Monday, January 24, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Synopsis (From 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.

My Review:
I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is my new favorite and I can't wait for the second one to come out! It was quite creative and original and an awesome read. Cassandra Clare did a great job describing things just enough that you could imagine the story in your head and really get sucked in. I could definitely tell that she did her research on London in the 1800s (which is where the book is set), she nailed it and actually made me feel as if I was in the 1800s.
I love her characters, she obviously knows a bit about psychology and how to make someone fall in love with a fictional character :) . My favorite character is probably Jem, because hes so calm and sweet and understanding, though I love Will's humor. Jem is the only one who can put up with Will and keep him slightly less in trouble. Tessa (the main character) is a great heroin, she isn't a sniveling coward, she is brave, strong willed and questioning. I think its hilarious how she's always bugging Will with a bunch of questions. Will is someone who has "lost everything", he hides behind a wall, he pretends to be a jerk and a womanizer, but really he's just sad and unhappy.
Spoilers:
One of the things that I liked was the shockers, Cassandra threw in things that I just was not expecting. First, Tessa gets kidnapped by these two creepy ladies (which wasn't really a shocker, but I'm going from the beginning so that those of you who haven't read this won't be so confused), then we find out that Tessa has this magical power to transform herself into other people, Then we learn that shes going to be forced to get married to the "Magister", then Will busts in to rescue her, then a bunch of gross secrets are uncovered about the Dark Sisters (creepy kidnapper ladies), then we find out that theres this whole other magical world that mundanes (regular humans) don't know about, with angels and demons and all knids of creatures, then there are all kinds of lies and secrets uncovered until he very end of the book (and I mean the very end, as in last page end), and so on and so forth until things get really shocking in a "?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" kind of way.
I hate how she ended it because it really didn't resolve a whole lot, I mean sure, Tessa isn't in immediate danger anymore, but that doesn't mean she should end the book! In my mind she stirred up a whole lot more conflict than she resolved, with Will being such a jerk and all ( and I really wish she hadn't written that part because it made me MAD!).
Overall its an amazing book and if you haven't read it yet you really should. It has some great elements to it.
(Its set in the 17th century and she sticks to character so its obviously not going to be that bad)
Profanity: Mild
Sexuality: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Violence: Moderate