Chain of Iron Review | Cassandra Clare

After mixed feelings about previous Cassandra Clare books, I started Chain of Iron without high expectations. I enjoyed it more than expected, however, and found the plot had more momentum than previously due to focusing on more than unrequited love triangles. I’m sharing my full Chain of Iron review below.

Publisher: Walker Books | Date: 2021 | Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Plot: 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.

The Reckoning Review | Marisa Noelle

Having enjoyed the first two books, I was looking forward to the adventure continuing for Silver and friends. When given the chance to be part of the blog tour, it was my guarantee of reading the book before forgetting the previous events. Today, I’m sharing my review on The Reckoning.

Publisher: Question Mark Press | Date: 2021 | Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: Sinister visions of an evil entity with looming yellow eyes haunt Silver’s dreams, threatening to destroy the new world she and her friends have created. The terrifying omens push Silver to experiment with her abilities, but awaken a burgeoning thirst for more power.

As Silver walks a fine line between good and evil, her friends become wary of her intimidating abilities. She finds understanding in a sympathetic newcomer, but their deepening friendship drives an even deeper wedge between Silver and her suspicious friends.

Tragedy strikes during preparations for the final stand, bringing a terrible choice. Grief drives Silver toward reckless actions that may doom the final battle. Can she repair the relationships with her friends and control her powers before her vision becomes reality?

I received The Reckoning as part of a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Reckoning Review

I’ve enjoyed the adventures and the powers depicted in the first two books. I had issues with Silver’s character in book two, but she redeemed herself and I was intrigued about where the new threat was going to take things. I was looking forward to The Reckoning.

Characters

It’s an interesting choice when an author deliberately sends her main character on a negative development arc. Silver spends the first half of the book arrogant, selfish and so self-absorbed that I wanted someone (preferably a bulk) to shake some sense into her. I really went off her.

As the story and Silver’s development progresses, she comes full circle and you root for her again. I wish we could’ve seen more of the other characters and their abilities, rather than the narration fixating on Silver and Eli – especially as it’s impossible to connect to the latter because you know not to trust him.

I don’t cry. I don’t despair. I’m more accepting than I thought I’d be.

But I won’t give up either. I won’t. I can’t. It’s not who I am.

The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle

Writing

In true Noelle form, however, it comes together seamlessly.

Silver comes back to herself, the threat manifests, and our band of survivors have to come together to face impossible odds (again). The pacing takes a long time to build, with a large portion of the book being character-focused. Once events gain momentum, you don’t have time to figure out what’s going on: the danger is here and it’s real. It made the character development more pronounced, although the tension may have benefitted from longer to build.

The enemy was unclear. It wasn’t a person or a known threat. Formless and menacing, it’s hard to identify exactly what it was, which undermined it for me: a deranged, power-hungry maniac had more impact than something illusive.

Themes

The book was a lot of fun. As a young adult science-fiction novel, it touches on a lot of important themes, not least that no one is incorruptible and that relationships are complicated. There were times I identified with the messages, and times I sensed it was aimed at a younger audience. It was a good balance between the fate of the world, and personal problems.

Given the current climate, it’s easy to identify with the despair and helplessness of humanity trying to survive when the world turns against you. An invisible, deadly threat is something we can all relate to.

I enjoyed this book, and liked watching everything come together. Very mixed feelings on the ending (no spoilers) but it does make me intrigued where this will go next.

Final Thoughts

If you’re enjoying the series, or looking for a new YA science-fiction to binge, then The Unadjusteds books are entertaining reads. The Reckoning works for a late-teen audience reaching the point in their lives where they want to establish who they are. If that’s your thing, then a definite recommendation. 

Have you been reading The Unadjusteds series? Does this sound like your kind of book?

Also in the series:

• Book One: The Unadjusteds
• Book Two: The Rise of the Altereds

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The Lost Book of the White Review | Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu

Ever since I first read The Mortal Instruments, the Magnus and Alec relationship has been my favourite. I enjoyed The Red Scrolls of Magic and seeing them grow together. Despite previous doubts with these books, I was looking forward to this one. Here’s my The Lost Book of White review!

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Find out more here.

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s UK  | Date: 2020 | Buy it here*

Plot: Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the thieves to Shanghai, they need to call some backup to accompany them, and they need a babysitter.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange magical weapon and the wound is glowing, so they have that to worry about too.

Fortunately, their backup consists of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and newly minted Shadowhunter Simon. In Shanghai, they learn that a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus’s magic is growing unstable, and if they can’t stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source—to the very realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world? Will they make it back home before their kid completely wears out Alec’s mom?

The Fallen Angel Review | Kenneth B. Andersen

Returning to the depths of hell in the fifth instalment in The Great Devil’s War series by Kenneth B. Andersen. Here’s my review on The Fallen Angel.

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy | Publisher: Kenneth Bøgh Andersen | Date: 2020

Plot: It’s been almost two years since Philip left Hell and returned to life—this time for good.

But things have changed and so has Philip. He’s haunted by terrifying nightmares and has never felt so lonely. Lonely and angry.

Then one day the impossible happens and Philip is brought back to Hell. Not by the Devil, but by the Almighty himself.

Although the Great Devil War ended a long time ago, the battle is far from over—and the worst is yet to come.

