Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Walker & Company (2011), 400 pages
Description
When sixteen-year-old orphan Tessa Fell's older brother suddenly vanishes, her search for him leads her into Victorian-era London's dangerous supernatural underworld, and when she discovers that she herself is a Downworlder, she must learn to trust the demon-killing Shadowhunters if she ever wants to learn to control her powers and find her brother.
Media reviews
Following the untimely death of her aunt, twice-over orphaned Tessa Gray sets out from New York to London to live with her older brother. Virtually penniless, having spent every last cent to pay for the funeral services, Tessa makes the trip across the Atlantic with her hopes high, for at least she
Upon reaching England, however, she is greeted not by her older brother but by two crones that introduce themselves as Mrs. Dark and Mrs. Black, bearing a letter written in Nate’s hand. Though Tessa is reluctant to leave with the “Dark Sisters” (as Nate refers to them in his letter), she trusts in her brother’s wishes, only to find herself trapped in a nightmare. The Dark Sisters, in fact warlocks, claim to have abducted Nate and threaten to kill him unless Tessa complies with their strange demands. Soon, Tessa learns that she is no ordinary human, but possesses the power to transform herself into another person—dead or alive. Even more unique, however, is Tessa’s ability to touch the minds of those whose forms she assumes—recalling a dead girl’s last thoughts and a vampiress’s secrets, amongst others. The Dark Sisters, finally deeming Tessa “ready,” have plans to marry her off to their master, the mysterious “Magister” of the Pandemonium Club, and all hope seems lost for young Tessa…
That is, until a mysterious, handsome young Shadowhunter comes to Tessa’s rescue. Soon she is swooped away again into a new world, seeking refuge with the Shadowhunters—a society of nephilim (that is, the offspring of angels and humans) charged with the duty of protecting humanity from Downworlders (that is, demons, warlocks, vampires, etc) at any cost. Tessa and her brother are keys to a much larger conspiracy, as the Shadowhunters soon discover the Pandemonium Club and its Magister have hatched a plot to rid the world of Shadowhunters altogether, by means nefarious, and mechanical.
Of course, in the midst of all this gloom and doom, Tessa finds time to fall in love with not one but TWO gorgeous Shadowhunters, who (of course!) find Tessa irresistible. Besides trying to save the world and her brother, Tessa also must come to terms with the dictates of her heart.
Clockwork Angel, published by Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), is the first book I have read from Cassandra Clare (I have been assured that the Mortal Instruments trilogy is not a necessary prerequisite to reading Clockwork Angel), and as an introduction, I must say that I am somewhat… underwhelmed. Ms. Clare’s writing is certainly readable and entertaining, but in the way of bad reality television or MTV shows.
The overarching story—that of the mystery of the Pandemonium Club, the identity of The Magister, and their plans to overthrow the Shadowhunters—lacks complexity and tends towards the hyperdramatic and predictable, but for all that is generally well-paced, fun stuff. Though the quality of the prose and general flow of the novel lacks any sort of writerly finesse in its blunt simplicity and affinity for the cheesiest dialogue I have read in a very long time (i.e. Tessa to The Magister, expressing terror at his desire to marry her: “But why? You don’t love me. You don’t know me. You didn’t even know what I looked like! I could have been hideous!”), the story in itself isn’t bad. That’s not where the brunt of my disappointment with the novel lies.
No, what I take issue with is the novel’s unconvincing period setting, its ridiculous characterizations, and above all, the same Twilightified-Mary Sue heroine meets two superhawt supernatural dudes that fall for her trope.
First, the setting and period. Purportedly, Clockwork Angel is a steampunk novel, although the only real steampunkish thing about it is the time period (set in Victorian London) and the presence of a slew of killer automatons. To me, this does not a true steampunk novel make, as Clockwork Angel lacks either necessary quality (the centrality of steam-powered aesthetic/technology, or the socio-economic critique) to be truly considered a work of the steampunk subgenre. Furthermore, the character dialogue feels as though an American author is trying—unsuccessfully—to write in the Victorian period. In truth, this novel could have taken place in any other time period, in any other country, and it still would have been the same book.
With regard to characterizations, Ms. Clare’s cast in Clockwork Angel similarly leaves much to be desired. Heroine Tessa is nothing if she isn’t a sickening hybrid self-insertion blank page heroine Mary Sue—she’s so very understanding of others’ faults (at one pivotal point in the book, for example, “Tessa felt a wave of frustrated anger, but pushed it back. Sophie had just had a friend die in her arms; she could hardly be blamed for forgetting a key”), mindlessly devoted to her beloved brother (no matter how terribly he has wronged her), generally pretty and tall, with the only drawback to her appearance being how thin and pale she is, and how her hair is brown. Most importantly, Tessa is SUPER!POWERFUL. No one knows what exactly her shapeshifting powers are or what they mean, except that the Magister wants her as his bride and that her abilities have never been seen before. Of course, the Magister isn’t the only one after Tessa—so too is best friend Shadowhunter Will (the dark, sexy, tempestuous bad boy) and Jem (the light, tempered and sensitive good guy). Neither of these boys have any real reason to fall in love with Tessa, but of course they both do, sparking a huge debate in Ms. Clare’s formidable fanbase to the cries of “Team Will!” or “Team Jem!” To that end, I will say that both Will and Jem are decently developed characters with a lot of potential; Will, with his clearly troubled and guarded past, and Jem with his own terminal illness. Both Will and Jem are passably crushworthy, if a reader is so inclined to form literary crushes and fly the Team Will/Jem flag.
The point, however, is that Tessa, the supposed heroine of this story, is not worth rooting for in the slightest. With all the personality of industrial paint, Tessa is as “blank page heroine” as you can get. As YA author Sarah Rees Brennan describes the phenomenon:
[The Blank Page Heroine] is in a lot of books—I don’t mean to pick on romance, because sadly I have seen her in every genre, including my own—and sometimes she seems to be there as a match for the hero who won’t bother him with things like “hobbies” and “opinions.” Sometimes she is carefully featureless (still missing those pesky hobbies and opinions) so that, apparently, the reader can identify with her and slot their own personalities onto a blank page. As I don’t identify with blank pages, I find the whole business disturbing.
What is it about this particular type of heroine, that she keeps popping her nondescript head into genre fiction novels? (O, Stephanie Meyer, what hast thou wrought!?) I prefer characters that are flawed, challenging, and engaging—not soppy, uninspired, oh-so-desirable-for-no-discernable-reason stand-ins.
Doubtless, there are many fans of this book, the series, and the trope that will disagree with me. But in this reader’s opinion? Clockwork Angel, though not without its entertainment value and high points, left me cold and unimpressed.
Show More
and Nate will be reunited again.Upon reaching England, however, she is greeted not by her older brother but by two crones that introduce themselves as Mrs. Dark and Mrs. Black, bearing a letter written in Nate’s hand. Though Tessa is reluctant to leave with the “Dark Sisters” (as Nate refers to them in his letter), she trusts in her brother’s wishes, only to find herself trapped in a nightmare. The Dark Sisters, in fact warlocks, claim to have abducted Nate and threaten to kill him unless Tessa complies with their strange demands. Soon, Tessa learns that she is no ordinary human, but possesses the power to transform herself into another person—dead or alive. Even more unique, however, is Tessa’s ability to touch the minds of those whose forms she assumes—recalling a dead girl’s last thoughts and a vampiress’s secrets, amongst others. The Dark Sisters, finally deeming Tessa “ready,” have plans to marry her off to their master, the mysterious “Magister” of the Pandemonium Club, and all hope seems lost for young Tessa…
That is, until a mysterious, handsome young Shadowhunter comes to Tessa’s rescue. Soon she is swooped away again into a new world, seeking refuge with the Shadowhunters—a society of nephilim (that is, the offspring of angels and humans) charged with the duty of protecting humanity from Downworlders (that is, demons, warlocks, vampires, etc) at any cost. Tessa and her brother are keys to a much larger conspiracy, as the Shadowhunters soon discover the Pandemonium Club and its Magister have hatched a plot to rid the world of Shadowhunters altogether, by means nefarious, and mechanical.
Of course, in the midst of all this gloom and doom, Tessa finds time to fall in love with not one but TWO gorgeous Shadowhunters, who (of course!) find Tessa irresistible. Besides trying to save the world and her brother, Tessa also must come to terms with the dictates of her heart.
Clockwork Angel, published by Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), is the first book I have read from Cassandra Clare (I have been assured that the Mortal Instruments trilogy is not a necessary prerequisite to reading Clockwork Angel), and as an introduction, I must say that I am somewhat… underwhelmed. Ms. Clare’s writing is certainly readable and entertaining, but in the way of bad reality television or MTV shows.
