Magic is dangerous–but love is more dangerous still. Discover the “compulsively readable” (Booklist) first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series! Clockwork Angel is a Shadowhunters novel. When Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of … 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 a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform 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 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.
more
If you like Cassandra Claire’s this book is the first book of hers that I read it’s still my favorite. The characters are well developed and I loved the story. It is the first of the shadow hunter books.. It introduces some of the later characters. If you like her books try it.. I am not a fan of some of her later books. They can get a little slow at times. This book keeps moving.
Quick read but lots of fun and two interesting male heroes with hidden secrets.
Cassandra Clare has fantastic world-building ability, and tackling the world of the Shadowhunters in steampunk infused London England during the industrial revolution is done beautifully in this series. Tessa is an easy to root for heroine, Jem is delightful and Will Herondale, instant love!
Tessa Gray travels to London to meet up with her brother after her aunt dies. Little does she know that she is walking into a much bigger situation. She is wanted by the Magister for her magical ability that she doesn’t even know she has. Tessa suddenly finds herself in a world full of creatures she didn’t know existed and staying with Shadowhunters who have promised to help find her brother.
After reading the first 3 books in the Mortal Instruments series, I found this book to be a nice change. The reader is taken to London in 1878, so there is a definite difference in clothing and attitude. Will Herondale is so much like Jace that it’s scary. Jem is quiet and sickly, but a great Shadowhunter. I found the book to be a bit ahead of the others because of the Clockwork creatures. They seemed very advanced. I liked the twist though. The Institute is run by Charlotte and Henry Branwell and I liked Henry a lot. He’s an inventor who is slightly ADHD. The reader learns more about the history of the Shadowhunters and more about Magnus Bane who makes quite a presence in the book. He hasn’t changed in all these years.
“3.5 out of 5 stars! This story, being based in 1878, was sooo interesting to read how much things were different for them “back-in-the-day” compared to how the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders were living during the The Mortal Instruments Series. Plus …”
Read more of this review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/made-grade-infernal-devices-series-book.html
It was a good book. The plot was well thought out and had a great story that intrigued me. However I just don’t feel I could relate to the characters as much as I could in some of her other books. I also made the mistake of reading Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy before this, meaning I already knew where everybody ended up. That might of spoiled it a bid for me. I also did not like Will a lot, he was awfully rude and a bit mean. Overall I think the mortal instruments is a better series. Although if you are a Cassandra Clare fanatic as I am you still might want to read it. And also that this is just my opinion, don’t let this or any review drive you away from reading a book you want to and think will be good.
I think the first thing I want to say is…”thank you” for having the heroine be a strong female and even at times she may be scared she still handles herself very well.
I found this story arc to be quite compelling that it pulls you in almost immediately. I had a difficult time putting the book down. The characters were well rounded and very real to me. It did not take long before you really began to care about each of these characters and how their own personal pains and secrets affected them, yet when it came time to fight everything was put aside.
I don’t want to write too much about the plot of the book because, well…that is for you to read and enjoy. This is a great book and I expect by the tone of the first book a wonderful trilogy.
Clockwork Angel is the prequel to Clare’s Shadowhunter novels. Tessa Gray arrives in London expecting to meet her brother Nathan. Instead, a pair of women called the Dark sisters are waiting for her. Under the pretense of being sent by her brother, the sisters take Tessa under their wing. But what waits for Tessa in the Dark sister’s house is nothing pleasant. They force her to do things she never thought possible. Tessa enters the dark world that is home to vampires, demons, warlocks and more. Her only hope lies in the London Shadowhunters. Will and Gem will do all they can to save Tess and her brother, but nothing will prepare them for what’s to come.
In this series, there are a lot of Shadowhunter terms used with little explanation. If I didn’t have a clear image of the world, I would easily have been lost reading this. The characters also don’t have the same type of chemistry as Mortal Instruments. The mood between Tessa, Will, and Jem is icy at best and slowly works its way into something more as the story progresses.
When I first started reading Will’s sarcastic comebacks, he felt a lot like Jace in Mortal Instruments. I was worried there would be a repeat characterization, but I was proven wrong. Will is vicious in this first novel. Just when the character started to grow on me, I realized his words were just as sharp as his blades. Both aimed to cut as deeply as they can. That’s not to say Cassandra Clare didn’t build enough of a backstory to understand it. She certainly gave the reader enough pain and suffering for him to act this way, but it didn’t make for a likable character. It certainly paves the way for a redemption arc that I hope to see in book two.
I wanted more of Jem. He was quiet in the first book and pushed into the background of scenes. Often times when Will was on a tirade, I silently wished for Jem to barge in a stop him. The slight mystery that surrounded Jem, didn’t really sink in for me with so little page time. The best moments were always when Will and Jem were together. They compliment each other so well. Of course, being Parabatai I’m sure helps.
