Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: December 6, 2011
Pages: 502
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Steampunk, Romance
Source: Ebook
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
MY REVIEW
This review contains SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.OMG, this book! OMG! By the Angel, why did I wait so long to read this series? Then again, on the other hand, perhaps I am glad that I waited until all of the books were out because I do not think that I could have waited to find out what happens from book to book.
First of all, this book gouged out my heart and put it back together over and over again. This book devastated my heart again and again. I'm not okay, all right?
I thought that the characters from The Mortal Instruments series were my babies and that I could never love any Shadowhunters (or Downworlders!) as much as I love them. I was wrong. While The Mortal Instruments characters will always be my babies, this mama has adopted The Infernal Devices characters and brought them into her heart. I have so much love for these characters and this brilliant world that Clare has envisioned. After I finish The Infernal Devices series I will be starting on The Dark Artifices series and I simply can't wait! This world will suck you in and refuse to let you go but, trust me, you won't mind a bit.
The world building in this series is fantastic! Truly so, because it has so many elements. It is not only a Shadowhunter book, but one set in 1870's London. I can't even imagine all the research that went into perfecting the world held within the pages of this series. I love having a different perspective on the Shadowhunter world. It's historical and in a different locale than Clare's other Shadowhunter novels.
I love how Clare's Shadowhunter books build off of one another. Everything ties together in the end. There are different lines of Shadowhunter families spread across the ages and we get a glimpse of different generations of Shadowhunters. Information and events from The Mortal Instruments series tie in with those of The Infernal Devices series, and it is done so flawlessly. It's so magical the way these histories flow together.
My favorite part of this book and this series is the characters. They have so much depth and play off of each other so well. I immediately liked the characters from the start of the series, and those feelings only deepen in this book. These characters have become so special to me. Clare has a vivid way of implanting you right into the story so that you live it along with the characters. It's quite a gift to have, and quite impressive.
The plot gets so much better in the second book. We only scratch the surface of things in Clockwork Angel, but things really start to get interesting in this book. We get to see new characters and how they tie into the London Shadowhunter world. There are lies, deceits, and secrets galore in this! It is truly riveting. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
The romance in this is quite spectacular. So emotional. There is a love triangle that is written so expertly that there are hardly words to describe its splendor. The main character grows close to two different boys, and it is utterly convincing and warranted. Some love triangles are flat and unbelievable, but not this one. This is probably the best one that I've ever read. I know that Clare has done a mind-blowing job with the love triangle because I am seriously torn as to who I want Tessa to end up with in the end. I don't want either boy hurt, nor Tessa. Ugh, if only polyamory were acceptable in 1870s London...
Overall, this book was perfect! If I had to impart one thing to you about this book it would just be GO READ THIS SERIES ALREADY! I am serious, though. You need this series in your life. Once you have finished you will kick yourself for not reading it sooner, such as I did. I will immediately be picking up the last book and then try not to cry because it is the last book of the series. Why couldn't this series have six books like The Mortal Instruments series, yeah?
THIS BOOK CONTRIBUTED TO THESE 2018 READING CHALLENGES
- A Series A Month Challenge
- Beat the Backlist Challenge
- Try Something New Challenge
Check out my 2018 Challenge Page to see my progress!
If you have read books by Cassandra Clare, which of her characters is your favorite and why? If not, let me know what your most recent read was!
My name is Vanessa a.k.a. Queen Alchemy. I am a 30-something-year-old mother of four nerdy, fantastic children. We live in the Midwest. I have a reading addiction, and I hope that I never recover! I'm the hugest nerd you can find with interests not limited to the following: comics (Batman and Captain America for the win!), science, computers, zombies, unicorns, Harry Potter, cartoons from the 80's & 90's, Frankenstein, history, crafting, cooking & baking, Star Wars, digital scrapbooking, D&D, Minecraft, Hello Kitty, horror, metalcore, royalty, tattoos & piercings, bright colors, and so much more!
I totally agree with the characters being the best part about this series--and all of Cassandra's books, really! She knows how to get us readers INVESTED in each one, and they all get a time to shine! <3 I actually didn't end up finishing this series, though, because I got spoiled. :/ Either way, so glad you loved this!
ReplyDeleteAnd to answer your question: Isabelle Lightwood. So much badassery put into one character! <3
- Aimee @ Aimee, Always
I love Isabelle too! I love how she only ever seems vulnerable around Simon. They melt my heart!
ReplyDeleteI was actually spoiled on The Infernal Devices as well, but I knew I had to read it anyway! I am glad that I chose to, although I think that I would have loved these books even more if I didn't already have an idea of what the major plot points are.
Happy reading!