The overarching story—that of the mystery of the Pandemonium Club, the identity of The Magister, and their plans to overthrow the Shadowhunters—lacks complexity and tends towards the hyperdramatic and predictable, but for all that is generally well-paced, fun stuff. Though the quality of the prose and general flow of the novel lacks any sort of writerly finesse in its blunt simplicity and affinity for the cheesiest dialogue I have read in a very long time (i.e. Tessa to The Magister, expressing terror at his desire to marry her: “But why? You don’t love me. You don’t know me. You didn’t even know what I looked like! I could have been hideous!”), the story in itself isn’t bad. That’s not where the brunt of my disappointment with the novel lies.
No, what I take issue with is the novel’s unconvincing period setting, its ridiculous characterizations, and above all, the same Twilightified-Mary Sue heroine meets two superhawt supernatural dudes that fall for her trope.
First, the setting and period. Purportedly, Clockwork Angel is a steampunk novel, although the only real steampunkish thing about it is the time period (set in Victorian London) and the presence of a slew of killer automatons. To me, this does not a true steampunk novel make, as Clockwork Angel lacks either necessary quality (the centrality of steam-powered aesthetic/technology, or the socio-economic critique) to be truly considered a work of the steampunk subgenre. Furthermore, the character dialogue feels as though an American author is trying—unsuccessfully—to write in the Victorian period. In truth, this novel could have taken place in any other time period, in any other country, and it still would have been the same book.
With regard to characterizations, Ms. Clare’s cast in Clockwork Angel similarly leaves much to be desired. Heroine Tessa is nothing if she isn’t a sickening hybrid self-insertion blank page heroine Mary Sue—she’s so very understanding of others’ faults (at one pivotal point in the book, for example, “Tessa felt a wave of frustrated anger, but pushed it back. Sophie had just had a friend die in her arms; she could hardly be blamed for forgetting a key”), mindlessly devoted to her beloved brother (no matter how terribly he has wronged her), generally pretty and tall, with the only drawback to her appearance being how thin and pale she is, and how her hair is brown. Most importantly, Tessa is SUPER!POWERFUL. No one knows what exactly her shapeshifting powers are or what they mean, except that the Magister wants her as his bride and that her abilities have never been seen before. Of course, the Magister isn’t the only one after Tessa—so too is best friend Shadowhunter Will (the dark, sexy, tempestuous bad boy) and Jem (the light, tempered and sensitive good guy). Neither of these boys have any real reason to fall in love with Tessa, but of course they both do, sparking a huge debate in Ms. Clare’s formidable fanbase to the cries of “Team Will!” or “Team Jem!” To that end, I will say that both Will and Jem are decently developed characters with a lot of potential; Will, with his clearly troubled and guarded past, and Jem with his own terminal illness. Both Will and Jem are passably crushworthy, if a reader is so inclined to form literary crushes and fly the Team Will/Jem flag.
The point, however, is that Tessa, the supposed heroine of this story, is not worth rooting for in the slightest. With all the personality of industrial paint, Tessa is as “blank page heroine” as you can get. As YA author Sarah Rees Brennan describes the phenomenon:
[The Blank Page Heroine] is in a lot of books—I don’t mean to pick on romance, because sadly I have seen her in every genre, including my own—and sometimes she seems to be there as a match for the hero who won’t bother him with things like “hobbies” and “opinions.” Sometimes she is carefully featureless (still missing those pesky hobbies and opinions) so that, apparently, the reader can identify with her and slot their own personalities onto a blank page. As I don’t identify with blank pages, I find the whole business disturbing.
What is it about this particular type of heroine, that she keeps popping her nondescript head into genre fiction novels? (O, Stephanie Meyer, what hast thou wrought!?) I prefer characters that are flawed, challenging, and engaging—not soppy, uninspired, oh-so-desirable-for-no-discernable-reason stand-ins.
Doubtless, there are many fans of this book, the series, and the trope that will disagree with me. But in this reader’s opinion? Clockwork Angel, though not without its entertainment value and high points, left me cold and unimpressed.
Show Less
3.5 out of 5 stars! This story, being based in 1878, was sooo interesting to read how much things were different for them "back-in-the-day" compared to how the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders were living during the The Mortal Instruments Series. Plus ... the added bonus of trying to see whom is
Show More
the ancestor of whom. This novel is everything that I could have hoped for ... and love triangle between Tessa and two great guys (and best friends) Will and Jem (James), along with mystery and then major plot twists at the end. And, so far, except for Tessa, everyone really isn't who they seem. I can't wait to see what will happen in the nest book called the "Clockwork Princess" coming out in 2012!!
Read more of this review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/made-grade-infernal-devices-series-book.html Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member PaigeMcIlwain
This book is set in London during the Victorian era. After Tessa's aunt, also her guardian, dies, she travels to London in search of her brother Nathaniel who also happens to be her only living relative. When she arrives to London, Tessa is kidnapped and exposed to a secret world of witches,
This book would be super appealing to adolescents. As a result, it could be used to teach students some historical facts of the Victorian era of London. The books depicts many places and events in London in this time period, and would make students want to explore more about this setting. The author also uses classic poems, songs, and quotes to introduce each chapter. These could be used to expose students to different types of literature and authors. Clockwork Angel could definitely be used to integrated different content in a classroom.
This book had similar thems to Twilight even down to the two different love interests, and I love the magical world that it creates. I love and hate the character of Will all at the same time. He can be so caring and protective and then turn around and be distant and sarcastic. I also love Tessa's determination to save her brother. In addition, Jim is an interesting character who in spite of his own sickness tries to watch after and mellow out Will. This was a fantastic book that completely left me wondering what will happen next. I can't wait for the sequel!
Show More
warlocks, vampires, and other mystical creatures. She is soon rescued by Will, a boy her age, who claims to be a shadowhunter. Shadowhunters claim to protect the people from the hidden mystical world. Tessa finds herself caught in this world and sets out on an adventure to find her brother.This book would be super appealing to adolescents. As a result, it could be used to teach students some historical facts of the Victorian era of London. The books depicts many places and events in London in this time period, and would make students want to explore more about this setting. The author also uses classic poems, songs, and quotes to introduce each chapter. These could be used to expose students to different types of literature and authors. Clockwork Angel could definitely be used to integrated different content in a classroom.
This book had similar thems to Twilight even down to the two different love interests, and I love the magical world that it creates. I love and hate the character of Will all at the same time. He can be so caring and protective and then turn around and be distant and sarcastic. I also love Tessa's determination to save her brother. In addition, Jim is an interesting character who in spite of his own sickness tries to watch after and mellow out Will. This was a fantastic book that completely left me wondering what will happen next. I can't wait for the sequel!
Show Less
LibraryThing member sporkdelis
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I must admit I felt like an idiot for giving this author another chance. In fact, if my library hold hadn't come through I wouldn't have bothered. Especially once I found out that this was another shadowhunter story I nearly skipped it. Though I can't say that I'm
The premise is essentially the same. Girl from New York finds out she is paranormal in some way and has to find a missing family member. The characters are nearly carbon copies of each other, and they are all in the same distribution of genders and about the same personalities. Tessa is about as interesting as burnt toast (it gets to be burnt because she's just slightly more interesting than regular toast), and the fact that Will isn't Jace in disguise is more surprising than anything else in this book. The best thing about this book is that it didn't make me feel physically ill.
I did enjoy a character, which is much better than City of Bones. Jessamine (which I don't think is a very Victorian name) is the snobby rich girl, and really one of the more interesting characters. Everyone else seems to be constantly lying, while she doesn't care enough to bother. Her reluctance to be a shadowhunter makes her far more interesting than anyone else.
My big irk about this book is that it's supposed to be set in Victorian England, but it never really gets that British feel. I'm not expecting anything that sounds like Austen or anything, but this doesn't even manage to sound like The Parasol Protectorate. It sounds like the book was originally supposed to be about a girl in New York but City came out first so she had to figure something else out. The Main character's parents even die in a carriage accident... Really? Of all the historically accurate options you could use: Typhoid, Influenza, Mugging, etc. she picks a carriage accident. It just screams that she had to transplant it to a different time and didn't want to do any research into plausible deaths. "Oh, I was going to put this in modern-day NY, but this is the same right?" I'm sure that a carriage accident could kill someone, but it just doesn't sound right.
