Hey Now Books! The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel Review
As far as prequels go, this one is doing it right.
If you’ve read The Infernal Devices or are planning to read it, you’ve probably read all the books of The Mortal Instruments or are well on your way to being all caught up. The thing is, you probably think you have an idea of how this prequel series will end but I’m here to tell you… you think you know, but you have no idea.
This series revolves around on Victorian era heroine Tessa Gray. And just who is Tessa Gray? Well, she is a sixteen year old girl from America who has come to London to live with her estranged brother. She is an orphan. But you’re not asking the right questions. It’s not about who Tessa is. It’s more about what she is.
That is the mystery that will drive the series. Where in The Mortal Instruments we find out about Clary quickly, Cassandra Clare has decided to drag out the truth behind Tessa’s conception. And that’s fine by me. I’m having a lot of fun guessing.
Tessa is a worthy heroine of course. I enjoy reading how different this era is compared to our modern times. Sixteen year old Tessa is by far more mature and more capable than sixteen year old Clary ever was when she was first dropped in the Shadow world.
I like that Clare does not have a set formula she is following as she writes and intertwines these two series. It almost feels like you can read one and skip the other without a problem. The thing is, why would you want to? Once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul.
Then there are the two boys who will have Tessa’s heart (not to mention ours): Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs. Both shadowhunters already won me over. But I do have a favorite. That’s a secret I will keep to myself so I can be unbiased while writing this. Its predecessor is a book series that is all about relationships. And this time is no different. That much has stayed the same. Will and Jem are the best of friends. They’re brothers. They’re parabatai. Their friendship is a joy to read. The moments when Will and Jem are on my pages I find myself reading slower because I don’t want the scene to end so fast.
Will is a mix of Clare’s three main heroes in The Mortal Instruments. He looks like Alec with his dark hair and blue eyes, but rushes head first into danger like Jace and has Simon’s wit. It’s no wonder why he’s a fan favorite. She took all the best qualities of her three original boys and created a character for everyone to love. But Will gives new meaning to the term mysterious dark stranger. He’s got a secret. And I’m having a really good time trying to figure him out along with Tessa.
Then there’s James who is known as Jem to his friends and is shrouded in just as much mystery as his friend. But Jem looks completely different. Where Will’s hair is dark, Jem’s is almost white. Where Will doesn’t think before he speaks, Jem is the calming hand that controls his brother. Jem is the White Knight of the story where Will is the Black Knight. He never speaks out of turn. He always says the right thing. He can make you feel better even after finding out that everything you thought you knew was all a lie and none of it was real. I can definitely see why fans of the series are torn between both of these guys.
This Institute is not like what we’re used to. It’s not run by someone’s parents. The very young couple who runs it, Charlotte Branwell and her husband Henry, are well beyond their years. But I find myself liking them more than The Lightwoods. I really hope I’m not wrong about them. I’m usually not. But with this book series you’d never know. Charlotte and Henry care for the kids living in their institute. That much is clear. At twenty-three, Charlotte is raising Will, Jem and Jessie. It goes to show about how different that era was.
And then there’s Jessie, or Jessamine Lovelace. When we are first introduced to her, I couldn’t help but picture Katie McGrath because she reminded me so much of Morgana Pendragon on Merlin. I didn’t even pay attention to the fact that she’s supposed to be blond. She was a brat and I couldn’t stand her. But then, I found myself feeling sorry for her. And she goes and is suddenly brave and it’s clear that no matter how much she hates it about herself; she has Shadowhunter blood in her.
The side characters are also just as lovable in this series. There’s Thomas who is a servant at the Institute that fights like a Shadowhunter. He’s described as fiercely handsome and bulging with muscle. I picture a giant teddy bear and if this book series ever goes into pre-production like The Mortal Instruments I already know who I want to see play him. Sophie, the maid, is a sweetheart. She is that character who waits on the leading lady but you kind of wish were a leading lady herself because she’s so easy to love. Her fights with Will are hilarity to watch. She scolds him almost like she is his mother, despite how close the two are in age. You’ve got to give a girl props for setting that Will Herondale in his place from time to time. And Agatha, the cook, who is loved by all. I don’t know why but I picture a plump old lady who gives the best hugs in the world. The way she is described it seems as if she is the oldest person living at the Institute. And I could really use a hug from Agatha after finishing this book.
In this book, unlike The Mortal Instruments, you don’t instantly know who the villains are. And I won’t tell you who they are because that would spoil a major plot point. I will tell you that when you find out the truth about who was working together you’ll be shocked. And even a little heartbroken. I almost want to send my apologies to Sebastian in The Mortal Instruments and tell him he is not the worst person in this series.
The “evil plan” is a bit more sinister than I thought it would be. The Magister (an Alias, again, I won’t tell you who he is) is using human remains (skin mostly) to create these mechanical beings. It’s like the Victorian version of that Will Smith movie, I, Robot. Except these inventions are way creepier. They look human but they’re not. They act like zombies. It’s cruel and inhuman. But he wants to destroy the Shadowhunters and have the world bow down to him. Don’t all villains want us all to bow down? I’m waiting for that one villain who says he doesn’t want to see us bow down. When’s that going to happen? Anyway, I’m getting off topic. The Magister needs Tessa. It’s still unclear at the end of the book what he wants or needs her for. But what is clear, is that he will do whatever it takes to get her and kill whoever gets in his way. Will and Jem aren’t going to let that happen. Sorry, Magister… but you’ve got your eyes set on the equivalent of Fort Knox. There is no way; these two boys will let you have her. And saying that just made my heart flutter a little.
The book ends on a massive cliff hanger. I advise to already have book two waiting for you when you are about to finish this book. Otherwise you’ll go a little crazy waiting.
Do I like this more than The Mortal Instruments? It’s a little hard to answer that. They’re both very different; despite the direct references in both series hinting at the past and future. But I will tell you that her writing in this book is much stronger than her writing was in the first three books. Cassandra Clare has completely evolved as a writer. She’s changing the way the game is played when writing Young Adult fiction and making it okay to not only write a series but to take it a bit further by creating a prequel and sequel and making sure they’re as good if not better than the originals. If all goes according to plan, there will be twelve books at the end of The Mortal Instruments series.
But she can continue forever if you ask me and I honestly would not mind one bit. But the more books I read the less I want a movie. I’d rather they invest in a week to week television series like The Vampire Diares, True Blood and Game of Thrones. They have more than enough material to do so. And they don’t have to include everything. They could even change some things around. But who knows what fate has in store for this wonderful young adult series. I just can’t believe that I was that girl who didn’t want to bother reading it and now I can’t get enough of it.
The third book in the series, Clockwork Princess is set for a March 2013 release.
