I have finished my reread of The Last Hours trilogy by Cassandra Clare, the third completed trilogy within the Shadowhunter Chronicles (I’m not sure of the official order given The Eldest Curses is still awaiting the third novel, yet The Red Scrolls of Magic was published before Chain of Gold). I have been reminded of many lovely and fascinating details of this trilogy and found many new details the second time around that I will cherish and melt over. Here are my overall reviews for each book in the trilogy.

Chain of Gold is the hard hitter when it comes to establishing the world which is familiar yet different from all the shadowhunter stories we’ve read before. It works within that sweet spot of rehashing characters and relations and building new information and connections for the reader. It also has the nostalgia of including characters from The Infernal Devices trilogy in a now older, grown up role, and their children leading the way in all things dangerous, dumb, and undecidedly dramatic. The plot is intriguing and most definitely different from the enemies we have seen before, and with that comes an excitement that propels Chain of Gold forward. The relationship drama and utter heartbreak we witness along the way is just the cherry on top. I give Chain of Gold a 4.5/5.

Chain of Iron said let’s take Chain of Gold and drum everything up a little more. Give us more tension, more anguish, more love and grief and suffering. The characters are really going through it, and the way in which they are unable to tell each other and help one another gives the novel a chilling feel amidst the high-stakes plot. That ending is just marvellous, and when I say that I mean I cried the first time reading it and this time I was only marginally better. I will say, Chain of Iron is a little more of an emotional plot-driven novel as opposed to an action plot-driven novel given the situations and interactions between many characters, but it is no worse for it. I rate Chain of Iron a 4.5/5 as well.

Chain of Thorns is a bit tricky. There are bits I love, bits I don’t mind, and bits I am bored by. One moment, the tension and pacing are perfectly in sync, and the action and emotional threads are amounting to this exceptional moment in the plot. Other times, even when it is the end of the world, there seems to be a casualness to it, almost like the characters don’t feel the stakes or have given themselves up to the inevitable (which is not true at all). The relationship plot lines are doing a lot here, which several pairings reaching that final spot of admitting love and devotion to one another. There are action plot points that are incredible, hurt so bad, and make the novel memorable. But there are also those moments that feel like they are set in a different novel, or at least the vibe isn’t quite right for what the characters should be feeling. I would have to rate this one a 4/5 given my preferences for the other two in the trilogy.

Overall, The Last Hours trilogy is a solid 4/5 that veers to the higher side of that rating. I don’t think I would rate it 4.5/5 only because there are other trilogies in the Shadowhunter Chronicles that I have given 4.5/5 to and the feeling isn’t the same. I did enjoy my rereads and there are many aspects of this trilogy that I love with all my heart, not to mention character who are incredible well-written and feel so authentic. While it may not be my favourite trilogy of the lot, it certainly isn’t bad.