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Showing posts with label The Infernal Devices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Infernal Devices. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I've been sitting on this review for a while. And by that, I mean since the day after this book came out. It's hard to say good-bye to a beloved series, especially one with a love triangle that makes you so attached to both sides. I dreaded reading this book because I knew that one of my two favorite love interests ever would have to lose the fight, and I didn't want that to happen.

Because of this, this review is going to be slightly different than my usual ones. It's hard to sit here and analyze the characters because they're all amazing and awesome. Will is just as passionate and fiery as ever. And Jem is never short of superb. Together, the two of them plus Tessa literally cause you emotional trauma with this book. I'm telling you, read at your own risk. Break out the tissues and bottle up all of your emotions because they'll explode with this one. While I've struggled with recent installments in Clare's Mortal Instruments series, she's held me captive with this one and has even turned it into a favorite of mine. And for that, I have to admit, I'm very happy she took advantage of our emotions and connections to the characters to take us on one last roller coaster ride. The character growth in this one because of the do-or-die decisions they had to face was extremely well done.

But what I want to focus on is the ending. Who doesn't, really? I have to say that I'm very satisfied. I seriously dropped the book and gaped like a fish and shed a few tears in those moments leading up to the end. It broke my heart into pieces and then put it back together. I have to say that it's both lovey-dovey and hurtful. It's sort of perfect. It's not an extreme happily ever after, but it has remnants of it. While I can see some readers hating it, I can see others loving it. I just considered it to be rather perfect regardless of whatever team I'm on. Hell, regardless of your team I guarantee that this ending will be satisfactory.

With that being said, the ending did leave me with one major question. There's this huge revelation with a character that shall not be named and when asked what exactly happened we got one of those responses that said he'd tell us later. Of course, since this is the last book, we can't find that out. Which means that Clare is most likely writing another series after this. And while my curiosity is extreme in this one regard, I won't be continuing onto that series. I love these characters and I don't want to see them overused to the point of annoyance. Instead, I'll just sit here and stew that she threw perhaps one of the biggest plot twists ever my way and didn't bother to explain it, instead optioning to take the easy way out. That, my dear friends, is one of my very few issues with this book.

In the end, I say give it a try. I have enjoyed this series more than her Mortal Instruments series. While littered with cliches and not consisting of complex writing, it is very easy to connect to the characters, overall super enjoyable, and it's a great ride. Definitely my favorite piece of Clare's work thus far.

lilisig

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

(ARC) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork-Angel_213

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother in Victorian England,  something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she has the power to transform, at will, into another person. The Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and Will, whose volatile moods keep everyone at arm's length.  As their search draws them deep into the plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
  - book cover

After her aunt’s death, Tessa receives news from her brother with a ticket to London, to join him. Leaving New York and her old live behind, Tessa will discover more than she ever thought possible when she reaches the old continent. Creatures only heard of in novels roams London nights, and after being kidnapped and tortured, Tess will realize she’s one of those creatures. On a quest to free her brother from trouble, she will ally with an eclectic bunch of teenagers and fight creatures no one had ever heard of.

Let me start by saying this book was A-MA-ZING. Cassandra Clare, how can you write such intense, engaging, addictive, and marvelous stories? One of the things that grabbed me in the book is her attention to details. We truly feel like we went back in time. The old London scenery, the vocabulary, proper ladies and gentlemen manners, candle light and horses & carriages: everything to bring you back to the 1800s. 

If you haven’t read The Mortal Instruments series, fear not, you don’t need to read it first as the Clockwork Angel and a completely different story. If you’ve read TMI though, you will of course recognize elements for the series and will be happy to hear some familiar names: Herondale, Lightwood, Wayland. There’s also one character who appears in both series: Magnus Bane. Don’t you just love him? He isn’t one of the main characters, but it felt good to see him =) He still has that same free spirit, even thought he was less eccentric, and you will discover his alliance with shadowhunters is nothing new.

Speaking of characters, Cassie once again graced us with an amazing panel of actors. Theresa Gray aka Tessa (I actually find myself wondering if her family name is related to the Gray Book?), was an innocent young lady from New York at the beginning of the book and she will progress a great deal during this adventure, to become a cleaver and strong lady. She has so many questions without answers, regarding her true identity, her heart and her future, but she is determined to discover the truth. Will Herondale is a very mysterious character. He isn’t a proper gentleman, seems to hate everyone, he is clever and big-mouthed but it all seems to be a cover to a big secret. On the other hand, James Carstairs aka Jem, is a kind soul. He is elegant and giving but he also has a dark secret from the past. Jessamine is a shadowhunter in denial, all she dreams about is being a proper lady holding the house for a perfect gentleman, but she will rise up to the occasion in critical moments. All this not-so-merry gang of teenagers are under the care of Charlotte and Henry Branwell, head of the London Institute. Charlotte is loving and determinate while Henry is a dreamer. All the character seems to have somewhat of a darkness to them, and I really can’t wait to discover their secrets.

Clockwork Angel is action-packed, full of mysterious and the main plot takes twists you never expected. You quickly grow fond of it’s characters, but I honestly couldn’t tell which one is my favorite. I enjoyed this trip to the past into a world I already loved so much and the sequels can’t release soon enough. May you already be a Clare fan, or not initiated to this fabulous world yet, I strongly recommend you hurry and pre-order your copy. It’s a keeper!

Read an excerpt

 

The Infernal Devices:

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Prince (2011)

Clockwork Princess (2012)

The Mortal Instruments (set in the same world):

City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass

City of Fallen Angel (2011)

Book Stats:

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (August 31, 2010) The Book Depository
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416975861
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416975861

     

    Book Source: ARC sent by Simon & Schuster for review.

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