Why does this author think it's good for the characters to hate each other for stupid reasons? I mean, a simple slip of the tongue and all of her male characters go into silent hissy fits. It's like the reverse of the "do I look fat in this dress?" thing. The main character can't ever seem to catch a break, and not in a Hunger Games sort of way. It's simply annoying. The same with her men needing to constantly push the Main Character away for reasons she doesn't deem important enough to reveal in the first book. Sorry, hon. It doesn't make me want to read more of your work, it just rankles.
Miss Clare has convinced me that she is not a complete idiot, but not enough to completely redeem herself. I will grudgingly give this three stars and contemplate possibly reading Clockwork Prince.
I must admit I felt like an idiot for giving this author another chance. In fact, if my library hold hadn't come through I wouldn't have bothered. Especially once I found out that this was another shadowhunter story I nearly skipped it. Though I can't say that I'm
Show More
really glad I didn't hurl the book out the window of a moving vehicle like I should have done with City of Bones, I have to admit it is much better than that awful book.The premise is essentially the same. Girl from New York finds out she is paranormal in some way and has to find a missing family member. The characters are nearly carbon copies of each other, and they are all in the same distribution of genders and about the same personalities. Tessa is about as interesting as burnt toast (it gets to be burnt because she's just slightly more interesting than regular toast), and the fact that Will isn't Jace in disguise is more surprising than anything else in this book. The best thing about this book is that it didn't make me feel physically ill.
I did enjoy a character, which is much better than City of Bones. Jessamine (which I don't think is a very Victorian name) is the snobby rich girl, and really one of the more interesting characters. Everyone else seems to be constantly lying, while she doesn't care enough to bother. Her reluctance to be a shadowhunter makes her far more interesting than anyone else.
My big irk about this book is that it's supposed to be set in Victorian England, but it never really gets that British feel. I'm not expecting anything that sounds like Austen or anything, but this doesn't even manage to sound like The Parasol Protectorate. It sounds like the book was originally supposed to be about a girl in New York but City came out first so she had to figure something else out. The Main character's parents even die in a carriage accident... Really? Of all the historically accurate options you could use: Typhoid, Influenza, Mugging, etc. she picks a carriage accident. It just screams that she had to transplant it to a different time and didn't want to do any research into plausible deaths. "Oh, I was going to put this in modern-day NY, but this is the same right?" I'm sure that a carriage accident could kill someone, but it just doesn't sound right.
Why does this author think it's good for the characters to hate each other for stupid reasons? I mean, a simple slip of the tongue and all of her male characters go into silent hissy fits. It's like the reverse of the "do I look fat in this dress?" thing. The main character can't ever seem to catch a break, and not in a Hunger Games sort of way. It's simply annoying. The same with her men needing to constantly push the Main Character away for reasons she doesn't deem important enough to reveal in the first book. Sorry, hon. It doesn't make me want to read more of your work, it just rankles.
Miss Clare has convinced me that she is not a complete idiot, but not enough to completely redeem herself. I will grudgingly give this three stars and contemplate possibly reading Clockwork Prince.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MickyFine
In 1878, Tessa Gray has traveled to London from New York to live with her brother, Nathaniel, following the death of her aunt. However, upon her arrival she is taken by the Dark Sisters, a pair of warlocks, who reveal to Tessa that she is a shape-changer and train her to use her power in
The first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy, Clare has not simply reworked the same plots and characters from The Mortal Instruments into the Victorian era. Instead she has created a new cast of intriguing characters. While those who have read the first three books in the Mortal Instruments series will get a little bit more out of this book, it is definitely not required. It is particularly fun to see Magnus Bane a couple hundred years younger than he is in the previous books set in this world.
I really enjoyed this book, even more than I had anticipated. The characters are well-developed and have a unique set of flaws and histories. The mystery of the origins of Tessa's power is compelling as is the overall plot of the novel. Clare also includes a multitude of literary allusions in the text as Tessa is an avid reader. I also really enjoyed the extracts from various poems at the beginning of each chapter, which always fit the theme well. While there are large chunks of the plot left unresolved at the end of the book (as is fitting for the first book in a trilogy) and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end (although not one that leaves weeping and gnashing my teeth for the next book). I do look forward to seeing how the plot will develop when the next book is released in September.
Show More
preparation to hand her over to the Magister. Before she can be given to this mysterious figure she is rescued by the Shadowhunters who vow to help her find her brother but also use her powers to help them investigate the dark plans of the Magister.The first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy, Clare has not simply reworked the same plots and characters from The Mortal Instruments into the Victorian era. Instead she has created a new cast of intriguing characters. While those who have read the first three books in the Mortal Instruments series will get a little bit more out of this book, it is definitely not required. It is particularly fun to see Magnus Bane a couple hundred years younger than he is in the previous books set in this world.
I really enjoyed this book, even more than I had anticipated. The characters are well-developed and have a unique set of flaws and histories. The mystery of the origins of Tessa's power is compelling as is the overall plot of the novel. Clare also includes a multitude of literary allusions in the text as Tessa is an avid reader. I also really enjoyed the extracts from various poems at the beginning of each chapter, which always fit the theme well. While there are large chunks of the plot left unresolved at the end of the book (as is fitting for the first book in a trilogy) and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end (although not one that leaves weeping and gnashing my teeth for the next book). I do look forward to seeing how the plot will develop when the next book is released in September.
Show Less
LibraryThing member _Zoe_
I was very excited to find this on the shelf at the library, so that I didn't have to wait for my hold to come in; I immediately put down the other book I was reading to get started on this one. I had really enjoyed Clare's Mortal Instruments books, so I had high hopes for Clockwork Angel.
I have to
More detailed discussion of Clockwork Angel, moving into spoilers:
There was one major plot issue that I just didn't understand; maybe I was asleep when this was explained--why did Tessa go to de Quincy's party as Camille, rather than having Camille go herself? Camille was in favour of the whole thing, had a particular message to pass on to de Quincy, and wouldn't have had to worry about acting a part that she knew almost nothing about. I'm not clear on what was gained by having Tessa go instead, except of course that that let us go along in Tessa's head and gave her a chance to use her power--which seems like a case of making the desired plot drive the characters' actions, something that I really dislike. So I think I may just have missed something here; hopefully someone can explain.
Then, there was the fact that de Quincy somehow escaped. At a time when the fight was almost done, and there was only one other vampire left in the room. And it had supposedly not even been a very difficult fight. How on earth could the Shadowhunters screw up so badly? It just didn't seem believable to me.
Finally, a more subjective issue: I didn't much like Will. He's just obnoxious, and even though he's undergoing some deep internal suffering, I don't think that's enough to excuse his behaviour. Nor do I think his hotness makes up for his personality. I'm really hoping for Tessa to end up with Jem instead, although I can't say I expect it to happen. Fingers crossed.
I have to
Show More
say, though, that I was a bit disappointed. There were too many plot points that didn't quite work for me, and I didn't love the characters either. I'll still read the next one, though, and I'm particularly optimistic because I didn't love City of Bones either, but the series grew on me as I went along.More detailed discussion of Clockwork Angel, moving into spoilers:
There was one major plot issue that I just didn't understand; maybe I was asleep when this was explained--why did Tessa go to de Quincy's party as Camille, rather than having Camille go herself? Camille was in favour of the whole thing, had a particular message to pass on to de Quincy, and wouldn't have had to worry about acting a part that she knew almost nothing about. I'm not clear on what was gained by having Tessa go instead, except of course that that let us go along in Tessa's head and gave her a chance to use her power--which seems like a case of making the desired plot drive the characters' actions, something that I really dislike. So I think I may just have missed something here; hopefully someone can explain.
Then, there was the fact that de Quincy somehow escaped. At a time when the fight was almost done, and there was only one other vampire left in the room. And it had supposedly not even been a very difficult fight. How on earth could the Shadowhunters screw up so badly? It just didn't seem believable to me.
Finally, a more subjective issue: I didn't much like Will. He's just obnoxious, and even though he's undergoing some deep internal suffering, I don't think that's enough to excuse his behaviour. Nor do I think his hotness makes up for his personality. I'm really hoping for Tessa to end up with Jem instead, although I can't say I expect it to happen. Fingers crossed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Two Shadowhunters, Will and Jem, find a girl dead on the street, apparently attacked by a demon. Tessa, an American girl travels to London to meet her brother after their aunt dies, is taken prisoner and forced to Change. She thought she was just an ordinary girl, but she learns that she has the
This is the first in a new series by the author of The Mortal Instruments, and a prequel of sorts to the same. The Clockwork Angel could be read first, but the explanation of the existence and purpose of Shadowhunters - or Nephilim - may be a little confusing as an introduction rather than a reminder, and the names of characters will not resonate quite so much with readers who are unfamiliar with their (apparent) descendants. This fast-paced story blends urban fantasy, vampires and werewolves, and a bit of steampunk. The characters are compelling, and I had a much harder time figuring out some plot points than I did with The Mortal Instruments. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!
