Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Gaby B

Cassandra Clare is the author of the New Times Bestselling series,
The Mortal Instruments. This year, she released the first book of The
Infernal Devices trilogy, a prequel The Mortal Instruments. The
first book, Clockwork Angel, brings us back to the world of
Shadowhunters and demons, but only this time its late 19^th century London.

Tessa, the protagonist, is sent to London from New York City to live
with her brother. Once she arrives, she realizes that it was all a plot
to get her into the clutches of the mysterious Magister. She learns she
is not the normal human being that she always thought she was. There is
magic within her that lets her physically change into other people.
While she comes to terms with what she is, she is introduced to this new
world. She meets others from this world. Shadowhunters take her in and
she meets the heads of the Institute, Charlotte and her husband Henry.
Also, living at the Institute are the narcissistic Jessamine, kind Jem,
and rakish Will.

If you have read The Mortal Instruments, you are probably familiar
with Clares writing style and this fantasy world she created. I liked
how she decided to set this spin-off during a different era. I am always
weary when it comes to spin-offs; I dont want to read the same story
with just different character names. However, this is not the case here.
Not only do we get to revisit this fantasy world, but we are also
introduced to a London that maybe many of us havent read about before.
As well, this new setting gives The Infernal Devices a different kind
of vibe.

It might be easy to mistake Tessa/Will/Jem love triangle with that of
Clary/Jace/ Simon. However, I find each character to be different. Jace
would never say some of things that Will says to Tessa. Jem and Simon
hardly have anything in common with each other.

The ending leaves you wanting more. Unsurprising since there are two
more books to this story. At first, I wasnt sure if I would like this
series. I found that with TMI, I progressively liked the series more as I
read more of it. The same seems to go for The Infernal Devices.

I would recommend reading The Mortal Instruments first. However, it
is not necessary in order to understand Clockwork Angel. Either way,
this book is a great read; and I look forward to the second book,
Clockwork Prince.  We have to wait until September 2011 for that one,
but the next TMI book releases in April 2011 to hold us over.

Reprinted here with author's permission. Original: http://www.theyoungfolks.com/?p=431