Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Reader reviewed by RuthieWhile I didnt love Clockwork Angel as much as I did the Mortal Instruments (heck theres no Jace in the Infernal Devices)I did really enjoy it. It was cool to read about Shadowhunters in the past, and even just get a glimpse of that era. Clare did a fantastic job bringing her readers into the past. Also, the characters still carried the dry wit seen previously in her books. Expect to laugh as much as you did in the Mortal Instruments heck, I did. Clockwork Angel is definitely the perfect reading material for any Shadowhunter fan.

Reader reviewed by Mysteriousrose

Another great, mysterious and action packed steam punk story from Cassandra Clare a great first book in a new series.

This series takes place in the same world as the Mortal Instruments series, Clockwork Angel is a prequel and this story happens years before the events in city of Bones.

Tessa was annoying to me at first but her very interesting ability and her strength to fight for what she loves had me warming up to her and the plotline.
The two boys Will and Jem are characters I really like and I don't know whos my favourite, they are very different and both of them very mysterious and I found myself wanting to know more about them and getting to know them better.

All the side characters worked very well for me I enjoyed how well all of them contributed to the story in different ways and I like how Cassandra Clare has a special talent for giving even the bad guys something that you find intriguing.

This isn't a really quick read, the book is slow at first with a lot of descriptions but that really makes it great visual you imagine yourself standing in the street of London, England, at the time of the reign of Queen Victoria.
It picks up speed about 2/3 into the book and my head was almost spinning with all the things that happened.
I'm very excited for the next book.

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

Reader reviewed by DylanD

Reading the Mortal Instruments, I had high expectations of this new book by Cassandra Clare.  Reading the book, I felt like I was actually a part of the book's era.  And grew to love the characters all the same.  When reading a book, I love it when I can picture the writing as images in my mind, and with this Cassandra Clare had them all on point.  After battling demons, taking the form of someone passed, and ruthless machinery ready for war, I was swept away in the midst of the incredible world of Shadowhunters and the Nephilim.  Clare is by far one of the BEST authors in this generation of young adults!

Reader reviewed by Marissa

When sixteen yr old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her  destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrible 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 admist the chaos. Kidnapped vy the mysterious Dark Sistersm who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon 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 by/ and torn between- James(Jem) whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone at arm's length- except Tessa. As their sear draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot  that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Reader reviewed by Marissa

When sixteen yr old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her  destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrible 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 admist the chaos. Kidnapped vy the mysterious Dark Sistersm who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon 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 by/ and torn between- James(Jem) whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone at arm's length- except Tessa. As their sear draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot  that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Reader reviewed by Nikki (sng2098)

I do want to say that I feel this series is going to be the same as The Mortal Instruments Series. I liked the second & third more than the first. That being said let's get on with the reivew!

The book starts off with a girl, Tessa, and her brother, Will, they go through some of their mother's things and find an angel, that becomes very important WAY later on in the story. The boy moves from New York to England, then after their aunt dies, he sends his Tessa a ticket to come like with him..blah, blah, blah. Just read it, you'll get the whole story!

SO, this book seemed like it was going to be like City of Bones but with different names, some stories are like that, but after getting more and more into the book it did, thankfully, get a lot different than City of Bones. I DID LIKE THE BOOK. That being said, it could have done without some of the content that was in it. There were many parts that dragged on and on. However, I do like that she didn't just get right into it, if that makes any sense. The book is 460ish pages and not a lot happens. City of Bones is smaller and a lot more happens, action wise.

I didn't fall in love with Tessa, I did feel like she was just A LITTLE bit whiny although she got better as the story went on. I think she should have been a little more of a stronger female character. Also, I felt like Ms. Clare started Tessa and Jem's relationship off as a brother sister relationship, then tried to turn it into a love relationship. Did anyone else get that? I felt like Will reminded me WAY to much of Jace.

The time that the book was set in was kind of confusing. I know it was set when there were carriages and women were looked at like they couldn't fend for themselves, but the talking was kind of a mix of now and then. I'm not saying it should have been completly in old English, cause there would have been NO WAY I coulda understood that, but I think it should have been more clear.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare gets a 4/5 from me!

Reader reviewed by Ella---EB

This book was good and explained alot about the Immortal books, but it is really old fashioned and I didn't like that part as much. I just wished it wasn't so much old stuff, the way they talk, and such is kind of odd.  Still has the romance part, which is good and I'll probably still read the others.