Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 479
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★★
Magic is dangerous - but love is more dangerous still. Discover the riveting first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices Trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
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 organisation 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 him. 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 Shadowhunters, Tessa realises 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.
"It's all right to love someone who doesn't love you back, as long as they're worth you loving them. As long as they deserve it."
I read this book after I had finished the Mortal Instruments series so I already had vague introductions to Jem and Tessa but that does not mean I fell in love with their characters and the story any less.
This book had everything from amazing plot to unique characters to amazing relationships. It was the perfect book for me and it is one that I keep reading over and over again.
I also loved the love triangle aspect in this. I could understand exactly where Tessa was coming from when she could not decide. Who could? On one hand you have Jem who is kind and sweet and he plays the violin and just seems very caring and calm, and then you have Will who is the polar opposite of Jem. Yes, he is kind and caring, but Will Herondale is also wild and hyper and has such a good sense of humour. I also love how their differences are portrayed physically: Will has dark brown, almost black hair, whereas Jem has silver hair. Small details like that just really add to the book in the best way.
I also loved the involvement of books in this. Tessa and Will are bookworms and their conversations about books, as well as Tessa's inner monologues about books, honestly made me fall in love with the book even more. I also loved the parallels to A Tale of Two Cities, which happened to be one of Tessa's and Will's favourite books.
I also loved how all the characters had their own personalities that were so unique and did not fit a blueprint whatsoever. Will with his determination to show everyone that demon pox is real, his extensive love of chocolate so much so that he thinks people that don't like it (Tessa) are monsters, and hates ducks because they are cannibals. Tessa with her obsession and fascination with books, her stubbornness, her magic, and her humour. And Jem with his music, his selflessness, and his addiction. They all fit together in the perfect puzzle.
The interactions that the main three characters had with each other just warmed my heart. First we have Will and Tessa. These two bonded over books and had such a deeply woven chemistry but it was clear from the start that their relationship would be complicated. Will admits he is in love with Tessa but he keeps pushing her away for reasons that will be found out over the series. I loved their bookish talks with each other as well as their tender little moments. I also loved the way that Clare managed to interweave literature and quotes into her books which made their moments even more special.
And next we have Tessa and my angel boy Jem. The moment they first meet is so simple and cute and just perfect for them. I also loved how they became friends and would just bond over the stupid things Will would do. Jem becomes a steady presence for Tessa throughout the course of the book and this slowly conquers Tessa's heart. They start off as strangers, then become friends and then at the end they feel more for each other than platonic affection. But another thing that I loved about their relationship is just how considerate Jem is. He knows that Will is in love with Tessa and so he never acts on the fact that he likes Tessa. He just holds back and lets them sort through whatever they need to sort through.
And finally we have Will and Jem. These two have one of the best relationship dynamics in this book. You can tell how much they love each other from the chemistry that just oozes from their interactions. And the way they just bounce off each other is so funny to see. I love how caring they are towards each other, and how relaxed Will is around Jem to the point he opens up about things, which is something he doesn't really do with anyone else. I love their friendship and I think they are one of the more perfect pairings for parabatai out of all the parabatai pairings in the Shadowhunter Chronicles.
I fall in love with this book more and more every time I read it, which I didn't think would be possible due to how many times I've read it. But it is a book that I will keep reading over and over again for the rest of my life.
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