Starting this one now :)

[Jenn]

Tayla wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Chapter 2"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I feel like lucie is blinded by her feelings for Jesse so she doesn't see anything wrong with working for grace. I can't stand it either. I need someone to figure out what grace is doing to James (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Jenn wrote: "Tayla wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Chapter 2"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Same. That bracelet needs to go.

[Eesh]

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[I'm really glad that the bracelet's gone. Though the Cordelia-being-Lilith's-Paladin things was so dumb. I thought Cordelia was smart! And then she just pledged allegiance to some random dude! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

The End
(view spoiler)[Only, I hate everything now. James is the only non-annoying characters left (well, of the main four). I can't believe Cordelia fucking left! And Matthew... this whole storyline of him being in love with Cordelia has been the fucking worst. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

@Tayla I know you loved the book. And I wish I had as well. Hope you don't regret agreeing to the BR...

[Jenn]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ oh Lucie, probably not the way to alert Jesse to your feelings. I haveixes feelings about him being brought back. On one hand, I really want him to for Lucy but on the other, I just don't trust what her and grace are doing. And speaking of grace, can we just get that damned bracelet off of james?? Cordelia is a much better person than me cause I would have already demaned he take it off and probably slapped grace (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Jenn wrote: "Tayla wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Chapter 2"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

typical blinded by love haha

[Tayla]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

yeah i thought that was strange too (view spoiler)[ but i mean this is someone her family like worships so i guess i get it? (hide spoiler)]

[Tayla]

Quirks wrote: "@Tayla I know you loved the book. And I wish I had as well. Hope you don't regret agreeing to the BR..."

omg no!!! i like seeing how people react! especially when I was obsessed wishing i could give it more than 5 stars and you not liking it. its so interesting to me to see that

[Katie]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 14
Liking the book so far. Though I'm not the biggest fan of all the little side quests. l ..."

Yeah, I agree... (view spoiler)[ I like the main murder plot the most and wish we spent more time with that.

I also have the same issue I had with the first book...the amount of names dropped in the first 20% of this book was hard for me to follow. The wedding was just name after name. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 7: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, (view spoiler)[ Lucie and Jesse were some of my favorite characters in the first book!!!!! But for some reason with this book, I'm not quite as invested in their story...maybe because I also have a bad feeling about bringing Jesse back. Or maybe because there are so many other things going on as well. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Katie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 7: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I was really invested in their story either this time around.

[Jenn]

Katie wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 7: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, [spoilers removed]"

I agree. I think it for me it has something to do with how Lucie is going about doing it and Jesse is just in the dark

[Eesh]

Hmm... I didn't think that before, but yeah, that could definitely have something to do with it.

[Katie]

Chapter 20- (view spoiler)[ I kind of feel like Jesse or Matthew is involved in the murders. (Maybe Grace's mom...) But I'm not quite sure how any of them could be involved when at one of the murder locations someone said something about "Your wife..." and none of them would have a wife. But one said "I thought you were dead, which makes me think Jesse. I feel like we have all the missing pieces and I can't quite put them together, which is awesome....I can't wait to see how this comes together, but I hope it isn't something "out of left field." I like when endings come together but not when the reader was missing vital parts of the plot. This is really picking up for me. There were MANY parts that I felt like this book was way too many pages long. (hide spoiler)] I hope to finish this tonight!

[Katie]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah... (view spoiler)[ The bracelet needed to go, but I'm also a little "eh" about the Paladin thing. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Finished- (view spoiler)[ The ending saved this one for me. I felt like I slogged through this one, and felt that is was too long/descriptive. It had too many names for me to keep track of beside the main 5-6 characters. I'm going to have to take good notes on this book so I don't have to re-read it when the next book comes out. (hide spoiler)]

Interested in seeing other people's ratings!

[Eesh]

Katie wrote: "Finished- [spoilers removed]

Interested in seeing other people's ratings!"

