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Cynthia Manchester, August 5, 2012 (view all comments by Cynthia Manchester)
“Whatever you are physically,” he said, “male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. Whatever the color, the shape, the design of the shade that conceals it, the flame inside the lamp remains the same. You are that flame.”
One doesn't simply read this book. You become immersed in the world created by Ms. Clare. It becomes your world ~ one in which you personally experience romance, mystery, betrayal, and piercing heartache. You can't help but grow increasingly attached to the characters she creates and their hearts beat within your heart long after you turn the final page. You must have more.
If ever there was a book fully deserving of a five-star rating, it is Clockwork Angel.
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. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I must say that I enjoyed this book. I found Tessa to be an interesting character and the searching for her brother storyline was a fun one. I really liked Will and Jem, I found the pair of them to be fun. Jess kinda bugged me, but I think she's suppose to bug the reader.
I had no idea the book was going to end the way it did, I was very surprised with the turn it took. I found the dialog to be good, a little long in some parts but very good over all. I loved the writing style and Clare's storytelling. I found all of the interactions between characters to be very believable and I found myself rooting for them.
I am very excited to read the next book in the series due out Dec.6!
Overall rating **** 4 out of 5 stars
Cover art I liked the cover art very pretty.
Obtained My personal book shelf.
Lieder Madchen, May 19, 2011 (view all comments by Lieder Madchen)
I loved this book. I picked it up because of the gorgeous cover and because I had heard that it was steampunk. Other than that, I had no idea what I was getting into. I blame this book for the fact that I now read the occasional vampire/werewolf/paranormal novel. By the time I realized that vampires were going to play an important role in the story, it was too late. I was caught. Doomed. I couldn't put it down and before I knew it I was addicted to the works of Cassandra Clare.
Tessa is an absolutely brilliant character. I love the mix of proper ladylike behavior and stubborn bravery. I love the way she loves classical literature and references it all the time. I also love the fact that Will knows all of her references and makes his own.
Will is an extremely dubious fellow. Darkly handsome and mysterious, plus the fact that he is British, well, Welsh anyway, he is an interesting character. The problem is, he also a total jerk. For some hidden reason, he won't let anyone close, and is horrible to anyone who tries. Still, there is hope for him, revealed in brief flashes of tenderness and humanity.
The secondary characters in Clockwork Angel are lovely. Jem, Sophie, and even the bratty Jessamine are all interesting and likable in their own ways. I loved Henry. I would have liked to see more of him, but there is always book two...
The plot is dark with a delightfully dreary, Victorian feel to it. Murders, disappearances, strange magical abilities, untrustworthy businessmen, equally untrustworthy Downworlders and some extremely irritating Shadowhunters combine to make an adventure that is part Charles Dickens, part Sherlock Holmes, part...actually, I can't think of any other paranormal author that can quite be compared to Cassandra Clare. Anyway, it is wonderful.
I recommend this book to lovers of dark fantasy, YA paranormal, Victorian mysteries and star-crossed lovers. My only real problem with this book is the fact that Clockwork Prince doesn't come out until December. (Grr.)
The Eager Readers, January 25, 2011 (view all comments by The Eager Readers)
Dark, Victorian, Shadowhunter-y goodness! Cassandra Clare has a knack for writing delicious, character-driven stories that I can't put down, and Clockwork Angel is no exception! Tessa Gray is an intelligent, book-loving heroine with a coveted (and creepy) supernatural ability. Although she is new to the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, she has an observant nature and does not shy away from asking questions, so she manages to learn quite a lot about their world very quickly. Aside from her newly-discovered talent, Tessa is a fairly typical 19th century young woman. She is much more comfortable quoting Dickens than she is wielding a weapon, but she doesn't cower helplessly in the face of danger either. Her courage, compassion, and insatiable curiosity make her a girl to be reckoned with, and I am excited to see how her character will continue to develop over the course of the next two Infernal Devices books.