Show More
ability, once she has held the possession of a person, living or dead, to Change into that person in appearance and thought. Though this ability scares her, the women holding her threaten her with her brother Nate's safety if she does not do what she's told - marry the Magister.This is the first in a new series by the author of The Mortal Instruments, and a prequel of sorts to the same. The Clockwork Angel could be read first, but the explanation of the existence and purpose of Shadowhunters - or Nephilim - may be a little confusing as an introduction rather than a reminder, and the names of characters will not resonate quite so much with readers who are unfamiliar with their (apparent) descendants. This fast-paced story blends urban fantasy, vampires and werewolves, and a bit of steampunk. The characters are compelling, and I had a much harder time figuring out some plot points than I did with The Mortal Instruments. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!
Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsBoswellBooks
I started off with Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instrument series, consisting of City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass and the most recent City of Fallen Angels. I instantly fell in love with her writing style, her characters and the world they came from.
Clockwork Angel is the first book in
In The Mortal Instruments series Jace, Clary and Alec originally stole my heart. If I had to pick a favorite set of characters now from these two series by Cassandra Clare, it would definitely be Jem, Tessa and Will after reading Clockwork Angel. They were wonderfully written and their voices so fresh that I still can't stop thinking about them. The rapport between these three characters was smashing! They had me laughing, blushing, swooning and fuming throughout the entire story. I am absolutely in love with Jem, what a doll! The supporting characters themselves were also fantastic. It was even great getting to know certain characters from the beginning that we see in The Mortal Instruments series.
Cassandra Clare has done it again and drawn me in to such an engrossing world! I can not wait for Clockwork Prince to come out this winter. For those of you who have not read Clockwork Angel but may be fans of Clare's other series, The Mortal Instruments, I highly suggest you pick this one up!
Clockwork Angel is the first book in
Show More
The Infernal Devices series, which is kind of like a prequel to The Mortal Instruments series. It was great to gain more of an insight into the background of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders, as well as learn more about the history of the Institute. I loved jumping back into this wonderful world that Cassandra Clare created. The setting was fantastic, I adored the setting of Victorian Era London. The dialect was absolutely captivating, which is one thing I loved about the audiobook. I truly enjoyed being able to hear it in a much better accent than I could ever recreate!In The Mortal Instruments series Jace, Clary and Alec originally stole my heart. If I had to pick a favorite set of characters now from these two series by Cassandra Clare, it would definitely be Jem, Tessa and Will after reading Clockwork Angel. They were wonderfully written and their voices so fresh that I still can't stop thinking about them. The rapport between these three characters was smashing! They had me laughing, blushing, swooning and fuming throughout the entire story. I am absolutely in love with Jem, what a doll! The supporting characters themselves were also fantastic. It was even great getting to know certain characters from the beginning that we see in The Mortal Instruments series.
Cassandra Clare has done it again and drawn me in to such an engrossing world! I can not wait for Clockwork Prince to come out this winter. For those of you who have not read Clockwork Angel but may be fans of Clare's other series, The Mortal Instruments, I highly suggest you pick this one up!
Show Less
LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks
Like many fans of Cassandra’s series, The Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass- more to come), I was both excited and hesitant when starting Clockwork Angel. What if this prequel trilogy didn’t live up to the excellence of The Mortal Instruments? Would I be forever
For those of you who have read The Mortal Instruments, you will most likely squeal with delight, like myself, upon coming across characters and family names from The Mortal Instruments. If you have not read the series, have no fret. This is a prequel series, which mean the context of these books came before The Mortal Instruments. So in a weird sort of way, people new to the Shadowhunter world will probably get more out of Clockwork Angel simply because they have no preconceived ideas of the characters and creatures in the novel.
If you have yet to pick up Clockwork Angel or the Mortal Instruments, you are pitifully late the game (and I thought I was late!). But have no fear, better late than never, right?
I would recommend this book as many times as necessary to absolutely anyone thirteen and above. It was a superb read. Each of Cassandra’s characters are excellently crafted. Each comes with its own developed history, relationships and personalities. And each character adds another aspect to the story. Tessa allows the reader to discover the Shadowhunters and their world at the same time she does. Will gives us a bad boy to both love and loath. Jem supplies us with the silver lining of every situation. And Jessamine shows us the truth that no one else seems complied to point out.
I would strongly suggest you get yourself over to the nearest bookstore, or E-book site, and purchase Clockwork Angel. If you like fantasy, love triangles, suspense and kick-ass demon killing; go get Clockwork Angel now (please)!
Just one last thing to point out, and I may change my mind later, but…. I’m on Team Jem!
Show More
scarred from Cassandra’s work? The simple answer is no. The more complex answer would be: why on earth would you ever doubt Cassandra’s writing you no good piece of rotten fruit cake?! This book left nothing to be desired, except for the dire need to discover what come next.For those of you who have read The Mortal Instruments, you will most likely squeal with delight, like myself, upon coming across characters and family names from The Mortal Instruments. If you have not read the series, have no fret. This is a prequel series, which mean the context of these books came before The Mortal Instruments. So in a weird sort of way, people new to the Shadowhunter world will probably get more out of Clockwork Angel simply because they have no preconceived ideas of the characters and creatures in the novel.
If you have yet to pick up Clockwork Angel or the Mortal Instruments, you are pitifully late the game (and I thought I was late!). But have no fear, better late than never, right?
I would recommend this book as many times as necessary to absolutely anyone thirteen and above. It was a superb read. Each of Cassandra’s characters are excellently crafted. Each comes with its own developed history, relationships and personalities. And each character adds another aspect to the story. Tessa allows the reader to discover the Shadowhunters and their world at the same time she does. Will gives us a bad boy to both love and loath. Jem supplies us with the silver lining of every situation. And Jessamine shows us the truth that no one else seems complied to point out.
I would strongly suggest you get yourself over to the nearest bookstore, or E-book site, and purchase Clockwork Angel. If you like fantasy, love triangles, suspense and kick-ass demon killing; go get Clockwork Angel now (please)!
Just one last thing to point out, and I may change my mind later, but…. I’m on Team Jem!
Show Less
LibraryThing member coralsiren
I absolutely loved everything about this book, it exceeded all of my expectations.
LibraryThing member OrinGail
A great start to a brand new series, I loved it almost as much if not better than the Mortal Instruments. The storyline was similar in the fact that boy meets girl, boy pushes girl away, boy girl still fall in love, but there's a twist that makes this storyline completely different. The action was
Show More
exciting, the puzzles coming in plenty, and the mysterious character Will caught my attention the whole story, even if he wasn't mentioned for pages on end. This book was also similar in the fact that there were two main love interests, such as with Simon and Jace for Clary. I thought that the characters Will and Jem were a bit more well developed in Clockwork Angel than were Simon and Jace in City of Bones. Cassandra did well with creating an older age tone, but sometimes her phrasing with a characters word choice would put me off the scenario a bit; this fact did not take away from the book, however, and should prove to attract instead of offset readers who would rather have familiar language than an older "dated" speech. This book had a little bit of everything for everyone, and I loved the way that Cassandra depicted London, and that she often quoted poetry. It added much to the charm of the novel, and this definitely makes my top 10 reads. Show Less
LibraryThing member booksandwine
Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Hear that? That is the sound of time you could be spending reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I will admit, I had low expectations for Clockwork Angel. I had previously read City of Bones, which I enjoyed but was not blown away or anything. I haven't yet
We open with our intrepid heroine, Tessa Gray making the journey from New York to dreary London. Upon arrival in London, Tessa steps into the Victorian equivalent of a sketchy van with Free Candy spray painted across the side. The Dark Sisters basically hand Tessa a letter written by her ne'r do well brother, Nate. Tessa is all, NATE we shall be reunited and one happy family again, and climbs into the carriage of the Dark Sisters. Clearly, we cannot trust ugly elderly women. Only trust the kind which looks as though they would knit you a sweater while you suck some Werthers butterscotch candy.(An aside: when I am an old woman do not trust me, as I will scream at you to get off my lawn in all my crotchety glory). Right-o. Tessa, at the hands of these women learns she can magically transform into another person. She, of course, does not take her capture/hostage situation lying down. Instead, she fights it tooth and nail. If you read the back cover, obvs, you know Tessa escapes. Of course this is when the story gets good.