I had a very different opinion on the ending. I wasn't having the best time before, and the ending was like the straw that broke the camel's back. (view spoiler)[Mainly the Cordelia running away part. That just made me so angry. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[ UGHHHHH grace. Just freaking waltzing into james' house and demanding a kiss. It's really hard to feel sorry for her when she's just so horrible. My heart also breaks for Matthew and his love for Cordelia. I'm also starting to think that cordelia would be better with Matthew because this james thing is driving me nuts and getting dragged out. Seriously? How has no one figured it out yet? Esp Matthew who can feel what james feels? (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[ is it bad that I kind of don't want james and cordelia together? I'm just so frustrated at everyone in this book and their stupid ideas and secrets. However I love that thomas and Alistair finally kissed!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ what even is that ending? I honestly don't know how I feel right now. Literally not one character made a good decision in this book. James deciding not to stop cordelia is probably the worst decision in the world. Lucie is blinded by wanting to be the heroine in her love story. And no one feels sorry for Grace (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Jenn wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I agree... (view spoiler)[ I thought the characters made weird character choices towards the end as well. I only liked the pacing of the ending, to be honest. I thought this book was going to be a 3 star just because I felt like it was too long, but the last 150 pages really picked up in speed and brought everything together...But then I didn't like the characters' choices. So I'm torn.... (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 14: [spoilers removed]"

THIS!!! ^^^^^^ (view spoiler)[ This has been my frustration with this book! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Mummy's Naughty Corner]

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Date changed. Restarting April 21st 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Aly]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ My heart keeps breaking for Cordelia and James. She loves him so much and is convinced he doesn't care for her. When she told him to let her know when he was going to see Grace, I almost started crying.
I know he has some kind of feelings for her, I just wish Grace was out of the picture. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ It's interesting seeing Grace in the past and how she reacted to Jesse being a ghost. I still don't like her but I feel bad for her.
Why can't Cordelia tell James she loves him and then he can say he feels the same? Why do the characters in these stories never say their feelings and then terrible things happen?? (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[ajkkjkshkajh ikr! Literally every scene with them almost has me in tears. I ship James and Cordelia so much! (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 10

(view spoiler)[Yes, I agree I definitely do feel for Grace. Honestly I don't hate her, she is being forced to by Tatiana (now her, I hate!) and I definitely can see Grace getting a redemption arc which tbh I wouldn't mind. She does, however need to hurry the heck up with getting the gracelet back off of James so he and Cordelia can live ~happily ever after~ ahaha pain is Cassandra Clare's specialty! *cries* (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

callie wrote: "Aly wrote: "Chapter 10

[spoilers removed]"

Yes! I want it gone so we can have happiness

[Aly]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ I'm so angry at Grace for making James kiss her and I'm glad he told Cordelia. Then they kissed and it was amazing, but then they stopped and no feelings were expressed.
Why??

I don't think James is the killer. I feel bad that he's being tortured (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Aly wrote: "Chapter 15

(view spoiler)[AHAHA THE PAIN OF THAT SCENE. JAMES AS GOOD AS ADMITTED HIS FEELINGS FOR CORDELIA BUT NOOOOOO THE ENCHANTED BRACELET HAD TO MAKE HIM FORGET UGH (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I'm not feeling this relationship between Lucie and Jesse. It doesn't have chemistry (though he is dead so I kind of get it) and I'm rooting for several other couples over them.

James and Cordelia are life!
Alastair and Thomas would be so cute together!
Adriata and Anna are pretty cute.
Matthew needs someone to love him. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[This book is KILLING me. SO much pain *cries*
Anyways, I have too many feelings about James and Cordelia, I'm dying, so just gonna not talk about that.

Lucie and Jesse are SO CUTE TOGETHER I LOVE THEM. I hope Lucie and Grace succeed in bringing him back to life but I also worry what that might do to them...

I definitely ship Thomas and Alistair and we are definitely getting somewhere with them ahhhh!

Also ship Grace and Christopher, they are kinda cute.

Thank GOD James isn't the murdered and Cordelia DIDN'T have to fight him..... but who is it? I don't know and I need to know.

I definitely maybe squealed when Magnus Bane came back, I love him SO MUCH

i SWEAR if Cassie Clare pulls another one of those "JUUUSTTT the absolute worst timing to admit your feelings" things again like with Will and Jem I'm gonna SUE.
I just keep imagining this happening:

Cordelia is starting to warm up to Matthew, who is abviously in love with her but knows she is in love with James. Cordelia starts to like Matthew. Matthew eventually confess his feelings. They kinda sorta start having a relationship but not really cause she is married. James then realizes his feelings for Cordelia/the bracelet breaks/something and is about to confess his feelings when Cordelia either A.) tells him outright she likes Matthew or B.) starts talking about their divorce. So James doesn't say anything. There is much pain.

