Clockwork Angel
Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 476

Rating: 4.5 stars

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.

I tried to read Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare last summer, but I just wasn’t into it. There wasn’t enough action for me and I ended up putting it down. I chose to reread it now, and while I still found some of those qualities to be the same, I really enjoyed Clockwork Angel and am excited to read more of this fabulous world.

The story for the first 250 pages or so didn’t have a lot action in my opinion. It was a very slow and steady book, and I found myself reading it in chunks. I was really enjoying the story, but after a bit I would find nothing happening and would put it down for a bit, then pick it up again. That was the first chunk of the book. All at once something changed and it was non stop action til the end. The story was just brilliant, and I found nothing to be predictable at all. Cassandra Clare throws twists and turns left and right, and I was so into the story that I couldn’t stop reading until I got to the last page. When I then proceeded to turn the page, and go WHAT.

The ending of Clockwork Angel just builds and builds. Cassandra Clare leaves readers with the most intense ending that leaves you begging to know what happens next. Only there’s nothing. I guess I am a little happy that I didn’t finish this last year, as now I can sit down and dive right into the Clockwork Prince.

I am absolutely in LOVE with the world of Clockwork Angel. It was the thing that enticed me the first time I picked up Clockwork Angel, and one of the factors that just made me fall in love with it this time. Any sort of historical world is something that will make me want to read the book, but Cassandra Clare‘s London is different. I just loved the charm about it. I am definitely excited to spend more time in this world with the next 2 books. I attribute the world building a bit to the reason the start was slower, which makes sense as it’s this completely different world.

The characters were the other huge factor of Clockwork Angel I loved. I loved everyone at the Institute. Tessa was a great main character, I loved her love of literature. She wasn’t real predictable, like I thought she would be. The one thing that irked me about her is that she had to be the damsel in distress. While that worked out for her some of the time, I would have thought with all her time at the Institute someone would have taught her a bit of training or at least given her a weapon. I really liked Charlotte and Henry as well. Henry was just so endearing and really fun as well. Charlotte is so goodhearted, I don’t think anyone could not like her. Sophie is another character who I super loved. She was so snarky. Everyone tells me that they are Team Jem or Team Will, but I honestly am split down the middle, though I may be leaning slightly towards Will.. I love both of them for different reasons, and I found them both to be great characters.

Despite it’s shaky start, I found Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare to be a very enjoyable read. I loved the world and the characters! I would definitely recommend it, and if you find yourself getting stuck by the slower beginning like I did, definitely press on as the story you will find will be one you’ll be sorry to miss.