publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
date of publication: December 6, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 502
source: gift from friend
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
From Goodreads:
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.
What I Thought
What can I say about Clockwork Prince that hasn't already been said? Though I doubt that my thoughts on the book are at all original, I will still attempt to put to words my impressions and the things that I liked most about this second installment in The Infernal Devices series. When I read Clockwork Angel earlier this year, I was immediately hooked on everything: the characters, the setting, the plot, and the humor that is injected into the story. Having been my first Cassandra Clare novel, Clockwork Angel sparked an interest in me that would not be satisfied until the release of Clockwork Prince. Now that I have finished Clockwork Prince, that spark has grown into a fire and I can not wait until another long year passes and I am able to find out what happens next.
Clockwork Prince picks up right where things left off in Clockwork Angel. Though the Institute has lived to fight another day, they have an entirely new set of problems to deal with thanks to an inquiry into the competence of the Institute's head, the Branwells (namely Charlotte). This complication, along with the revelation of a spy in their midst adds a new layer to the plot that was so tantalizing in Clockwork Angel. It was enough to add new dimensions to the story and allow the characters to face new challenge, thus allowing a continuation in development. The story is just as action-packed and chock full of romance and that dazzling humor that graced the pages of Clockwork Angel. I was very, very happy to see those elements carried over into Clockwork Prince.
Tessa, Will, and Jem have just as much chemistry as they did before. Now, however, feelings are deepening and new complications arise to test them all. I chuckled at their banter, smiled at their joys, and teared up when they were faced with sorrows. It is very difficult not to become invested in these characters, as they simply leap of the page and are so very easy to imagine. What's more, each managed to surprise me in ways I wouldn't have quite imagined prior to reading the book. I was especially intrigued by the new depths revealed in Will and Jem's characters, along with the chance that was given to get to know Charlotte and Henry Branwell even better. It all made for a riveting story and I loved every moment and every interaction that I read.
There is so much more that I can say. However, I don't wish to repeat myself, as I fear I would do if I were to discuss the setting, having already reviewed Clockwork Angel this year. I also fear giving away too much, which I definitely would not want to do. I am of the staunch opinion that everyone should read this series. It is too full of wit, action, romance, and fantastic world-building not to. I realize that I say this a lot, but if you haven't yet read either book, then you definitely should. Whether you are a fan of The Mortal Instruments series or not, you owe it to yourself to read these books, especially now that Clockwork Prince is here. It has built upon the Clockwork Angel so well that I am entirely too anxious to read the next book. If the greatness of this series grows much more, I'm going to become very, very spoiled. Thanks to Will, I would have to sum up this book in two words: demon pox. Have I gotten your attention yet? Good! Go! Read! Enjoy!
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