I mean, omfg, there is magic galore, and mystical creatures and SHADOWHUNTERS. Of course, the more I learn about the Clave, the more I want to do a little jig in happiness. It's because I love the lore. It's so interesting. I actually quite like this rag-tag group of Shadow Hunters more than I do the ones in the Mortal Instruments. There is Jessamine, who is full of spunk. She's badass, but doesn't really want to be badass. Her character is a reflection of gender attitudes of the Victorian Era, where of course women have to be ladies, and they can't exactly do cool things like go out and fight demons if they want to land a rich hubby. Of course, this is upper class womens as all the poor ladies are just chillin out in a bobbin factory somewhere. However, in contrast to Jessamine is Charlotte Branwell who is in charge of the institute. Charlotte is made of win. She's a warrior. She is intelligent. She is a leader. She's basically the type of woman I want to be when I grow up. Aside from wearing a dress and being married, she sort of subverts the gender roles of the era. Mmmhmm. Oh, oh, oh. I should mention the boys.
There are boys. They of course form the two sides, whereas Tessa is the hypotenuse of the love triangle. While I am a bit bored with love triangles in general, this one is sort of fun. There is Jem who is from Shanghai which is full of corruption and danger and such. Also, JEM is PoC. So cool right? And he is all gentle and such. He's patient with WISDOM. Then, as you may gather from Twitter, is Will. Will is like pretty much every bad boy ever. He's kind of a jerk with a sad past. I do sort of feel bad for him, but not really. My pity jar is nearly empty. I won't elaborate on the boys, but I bet you can guess my 'team'. Yep, it's Jessamine, I think they should totes make out while Katy Perry soulfully sings I Kissed A Girl in the background.
Finally, there are flesh en-capsuled robots. I am not sure if this convinces you of the ultimate win residing inside Clockwork Angel, but it should. Also, do robots in Victorian Ages equal steampunk element? I am not exactly sure what Steampunk is, besides punks evaporating in steam, but from what I gather, it has to do with machinery in the Victorian era.
Here are some quotes I felt resonated with me:
"Whether you are physically," he said, "male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy-all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside." - pg. 283 (ARC copy).
This! What is on the inside does matter, kids!
"If there was one thing Tessa hated, it was being told that there were things she couldn't understand. Because she was young, because she was a girl--for any of a thousand reasons that never seemed to make any real sense." pg. 96 (ARC copy)
Sing it, sister.
Show More
continued on with The Mortal Instruments books. After reading Clockwork Angel, I really feel that Clare has come into her own as a writer. I felt this book, on the whole, was much more tighter than City of Bones. It held my attention hostage.We open with our intrepid heroine, Tessa Gray making the journey from New York to dreary London. Upon arrival in London, Tessa steps into the Victorian equivalent of a sketchy van with Free Candy spray painted across the side. The Dark Sisters basically hand Tessa a letter written by her ne'r do well brother, Nate. Tessa is all, NATE we shall be reunited and one happy family again, and climbs into the carriage of the Dark Sisters. Clearly, we cannot trust ugly elderly women. Only trust the kind which looks as though they would knit you a sweater while you suck some Werthers butterscotch candy.(An aside: when I am an old woman do not trust me, as I will scream at you to get off my lawn in all my crotchety glory). Right-o. Tessa, at the hands of these women learns she can magically transform into another person. She, of course, does not take her capture/hostage situation lying down. Instead, she fights it tooth and nail. If you read the back cover, obvs, you know Tessa escapes. Of course this is when the story gets good.
I mean, omfg, there is magic galore, and mystical creatures and SHADOWHUNTERS. Of course, the more I learn about the Clave, the more I want to do a little jig in happiness. It's because I love the lore. It's so interesting. I actually quite like this rag-tag group of Shadow Hunters more than I do the ones in the Mortal Instruments. There is Jessamine, who is full of spunk. She's badass, but doesn't really want to be badass. Her character is a reflection of gender attitudes of the Victorian Era, where of course women have to be ladies, and they can't exactly do cool things like go out and fight demons if they want to land a rich hubby. Of course, this is upper class womens as all the poor ladies are just chillin out in a bobbin factory somewhere. However, in contrast to Jessamine is Charlotte Branwell who is in charge of the institute. Charlotte is made of win. She's a warrior. She is intelligent. She is a leader. She's basically the type of woman I want to be when I grow up. Aside from wearing a dress and being married, she sort of subverts the gender roles of the era. Mmmhmm. Oh, oh, oh. I should mention the boys.
There are boys. They of course form the two sides, whereas Tessa is the hypotenuse of the love triangle. While I am a bit bored with love triangles in general, this one is sort of fun. There is Jem who is from Shanghai which is full of corruption and danger and such. Also, JEM is PoC. So cool right? And he is all gentle and such. He's patient with WISDOM. Then, as you may gather from Twitter, is Will. Will is like pretty much every bad boy ever. He's kind of a jerk with a sad past. I do sort of feel bad for him, but not really. My pity jar is nearly empty. I won't elaborate on the boys, but I bet you can guess my 'team'. Yep, it's Jessamine, I think they should totes make out while Katy Perry soulfully sings I Kissed A Girl in the background.
Finally, there are flesh en-capsuled robots. I am not sure if this convinces you of the ultimate win residing inside Clockwork Angel, but it should. Also, do robots in Victorian Ages equal steampunk element? I am not exactly sure what Steampunk is, besides punks evaporating in steam, but from what I gather, it has to do with machinery in the Victorian era.
Here are some quotes I felt resonated with me:
"Whether you are physically," he said, "male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy-all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside." - pg. 283 (ARC copy).
This! What is on the inside does matter, kids!
"If there was one thing Tessa hated, it was being told that there were things she couldn't understand. Because she was young, because she was a girl--for any of a thousand reasons that never seemed to make any real sense." pg. 96 (ARC copy)
Sing it, sister.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I want to begin this review by saying that I love Steampunk. I'm a full blown Jules Verne, gadget-loving, dirigible-adoring fan of it.
When the cover for Clockwork Angel was revealed I squealed out loud. I loved it. When I purchased my copy of Clockwork Angel I may or may not have run my hands over
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I did not love the first two books of the Mortal Instruments trilogy. They took a while for me to get into and the story didn't suck me in. The third book of the trilogy did all of that, however, so it was with hope that this first book of the Infernal Devices would pick up where City of Glass left off (not story-wise, writing-wise).
I'm going to be that bad person here and say that.. honestly, I was a bit bored by Clockwork Angel.
This makes me sad, but I still have hope. Because I was bored by City of Bones too. So I'm thinking maybe Cassandra has to work up momentum to give crazy, fun endings to her series. I hope that's the case.
Now the Steampunk aspect of the novel. I feel a bit gypped here. Aside from the mention of some gears and gadgets and the addition of some automatons there really wasn't that much Steampunk in this one. I'm coming off of having read some great Steampunk stories such as Cherie Priest's Boneshaker or The Affinity Bridge by George Mann - those are steampunk. This was more... steampunk-light.
There's nothing wrong with that, I mean Clare has built a great system of magic and her world building is interesting, I just feel as if the Steampunk parts were added on as a bit of a tool instead of something that the story is immersed in. Because first and foremost, this story is immersed in her magic.
I don't get the debates between Will and Jem. We don't see Jem enough to debate on the subject. So I'll reserve my opinion on both of them until later in the series.
That said, I will be reading the rest of the series. I don't have much hope for Book #2 though, because if she followers her pattern established with the Mortal Instruments series it'll be Book #3 that blows me out of the water.
When the cover for Clockwork Angel was revealed I squealed out loud. I loved it. When I purchased my copy of Clockwork Angel I may or may not have run my hands over
Show More
the cover, admiring how pretty it was, how shiny.Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I did not love the first two books of the Mortal Instruments trilogy. They took a while for me to get into and the story didn't suck me in. The third book of the trilogy did all of that, however, so it was with hope that this first book of the Infernal Devices would pick up where City of Glass left off (not story-wise, writing-wise).
I'm going to be that bad person here and say that.. honestly, I was a bit bored by Clockwork Angel.
This makes me sad, but I still have hope. Because I was bored by City of Bones too. So I'm thinking maybe Cassandra has to work up momentum to give crazy, fun endings to her series. I hope that's the case.
Now the Steampunk aspect of the novel. I feel a bit gypped here. Aside from the mention of some gears and gadgets and the addition of some automatons there really wasn't that much Steampunk in this one. I'm coming off of having read some great Steampunk stories such as Cherie Priest's Boneshaker or The Affinity Bridge by George Mann - those are steampunk. This was more... steampunk-light.
There's nothing wrong with that, I mean Clare has built a great system of magic and her world building is interesting, I just feel as if the Steampunk parts were added on as a bit of a tool instead of something that the story is immersed in. Because first and foremost, this story is immersed in her magic.
