Book Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassnadra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

Pages: 478

Summary:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own. Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all

Overall: 5 stars

Review:

Ms. Clare is quite the sly fox of the writing world.

I would even go as far as saying she'd probably outsmart Sherlock Holmes himself.

This is why I love Clare’s writing and stories so much! There is romance, mystery, and always a twist that leaves me stunned and gasping.

Clockwork Angel centers on Tessa Gray, who has just travel from New York to London to live with her brother, Nate, now that their aunt has passed away. I have to say that I enjoyed Tessa very much! Her love for reading and books caught my attention right away and it’s so great to share a similar passion with a character you are reading about.

When Tessa gets to London her brother is not there waiting for her but two sisters that go by the names Mrs. Dark and Mrs. Black. They tell Tessa that her brother had sent them to get her. She is reluctant to go with them but she has nowhere else to go. We soon discover that the sisters are keeping her with them, forcing her to use her ‘powers’, and threatening that they’d kill her brother if she does not listen to them. They say they are preparing her for the Magister, their leader. It is than that Tessa discovers that she’s not all that human.

I find Tessa’s power to be able to change her shape into anyone so interesting! And the fact that she can hear the thoughts of dead people she changes into in completely different and I loved it! When Tessa manages to get away from the Dark Sisters we are introduced to the Shadowhunters. There is Will, Jem, Charlotte, Henry, and Jessamine. I really did love all the characters in this book (well excluding a few)!

And then there are the love interests. I really liked Will! He reminded me a lot of Jace from Clare’s other series, Mortal Instruments. Though, he did have his own personality and seemed even more tortured inside than Jace had been. Let it be known that you don’t have to read Clare’s other series to understand Clockwork Angel. They both take place in the same world but you’d be able to get everything going on. Though I do recommend you read her other series because it’s awesome and there are some characters that we see in both! The other love interest in Jem! Oh, how I loved Jem! He was so perfect and yet he wasn’t and I just wanted to hug him all the time throughout the whole book. And for some reason I always like to root from the underdog.

So now Tessa is on is out to search for her brother with the help of all the Shadowhunters and trying to understand this new world she’s in.

This book was truly awesome! I loved every minute of it! The amount of descriptions in the book helped me picture everything that was going on and I felt like I was actually living the adventure along with all the characters. About 3/4 through the book I had to set it down to prepare myself. For what you ask? For the shocking surprise I knew was bound to come. I tried to think of the most incredible impossible things that could happen at this point and I thought of some pretty weird things.

But in the end, Ms Clare got me again. I was so incredibly shocked at what happen I’m pretty sure I just stared at the page for a long time. Trust me; Sherlock Holmes has nothing on Cassandra Clare.

In a Nutshell: Clockwork Angel was a great addition to the YA world! It’s full of adventure, romance, mystery, love, family, friendship. All of it is in there. How Ms. Clare does it, I don’t know, but keep bring it because I can’t get enough!!!

This was apsolutely my favorite quote in the book and of course it was said by Jem:

“’When other Nephilim look at me, they see only a Shadowhunter. Not like mundanes, who look at me and see a boy who is not entirely foreign but not quite like them either.’

‘Half one thing and half another,’ Tessa said. “Like me. But you know you’re human.’

Jem’s expression softened. ‘As are you. In all the ways that matter.’” Tessa and Jem pg. 320

Don’t you just love him already?!

Clockwork Angel comes out August 31, 2010. Go HERE to pre-order it!

Cassandra Clare's: Website - Blog - Twitter

~Caitlin out.