Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 479
Publisher: McElderry Books
Publication Date: August 31, 2010

via Goodreads

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.
Review:
Have you ever read the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare?  Well, this is the prequel to that series.  It was, at first, intriguing to find out that Clare was making a prequel, because I had no clue what it would be about.  Let me just say- the year is 1878- a fact that was stated on the first page or so.  Having the prequel set in historical England, where the other series is set in modern New York City is so different that I was merely taken away by that idea.  Cassandra Clare brings her world alive, breathing life into her characters- all the while her readers are holding their breath.

I am in love with this book.  However, I have read some other reviews that are not as optimistic as mine- they find Clare's style a bit of a drag.  Cassandra Clare's style was, from the first page of the the book, what brought me into that world of hers.  There is nonstop action and, at times, it is hard to catch your breath.  It is like a blockbuster movie in print. 

Clare has a way that makes the characters seem so real that when they speak- I heard them.  She has quite a knack for making gorgeous characters, like the way she did with Jace in her previous series of the Mortal Instruments (like Stephenie Meyer had done with Edward Cullen). 

Who doesn't love this cover?  While this cover fits with the theme of her other novels, it stand alone too.  I love the model's pose and simply love the small clockwork angel in the middle.  If they do make merchandise on this certain series- I think the clockwork angel necklace would be a hit.  It is absolutly gorgeous!

However, this ending is certainly agonizing!  When I was young, too old for picture books, but not old enough for young adult novels, I would skip the epilogue until the next book in the series came out.  I always thought how stupid that was, but now after reading so many epilogues with cliff-hangers, I have to say that I was one smart kid.  Yes, Clockwork Angel does have one major cliff-hanger that made me smile and impatient for the next one to come. 

For information on the next book in the series- titled the Clockwork Prince- go to Cassandra Clare's blog where she is currently giving away teasers for her upcoming novels.  Yeah, go check it out.

Cover: 5

Writing Style: 4

Characters: 5

Plot: 5

Ending: 4

Overall: 5

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