I don't get the debates between Will and Jem. We don't see Jem enough to debate on the subject. So I'll reserve my opinion on both of them until later in the series.
That said, I will be reading the rest of the series. I don't have much hope for Book #2 though, because if she followers her pattern established with the Mortal Instruments series it'll be Book #3 that blows me out of the water.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kkisser
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare is about a young girl, Tessa, finding out her true identity as part of a diabolical plot and that of the Shadow World in Victorian London. Her journey brings her in contact with hidden world of the Shadowhunters, a warrior breed that maintains the law of the
As a prequel to the Mortal Instruments Series, the book takes on a familiarity in style, characters, and plot. There is a temperamental moody hero, Will, who is driven by a dark secret, a prediction. The heroine is a strong willed, though fragile, and has an optimistic view of the world and will therefore fall for the hero. The Institute in London is also similar to that of the New York of the modern day, in that it was created to house many but only a sparse few live in the building. As a prequel I would hope to learn something new about the the world that Clare has created, but nothing seems to change. The problems with the Nephlim and Downworlders in trust since the signing of the Accords, their agreement with the Downworlders and themselves, is as fragile as it will be 150 years later. And Shadowhunters still seem as sparse in the early days, as they were described in the earlier series, which takes place later. The story could have been told just as easily in the modern time as in the Victorian period, since many aspects of that world; the politics of the mundane (human) world, fashion, and technology, do not impact the etiquette or manners of the Shadowhunters in the least. As for the addition of the automatons or clockwork servants, these could be used in any time period, though it’s purpose seems to be related to the popularity in the steampunk genre in fiction and trying to give the story an sense steampunk aesthetic, without investing too much in the style, since the automatons could have easily been substituted with a type of robot for the modern time.
There are also several references to Charlotte Bronte and her book Jane Eyre, though for those familiar with the novel, the references are empty and don’t flavor the story as much as one would hope. Nor are there any parallels to the story of Jane Eyre in style, characters, setting, or plot to make the references valid. The voice of the novel is very American and lacks the sophistication of others writing urban fantasy in the Victorian time period. The reasoning used for setting the prequel in this time period, seems to be more due to the popularity at this time in steampunk fiction and fashion than a necessity to the story being told.
As for the story, it has the same style, pacing, and character development that Clare did so well in the former series, though the lack of something new being explored is a disappointment. For new readers, I would encourage them to choose the time period they like the most, and pick the series accordingly, or at least don’t expect to be surprised by the story a second time.
Show More
Accords for the world that includes Downworlders, vampires, werewolves, and warlocks, and the Nephlim, which include Shadowhunters, and the hunting of demons.As a prequel to the Mortal Instruments Series, the book takes on a familiarity in style, characters, and plot. There is a temperamental moody hero, Will, who is driven by a dark secret, a prediction. The heroine is a strong willed, though fragile, and has an optimistic view of the world and will therefore fall for the hero. The Institute in London is also similar to that of the New York of the modern day, in that it was created to house many but only a sparse few live in the building. As a prequel I would hope to learn something new about the the world that Clare has created, but nothing seems to change. The problems with the Nephlim and Downworlders in trust since the signing of the Accords, their agreement with the Downworlders and themselves, is as fragile as it will be 150 years later. And Shadowhunters still seem as sparse in the early days, as they were described in the earlier series, which takes place later. The story could have been told just as easily in the modern time as in the Victorian period, since many aspects of that world; the politics of the mundane (human) world, fashion, and technology, do not impact the etiquette or manners of the Shadowhunters in the least. As for the addition of the automatons or clockwork servants, these could be used in any time period, though it’s purpose seems to be related to the popularity in the steampunk genre in fiction and trying to give the story an sense steampunk aesthetic, without investing too much in the style, since the automatons could have easily been substituted with a type of robot for the modern time.
There are also several references to Charlotte Bronte and her book Jane Eyre, though for those familiar with the novel, the references are empty and don’t flavor the story as much as one would hope. Nor are there any parallels to the story of Jane Eyre in style, characters, setting, or plot to make the references valid. The voice of the novel is very American and lacks the sophistication of others writing urban fantasy in the Victorian time period. The reasoning used for setting the prequel in this time period, seems to be more due to the popularity at this time in steampunk fiction and fashion than a necessity to the story being told.
As for the story, it has the same style, pacing, and character development that Clare did so well in the former series, though the lack of something new being explored is a disappointment. For new readers, I would encourage them to choose the time period they like the most, and pick the series accordingly, or at least don’t expect to be surprised by the story a second time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MissHavoc
I am a huge fan of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments, so naturally I was delighted to dive back into the Shadow Hunter world. That being said, there was some things I loved and things I didn't care for in the Clockwork Angel.
The things I loved were being able to once again immerse myself in
At first it was hard to get into. The proper English was a little boring and I found myself missing the snark from the previous series. But once I got more into it, I found it was still very snarky and quite funny.
Now some of the things I didn't quite care for are that a lot isn't revealed. I know this is book #1 in a trilogy, but I was hoping to at least find out what the clockwork angel is, or what it does, even find out what the Infernal Devices are. I would have liked to get a little more explanation here and there.
My last grievance is really a love/hate scenario. Will, one of two main guys/potential love interests, is too much like Jace from TMI. This is where it's a love/hate thing, since Jace is my all-time favorite male lead. So why wouldn't I want more of him? Well, because he's Jace, and Will can't be Jace. I mean, I guess he comes by it honestly, since Will could be Jace's great, great(and so on) grandfather, but I was hoping for a new type of character to love. (which I do!) So, I'm just hoping he'll evolve into more as we progress through the series.
Tessa is a love and I'm so excited to see how she develops as a character and to find out more about her. I think fans of The Mortal Instruments will absolutely LOVE The Infernal Devices. I know I did.
The things I loved were being able to once again immerse myself in
Show More
the world of the Shadow Hunters. To learn more about the Downworlders, and being able to meet ancestors of characters from TMI. I loved tat it was a historical piece and I could loose myself on the streets of Victorian London.At first it was hard to get into. The proper English was a little boring and I found myself missing the snark from the previous series. But once I got more into it, I found it was still very snarky and quite funny.
Now some of the things I didn't quite care for are that a lot isn't revealed. I know this is book #1 in a trilogy, but I was hoping to at least find out what the clockwork angel is, or what it does, even find out what the Infernal Devices are. I would have liked to get a little more explanation here and there.
My last grievance is really a love/hate scenario. Will, one of two main guys/potential love interests, is too much like Jace from TMI. This is where it's a love/hate thing, since Jace is my all-time favorite male lead. So why wouldn't I want more of him? Well, because he's Jace, and Will can't be Jace. I mean, I guess he comes by it honestly, since Will could be Jace's great, great(and so on) grandfather, but I was hoping for a new type of character to love. (which I do!) So, I'm just hoping he'll evolve into more as we progress through the series.
Tessa is a love and I'm so excited to see how she develops as a character and to find out more about her. I think fans of The Mortal Instruments will absolutely LOVE The Infernal Devices. I know I did.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I was a huge fan of the Mortal Instruments series so I was so excited to be able to read an ARC of this book. I thought it was a good solid read but it did not blow me away the way her previous books have. Part of the problem was I found both Tessa and Will irritating and while there were certain
Show More
points I did feel for them the majority of the time I did not like them and found their actions predictably naive. Still the supporting cast of characters were much more interesting. I can’t wait to learn more about Jem and the heads of the institute, Charlotte and Henry. I also couldn’t help but smile to see Magnus Bane making an appearance in the book and am hoping we see more of him in the future books. The storyline itself is also intriguing and I cannot wait to see if the Magistar will be able to complete his inhuman army to try and take over the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member 59Square
Kearsten says: Tessa's only living relative - her older brother, Nate - has gone missing in London. Even worse, Tessa's being held prisoner by two incredibly creepy sisters who force Tessa to Change, an ability the sixteen-year-old American had no idea she possessed. When a handsome young man
The Shadowhunters - people descended from an angel, defenders of humans against demons, possessing inhuman strength and speed - invite Tessa to stay with them, asking that she help them discover the purpose behind the Dark Sister's interest in Tessa, but can Tessa trust them to help her find her brother?
I really enjoyed this - I love historical fiction, especially historical fiction mixed with the supernatural, and there's a strong sense of Victorian England here. Tessa's a strong, independent character, and surrounded by other strong characters (one of the Shadowhunters is a total brat, but every group has one, I guess...). I had only one problem: one of the characters is deeply tormented by something, which, yes, every group seems to have one of those, too, but I'm soooo tired of the "I'm so tormented, I don't deserve to love you" nonsense from male characters! Other than that, though...
