The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
Originally Published: 2013
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Source: Purchased The Story
From the inside flap of the book:
Tessa Gray should be happy - aren’t all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devies, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan.
He needs Tessa.
Charlotte Branwell, head of the Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa’s heart, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are engaged, Will is still in love with her.
The last words of a dying Shadowhunter provide the clue that might lead Tessa and her friends to Mortmain. But their small group cannot stand alone, and the powerful Consul doubts that Mortmain is coming. Deserted by allies, the Shadowhunters find themselves trapped when Mortmain seizes the medicine that keeps Jem alive. With his best friend at death’s door, Will must risk everything to save the girl they both love.
To buy Will time, the warlock Magnus Bane joins with Henry Branwell to create a device that could help defeat Mortmain. As they all work to save Tessa and the future of the Shadowhunters that resides with her, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself - for in the discovery of her own true nature, Tessa could become more powerful than she ever dreamed possible. But an a lone girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?
Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.
The Response
I didn’t want to read this. In fact, I was afraid to read this. Jem’s one of my favourite characters and because Will is SO much like Jace, I was afraid that Tessa would have to end up with Will just for that reason alone - and I was scared that Jem would either end up heartbroken or dead. Clare has ended the series in a way left my fears unfounded, and mostly satisfied. Mostly. So I really worried for no reason. As normal.
I had really liked the first two books in this series. It had been original when I started it, because I hadn’t read as much at that point in time. I’ve gotten to a point where I’m actually a little tired of steampunk (is this possible?) and unfortunately this had an effect on how much I enjoyed this book. It was slightly formulaic, which can be comforting at time, but at other times can be slightly… predictable.
As much as I like Clare’s books and her writing, I will admit that I found the writing in this the weakest of all her books as far as plot goes. Which is a pity, because I liked the first two in the series so much better than the Mortal Instruments books. I just found that this instalment in The Internal Devices was extremely slow moving, which is highly unusual for Clare’s books. Typically, as soon as I get into one of her books, I can’t put it down. This one, I had a hard time continuing. It was a slow start, and after the climax it seemed to drag on and on. Even the things that I typically squeal over while reading (Magnus Bane) weren’t nearly as exciting as usual.
Clare always does really well at developing characters. While I thought that the development of most of the main characters left a little to be desired in this particular book, the highlight of the book was by far the introduction and development of secondary characters. It really was exemplary. In fact, Cecily and Gabriel were both such strong and kick-butt characters that they could easily be the protagonists of their own books. They have enough interest to carry a story on their own, without being delegated to the sidelines like they were in this book.
One thing that I did find with this book, however, was that I now want to go back and reread The Mortal Instruments just to see how exactly the events in this book carry through to that series. It’s hard to explain because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers, but let’s just say that Magnus Bane isn’t the only character who was in both series’. Hmm…
The Bottom Line
While this had a mostly satisfying ending, it wasn’t the best in the series. Slightly disappointing to not have it as enjoyable as the first two in the series.
Originally published at Once Upon A Bookshelf. Please leave any comments there.