Like I've read almost all of Cassandra Clare books and that would be such a her thing to do, I'm really hoping it doesn't happen. I just thought it and can't get it out of my head sooooo there you go! And if I am right I can gloat while I cry and have a mental breakdown lmao (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ I'm surprised Cordelia thought a guy she just met would want her as a paladin and that she'd agree. Didn't think that one through.

I feel bad for Jesse, but they should let him die and stop trying to do all these awful things to bring him back.

Also, when Will questioned Thomas and asked him about the money Gideon owes him, I laughed out loud (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

callie wrote: "Aly wrote: "Chapter 15

[spoilers removed]"

I know! How horrible!

[Aly]

callie wrote: "Chapter 20
This book is KILLING me. SO much pain *cries*
Anyways, I have too many feelings about James and Cordelia, I'm dying, so just gonna not talk about that.

Lucie and Jesse are SO CUTE TOGE..."

I will say that Clare has a formula she follows and you can kind of see where things are going. I hope (view spoiler)[ Matthew can find someone else who loves him fully and they can be together because Jordelia is endgame for me.

I don't feel like Jesse and Lucie have much chemistry, but she obviously cares for him a lot (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Aly wrote: "callie wrote: "Chapter 20"


(view spoiler)[I definitely kinda see what you mean about Lucie and Jesse not having chemistry, there is only so much you can do when he is a ghost I suppose. I still definitely ship them though! And Jordelia is 10000% endgame for me as well, Matthew needs to be able to love himself before finding something to love him. I do hope he finds someone but I would be perfectly happy if his whole plotline is just loving himself! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay, wtf? I'm so mad at James, Cordelia, Lucie, Grace, and Alastair. Sad for Matthew and Thomas (and Cordelia)

I just. I don't. I can't right now.

Why do people hide their feelings and run away and not communicate ever? (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Finished
I finished this a couple days ago but haven't been able to form intelligible thoughts since.

(view spoiler)[James and Cordelia cause me SO MUCH PAIN I'm so emotionally invested in them I CAN'T.
Cordelia telling Belial James ws HERS,
Cordelia and James making out BROKE. THE GRACELET. I scREAMED.
James freaking PASSED OUT before they couldn't talk about it OF COURSE.
"I do not feel about you at all as I feel about Grace. How I ever felt about Grace.
GRACE HAD IMPECABLE TIMING THERE UGHHH
then it happened. i mostly predicted what happened, i still wasn't prepared though. i was anticipating it but then i let me guard down, i thought they were finally talking. i just- i can't
James was RIGHT THERE AT THE TRAIN STATION THOUGH ARGHHHHHH BUT WILL WAS THERE AND I JUST- CORDELIA AND MATTHEW LEFT I- *completely unintelligible noises + muffled screaming*

some other things:

JESSE was the murder? I mean, he was possessed, but PLOT TWIST! That happened... and then Lucie raised him at the end? I need to know what happens next there ummm...

Alistair and Thomas were so cute for the little time we had them. I understand why Alistair did what he did, he was actually really nice but like... *unintelligible mumbling*

I hate Tatiana so much. Like poor Grace being raised by her. SHE WANTED GRADE TO SEDUDCE JESSE, her BROTHER. Like I know they are blood related but ew.

Will is amazing. His little quips give me life.

Also if you are incredibly in pain from the whole Cordelia/James situation DO NOT listen to Waves by Dean Lewis and think about them, you're welcome. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Aly wrote: "Finished

(view spoiler)[ I KNOW RIGHT! they. never. communicate. I usually don't like that in books but this one just- it hits my feels so badly I don't even care lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

callie wrote: "Finished
I finished this a couple days ago but haven't been able to form intelligible thoughts since.

James and Cordelia cause me SO MUCH PAIN I'm so emotionally invested in them I CAN'T.
Cordeli..."

I know! I almost wish I waited to read this until the third one is out so I don't have to be in pain and wait

[callie]

Aly wrote: "callie wrote: "Finished
I finished this a couple days ago but haven't been able to form intelligible thoughts since.

James and Cordelia cause me SO MUCH PAIN I'm so emotionally invested in them I..."

Waiting would have been such a good idea.... ahahaha too late for that now *cries*

[Akshita]

.