Lots of action and a little bit of romance make this a page-turner!
Recommended
Show More
breaks into her rooms to rescue her, Tessa's fear of this unknown man pales beside her fear and hatred of the Dark Sisters and she escapes with him. The Shadowhunters - people descended from an angel, defenders of humans against demons, possessing inhuman strength and speed - invite Tessa to stay with them, asking that she help them discover the purpose behind the Dark Sister's interest in Tessa, but can Tessa trust them to help her find her brother?
I really enjoyed this - I love historical fiction, especially historical fiction mixed with the supernatural, and there's a strong sense of Victorian England here. Tessa's a strong, independent character, and surrounded by other strong characters (one of the Shadowhunters is a total brat, but every group has one, I guess...). I had only one problem: one of the characters is deeply tormented by something, which, yes, every group seems to have one of those, too, but I'm soooo tired of the "I'm so tormented, I don't deserve to love you" nonsense from male characters! Other than that, though...
Lots of action and a little bit of romance make this a page-turner!
Recommended
Show Less
LibraryThing member brandileigh2003
Wow! That is the first words that come to mind when thinking about this book. Cassandra does not disappoint with this prequel. I loved Mortal Instruments and now I am on the edge of my seat wanting more from Infernal Devices.
She has introduced some awesome new characters in the world of
There is also some hot guys to salivate over. Will and Jem. I suppose this will get another Team Will and Team Jem going because I know that both are appealing in their own ways. I think that there is more focus on Will, and he is the dark, brooding and mysterious- so my tendencies lean that way, but Jem and his loyalty, love and tenderness sure are attractive as well.
There are so many plot twists as well, I never knew what to expect next, and I just wanted to get to the end to find out more, and now that I am finished I am yearning for more! There are enemies in here and people that you aren't sure if you can trust, but it will keep you guessing.
So, what are you waiting for? Go read it!
She has introduced some awesome new characters in the world of
Show More
Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Tessa is a wonderful main character, and I related well with her. She is put into situations where it would be so easy to give up but she just keeps fighting. She has an amazing capacity to love and is very sacrificing.There is also some hot guys to salivate over. Will and Jem. I suppose this will get another Team Will and Team Jem going because I know that both are appealing in their own ways. I think that there is more focus on Will, and he is the dark, brooding and mysterious- so my tendencies lean that way, but Jem and his loyalty, love and tenderness sure are attractive as well.
There are so many plot twists as well, I never knew what to expect next, and I just wanted to get to the end to find out more, and now that I am finished I am yearning for more! There are enemies in here and people that you aren't sure if you can trust, but it will keep you guessing.
So, what are you waiting for? Go read it!
Show Less
LibraryThing member maidenveil
There are darker things at play in Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel. The weather is foreboding, the Victorian setting is interesting, and the characters are an echo of the past that may well be of great deal in the future of other shadowhunters. The plot itself is like a clockwork piece itself:
Show More
complex and intricate connections of function, motives, and emotions. But unlike the definition of clockwork which is repetitive and predictable, there is nothing predictable in the story. I mean, with Cassandra Clare, you'll only be sure half of the time you try to guess, and even half of it you barely guessed yourself. The only repeating thing in the story is its awesomeness and the story's ability to drive its characters to revealing truths that often hurt, but is necessary in order to move on. You'll fall in love with the characters, not just because they're charming and wicked like Will, or affectionate and terribly nice like Jem, but there are other people whose strength with purpose and personality will surely have you rooting for them (go, Charlotte!!). The scenes are made more striking with the use of poetry quotations and mirroring. It just goes to show how the classics run deep. The cover is so pretty and shiny! But don't be fooled by its shiny-ness, it might be darker than what you expect, especially if you have read the mortal instruments, but for those who will encounter this the first time better brace yourself because you're in for a rollercoaster ride, Victorian-style! For those who have read TMI (like me), you might find yourself loss in thought in trying to comprehend the connections or even wonder about the possibilities. All I got was a serious case of headache and mild-episode of neuroticism. I was tempted to bang my head against the wall until I realized there was a nearby source of caffeine. August would not have been awesome without Clockwork Angel and it's definitely worth all the wait! Show Less
LibraryThing member jennsbookshelves
Sixteen-year old Tessa leaves her world behind in New York when she crosses the Atlantic to find her brother, Nate, in Victorian London. When she arrives, it’s not Nate waiting for her on the dock as she thought, but two women, promising to take her to her brother.
These women, known by many as
A completely different world within London is revealed to Tessa, a world of demons, vampires, & warlords. Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, warriors who protect humans (mundanes) from demons. Together they must find Nate and uncover what it is about Tessa that makes her so special, so different than others with her powers.
I’ve been a fan of Cassandra Clare’s writing since reading The Mortal Instruments. She always delivers compelling characters with layers upon layers of history & depth. The same rings true with Clockwork Angel. I’m quite found of YA books with strong female main characters. Tess, while weak and naive in the beginning quickly transforms into a strong young woman. To top it all off, Tessa is lover of books. How can you not love her!?
Her feelings are divided between two young men: James “Jem” a fragile, sensitive boy and Will, a moody, defensive brute who won’t let anyone get close to him. Both clearly have secrets, but Jem was more willing to reveal his than Will. I have to say I’m clearly rooting for Jem in this case!
As with the Mortal Instruments series Clare builds a completely dynamic and compelling setting. While it is set in Victorian London, some aspects are true to life while in others Clare adds a bit of creativity. In any case, be prepared to become enveloped in this world. The detailed, flowing prose will pull you in from the first few pages. While Clockwork Angel is just shy of 500 pages, you’ll be swept away and won’t notice the pages flying by.
Clockwork Angel is prequel of the Mortal Instruments series, so fans of the series should definitely check this one out. While I enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series more than Clockwork Angel, it was exciting and to read more of Clare’s work and see where the series began. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series, aptly titled The Infernal Devices.
Following are a few of my favorite quotes from Clockwork Angel:
“One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
” Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature & poetry.” (pg 87 of ARC)
These women, known by many as
Show More
the Dark Sisters, hold Tessa captive. She learns she has the ability to transform herself into another person and the Sisters have been taking advantage of this power. Tessa discovers that she is not human, but what is she? The Sisters prepare to present her to the Magistrate, the leader of the Pandemonium Club to which they all belong.A completely different world within London is revealed to Tessa, a world of demons, vampires, & warlords. Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, warriors who protect humans (mundanes) from demons. Together they must find Nate and uncover what it is about Tessa that makes her so special, so different than others with her powers.
I’ve been a fan of Cassandra Clare’s writing since reading The Mortal Instruments. She always delivers compelling characters with layers upon layers of history & depth. The same rings true with Clockwork Angel. I’m quite found of YA books with strong female main characters. Tess, while weak and naive in the beginning quickly transforms into a strong young woman. To top it all off, Tessa is lover of books. How can you not love her!?
Her feelings are divided between two young men: James “Jem” a fragile, sensitive boy and Will, a moody, defensive brute who won’t let anyone get close to him. Both clearly have secrets, but Jem was more willing to reveal his than Will. I have to say I’m clearly rooting for Jem in this case!
As with the Mortal Instruments series Clare builds a completely dynamic and compelling setting. While it is set in Victorian London, some aspects are true to life while in others Clare adds a bit of creativity. In any case, be prepared to become enveloped in this world. The detailed, flowing prose will pull you in from the first few pages. While Clockwork Angel is just shy of 500 pages, you’ll be swept away and won’t notice the pages flying by.
Clockwork Angel is prequel of the Mortal Instruments series, so fans of the series should definitely check this one out. While I enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series more than Clockwork Angel, it was exciting and to read more of Clare’s work and see where the series began. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series, aptly titled The Infernal Devices.
Following are a few of my favorite quotes from Clockwork Angel:
“One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
” Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature & poetry.” (pg 87 of ARC)
Show Less
LibraryThing member krystal_osmond
I admit, this was my first ever Cassandra Clare novel. I’ve always been intrigued by her work, but never picked any up to read. But after completing Clockwork Angel and loving it, the rest of Cassandra Clares’ novels are on my “must-read” list.
First off, the cover of this book pulls the
From the first page to the last page the attention to detail is phenomenal. Cassandra Clare knows how to make the readers feel as if they are walking through the streets of London with Tessa and Jem, or walking through the Institute with Tessa and Sophie. Readers can see what the characters see, smell what the characters smell; it feels as if we are in London in the Victorian era. And any author who can pull the readers in like that knows how to write.