Chain of Gold Review | Cassandra Clare

It’s time to return to the world of Shadowhunters with today’s post. Keep reading to check out my review of Chain of Gold.

Publisher: Walker Books | Date: 2020 | Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult | Buy it here*

Plot: 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.

The Rise of the Altereds Review | Marisa Noelle

Having enjoyed the first book, I was intrigued to see how the story would develop for Silver and her friends. As always, second books leave me doubtful, and this one had a few points I wasn’t sure on. But, overall, it was a good read. I’m sharing my The Rise of the Altereds review – enjoy!

Publisher: WritePlan | Date: 2020 | Genre: YA/Science-Fiction

Plot: Genetic modification has been outlawed.

The remaining altered want revenge.

When Silver’s mother is abducted by a rogue scientist who releases a deadly new virus on the populace, she and her now unadjusted friends are faced with an impossible choice.

They can hide from the virus for as long as possible, or they can regain their abilities and take the battle to the mountains. But Silver doesn’t count on a new, rogue power growing within her. She can’t control it and soon all her friends are in danger. And there is something evil hiding in the snowy Sierras.

Can Silver learn to control her new, deadly power in time to rescue her mother as well as defeat the one who seeks to destroy them all?

Honor Bound Review | Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre

Honor Among Thieves has been one of my favourite books this year. I’m delighted to be back with my Honor Bound review today!

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books | Date: 2019 | Genre: Science fiction/Young Adult | Buy it here*

Plot: Zara Cole was a thief back on Earth, but she’s been recently upgraded to intergalactic fugitive. On the run after a bloody battle in a covert war that she never expected to be fighting, Zara, her co-pilot Beatriz, and their Leviathan ship Nadim barely escaped the carnage with their lives.

Now Zara and her crew of Honors need a safe haven, far from the creatures who want to annihilate them. But they’ll have to settle for the Sliver: a wild, dangerous warren of alien criminals. The secrets of the Sliver may have the power to turn the tide of the war they left behind—but in the wrong direction.

Soon Zara will have to make a choice: run from the ultimate evil—or stand and fight.

Legends Rise Review | Devri Walls

Morning, everyone. I’m so excited to be part of the Write Reads tour for this one. I’ve been adoring the Venators series and am really looking forward to seeing what’s in store for my favourite characters this time. It’s time to dive back into the adventure with my Legends Rise review.

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Find out more here.

Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group | Date: 2020 | Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult | Buy it here*

Plot: The path will be forged in sweat and blood. Rune, Grey, the shape-shifter Beltran, and willful vampire, Verida, set out to rescue their friend and mentor, Tate, from the gladiator games. But first they must navigate the perils of Eon and its warring factions. Each of this band of four carries with them a secret that threatens to tear their group apart from within. Rune now bears the mark of the promise she made to save Grey’s life-a nixie bubble lodged in her arm that could call her away to do their bidding or spell her death.

Even as their loyalty to their cause and to one another faces its greatest test, Rune’s twin brother Ryker is forging an alliance with their mortal enemy, the powerful sorceress Zio, who has plans of her own for the Venators and Eon. Hearts will be bared, secrets unveiled, and relationships made and destroyed in this stunning new instalment of the Venators series.

Dragon Gods Review | Ava Richardson

Who enjoys dragons with their young adult fantasy? I’m returning back to the world of Ava Richardson today with the second in the Dragon Untameable series to see what this group of powerful teens get up to this time. Today, I’m sharing my Dragon Gods review.

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Find out more here.

Publisher: Relay Publishing | Date: 2019 | Genre: YA/Fantasy | Buy it here*

Plot: Loyalty will bind them together—or tear them apart.

Nightfall still holds Alveria in its grip. Terrifying ghosts continue to haunt the stricken kingdom, while crops wither in the fields from lack of sunlight. If the light doesn’t return soon, thousands will starve.

But a worse fate awaits the Untameables.

Laini Unclaimed has revealed the shocking truth discovered after her journey to the hallowed realm: the gods are not lost but have instead been reborn on Earth as mere mortals in order to face their ultimate destruction for rejecting Hel.

The goddess’s bitterness is far too familiar, as the sting of the dragon hunter Tyr’s betrayal remains fresh in Laini’s mind. Yet as her connection to Hel grows, Laini sees the damage that results in allowing the past to infect the present—and she’s determined not to make the same mistake as the vengeful god.

Armed with newfound faith in her fellow rag-tag band of Untameables, Laini and the dragons must track down the rest of the young gods and protect them from the rapidly growing cult of Hel—before the power of their worship allows the goddess to break free from the shackles of the underworld.

As Hel’s threat looms closer, Laini must rise up and fight for those she believes in.

Before all is lost.

The Summoned Ones Review | Darryl A. Woods

I love a portal fantasy as much as the next girl. But something about this one didn’t quite work for me. After a snapshot on the blog a few week’s ago, I’m now sharing my The Summoned Ones review.

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. For more information, click here.

Publisher: Bresford Ridge Publishing | Date: 2020 | Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Join the soldiers of Bericea and the Summoned Ones through a life-or-death struggle. The Summoned Ones was made up of a small college aged group of friends from a small Kentucky town near the Daniel Boone National Forrest, who find themselves somehow brought to a chaotic world through magic. Their epic journey will push the Summoned beyond the limits of their endurance. This unlikely group will discover many truths about themselves and experience another world beyond their imagination.

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