Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: 6 December 2011
Release Date: 6 December 2011
Goodreads Description:
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
The Infernal Devices is set in Victorian London, the same world in TMI. It is the Shadowhunter world in the past, and we get to see how the problems they have to deal with are equally aggravating and fun.
In the Clockwork Prince, The characters continue to deal with the Magister and his nefarious plans. Apart from getting grief from the Magister, Charlotte's leadership is challenged by some members of the Council of Shadowhunters.
The institute is under pressure to prove itself, which is most certainly hard in these dark days.
Turmoil has not spared the other members of the institute- Will has to confront the demons (or should I say demon?) of his past, Tessa finds out more about her true parentage and her family, Jem has to deal with his illness and other matters of the heart, Sophie recieves quite some attention from a man she doesn't know if she can trust, and Jessamine runs off in the night in boy clothes.
With such troubles plaguing them, who are we to be bored?
The London that Cassandra Clare described.... What is with authors making me fall for this industrial city? It certainly is a mystery, as to how the moved from London in TID to Manhattan in TMI but ah I'm sure it'll be revealed in later books.
It is the London with their grand balls, albeit rather otherworldy, (okay that sounded rather wrong. But what can I say? I'm a teen!) and and the sooty rain of the dirty streets, filled with slummers and drug dens. You cannot help but glue you eyes to the page in the oh so valiant hope that you can learn more (Please sir, can I have some more?) about this place we only know through our musty history books. Of course we can now experiece it in the full colour that the author's words conjure.
Piled with the mysteries that the characters have to solve, the betrayals they have to face, the emotianal outburts, and some firstbase action, it makes the experience much more interesting.
It is the London with their grand balls, albeit rather otherworldy, (okay that sounded rather wrong. But what can I say? I'm a teen!) and and the sooty rain of the dirty streets, filled with slummers and drug dens. You cannot help but glue you eyes to the page in the oh so valiant hope that you can learn more (Please sir, can I have some more?) about this place we only know through our musty history books. Of course we can now experiece it in the full colour that the author's words conjure.
Piled with the mysteries that the characters have to solve, the betrayals they have to face, the emotianal outburts, and some firstbase action, it makes the experience much more interesting.
Tessa is the strongwilled heroine we see in most books set in the Victorian era, but with none of their unpleasantness and harping on the liberties of women or whatsoever. She simply is, no speech needed.
She is also witty, a refreshing change from most dull heroines, which is most probably why she is not just another heroine. She can actually reply Will with the same dry humour, which is a feat in itself. Her ability to shapeshift into anyone and tap into their memories is what makes the story extraordinary as she is needed several times to utilise her talents throughout the books. When in her head, it is rather disconcerting as she has to sort though their memories but no less riveting.
She is also witty, a refreshing change from most dull heroines, which is most probably why she is not just another heroine. She can actually reply Will with the same dry humour, which is a feat in itself. Her ability to shapeshift into anyone and tap into their memories is what makes the story extraordinary as she is needed several times to utilise her talents throughout the books. When in her head, it is rather disconcerting as she has to sort though their memories but no less riveting.
William Herondale. Be glad I'm dedicating a paragraph to you and your arrogant descendants. For those who have read The Mortal Instruments, it is easy to see the resemblance between Will and Jace- If only we had this series in the first place, and we wouldn't have to doubt Jace's parentage at all. But ah- another book, another series, another time. They are both infuriatingly arrogant, rude, tactful, witty- expect lots of dry humor- and of course, with the pretty boy look. Hmmph.
But then again, we don't know for sure if Will is Jace's descendant, but I'll give it a 60 % chance. Jace is a mini-Will! How can he be not of his kin?
Other than than, on to things related to Will. The description of Wales, as compared to the cramped houses of London, was enchanting. Wide open spaces with grass and the fresh smell of untainted air, oh I sound like a travel brochure! It just fills you with wistfullness- but then (as expected) Will will say something deprecating of Wales along with a quote from another piece of poetry and your happy afterglow just pops out.
Cassandra Clare begins to write more of Jem, sometimes incorporating his Chinese heritage- and surprisingly, his chinese words are actually intelligible and used in the correct context! Oh I love authors who don't use google-translate. I enjoyed the Jade-topped cane that he uses frequently, and you will eventually warm up to him (if you haven't done so already). As the parabatai of Will we see him care for him as if he were his own brother. We also find out how and why he became Will's blood brother, which is another insight into the strange goings of the Shadowhunter universe.
The ending. THE ENDING. To give fair warning to dear readers, it is an infuriating cliffhanger that really makes me wish Henry created a teleporter for me to recive the next book now. Why do authors torture us dear readers so?! The agony is ripping us all apart *wails futilely*
For those who have not read The Mortal Instruments- do not worry. Reading it will not change anything in the plot, just increase your familiarity in the world they live in. The Infernal Devices can be read without reading The Mortal Instruments because it is a whole different time period, and they can't really affect each other too much unless you create a time paradox plot or something. But then it'll be Sci-Fi. Which is basically fantasy on drugs. Though hmmmmm it would be insteresting to see Will and Jace banter with each other..... But I digress.
This book really did well as a sequel, and I loved it more than the Clockwork Angel, and it kept me reading it in one sitting- if there's one thing you cannot disclaim to Cassandra Clare's talents, it's her ability to immerse you in her book, and make you love every moment of it as well.
I love Cassanra Clare's books - this really is a great series - It did get a little slow in the last few chapters for me - but I just cant believe whats happened so far! I hope the Clockwork Princess doesnt make us wait till the end of 2013 - I dont think I can wait that long =))
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