The characters…oh the characters! The readers can’t help but love the characters. When we first meet Tessa we feel sorry for her, being taken to the Dark Sisters house and used to practise her ability over and over. But the sympathy we feel for her soon fades when we see just how truly strong she is. Then we have Jem and Will and instantly we are connected to them. Will, the arrogant, stubborn guy who is hiding a secret from everyone, and Jem, the respectable gentleman. Readers can’t help but to laugh at Wills ability to think that all women adore him (and to be honest we certainly do adore him). And we are definitely swooning over Jem and his honesty, his graciousness and good manners. We do meet a lot more review-worthy characters such as Charlotte and her kick-butt strength. Henry and his funny antics and inventions, Jessamine with her care-free attitude, though she definitely isn’t that care-free at all.
The story line was easy enough to follow. It kept me on the edge of my seat with every page, and had me yearning for more. (Even at 1:30am when I should have been sleeping) Overall, this book was a great book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good read!
First off, the cover of this book pulls the
Show More
readers in right away. It has mystery, fantasy, and lets face it, a good looking Victorian gentleman that is a huge pre-cursor that there will definitely be some good looking male characters.From the first page to the last page the attention to detail is phenomenal. Cassandra Clare knows how to make the readers feel as if they are walking through the streets of London with Tessa and Jem, or walking through the Institute with Tessa and Sophie. Readers can see what the characters see, smell what the characters smell; it feels as if we are in London in the Victorian era. And any author who can pull the readers in like that knows how to write.
The characters…oh the characters! The readers can’t help but love the characters. When we first meet Tessa we feel sorry for her, being taken to the Dark Sisters house and used to practise her ability over and over. But the sympathy we feel for her soon fades when we see just how truly strong she is. Then we have Jem and Will and instantly we are connected to them. Will, the arrogant, stubborn guy who is hiding a secret from everyone, and Jem, the respectable gentleman. Readers can’t help but to laugh at Wills ability to think that all women adore him (and to be honest we certainly do adore him). And we are definitely swooning over Jem and his honesty, his graciousness and good manners. We do meet a lot more review-worthy characters such as Charlotte and her kick-butt strength. Henry and his funny antics and inventions, Jessamine with her care-free attitude, though she definitely isn’t that care-free at all.
The story line was easy enough to follow. It kept me on the edge of my seat with every page, and had me yearning for more. (Even at 1:30am when I should have been sleeping) Overall, this book was a great book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good read!
Show Less
LibraryThing member BarbaraHouston
This is the first book in a series ... as are so many of the books being written today. I hope that subsequent books do a better job of explaining the 'clockworks,' The writing is clear, which is why the lack of clarity in the underpinnings is so reasily apparent. I won't be reading more of her
Show More
series. Show Less
LibraryThing member devin13
I really enjoyed this book. I could not put this down. I believe this series will be just as good as her other one. It is a great book to take your mind off everyday things that life throws at you.
LibraryThing member sarahwriter
Wonderful Victorian prequel to the Infernal Devices series. You'll love it!
LibraryThing member katiedoll
Clockwork Angel, without a doubt, exceeded my expectations. I was somewhat hesitant of a prequel series considering how many twists and details and plot went into the Mortal Instrument series, but this book soared above my expectations.
There are a few things that are similar between Clockwork Angel
Another thing I loved about this series was the slowness. Where as City Of Bones was a non-stop thrill ride, Clockwork Angel brings the action down a few notches. (But do not fear! There are still plenty of those downworlder ass-kicking scenes that we all know and love!) The pace of the plot was also easier to grasp, though I imagine it’s an easier read for people who have read the MI books and already know the terms and world. Either way, steady-going London is a refreshing change of scenery from fast-paced New York City.
Overall, I enjoyed Clockwork Angel just as much, if not more, than the Mortal Instrument series. With a new cast of snarky, ass-kicking characters, creepy enemies, a new city and a not-so-dizzying love triangle, this is a perfect beginning to what sounds like an awesome new series! I definitely recommend!
There are a few things that are similar between Clockwork Angel
Show More
and City Of Bones. Tessa, our witty protagonist, is a kick-ass heroine who is just discovering that her entire life has been fabricated and she’s not who she really thinks she is, just like Clary Fray. The same with Will Herondale and Jace Wayland. This was something that I thought might progressively irritate me, but surprisingly, it did not. The love/hate relationships and witty banter was, just like the MI series, enjoyable, enthralling and very humorous.Another thing I loved about this series was the slowness. Where as City Of Bones was a non-stop thrill ride, Clockwork Angel brings the action down a few notches. (But do not fear! There are still plenty of those downworlder ass-kicking scenes that we all know and love!) The pace of the plot was also easier to grasp, though I imagine it’s an easier read for people who have read the MI books and already know the terms and world. Either way, steady-going London is a refreshing change of scenery from fast-paced New York City.
Overall, I enjoyed Clockwork Angel just as much, if not more, than the Mortal Instrument series. With a new cast of snarky, ass-kicking characters, creepy enemies, a new city and a not-so-dizzying love triangle, this is a perfect beginning to what sounds like an awesome new series! I definitely recommend!
Show Less
LibraryThing member bonbonsandreveries
Tessa traveled to England hoping to live with her brother when she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters. They convince her to cooperate by telling Tessa that they have her brother. They force her to awaken her hidden powers-one’s she didn’t even know she had. When the Sisters tell Tessa of their
This story takes place in a fictional Victorian England-complete with steampunk and supernatural creatures. I was drawn in from the start. Cassandra Clare tactfully catches the reader’s attention in the first few chapters, making it almost impossible to put down.
Her characters were all beautifully written. Tessa is relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Tessa. Like Tessa, I love to lose myself in books. I really enjoyed all the references Tessa and Will both made to other works of literature. Tessa, like many sixteen-year-old girls, is insecure. She falls into a deeper hole of doubt when she realizes that she may not be human. This causes her to question everything she has ever known. However insecure she was, her values remained strong. She never waivered from what she knew was right and wrong. I felt that Tessa had matured throughout the book.
Will is a witty and arrogant shadowhunter. I loved reading his witty dialogue. Most of his remarks had me laughing out loud. I was concerned, though. It became apparent partially through the book that there is something deeper there. Something painful and sad. Almost all the characters notice this about him. He uses wit, humor, and fighting as defense mechanisms. He even keeps Tessa at a distance.
Jem is the only person Will seems to open up the most with-which isn’t a lot actually. Jem is such a sweetheart. His character was heart wrenching to watch (read). I have to say-Jem had the best inspirational quotes. He’s so cute
Show More
plans to marry her to the Magister, she attempts to escape and is punished. Will, a shadowhunter investigating a murder, turns up just in time to rescue her. Tessa is drawn into a world of magic, vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and secret societies. Tessa is faced with a difficult question: who is she? And is she really human?This story takes place in a fictional Victorian England-complete with steampunk and supernatural creatures. I was drawn in from the start. Cassandra Clare tactfully catches the reader’s attention in the first few chapters, making it almost impossible to put down.
Her characters were all beautifully written. Tessa is relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Tessa. Like Tessa, I love to lose myself in books. I really enjoyed all the references Tessa and Will both made to other works of literature. Tessa, like many sixteen-year-old girls, is insecure. She falls into a deeper hole of doubt when she realizes that she may not be human. This causes her to question everything she has ever known. However insecure she was, her values remained strong. She never waivered from what she knew was right and wrong. I felt that Tessa had matured throughout the book.
Will is a witty and arrogant shadowhunter. I loved reading his witty dialogue. Most of his remarks had me laughing out loud. I was concerned, though. It became apparent partially through the book that there is something deeper there. Something painful and sad. Almost all the characters notice this about him. He uses wit, humor, and fighting as defense mechanisms. He even keeps Tessa at a distance.
Jem is the only person Will seems to open up the most with-which isn’t a lot actually. Jem is such a sweetheart. His character was heart wrenching to watch (read). I have to say-Jem had the best inspirational quotes. He’s so cute
Show Less
LibraryThing member edischri
Great Victorian atmosphere, but the characters and situations seemed very similar to those found in Clare's Mortal Instruments series.
Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2013)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2014)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2013)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2013)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Teen — 2013)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2012)
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Winner — 2013)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Winner — 2012)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — Author of the Year — 2011)
Westchester Fiction Award (Winner — 2011)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Isinglass Teen Read Award (Nominee — 2012)
Inky Awards (Winner — 2011)
RITA Award (Finalist — Young Adult Romance — 2011)
Children's Favorites Awards (Finalist — Author of the Year — 2011)
OYAN Book Rave (2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-08-31
Physical description
400 p.; 7.7 inches
ISBN
0147