Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. Eldenberry (imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens), 528 Pages
US Release Date: December 6, 2011
Challenges: Local Library Challenge

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, though 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.
---------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

I feel myself diminished, parts of me spiraling away into the darkness, that which is good and honest and true-- If you hold it away from yourself long enough, do you lose it entirely? If no one cares for you at all, do you even really exist?

*Because this is Book TWO of a series, there may be spoilers from Book ONE. You've been warned!*

If you would like to read my review of Book 1, Clockwork Angel, please click here.

"...Master Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention--but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest..."

I ended Clockwork Angel not knowing who I loved more: Jem or Will. And now, after Book 2, I can tell you that while my love for both have grown exponentially and past many more depths than I thought they could...I belong to Will. Forever.

"They're not hideous," said Tessa.
Will blinked at her. "What?"
"Gideon and Gabriel," said Tessa. "They're really quite good-looking, not hideous at all."
"I spoke," said Will in sepulchral tones, "of the pitch-black inner depths of their souls."
Tess snorted. "And what color do you suppose the inner depths of your soul are, Will Herondale?"
"Mauve," said Will.

Truthfully, I don't know how to review this book because I enjoyed all of it so much. I feel like Cassandra Clare only gets better with every book of hers I read; and I already think she can do no wrong, so there's few more ways I can express how much I love her books! I was wary going into CP because so many people had told me it was better than Clockwork Angel and that the book broke their heart. I mean, that's expectation and anticipation! How was I to get past that?

But I did. And this one is SO much better. And I am heartbroken. Heartbroken. For Will, because of so many sad reasons, and for Jem, because I feel like he's going to get hurt in the end (aside from his imminent death, of course), and for Jessamine, because she just wanted a normal life, and for Tessa even, because we still don't really know what she is and how she came to be. Even though I wanted to punch Nathaniel at the end of CA, I'm still sad for what happens with him.

I'm a bit stunned to realize that I don't care for Tessa much. I'm trying to figure out if I don't like her, or if she simply pales next to such stunning other characters. I feel like all the others have such a unique set of details and personality -- and Tessa is sorely lacking. She's still got redeemable qualities, and I find her to be a good, strong woman amongst the mess Mortmain has made. She can hold her own, sure; but there were a few passages I just wanted to smack her. Especially when it came to the parts with Jem, because I simply don't believe she has the feelings for him she thinks she does.

Aside from Tessa, everything else was fantastic. I loved the plot line of this book, it was exciting and filled with the action and adventure we come to expect from a Shadowhunter world. I loved the addition of Gideon and Gabriel into the story, and was extremely happy to see Sophie take a bigger role: I love her. I think she's strong and loyal and does right by who she is and is supposed to be. I've never wanted to hug Charlotte and Henry more, especially that one scene...well, I'm sure those who have read it know which one.

I do think this suffers from what I call "Book Two Syndrome" - that unfortunate time in a trilogy/series where a book is simply a bridge, a means to get to an end. While it's not necessarily a bad thing, I always feel like Book Two Syndrome books are a bit...boring? Not quite the right word, but while I'm reading, I can't shake a sense of biding time until something massive hits. A lot of information to prepare for the next book, and not an equal match of action.

Regardless though, I still loved this book. I craved the information it did provide, and I think it was all presented well and necessary. I loved the character development and how much of Will we get to finally see, and I'm more eager than ever to find out what the hell evil Mortmain is up to. Such a tangled web! Clockwork Prince does nothing but spin more to the mess Tessa finds herself in, and it's fantastic. Filled with intrigue and passion and romance, I can't believe now I'm in on the wait for Clockwork Princess. Dear World: Can you make March 2013 come faster? Please?!

PS. Who's the anonymous commenter on my Clockwork Angel review that wrote 'demon pox is real'? Because at the time I got that comment, I had no idea wtf it meant! I'd half considered marking it as Spam. BUT I GET IT NOW AND AHAHAH YOU'RE FUNNY! (seriously.)

PPS. Did we all see the cover reveal last week of the cover for Clockwork Princess? Because ohmahgah IT'S GORGEOUS. I think it's a Herondale on the cover, for some reason. What say you?

5 Stars / 5

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) by Cassandra Clare
Simon & Schuster, 476 Pages
US Released: August 31, 2010

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, 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 of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane 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.
--------------------Goodreads summary

Notable Quote

"You mean that I shouldn't wring my heart out over some boy who will never care for me--"

"No!" Sophie said. "There are worse things than that. It's all right to love someone who doesn't love you back, as long as they're worth you loving them. As long as they deserve it."

This is actually a re-read for me, because when I finally got Clockwork Prince in at the library and read the book jacket, I realized...I had no idea wtf was going on.  And that's probably a bad way to head into Book 2, right?  Therefore, I re-read Clockwork Angel.

I'm really, really glad I did, you guys. I'd read it the week it originally came out and hadn't thought about it since, so I was definitely rusty on what was going on. As I read, things came back to me of course; but I think I finally fully understand everything going on and better tracked who did what to who and why.

It is my firm belief that Cassie Clare can do no wrong. I've read all her books (except CP, obviously) and not a single one has ever disappointed me. True to form, this was filled with adventure and intrigue and heart-stopping action and that blood-curdling, breath-catching romance we yearn for. She is a master in incorporating romance flawlessly into paranormal - I mean, how is it possible she makes you fall in love with the mysterious Will while he is literally in the middle of fighting the Dark Sisters?!  Master, I tell you.

It's hard for me to say if someone could read this without reading The Mortal Instrument series before. Obviously you could, as it is its own stand-alone series -- but I think having that prior knowledge of the Shadowhunters and the En/Clave and Downworlders really helped with it. Since I had real Mortal Instruments before, I didn't notice if Cassie Clare did enough explaining in Clockwork Angel to fully develop the world for a new reader.  I'm fairly certain she did because I was ensconced in the world again, but I cannot say for sure.

Speaking of becoming ensconced into a world, anyone else just want to punch Nathaniel? I mean, seriously. Next in line would probably be Jessamine - Shadowhunter and freakishly scary parasol aside, she needs to step up.

You know, usually I can say who I want the main character to be with when it's a triangle situation. Even if I like both the men, I can almost always tell which one I'm really rooting for. But this one? I'm truly on the fence! We all want a bit of a Will in our lives, that mysterious dark-haired boy with secrets in his soul and the eyes that melt us and feel like they're seeing beyond the facades we put out there.  It's human nature (inexplicably, unfortunately) to want the Bad Boy.  But Jem was more of a creeping love for me: solid, and true, and so pure and steadfast. I definitely wanted Will in the beginning, but the last 200 or so pages...Jem became a serious contender. And now I have no idea which direction I want Tessa to go in.

As I sit here and debate about this though, it's just one more supporting reason why this book is fabulous: I'm debating the romantic fates of fictional characters! Cassie Clare creates this world that is so real and characters that are so fun and developed and interesting that I'm treating them like they're people I could call up tomorrow morning to hang out with in the Park (I so wish I could...).  I love the bits of humor, it's just one more delight to a plethora of them.

I cannot wait until I start Clockwork Prince! (But I reaaallly don't want to wait for Clockwork Princess!)

4.5 Stars / 5