Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: August 31, 2010

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Pages: 476

Received: Purchased

Rating: 5 out of 5 Books

GOODREADS BLURB:

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.

Cassandra Clare may be one of the most visual writers I have ever experienced. Her ability to completely infuse Victorian London and make me see what Tessa could see was a wonderful, vivid ride, and I can't wait to move onto Clockwork Prince!!

THE GOOD:

Clare's writing is pure visuals. She leaves no stone unturned or its color, texture, and the shadows that it may cast to question. You're thrown into a movie in your head, and it's amazing. It's truly breathtaking. Few authors I've read can truly make me feel like I'm "there"...honestly I think of J.K. Rowling and Dan Brown, but even Dam Brown isn't as vivid. Clare is incredible. Will is amazing. Jem is perfectly imperfect. Both have flaws, but that's what leaves you wanting more. There's no wonderful, amazing, perfect character, and I enjoy that. Embracing the imperfections makes me appreciate the characterizations even more, and Clare excels at it. The twists she sets you on are completely out in left field, but yet they make perfect sense. She sets you up, and you almost want to smack your head because you think, "Holy cow!" and that's a completely, completely good thing. There's nothing that she could have done to make this book more impressive.

THE BAD:

There is none. Truly. It took me a moment to get into the story, but only because I'm usually not a reader of world building stories. Clare has given me a new take on what it means to truly "show" and not "tell" as a writer, and I enjoyed every minute of the lesson. And this shouldn't even be in the "bad" section, so I digress. :)

CONCLUSION:

If you haven't read this book, go get it now! Clare has woven a world and tale so rich that I doubt she could run out of things to tell if she wanted to. I don't think I will ever get tired of her writing style, and I'm diving into Clockwork Prince right NOW! :)

RATING: 5 of 5 Books