Title: The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Published: August 31, 2010
Hardcover: 496 pages
Reading Level: YA
My copy: Book It Forward Tours
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked hearts
Blurb (from Amazon.com):
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 quick wicked thoughts...A wonderfully crafted new series from the author of the Mortal Instruments series taking place in Victorian era England.
Why I was tempted to read this..I loved the MI series and this looked deliciously steampunk-ish
Cover thoughts..It's pretty awesome, gives you a view of the Clockwork Angel and of Will.
Romance Meter..Definitely some sparks between Tessa and Will...with some definite interest from James. James (or Jem as he prefers) is just a sweet guy with a devastating secret, Will is sweet one moment and rude and nasty the next, you don't know what you are going to get with him, but the attraction is undeniable.
Character and Plot...Oh this book was all that I was hoping for, plus some. I loved the MI series, but honestly...I couldn't remember much about it when I started reading this book (too many books in between I think lol). That did not take away from this book at all, which new characters (and a few old ones) the story is original and captivating. Set in Victorian England in a steampunk-ish era, Tessa comes from the US to live with her brother after her aunt dies. She is swiped up by the Dark Sisters and held captivate to learn her abilites of shape shifting, that she had no idea she had. This isn't your animal/werewolf shape shifting either, she can take an item that belonged to a person, and change into that person with voice and memories...and the person can be still living or not. This makes Tessa a value commodity and the Dark Sisters are going to marry her off to The Magister. In the nick of time, Tessa is saved by the Shadowhunters and taken into their world to learn the truth of her abilities, friends, and family. This book is almost 500 pages but it flew by, I had trouble putting it down. I loved that Magnus Bane came back for this book, I just absolutely loved him in the MI series....once I finally started remember what happened in that series. It isn't necessary to have read the MI series to read this once with its cast of new main characters...but you should read them anyway if you haven't.
The Ending..Ahhh..the ending...perfect in some ways...but leaves you hanging enough you are anxiously waiting for Book 2, The Clockwork Prince, due out in 2011.
Cover thoughts..It's pretty awesome, gives you a view of the Clockwork Angel and of Will.
Romance Meter..Definitely some sparks between Tessa and Will...with some definite interest from James. James (or Jem as he prefers) is just a sweet guy with a devastating secret, Will is sweet one moment and rude and nasty the next, you don't know what you are going to get with him, but the attraction is undeniable.
Character and Plot...Oh this book was all that I was hoping for, plus some. I loved the MI series, but honestly...I couldn't remember much about it when I started reading this book (too many books in between I think lol). That did not take away from this book at all, which new characters (and a few old ones) the story is original and captivating. Set in Victorian England in a steampunk-ish era, Tessa comes from the US to live with her brother after her aunt dies. She is swiped up by the Dark Sisters and held captivate to learn her abilites of shape shifting, that she had no idea she had. This isn't your animal/werewolf shape shifting either, she can take an item that belonged to a person, and change into that person with voice and memories...and the person can be still living or not. This makes Tessa a value commodity and the Dark Sisters are going to marry her off to The Magister. In the nick of time, Tessa is saved by the Shadowhunters and taken into their world to learn the truth of her abilities, friends, and family. This book is almost 500 pages but it flew by, I had trouble putting it down. I loved that Magnus Bane came back for this book, I just absolutely loved him in the MI series....once I finally started remember what happened in that series. It isn't necessary to have read the MI series to read this once with its cast of new main characters...but you should read them anyway if you haven't.
The Ending..Ahhh..the ending...perfect in some ways...but leaves you hanging enough you are anxiously waiting for Book 2, The Clockwork Prince, due out in 2011.
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