The Bursting Bookshelf: Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

5/5

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

THANKS TO SIMON & SCHUSTER CANADA FOR THE ADVANCE COPY.

Release: December 6, 2011

Pages: 497

Series: The Infernal Devices #2

Synopsis:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Review:
After seeing great reviews for all of Cassandra Clare's books, I finally got to reading her Mortal Instruments series and fell in love. I read Clockwork Angel shortly after, and couldn't believe the cliffhanger, one of Cassandra Clare's trademark writing devices. After that ending, I began counting down until Clockwork Prince; getting it in the mail resulted in a full on jumping up and down, screaming session.

As with all of the covers of Cassandra Clare's books, they follow a general theme, featuring a character from the book and titles with a common theme. The other common element with her covers are just how gorgeous they are, and this one is no exception. I love how Jem is featured on this cover, probably because I both guys are so great, and I haven't decided who's my favourite. My absolute favorite feature was the glowing dragon head on Jem's cane.

As always, the writing of this book lives up to this author's reputation fully. The way the text describes everything is such accurate detail makes everything easier to picture for the reader. Though I'm not usually one for historical novels, Cassandra's writing had me completely entrapped in the story, even though the setting wasn't my usual cup of tea. The story was just as good as writing; it seemed to fly by with not a single dull moment. To not spoil anything, I'll just say that the ending was shocking as were all the events within. I also love how humour is incorporated into the story even in dark parts of the story.

The characters in this book experienced exponential growth in the eyes of the reader. For this series I couldn't even decide on a favorite male lead as I mentioned above, proving just how well built the characters are. I again enjoyed reading about Tessa, she was still relate-able as a protagonist, facing even tougher decisions than before. I love Tessa because she's tough, even when the situation doesn't look good, plus she has two awesome guys fighting over her, which is never a bad thing.

Yet again, I found myself to be reading a tightly woven Cassandra Clare masterpiece and for that, I give Clockwork Prince a 5/5. I would recommend this book to fans of The Mortal Instruments series and any steampunk or historical fiction fan.

5:13 PM
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City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

4.5/5

3:44 AM
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City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

5/5

4:12 PM
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Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

5/5

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Release: August 31, 2010

Pages: 476

Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

I read all of The Mortal Instruments series fairly recently and I knew I had to read any other books she had out. I dove into Clockwork Angel and read it just as fast as I read all of The Mortal Instruments series. In this novel, we discover a new cast of characters living in the same world that The Mortal Instruments series is set in. The distinct difference between the two sets of books is the time difference. The characters in this novel were very unique. I found I really enjoyed reading about Tessa and her journey into the heart of shadows and mystery. And of the two possible love interests, I could not actually decide which I liked better. They both were awesome characters and I would be happy if she chose either. As in true Cassandra Clare style, the writing was deep and full of amazing, shocking twists in the plot that I did not see coming. And of course the end. The huge cliffhanger ending that left me begging for the next one, but since that isn't for a few months I will give Clockwork Angel a 5/5 until then.

12:24 PM
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City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

5/5

Title: City of Fallen Angels

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Release: April 5, 2011

Pages: 424

Series: The Mortal Instruments #4

Source: Finished copy thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada

Synopsis:

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Review:
Okay, hands up for who has not read The Mortal Instruments Series. All of you with your hands up should be going to the store now to get this awesome series. Unfortunately, I was one of those people for far too long. I just began to read this series in late 2010 and have loved them ever since. Needless to say, when my copy from Simon & Schuster Canada showed up in the mail I freaked out and read it as soon as I opened the package. I was not at all surprised to be completely engrossed in it by Chapter Two and not be able to put it down at all the entire time.

Have you ever seen a more gorgeous cover than one of The Mortal Instruments Series? They all look good together, they use stunning colours and the models are all perfect for the characters they portray. And they also keep the same theme. They have not chosen to change the covers in the middle of the series or changed the theme in the second part of the series. That really impressed me a lot. Plus, the hard cover copies are very light catching and metallic. That grabbed the attention of a lot of people around me when I read and even some of my non-reader friends commented on how nice the covers are.

In City of Fallen Angels, we see the return of the cast of characters from the rest of The Mortal Instruments Series, though a month later. In this book we get to see the characters put through challenges in their lives, relationships and family life that you will never see coming. In addition, we also get to see Jace and Clary as a couple. Also, we see many different sides of Simon through his point of view as well as through the eyes of other characters. The whole time I read the book, one of my favorite parts was the amount of development that all the characters went through.

The writing in all of Cassandra Clare's books, that I've read, is unique and captivating at all times. She has this writing style that clicks with her setting and story that makes it an awesome reading experience. The story itself in City of Fallen Angels is one that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat the entire time. From start to its cruel end. Cruel, you may ask? Yes, cruel. Cruel in the fact that I have to wait a year for the next book to come out to find out what happens to the characters. The end was a huge cliffhanger that I have a very love/ hate relationship with. Overall, City of Fallen Angels is a fantastic read that I think anyone would love.

The best part of City of Fallen Angels? Impossible to pick. My rating is easy for this one: 5/5 without a doubt. If you haven't picked this book up yet, go! Run! Go get it, I promise it is full of awesome.