Clockwork Angel
Ratings452
Average rating4
“Magic is dangerous–but love is more dangerous still.”
Clockwork Angel is the start of the prequel series, Infernal Devices, to Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series. I bought this book eReader wise early this January, and I have to say, it's a definite wonderful read! Clare takes her readers back in time to the Victorian Era, with descriptive writing and conflicts existing in the time of Victorian Era, such as the struggle for the women Shadowhunters to be proper young ladies and women that society demands while balancing the Shadowhunters' need for strong fighters.
The main protagonist, Tessa Gray, travels to London to visit her brother Nathaniel; but as the ship docks, she is kidnapped by two women, also known as the ‘Dark Sisters.' Terrified, confused, and worn out, she is rescued by two Shadowhunters: Will and Jem. They take her to the London Institute, where Tessa learns that her powers are different, otherworldly...and that there is a world within the world, a battle ready to start; and Tessa is in the middle.
In Clockwork Angel, you can see that Cassandra had changed her writing a little bit, to fit in with the mannerisms and beliefs of the Victorian Era. The speech, actions...everything is more refined. But even so, Cassandra managed to sneak in some dark humor and action scenes. And of course, the hazy, mysterious background of Will and Jem - which are bound to become bigger issues in the Clockwork Prince, the sequel to Clockwork Angel - that keeps readers entranced and entertained.
When I first picked up this book however, I was a bit skeptical. I generally have an aversion to reading books set in a different period of time from the original series, because I've already developed an attachment to the original characters. All I can say is, I definitely loved TID more then TMI. Not only the plot, but also the characters. The characters themselves are engaging, from dark-humoured William Herondale to high-strung Jessamine Lovelace. The interaction between characters, especially Tessa, Will, and Jem. You can't help but feel for all of them, in different ways.
Through this book, you will find spine-racking battles, intriguing mysteries, and a twist at the end, that tells you that the book is only the beginning. This book will certainly leave readers impatient for the sequel!
I'm docking this book 1 & 1/2 stars because I honestly?? Didn't enjoy this?? As much as I did a couple of years ago????
I believe that part of the reason is that this book was just so damn slow and boring. The other part was that either I'm just not enjoying the story and the historical aspects of it or that I prefer The Mortal Instruments over this. I just didn't like this book; However, I've heard that the next books are better, so I'm going to hang in there and continue the series.
Also, Unpopular Opinion Time™!
I! Don't! Like! Wessa!!! I just don't like how Will treats Tessa and how he acts around her?? Like I'm sure he's got his own problems and stuff but I don't know, they just seem weird together and I prefer Jessa anyways. I mean, I know Will and Tessa end up together (don't bitch at me for reading spoilers, I know you've done it before too), so maybe my opinion will change when I read the next books.
Oh, dear. I can't describe how I felt when I heard there was a prequel series to the Mortal Instruments. I love Jem. I feel so bad for him, though. He has to live with his disease forever and if he stops the drugs, he'll die. If he doesn't he'll die. I just want to cry every time he coughs and goes through the pain.
Really loved Tessa's character a lot. Really loved the variety of characters and I have to say this series is now my absolute favorite over the Immortal Instruments series. Love the time period.
This Book deserves more than 5stars OFC, this going to be one of favourite book!!
Would never fall in love with someone like Will... Team Jem all the way so far!
2.75 // i think you have to really feel attached to the characters to love this story and i wasn't at all. while i didn't necessarily dislike Tessa, i'm not sure why she was the main character?? she didn't actually do much. from beginning to nearly the end, so many things were just happening to her and she just had to go along with it. to me, this made her feel flat.
most of the characters felt that way tbh. the only one i felt any strong emotion towards was Will and that was just bc i found him incredibly annoying and unlikeable. however, i did feel rather protective of Sophie. i would've liked to see more of her.
i also noticed that Cassandra Clare (this is my first book of hers btw) loves an in-depth, multiple paragraph description of every room we enter and of every new character we encounter. which very much slowed down the pace of the story in a way that felt unnecessary to me.
another thing about the writing itself is that there is so much repetition of information and world-building we'd already established previously in the story. there was multiple times a character—mostly Tessa tbh—would ask a question that i could've sworn was talked about just a couple pages prior. also, this book is a great example of telling the reader everything rather than showing. it spoon feeds the reader so much of the information, there's no time for you to infer for yourself bc the book will tell you... repeatedly, as if you forgot or something.
some positives!! while i have so many complaints, i'm giving it 2.75 stars bc there was nothing i hated or deeply disliked about anything here. also, i do rlly rlly like the world. it seems to have complexities and intricacies to it, even if the story itself doesn't at all. my favorite thing about this though is Tessa's power. that's the one thing about her—any of the characters, really—that i thought was very interesting and i wanted to know more about it. i preferred the first half (and the ending) for this very reason. bc we actually got to see her use her powers in those portions of the story. her conflict regarding those powers and how they sort of gave her this identity crisis was also very cool. however, while i understand this is only book 1, i think that aspect could've been executed better and been given way more depth than Cassandra Clare gave it, thereby making Tessa's character a bit more dynamic and interesting.
Let me just say, this is probably my 7th reread of this and it did not disappoint. Turns out, since it's one of my favourite books of all time I can still remember all of it as if I just read it for the first time yesterday.
“One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa, “and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
Ok ho avuto un rapporto strano con questo libro: mi è piaciuto leggerlo ma allo stesso tempo non ho mai sentito la necessità di andare avanti con la lettura, if that makes sense?
C'è qualcosa che non mi ha convinto appieno, non so se fosse a causa degli automi o di Tessa, che non ho apprezzato particolarmente.
Sicuramente sono incuriosita e andrò avanti con la trilogia, ma c'è qualcosa che mi ha lasciata leggermente insoddisfatta.
Speravo che il manga mi potesse aiutare di più a capire chi è chi, ma non è servito a molto.
Grafica carina. La storia per sé è interessante ma non mi ha preso molto.
2.75/5
this book itself, was alright. barely.
but, just save yourself the pain in the long run. put. the. book. down. NOW.
I'm trying to help you, believe me.
Perfecto! Perfecto! Perfecto! Había retrasado mucho tiempo esta lectura, temiendo que me decepcionara.
Ha sido brutal, me he bebido las palabras lentamente y me he embriagado en el éxtasis que solo producen los buenos libros de fantasía.
Es lo primero que leo de la autora y ahora.... a por el resto
Can't believe I've waited this long to read TID! Obsessed with Will, Tess and Jem!
This was the only Cassandra Clare series I really wanted to read. I had a lot of fun with the 1800s, steampunk vibes of this book. I usually don't care for love triangles, but the one portrayed in this book gave me heart-eyes. Clare's writing is a little juvenile and I do get some Harry Potter vibes in some scenes, but it was overall a fun book to read.