Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare Book Review

First I have to say, Happy Wednesday! You've made it halfway through the week; only two more days to go 'til the weekend. So for you bookworms searching for young adult books and to help through the Wednesday slowness, I have decided to start a segment called "Book Review Wednesday". To start my very first book review, I will be covering Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel.

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 gas lit 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.

(Blurb from Amazon.com)

(Clockwork Angel trailer)

I've been a huge fan Cassandra (Cassie) Clare's work since I read City of Bones last December, and since, I've read all of her books except for City of Fallen Angels--it's coming up on my list. First and foremost, I have to say that Clockwork Angel's cover is the most beautiful cover I've ever seen. It is ultimately my favorite. I love the Victorian era--the dark cobblestone London, gentlemen in coattails and top hats, ladies in beautiful dresses, the whole enchilada--so it's only natural for me to be in love with the cover. I didn't want to take it off my "Currently Reading" list, because I thought it coordinated with my blog's layout so well. The cover aside, another thing I have found interesting this year is Steampunk, which is what genre Clockwork Angel falls under, other than Fantasy. For those who don't know what Steampunk is, it's science fiction set in the Victorian era focusing on technology and machinery.

If you're not familiar with Cassie's work, she known for her twisted plots, great characters, gripping romance, and cliffhanger endings that contort your insides until you have the next book--practically everything a writer wants to be--and Clockwork Angel does not disappoint.

Through out the book you'll want the protagonist, Tessa, to fall for both of the young males and have them--to have her cake and eat it, too--and you'll see what Tessa is capable of with her unique ability. Some of my favorite aspects of the book is the attractive, snarky Will; the gentle, sweet Jem; Jem's sickness; Will's sarcastic remarks to anything  and everything; and how well Tessa and Jem can deal with Will.

Clockwork Angel is the prequel to The Mortal Instruments series featuring City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels. They are all packed with action and are definitely some of my favorite books. I give Clockwork Angel 4.5/5 stars.

For fun, here are some of my favorite quotes from Clockwork Angel. (If it has ****** I'm bleeping out a name, because it might possibly be a spoiler and I don't want to ruin it. Enjoy!)

"Nice work in there, Herondale, setting the place on fire," Gabriel observed. "Good thing we were there to clean up after you, or the whole plan would have gone down in the flames, along with the shreds of your reputation."

"Are you implying that shreds of my reputation still remain intact?" Will demanded with mock horror. "Clearly I have been doing something wrong. Or not doing something wrong, as the case may be."
He banged on the side of the carriage. "Thomas! We must away at once to the nearest brothel! I seek scandal and low companionship."
(Pg. 268)

"I just wondered," Gabriel said, in a more subdued voice, "if perhaps you have ever had enough."
"Enough of what?"
"Enough of behaving as you do."
Will crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes glinted dangerously. "Oh, I can never get enough," he said. "Which, incidentally, is what your sister said to me when-"
The carriage door flew open, a hand shot out, grabbed Will by the back of the shirt, and hauled him inside.
(Pg. 269)

"Must you go? I was rather hoping you'd stay and be a ministering angel, but if you must go, you must." (Jem)
"I'll stay," Will said a bit crossly, and threw himself down in the armchair Tessa had just vacated. "I can minister angelically."
"None too convincingly. And you're not as pretty to look at as Tessa is," Jem said, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the pillow.
"How rude. Many who have gazed upon me have compared the experience to gazing at the radiance of the sun."
Jem still had his eyes closed. "If they mean it gives you a headache, they aren't wrong."
(Pg. 343)


"That was enterprising," Will sounded nearly impressed.
****** smiled. Tess shot him a furious look. "Don't look pleased with yourself. When Will says 'enterprising' he means 'morally deficient.'"
"No, I mean enterprising," said Will. "When I mean morally deficient, I say, 'Now, that's something I would have done."
(Pg. 363)

And that's only a few.