2.22.2015 | Sunday

Clockwork Prince

Item: Clockwork Prince
Rating: 4.5
Author: Kim

category: Book Reviews
tag(s): young adult
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title: Clockwork Prince
author: Cassandra Clare
series: Infernal Devices #2
published: 6 December 2012
publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
genre(s): fantasy, historical, romance, steampunk
pages: 529
source: bought
format: eBook
buy/shelve it: Amazon | B&N | BookBub | StoryGraph | Goodreads

rating:

| series rating:

the blurb

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when it becomes clear that the mysterious Magister will stop at nothing to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, tortured Will and the devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal and fueled by revenge. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa is drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa answers about who she really is? As their search leads to deadly peril, Tessa learns that secrets and lies can corrupt even the purest heart.

my review

I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first, Clockwork Angel. Now that we know Tessa, Jem, and Will, their stories are even more poignant and beautiful. We learn so much more about Will and his past that led him to where he is today. We learn much of Tessa’s story, too, and we see a new side of Jem. Yet, however much I loved the story arcs of the three of them, in a lot of ways, I feel like the best part of Clockwork Prince was getting to know some of the other characters.

Sophie was one of my favorites in the first book, and she is once again a favorite in this book. There is so much to her that makes me glad that she isn’t left to languish in the background without her own story. She has her own story to tell, her own history, and I love that we are getting to see it. The other character that I continue to love is Magnus. He is so very different in this prequel series than he was in The Mortal Instruments. He’s lived lifetimes between the two and it is just a fascinating comparison. I love that the many supporting characters are brought to the forefront now and then, showing us their own histories and stories.

I love that the characters, although from a different generation, show shades of those from The Mortal Instruments. There are moments when Will reminds me so much of Jace, when Jem reminds me of Emma. I love that continuity and connection.

The love triangle in this one is both heart wrenching and beautiful. I love Will and Jem so much that it is truly hard for me to root for one over the other. There is so much to love about both of these guys, This is a great read and I think my favorite thus far of The Infernal Devices.

About Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.