Review: Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)

by Cassandra Clare

Published on August 31, 2010 by Margaret K. McElderry

Goodreads Summary: 

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. 

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My thoughts: 

I thought I loved The Mortal Instruments. Me + TMI= 2gether 4ever. But then The Infernal device series walked into by life and I dropped Jace, Clary and the gang to hang out with my new loves. Seriously, Clare's writing is phenomenal and I fell fast for her steampunk Victorian thriller/romance.

The main character, Tessa, leaves America to make a new life with her brother, who is currently living in London. Upon arriving in Merry Ol' England, she finds herself in the hands of two devilish sisters who open her eyes to the magic that lies within. A break-in later, we are introduce to Will, a Shadowhunter, who rescues Tessa and introduces her to Downworld and the lives and times of the Shadowhunters. Tessa, at first, appears as a smart, naive, bookish young lady. But through her connection with Will and the others she finds the spark that ignites her character-- a passion. She finds herself torn between the life she did know and the life she has now.


The supporting cast and plots blend in nicely with the main plot and I couldn't help but fall in love the sensible, but somewhat mysterious Jem--Will's partner-in-crime. Charlotte and Henry, who run the Institute where they all live, are in a unique stage. They aren't old enough to be parents to any of the other characters, but they aren't as young either. There's also the question of how they came to be in a relationship, as well. Jessamine, the daughter of dead Shadowhunters, is the last "main" supporting charater. Brought up to be a lady, Jessa wants nothing to do with Shadowhunters and is in a battle aganist her heritage and her upbringing. 


And then there's Will. Will had me as soon as he made his first crack about demon pox. He's arrogant, rude and inappropriate with a dark past. He teases Tessa mercilessly, but is quite serious about Shadowhunter business. And even though he and Jace share many qualities--a dark past, a "whatever" attitude about their own lives and that something-somethings that just makes you want to kick them in the mouth, Will made me love him with his wise cracks and his charm. Love him.


Clockwork Angel is a great companion series to The Mortal Instruments series and also as a seperate triology. Clare claims that both The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series interact with each other. I'm hoping to see some of that interaction with Clare's two lastest novels City of Fallen Angels (coming out on April 5) and Clockwork Prince (coming out Dec 6)!