Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

Author: Cassandra Clare

Length: 476 pages

Release Date: August 31 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Blurb

When sixteen year old Tessa Gray arrives in England during the reign of Queen Victoria, something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by – and torn between – two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Review

Clockwork Angel, the first book in the Mortal Instruments prequel series the Infernal Devices, was everything that I expected it to be; enthralling, action packed and brimming with gorgeous descriptions and intriguing characters. Cassandra Clare never fails to impress as she sends the reader plummeting into the dark world of Victorian London at it’s most powerful; enveloped in magic and mystery. Clockwork Angel achieves at all levels, leaving readers with a must-read in their midst’s.

From word go, Clare hooks a reader with the sinister murder of a young girl, and quickly centralises the main theme of the book; magic. Impressive as the prologue is, this book just keeps getting better with pacing that will make your head spin, descriptions so crystal clear what is on the page may as well be in front of you and plot strands that weave and intersect until a tight story cast against the harsh historical background is formed. Clockwork Angel was un-put-down-able, my feverish page turning resulting in three nights of little sleep, and during the days my mind was buzzing with Clare’s beautiful world of sorcery and secrets, action and romance, so much so school was almost superfluous as my brain was sat within the pages of Clare’s magnificent novel.

Cassandra Clare did not hold back on the action sequences; those readers looking for more than just romance will be delighted with a number of gloriously described battles in vivid detail, on the edge of your seat scenes that are never clear cut; Clare shows us that our main characters are never safe, a factor that only served to impress me; I despise books where the reader is all too aware the protagonists will make it out unscathed, but Clare is no average writer and she keeps the tension brewing right up the final page, always leaving her master strike until the reader has let their guard down and thinks that all is well. Clare is just so intelligent in her execution, maintaining a number of different readers with a twisting plot, as well as developing full, complex characters that are we always hope to see triumph over evil.

Speaking of characters, Clare provides us with a host of different figures to read about, all written to potential, all holding their own secrets and morals that results in just layers and layers of plot that any reader will find it hard not to be entombed in. Tessa Gray was a magnificent lead, courteous and meek, not by character but by the time she was living in, whilst holding back a powerful, in-dependent persona that burst forth at vital moments throughout the book. Her power is interesting, but is also considered rare in the Infernal Devices world, whilst in most other books her power would be considered quite common, whilst Tessa deals with some serious circumstances from word go, but maintains a level of optimism, dignity and awareness that is commendable in what is usually such a two-dimensional character. Other character were made quickly likeable; the likes of Jem, Charlotte, Henry and even Jessamine earning a smile whenever they entered a scene, never allowing a page to flounder with another shocking revelation or intriguing character development. These were characters that were hard to dislike, whilst villains such the Dark Sisters and the mysterious Magister were just right, sinister enough to make them more than a playground bully, but not so they seemed over the top.

My main problem with this book, and sadly there was one, is our main male love interest, William Herondale. I could not stand this character; he was unbearable, unlovable and just downright repulsive. Why Tessa felt any attraction toward him other than what he looked like remains a mystery to me. He remained so superior throughout the novel, the typical ‘bad boy with pain from his past’ male lead that is growing so tedious in young adult literature. Where are the varied and sensitive males? Amazingly, we aren’t all complete gits, and Will just grated on my nerves with every smart-assed comment that was supposed to be funny and the way everyone seemed to in awe of him; I can honestly say I loved Sophie for her obvious hatred for this repugnant character.

Overall, Clockwork Angel was a fantastic book, rife with action and mystery that just keeps those pages turning. Clare’s ability at description is something to be envied, whilst her readers are left eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the Infernal Devices trilogy, named Clockwork Prince. The next book is actually on my Wish List, displaying how badly I want the next book. The only slight fly in the ointment is that Will is to be included, but I think I grit my teeth and bare it for more of this magical fantasy series. If you haven’t picked up a Cassandra Clare, do it now. With clever references to the present day Mortal Instruments series, Clare’s book is a wonderfully thrilling page turner that I and many others have found hard to resist!