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.

city of bones by cassandra clare

Title: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 485
Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.

My Review:

After quite some time I've been tossing or put this book aside, I finally finished reading this book. Don't get me wrong, I've only done that because I don't have the other two of the series and even now, I still don't have my copies yet.

To put it simple, the story is somewhat amazing. It is full of family conflict, love triangle, supernatural abilities and it happens in bid cities like Manhattan and New York. Imagine there's actually werewolves, vampires, warlocks, witches, and etc mingles and mix around people. But this is not a story about those creatures of the night. This is story about a group of Shadowhunters which are more or less like a balancer of both good and evil. I'm pretty impressed of how this book is not all about about tall, pale and fangsome vampires or hot bod werewolf. *cough*.

The characters are built in strong personality with each of them have significant differences of interests. When I say that, it goes to the character of Jace, Clary, Simon, Alec and Isabella. Others are OK but I have this huge complex on Valentine and Hodge. They are not what I've expected by which all means, I want Valentine to be meaner and Hodge sudden change from good guy to bad guy is not really believable. It sounds a bit funny, really. All in all, they are pretty more or less as OK.

There are a lot of twist in the story that really intrigues me all the time when I read the book. Even with a little flick of flaw I've mentioned doesn't mean I don't like the book. I was totally absorbed by the book, lost in it and at a quarter end of the book, I had this huge shock that I suddenly threw the book on the floor!That is a super twist I've ever read! I know I know. But I've assumed Jace to be someone I want him to be and despite of that, he never will be what I want him to be to Clary. Urgh. I still have this grudge over Miss Clare. *LOL* OK, maybe she has better plan for that which I think it leaves me impatiently waiting for the next installment, as I am.

To whoever that never read this yet, you better be. It's an amazing and engrossing read that you think you need more than this.

Other Reviewers:

YA Vampire Books 4.5/5
Jennifer @ Reading With Tequila 4/5
Shy @ The Bibliophile's Journal 4.5/5
Morgan @ Smitten With Books