Clockwork Angel by @cassieclare - Review by me
Clockwork Angel
By Cassandra Clare
Published by Simon & Schuster 2010
(image from darkwyrmreads.blogspot.com)
Upon arrival in London, sixteen-year-old American Tessa Gray is quickly abducted into a world where warlocks, vampires and demons wreck havoc in 1878’s English capital. The Shadowhunters, human protectors and governors of Downworlders, rescue Tessa, but she continues to be in grave danger. Working together, Tessa finds she is developing feelings for two very different Shadowhunters, and begins to uncover truths about her dead parents, missing brother and the true identity of the Magister, the dangerous leader of a Downworld cult intent on taking countless human lives for a dark, mysterious purpose that somehow has everything to do with Tessa’s very existence.
Clockwork Angel is off-the-charts compelling. Named for the intricate mechanism Tessa wears around her neck, this book was so absorbing I didn’t want to stop reading it and instead of skipping parts as I often do when sleep calls and I’m only half-way through a book, I savoured every word... Cassandra Clare’s first instalment in the Infernal Devices trilogy, a prequel to The Mortal Instruments (TMI) series is hugely satisfying and filled with shocking twists that only fuel your desperation for the next instalment’s release.
The first taste of the no-doubt unpredictable love triangle is subtly sprinkled throughout the story with surges of intoxicating steampunk Shadowhunting passion (watch out for the glove scene *sigh*). Our demure protagonist begins to fall for Will, a strong headed Shadowhunter who on the surface is a complete jerk, yet has dark secrets of his own. Then there is Jem, Will’s dearest friend and parabatai (fighting partner). Jem’s strength stems from his only weakness, but he is kind and the perfect gentleman with Tessa. Uh-oh could be a serious decision looming in future books!
The supporting characters are colourfully developed, adding depth that sucks you in even more. The world of Shadowhunting, including explicitly crafted fight scenes with frightening descriptions of demonic creatures, is exciting and exhilarating, even readers without previous TMI exposure will thoroughly enjoy learning of this fantastical world.
In addition the time period detail is exquisite; it felt as though I was transported into each scene as Clare expertly describes the streets of 1878 London and the customs of the nineteenth century. Her extensive research into this era is clearly evident.
Be prepared for some major plot twists, staggering surprises and possibly even death (anything more would be spoilery).
So now for the negatives - ummmmm... sike there are no negatives with this book. It is perfect and any fan of fantasy and/or teen fiction (even non-fantasy mystery loving readers) will love it. The best $20-30 you’ll spend in AGES... probably until the next instalment is released!
By Cassandra Clare
Published by Simon & Schuster 2010
(image from darkwyrmreads.blogspot.com)
Upon arrival in London, sixteen-year-old American Tessa Gray is quickly abducted into a world where warlocks, vampires and demons wreck havoc in 1878’s English capital. The Shadowhunters, human protectors and governors of Downworlders, rescue Tessa, but she continues to be in grave danger. Working together, Tessa finds she is developing feelings for two very different Shadowhunters, and begins to uncover truths about her dead parents, missing brother and the true identity of the Magister, the dangerous leader of a Downworld cult intent on taking countless human lives for a dark, mysterious purpose that somehow has everything to do with Tessa’s very existence.
Clockwork Angel is off-the-charts compelling. Named for the intricate mechanism Tessa wears around her neck, this book was so absorbing I didn’t want to stop reading it and instead of skipping parts as I often do when sleep calls and I’m only half-way through a book, I savoured every word... Cassandra Clare’s first instalment in the Infernal Devices trilogy, a prequel to The Mortal Instruments (TMI) series is hugely satisfying and filled with shocking twists that only fuel your desperation for the next instalment’s release.
The first taste of the no-doubt unpredictable love triangle is subtly sprinkled throughout the story with surges of intoxicating steampunk Shadowhunting passion (watch out for the glove scene *sigh*). Our demure protagonist begins to fall for Will, a strong headed Shadowhunter who on the surface is a complete jerk, yet has dark secrets of his own. Then there is Jem, Will’s dearest friend and parabatai (fighting partner). Jem’s strength stems from his only weakness, but he is kind and the perfect gentleman with Tessa. Uh-oh could be a serious decision looming in future books!
The supporting characters are colourfully developed, adding depth that sucks you in even more. The world of Shadowhunting, including explicitly crafted fight scenes with frightening descriptions of demonic creatures, is exciting and exhilarating, even readers without previous TMI exposure will thoroughly enjoy learning of this fantastical world.
In addition the time period detail is exquisite; it felt as though I was transported into each scene as Clare expertly describes the streets of 1878 London and the customs of the nineteenth century. Her extensive research into this era is clearly evident.
Be prepared for some major plot twists, staggering surprises and possibly even death (anything more would be spoilery).
So now for the negatives - ummmmm... sike there are no negatives with this book. It is perfect and any fan of fantasy and/or teen fiction (even non-fantasy mystery loving readers) will love it. The best $20-30 you’ll spend in AGES... probably until the next instalment is released!