Despite some hiccups with the characters, I love this world. The battles, the tension, the potential of it all makes me crave more. I want to learn about the history of the Shadowhunters, the before moments for characters I came to know and love in the later series.
It left me wanting for more and more. Every chapter and every book ends in a cliffhanger and keeps you hooked. The characters are brilliantly made, with their own brilliant stories, and wonderful plot twists. It’s an entire series, and it’s probably the only love triangle I’ll accept with open arms.
This book was absolutely amazing. I loved everything about this book: the characters, the setting, the world, everything. It never once made me regret picking this book up. The author is absolutely PHENOMENAL and does her job right. This kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would recommend it to anyone everyone!
This trilogy just kept me up all night !!! Such a page turner !!! Its worth your time !!
This is an extremely extremely book. I am shocked about some of the characters. I think that it is very interesting to make people out of parts and use magic to make them work. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
As a fan of The Mortal Instruments, I loved reading this sort-of prequel series.
While technology and Steampunk elements aren’t heavy on the plot, the Infernal Devices series is still an excellent Victorian fantasy. I loved the diverse characters introduced from the first novel, as well as the unpredictable twists. There were some similarities between Tessa and Will’s relationship and the one between Clary and Jace, but I personally loved discovering them along the way, especially the characteristics Will and Jace shared (such as the hilarious fear of ducks).
I also enjoyed reading about Charlotte and Henry. Cassandra Clare’s done a fantastic job of describing Charlotte’s leadership and the challenges she faces in a conservative Victorian London. Lastly, I loved seeing crossover characters from The Mortal Instruments, such as Magnus and Camille.
As an overall, the first book got me really hooked on the series. I’m not sure if I would have liked it as much if I hadn’t started with The Mortal Instruments, but I recommend The Infernal Devices to all fans of fantasy and romance.
Really anything by Cassie Clare is buy without reading summaries.
This series is incredible! love love love
I read this series and this first one was my least favorite. The clockwork prince and princess are fabulous. Once you have read this series, you should read the sequel The Dark Artifaces. Lady Midnight
It’s amazing. I don’t like romance novels, but Cassandra Clare’s books have changed my perspective on things.
This is the first book in a three book series from Cassandra Clare author of the Shadowhunter series, which I am completely hooked on.
I enjoy Cassandra Clare’s writing and the creation of Shadowhunters. It is full of fantasy, romance, action, drama. Everything that makes you want more.
I am currently reading the last book in this series, and am ready to move on to the Inmortal Series.
This review MAY contain spoilers.
This book was outstanding! I am so in awe right now. I have read all of the Mortal Instruments books and looking back at the first book in that series I can honestly say that this book is better than that one. Much better. And I loved City of Bones. I still do. If I could give this book all of the stars, I would. It would be well deserved.
As with the Mortal Instruments series, the characters really make this book stand out. The best way that I can describe the way that you get to know the characters in this book is that it is intimate. When reading this book you feel right along with the characters. You discover along with them. You feel their pain and their joy. Each character, whether it is a villain or otherwise, evokes such feelings in you as you are reading. You feel them. You know them. I became very passionate about the characters early on, and the feeling is something that has lodged in my soul. Truly. These characters will now forever be a part of me. That is what it is like to read a Cassandra Clare book. All that aside, the character development is incredible. These characters are complex and they have tragic pasts and secrets. They carry a lot of pain, but you also get to see what brings them joy. Like Henry with his inventions, Tessa with her books, or Jessamine and her finery. There is a gorgeous balance to it that makes the character development thorough and magical.
The world building in this was phenomenal. I truly loved seeing the Shadowhunter world of London in 1878. The different locale and the different time period gave this book such a magical feel.
The plot of the book was very solid. It was interesting, engaging, and it wholly captivated me from the first page. This book kept me on the edge of my seat trying to anticipate what would come next. I could not get enough. There are unexpected twists and turns that are just exhilarating.
The writing itself is flawless and beautiful. There is a perfect balance between humor and gravity. Cassandra Clare’s writing will make you giggle, cry, and everything in between. She is a goddess when it comes to writing passages and I can only hope that she keeps creating inventive worlds for me to live in. Her written word is magical.
Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough! Go get it now! If you are a Cassandra Clare fan and have not read this book then you are doing yourself a great disservice. And even if you haven’t experienced a Cassandra Clare book before, this book will set the bar pretty high for you. You will not be disappointed. I will immediately be starting the next book in this series!
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! The infernal devices trilogy is hands down my favorite series by Cassandra Clare.