Then there are the boys... one dark, one light. Will Herondale is often hilarious, frequently rude, and consistently determined to keep his image as tarnished as possible. He seems to suffer from troubling Hyde-like mood swings that repeatedly propel him toward darkly-amused cruelty, and a secret from his mysterious past has given him a harsh, fatalistic attitude. Only Jem, who never questions Will about his past and who tolerates his mercurial temperament with a calm patience, sees Will's well-concealed vulnerability and heart. Jem Carstairs is thoughtful, even-tempered, and soothingly philosophical. But he has a tragic secret of his own, and it is one that some Shadowhunters do not view with compassion or understanding. I've always had a major weakness for broken boys. In this case, one is emotionally broken, one is physically broken, and both are deliciously swoon-worthy. Will and Jem share a brotherly devotion to one another and both find themselves becoming increasingly attached to Tessa. Have I mentioned that I truly cannot wait to read the second Infernal Devices book?!
Need more reasons to pick up this book? How about the spooky gothic atmosphere of the foggy, gaslit streets and the shadowy interior of the fortress-like London Institute? How about the full cast of well-developed secondary characters with distinct voices and all sorts of weaknesses and hidden agendas? Not convinced yet? Did I mention the nightmarishly horrifying steampunk elements and the complex villains?
Still not convinced? Here are a few more (*SLIGHTLY SPOILERY*) reasons you may want to read Clockwork Angel as soon as possible. This book features the eternally-fabulous Magnus Bane at a Victorian party (wearing breeches and an elaborate brocade jacket). And have I mentioned that two of the main characters are avid readers, so there are lots of excellent (and occasionally worrisome) literary references to books like A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice? Perhaps I also failed to mention the sexy Shadowhunter whose wet white shirt clings tantalizingly to the runic tattoos inked across his chest? Or the Shadowhunter whose hair brushes silkily across Tessa's wrist as he leans down to kiss the back of her hand? Surely I mentioned the glove removal that will have your heart racing? ;-) If any of that appeals to you, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Clockwork Angel immediately.
Brian Grouhel, January 6, 2011 (view all comments by Brian Grouhel)
Clockwork Angel, a precursor to the Moral Instruments trilogy, was a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating story. While geared for a slightly younger readership, the story of Tessa Gray and the Shadowhunters readily drew me in for many hours of enjoyable escape. Ms Clare has created a totally believable world and I am looking forward to her next book in this new series.
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)
Used Hardcover
Cassandra Clare
0 stars -
0 reviews
$13.50
In Stock
Product details
496 pages
Margaret K. McElderry Books -
English9781416975861
Reviews:
"Staff Pick"
by Rachael W.,
This steampunk prequel to the Mortal Instruments series has everything a teen could want. Sixteen-year-old Tessa's introduction to London's Downworld shows her a world of danger and excitement. A dash of romance is added when she meets not one, but two intriguing Shadowhunter boys.
by Rachael W.
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"This first book in Clare's Infernal Device series, a prequel to her bestselling Mortal Instruments books, opens as Tessa's pleasant life in 1878 New York is coming to an end when her guardian aunt dies. Upon her arrival in London, where her brother lives, Tessa is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters, who force her to learn to use a rare power--shape-shifting--she didn't know she had. Her rescue by a young man named Will leads her to the Shadowhunters--Nephilim descended from humans and angels--who enforce the magical Accords against demons and other creatures. Tessa gets caught between the various players seeking to use her amid a plot to conquer Britain. The events often read as bleakly as the Victorian London weather, punctuated by Clare's trademark humor, empathy, and authentic characters, who fight their own flaws and tragic pasts as often as they do evil. Mysteries, misdirection, and riddles abound, and while there are some gruesome moments, they never feel gratuitous. Fans of the Mortal Instruments series and newcomers alike won't be disappointed. Ages 14 — up. (Aug.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)
"Synopsis"
by Ingram,
When 16-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 beings stalk the gaslit streets.
"Synopsis"
by Penguin,
After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.
In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
"Synopsis"
by Netread,
Don’t miss The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013.
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.
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