the clockwork angel by cassandra clare

Title: The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Author: Cassandra Calre
Published: August 31, 2010
Pages: 479
Rating: 4/5
Source: Borrowed
Buy at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Summary (Goodreads):

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, 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. 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 Thought:

The truth is, I only read the first book, in Mortal Instruments series, City of Bones. I would probably finish the series regardless of reading the prequels. So, I just start reading the prequels after so much hype about it. It's not deniable that I like the story and it has great setting, which I love England so much. However, I couldn't help to think that the story started with quite similarity with City of Bones. If you read the book and compared with this one, you will know about it. It's the biggest flaw for me when I think that it kind of lost it's originality of the plot. I know it's a prequel but I wish that the plot would at least different and at the same time keeping the familiar elements of the Mortal Instruments.

It maybe started with a flaw indeed, but it changes gradually with better characters with better personalities. The fact that Tessa is not a shadowhunter, but a unique individual really peak my interest and it's very intriguing. Tessa is a lot more confident, brave, loving and sweet. Her ability is quite a mystery and but it become the main elements in the story which I think it's really brilliant. So it has an originality there. As usual, we are readers are torn between two hot guys; Will and Jem. But of course this two boys' relation is brother-like and kind of cute. Will is quite a mysterious and he is very unpredictable. His actions questionable but he loves quotes from famous literary books, take care of Jem, and sometimes act like a jerk. Jem on the other hand has a soft side of him. He tends to comfort Tessa when Tesaa in doubts with Will actions and being really nice to her.

But again, other 'supporting' characters from the book very much alike with City of Bones' characters. I couldn't help of keep comparing the similarity. All in all, I like the book, it presents something great and makes readers hunger for more, and the cliff hanger even made me to has long sigh. It's mysterious, exciting, action-packed and so like "Mortal Instruments". Cassandra Clare fans would have great satisfaction reading this.