11 exciting new SFF releases that will blow you away in March

Chain of Gold – Cassandra Clare

Chain of Gold is the latest installment in Cassandra Clare’s best-selling Shadowhunters series, which has already inspired film and TV adaptations of its first trilogy. This novel will kick off something called the “Last Hours” trilogy, which focus on the Shadowhunters of Edwardian London and will serve as a sequel of sorts to the Infernal Devices series.

If that all sounds exceptionally complicated, don’t worry. Chain of Gold is an all-new series and will be easy to jump into – in fact, even if this is your introduction to the world of the Shadowhunters, you should be fine. (Of course, the experience of reading the story will be richer for those already familiar with Clare’s universe, but you’ve got time to catch up.)

This saga follows sixteen-year-old Cordelia Carstairs, after her mother moves the family to London in the hopes of salvaging their reputation following her father’s arrest. While her mother would prefer that her daughter find an influential suitor to wed, Cordelia is much more interested in mooning over James Herondale, the brother of her BFF Lucie. Unfortunately, for her, James is fascinated by the mysterious Grace Blackthorn, and there’s also the not insignificant problem of  the sudden arrival of a vicious demon that seems determined to kill all of their peers.

Drama, indeed.

The official synopsis describes the story as follows.

"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."

Chain of Gold is available on March 3.