Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
ISBN: 9781416975861
Publisher: Margaret L. McElderry Books
Page #:479
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"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, who are 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 user 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 an 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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First Lines:

"The demon exploded in a shower of ichor and guts.
William Herondale jerked back the dagger he was holding, but it was too late. The viscous acid of the demon's blood had already begun to eat away at the shining blade."
Page 1
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Review:

Honestly, I loved the other books by Cassandra Clare - The Mortal Instruments series.
You can at least see my City of Glass review. The others I read before I started the blog here.

But I can easily say that I loved the book more than that series. I don't know if it's the whole historical thing... or the steampunk aspect... but there was something about this book that just pulled me in and wouldn't let go.

I love that the characters grow continuously throughout the book. They start out as one thing and you get to know them fully as you go along - even the more background characters. You get their story and what makes them who they are. It's just really nice to grow with your characters and really care about them in the ending. I was sad about a little bit of the ending because of that, but it all came together well.

I've read a few other steampunk books, but this one stands heads and shoulders about them. I don't know if it's because it was in the context of a world I understood, but either way I really liked it. There was something almost musical about the description of the clockwork creatures. They were freaky, really... kinda zombie like. Though it just works really well within the story, in my opinion.

This is one of those books that I'd love to see made into a movie. The descriptions were to vivid that I spent some time drinking in the surroundings painted by the author. Everything was just so well done that I felt like I was in Victorian Era London. On the flip side of this coin, there were times when I just wanted to rush through to figure out what was going on. I've been known to skim the next page to see if I was right about something - even if I go back and read the whole thing fully. I like knowing I was right :).

This book is absolutely fantastic. I was discussing it with coworkers earlier today and we decided that it's a great book for people who are into many genres - historical, mystery, fantasy, romance, etc. It's really a worthwhile read and it kept me up at night not wanting to put it down. That's the measure of a good book, isn't it?

I definitely recommend this one. To everyeone. Anywhere. :). Check out Cassandra Clare's Website in hopes of her next book coming out soon!
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Other Blog Reviews:

Novel Novice - Stephanie
Laura's Review Bookshelf
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Ripostee
Pure Imagination
Page Turners Blog