Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: December 6th, 2011
Series: The Infernal Devices #2
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own
Summary:
"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."
Review:
I liked this book so much better than the last one, which admittedly is saying something because I loved the first book in the series too! It just, had all all of the elements of a good novel and God knows seconds books in trilogies are so often disappointing. This one was awesome. So awesome in fact, that I don't even know how to tackle reviewing it... So I'm just going to do what I do best. That is, make lists! Spoilers abound.
Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: August 31st, 2010
Series: The Infernal Devices
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own
Summary:
"In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...." --- Goodreads
Review:
So this is kind of a re-read. I say kind of because honestly, I didn't remember any of the things that happened despite the fact that I'm fairly positive that I read this when it was released back in 2010. Pretty sure this either means that I'm getting old or going crazy, but that's an issue for my roommate and a bottle of wine to handle. Anyway, I read/loved the original Mortal Instruments series. I'm actually pretty sure that I read Clare's work back when it was a fan-fiction, but I can't swear to that (like I said, I'm getting old). I read the fourth book Clare popped out but haven't been able to get myself to read the fifth; is it worth it?
Clockwork Angel reminded me why I really liked the first three books. It had that same spark and levity to it, a love triangle that I didn't hate on contact and characters who all have some serious issues. It's a lot like Degrassi, but with supernatural stuff, and set in Steampunk London. Now, my feelings on steampunk vary vastly. I loved the Gail Carriger books, but for the most part don't love the other steampunk stuff. I know Angel had/has a huge following from non-steampunk people, so maybe that's why I liked it? It doesn't focus on the cogs and gears but rather just allows them to be in the background. That makes sense to me.
