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 Shadowhunter's 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.
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It was strange and novel to have a human body again. LONDON: EAST END
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(@WalkerBooksUK, 2 March 2021, hardback, 455 pages, bought from @AmazonUK)
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I'm a huge fan of the author especially the Shadowhunters books, though I prefer the books set in present times. I loved the first book in this new trilogy, Chain of Gold and have been looking forward to this second book ever since. I wasn't disappointed. Chain of Iron picks up soon after the events of the first book with Cordelia's hasty marriage to James and Grace and Lucie delving into the dark arts and threatening the life of everyone by trying to bring Jesse back to life. Their actions will have repercussions which will hopefully be resolved in the final book. This features my favourite character, Magnus Bane though I wanted to read more of him. Like other books in the series there is plenty of demon fighting and action. I can't wait for the conclusion.
